Get Ready, Ontario!
NINJA MANIA is Coming!
April 24–26, 2026 — prepare to Bring It, Send It, and hit the Buzzer!
Location: Caledonia Fairgrounds, Caledonia, ON
NINJA MANIA will be three adrenaline charged days of excitement, where ninjas will compete to be crowned Ninja Mania Champions!
What to Expect
- NINJA MANIA will be a three-day event from April 24–26, 2026.
- Each division/gender will celebrate the following champions:
- Speed Course Champion
- Endurance Course Champion
- Head-to-Head Course Champion
- Overall Ninja Mania Champions (based on placings in Speed, Endurance, and Head-to-Head – All Athletes)
- Overall Provincial Champion (based on placings in Speed, Endurance, and Head-to-Head – Ontario Residents only)
- Qualified athletes may compete in 1, 2, or all 3 events (must compete in all 3 to qualify for overall Champion / Provincial Champion).
FINA Sectionals
- NOSO members will be able to add on FINA Sectional to their registration at 50% FINA Sectional Registration pricing.
- NON-NOSO members are able to compete in the SPEED and ENDURANCE Sectional Events.
- Top 8 athletes registered for FINA Sectional events will qualify for the FINA Championship in July (placed 9 and 10 will also qualify if they are Full Clears).
We Will Also Recognize
- Top 5 Leaderboard Athletes from the regular season
- Top Team (based on the Season Leaderboard)
- Various other Ninja Awards from the season, including:
- Spirit of Ninja Award
- Best Fail
- Best Save
- And more…
NINJA MANIA – Divisions
(introducing competition for different skill divisions)
After the season is concluded, athletes will be placed in one of three skill divisions: Championship, Intermediate, or Novice.
- Championships Division: Top 8 athletes, plus any add-ons. (Athletes ranked lower may be moved up by NOSO Committee based on NOSO or other league performances)
- Intermediate Division: The next 8 to 12 athletes. (Athletes ranked lower may be moved up by NOSO Committee based on NOSO or other league performances)
- Novice Division: The remaining athletes. There must be a minimum of 4 athletes left for the Novice division.
Athletes may be moved up in division (i.e. from Novice to Intermediate or from Intermediate to Champion) by the Ninja Mania committee if their performance in the NOSO season or in other leagues. This will be based on average placement NOT by season leaderboard points earned.
NOTE: All athletes within the same age group and gender will run the same course. Podium will be based only on their performance against others within their assigned skill division.
Adult/Masters/Elite: These categories will only compete in the Championship division.
Medal Recognition
- Championship Division: Top three (3) will receive Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals for Speed Course, Endurance Course, Head-to-Head Course, and Overall. (Must compete in all three Styles to be eligible for Overall Champion.)
- Provincial Champions will be the Top Ontario Athlete in the Championship Division Overall Category.
- Intermediate Division: Top three (3) will receive Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals for Speed Course, Endurance Course, Head-to-Head Course, and Overall. (Must compete in all three Styles to be eligible for Overall Champion.)
- Novice Division: The top three (3) will receive pewter-coloured medals for Speed Course, Endurance Course, and Head-to-Head Course.
Ontario! Let’s Go!
Accommodations
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Brantford
27 Sinclair Boulevard, Brantford, ON
Group rate available:
- April 23: $145 + tax per night
- April 24–25: $175 + tax per night
The rate includes breakfast and wifi.
Please call guest services 226-368-1100 if you need help with booking.
Other hotels around Caledonia:
UPDATED INFORMATION for NINJA MANIA ‘26
Course Design Clarification
No one involved in coaching or running the courses at NINJA MANIA is involved in the course design. Course design is managed by a three-person committee with three additional consultants in the US.
Championship Finals Rule: No Floor Contact
For the Championships finals, any floor contact (grazing, dapping, or unauthorized touching) will result in an automatic failure. This rule is absolute and is not subject to referee or judge interpretation during the finals.
The initial ruling of failure can only be overturned with 100% video evidence submitted via a review form.
Note on Interpretation: We acknowledge that different judges may have varying interpretations of “grazing.” For Ninja Mania, this rule will be applied strictly, with absolutely NO INTERPRETATION allowed.
This rule is also in effect for the FINA CHAMPIONSHIPS.
Competition Options & FINA Qualification
- NOSO members have the option to compete for the NOSO Championships (considered Provincial Championship) only.
- If a NOSO member has qualified for a FINA Sectional, they may also register for the qualified Sectional competition (Endurance/Speed/Both). NOSO members will receive 50% Sectional Registration Pricing.
- NON-NOSO members who have qualified for a FINA Sectional may register to compete in their qualified respective Sectional.
- For the FINA Sectionals, the top 8 athletes qualify for the FINA Endurance or Speed Championships in July. Athletes in 9th and 10th place also qualify if they achieve Full Clears.
- To compete at the FINA Championships, athletes must qualify for each discipline separately (Endurance and Speed). Qualification in either discipline qualifies the athlete to compete in the FINA Head to Head in July.
- At Ninja Mania, divisions with multiple skill levels (Intermediate / Novice, aside from Championship) will run the same course as others in their age group, but will only compete against athletes in their own skill level.
Overall and Provincial Champion
Overall Provincial Championships are determined by the top Ontario athlete in the Championship Division, based on the combined placing across all three events: Endurance, Speed, and Head To Head. (Note: The Overall NINJA MANIA Champion may be different from the Provincial Champion).
