All invitationals included in the Nastia Liukin Cup series will each qualify one (1) Junior and one (1) Senior athlete to the Nastia Liukin Cup.
Age determination: Athletes will be grouped into one of the below age groups, based on their age as of December 31, 2025
- Junior (JR): age 16 and under / born 2009 or later
- Senior (SR): age 17 and older / born 2008 or prior
The following athletes are INELIGIBLE to qualify to the Nastia Liukin Cup:
- Any athlete who has competed in a Winter Cup, Classic or Championship meet an Elite (Jr. or Sr.) athlete, but has NOT completed the Elite Drop Back petition process.
- Elite athletes are allowed to compete in invitationals as Open athletes, but if the intention is to qualify for any Development Program events (including the Nastia Liukin Cup), an Elite Drop Back petition must be received.
- Individuals with a USAG Foreign Athlete membership
- Non-US citizen athletes residing in the United States ARE eligible to qualify.
- Current National Team members
- Any athlete who has been a member of the National Team within 6 months of the Nastia Liukin Cup competition date.
TIES
At a NLCup series qualifying invitational:
- All-Around ties WILL be broken:
- The athlete with the highest individual event score receives the award for the tied place.
- If the athletes are still tied, then the athlete with the second highest individual event score receives the award. This continues through the third highest individual event score.
At the NASTIA LIUKIN CUP:
- All-Around ties WILL NOT be broken:
- If there is a tie for first place, both athletes are champions and will be announced as such.
- In the case of ties for 2nd or 3rd place, athletes will be announced as being tied for that rank.