Qualification.
Getting to an international start line
Where an international championship requires athletes to qualify through their national federation, OCRA runs the Irish route. Requirements differ by championship, discipline and category — there is no single rule covering all of them.
The current Irish route
Where qualification is required, OCRA-organised qualification events are the recognised Irish pathway.
OCRA wants to widen the qualification calendar. Organisers can apply through Event Recognition & Sanctioning.
What the criteria will tell you
When a championship requires qualification, OCRA publishes the criteria for Irish athletes: which events count, which disciplines, categories and Age Groups are eligible, how qualification is decided, how many places exist, and the registration deadline.
When you do not need to qualify
Some international competitions allow Irish athletes to enter directly. That can apply to a whole championship or only to certain categories. Where it does, you enter under the championship organiser's own rules.
You may still need to satisfy requirements on nationality, age, category, membership and the registration deadline.
Qualifying is not always selection
Where more Irish athletes qualify than there are places, a further selection process may be needed. Any additional criteria are published with the championship information.
Age Groups and categories
International category structures and age calculation methods change between championships. Use the category information published for the championship you are entering, not the one you entered last time.
After you qualify
OCRA confirms your qualification and sets out what happens next: registration instructions and deadline, any Team Ireland requirements, the athlete information needed, championship fees where they apply, and the competition information itself.
Completing registration and returning information by the deadline is the athlete's responsibility.
Not sure whether a result counts?
Ask before you rely on it. If you are unsure whether your event, category or result is eligible, contact us — a much cheaper conversation before the entry deadline than after it.