Equipment Needed
The NOSO board will be reaching out to all gyms to request assistance with crash pads, bars, start/stop platforms, and some obstacles.
NINJA MANIA Event Schedule and Course Details
The event spans three full days, from Friday, April 24th, to Sunday, April 26th, 2026. ALL NOSO/FINA rules will apply to the respective events.
Day 1: Friday, April 24th, 2026 — Endurance Competition
The Course/Event
- Only 1 run on the course will determine both podiums – NOSO / FINA.
- The 12-obstacle course is designed to become progressively more challenging.
- Since there are no retries on obstacles, the course will have few, if any, “tricky” obstacles.
- The course will be grip/upper body heavy, with the second half serving as a burnout section featuring short grip obstacles. Older divisions will have minimal to no platforms in the second half.
Friday, April 24, 2026 — Endurance Course “TENTATIVE” Schedule
| Time | Categories |
|---|---|
| 9:00 AM | 7U Male, 11U Female, 13U Male |
| 10:30 AM | 7U Female |
| 11:00 AM | 11U Male |
| 12:00 PM | 9U Young Adult Female |
| 12:30 PM | 9U Female |
| 2:00 PM | Young Adult Male |
| 2:30 PM | 9U Male |
| 3:30 PM | 13U Female |
| 6:00 PM | Master, Adult, Elite |
Podium Ceremonies
- Medal Podium Ceremony for the NOSO Endurance Ninja Championship (for NOSO Members).
- Medal Podium Ceremony for the FINA Endurance Sectional Championship (for athletes registered for the FINA Sectional).
- Podiums for each skill level and division will occur approximately 15–30 minutes after their run.
Day 2: Saturday, April 25th, 2026 — Speed Competition
The Course/Event
- Athletes will have 2 runs, and the best run will determine both podiums, NOSO / FINA.
- The course is set up for speed, emphasizing floor movements, air travel, and body positioning.
- Since there are no retries on obstacles, the course will have few, if any, “tricky” obstacles.
- The 8-obstacle course focuses on quick movements with a tight timeline.
Saturday, April 25, 2026 — Speed Course “TENTATIVE” Schedule
| Time | Event/Category |
|---|---|
| 8:30 AM | 7U Female, 9U Female, 11U Female |
| 9:45 AM | 7U Male |
| 10:00 AM | 9U Male, 11U Male |
| 10:30 AM | Every Day Ninja Contest (Course Open to Public) |
| 11:00 AM | Ninja Mania Ceremonies Athletes Parade Season Award Winners A look at our first season A look to next season |
| 12:15 PM | 9U Male, 11U Male |
| 12:45 PM | 13U Female |
| 1:15 PM | 9U Male, 11U Male |
| 1:45 PM | 13U Male |
| 2:30 PM | Young Adult |
| 3:00 PM | Masters, Adult, Elite |
Podium Ceremonies
- Medal Podium Ceremony for the NOSO Speed Ninja Championship (for NOSO Members).
- Medal Podium Ceremony for the FINA Speed Sectional Championship (for athletes registered for the FINA Sectional).
- Podiums for each skill level and division will occur approximately 15–30 minutes after their run.
Day 3: Sunday, April 26th, 2026 — Head to Head Competition
This is a NOSO Member event only. All registered NOSO athletes will compete in the Head to Head Competition.
The Course/Event
- Each athlete is guaranteed 2 runs.
- The course is a straight 50m course for all divisions, except for the Elite division (100m).
- The course will incorporate dynamics from the Olympic Pentathlon along with traditional Ninja Obstacles.
Schedule and Format by Division
| Time Slot | Divisions | Format | Seeding/Runs | Qualification/Finals | Podium Time (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | 7U, Adult, Masters | 2-Lane, Double Knockout | 1 Seeding Run | Placed into competition bracket. | 11:30 am |
| Afternoon | 9U, 11U | 4-Lane Bracket Elimination | 2 Seeding Runs (best run counts) | Rd of 16 (4 heats) → Rd of 8 (2 heats) → Championship (1 heat). | 3:00 pm |
| Afternoon/Evening | 13U, Young Adult, Elite | 13U/Young Adult: 4-Lane Bracket Elimination. Elite: Double Knockout (100m course). | 13U/YA: 2 Seeding Runs (best run counts). Elite: 1 Seeding Run. | 13U/YA: Rd of 16 (4 heats) → Rd of 8 (2 heats) → Championship (1 heat). Elite runs are interspersed with 13U/YA runs to allow rest. | 7:00 pm |
4-Lane Head-to-Head Format
Seeding & Qualification
Each athlete will complete two runs on the course. Their best time from these two attempts will serve as their qualifying time. The top 16 athletes will advance to the Bracket Rounds.
Bracket Rounds Progression
- Round of 16: Four heats will be run. The 1st place finisher in each heat, along with the next four fastest times, will advance to the next round.
- Round of 8: Two heats will be run. The 1st place finisher in each heat, along with the next two fastest times, will advance.
- Championship: One final heat will determine the Championship podium finishers.
A Medal Podium Ceremony for the NOSO Overall and Provincial Championship will be done with the Head to Head Medal ceremony.
Please note that all the information provided is tentative and subject to change without prior notice. While we strive to maintain everything as stated, unforeseen circumstances or the discovery of better methods may necessitate adjustments. We sincerely appreciate your patience and support as we launch the inaugural season of the Ninja Obstacle Sports Ontario (NOSO) League.