Running Competitions

BoxApp’s competition management system helps you organize throwdowns, in-house competitions, and community events. Handle athlete registration, event creation, judging, and live scoring all in one platform.

Overview

The Competitions module provides:

Competition creation and scheduling
Athlete registration and division management
Event/workout builder integration
Judge assignment and certification tracking
Scoring system with tiebreakers
Leaderboard generation
Results export

Creating a Competition

Open Competition Creator

Click the “CREATE COMPETITION” button on the Competitions page. This opens the competition setup form with a trophy-themed interface.

Enter Competition Details

Basic Information

Competition Name (Required)
Give your competition a memorable name:

“Spring Showdown 2026”
“Holiday Throwdown”
“Box Championships”

Description (Optional)
Brief overview of the competition:

Format (individual/team)
Target audience (RX/Scaled/Masters)
Special notes or theme

Use clear, descriptive names that indicate the competition level and time period. Athletes often search by date or difficulty.

Set Competition Dates

Start Date (Required)
First day of competitionEnd Date (Required)
Last day of competition (can be same as start for single-day events)The system uses these dates to:

Determine competition status
Calculate registration deadlines
Order competitions chronologically

Launch Competition

Click “LAUNCH COMPETITION” to create it.The competition is created with:

Status: upcoming
Box ID: Your current box
Empty participant and event lists
Ready for configuration

Competitions start in “upcoming” status. You’ll manually change this to “active” when the competition begins and “finished” when complete.

Competition Status Workflow

Status Types

Status	Meaning	Displayed In
Upcoming	Not yet started	Active tab
Scheduled	Date set, not started	Active tab
Active	Currently running	Active tab
Finished	Competition complete	Past tab
Completed	Final results posted	Past tab

Typical Competition Lifecycle

Create → upcoming
  ↓
Athletes register
  ↓
Start day arrives → active
  ↓
Events run, scores recorded
  ↓
Last event finishes → finished
  ↓
Results verified → completed

Keep status updated so athletes know which competitions are open for registration vs which are live vs which have final results.

Competition Cards

Information Display

Each competition card shows: Header:

Status badge (colored by status type)
Competition name (large, bold, italic)
Description (2-line preview)

Date Range:

Calendar icon
Start to end date formatted

Stats (two-column grid):

Athletes: Registered participant count
Events: Number of workouts/tests

Footer Actions:

Athletes management
Events management
Judges management
Scoring management
“DETAIL” button (opens full manager)

The cards are organized into Active and Past tabs. Active shows upcoming/active/scheduled competitions, Past shows finished/completed.

Managing Participants

Click “Athletes” or “DETAIL” → Participants tab

Adding Athletes

Open Participant Manager

From the competition detail view, navigate to the Participants tab.

Add Individual Athletes

Click “ADD ATHLETE” and:

Search your member list
Select division (RX/Scaled/Masters, etc.)
Confirm addition

Athletes are added with:

Registration timestamp
Initial score of 0
Assigned division
Linked to competition ID

Bulk Registration (Optional)

Use bulk tools to:

Import from CSV
Select multiple from member list
Copy from previous competition

Division Management

Create divisions to segment your leaderboard: Common Division Examples:

RX Men / RX Women
Scaled Men / Scaled Women
Masters 40+ / Masters 50+
Teen / Youth
Team (2-person, 4-person, etc.)

Divisions must be created before adding athletes. You cannot change an athlete’s division after registration without removing and re-adding them.

Creating Events

Click “Events” or “DETAIL” → Events tab

Event Builder

Events are the workouts/tests athletes will complete:

Add New Event

Click “ADD EVENT” to open the event form.Event Name: “Event 1”, “Snatch Ladder”, “Finale”, etc.
Description: Workout details and standards

Design Workout

You have two options:Option 1: Use WOD Designer

Access the full block-based designer
Build structured workout with movements
Set time caps and formats
Add scaling options

Option 2: Free Text

Enter workout as plain text
Copy/paste from external sources
Simpler for standard formats

Set Scoring Type

Choose how this event is scored:

Time: Finish time (For Time format)
Reps: Total reps completed (AMRAP)
Load: Max weight lifted (1RM tests)
Points: Custom point system

Scoring type determines how results are sorted on the leaderboard. “Time” sorts ascending (fastest first), “Reps” and “Load” sort descending (highest first).

Configure Tiebreakers

Set tiebreaker rules for when scores are identical:Examples:

“Time to complete 21 thrusters”
“Max unbroken reps in first set”
“Lightest bodyweight” (for relative strength events)

Save Event

Event is added to competition with:

Sequential ordering
Linked to competition ID
Ready for score submission

Event Standards

For each event, document:

Movement standards (video links helpful)
Equipment requirements
Safety considerations
Judging criteria
Penalties for no-reps

Clear standards reduce judging disputes and ensure fair competition. Include video demonstrations when possible.

Judge Management

Click “Judges” or manage judges section

Assigning Judges

Access Judge Panel

Open the Judges tab in competition management.

Add Judges

Select from:

Your coaching staff
Certified CrossFit judges
Volunteer athletes

Each judge needs:

Name and contact
Certification level (optional)
Assigned lanes or heats

Assign to Heats

Match judges to:

Specific athletes
Lanes or stations
Heat numbers

Ensures even coverage and prevents conflicts of interest.

Judge Cards

The interface displays judges with:

Name
Certification badge (if applicable)
Assigned heat/lane
Contact button

Never assign a judge to score their own heat or family members. This maintains competition integrity.

Scoring System

Click “Scoring” or configure scoring rules

Scoring Methods

Points-Based Scoring

How it works:

Each event awards points based on placement
1st place = 100 pts, 2nd = 95 pts, 3rd = 90 pts, etc.
Overall winner = highest cumulative points

Best for: Multi-event competitions, CrossFit Games style

Placing-Based Scoring

How it works:

Each event awards place (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
Overall winner = lowest cumulative placement
Example: 3 first places + 1 second = score of 5

Best for: Olympic-style competitions, local throwdowns

Time-Based Scoring

How it works:

Total time across all events
Fastest cumulative time wins

Best for: Sprint-style competitions, time trials

Configuring Scoring Rules

Open Scoring Settings

Navigate to the Scoring tab in competition management.

Select Scoring Method

Choose your primary scoring method from the dropdown:

Points (CrossFit Games format)
Placing (Simple ranking)
Time (Cumulative)
Custom (Define your own)

Set Point Breakdown (if points-based)

Define points per placement:

1st: 100 points
2nd: 95 points  
3rd: 90 points
4th: 85 points
...

Or use preset scales like:

Linear (100, 95, 90, 85…)
Tiered (100, 90, 80, 70…)
Winner-heavy (100, 80, 70, 65…)

Configure Tiebreaker Priority

Set what breaks ties at the overall level:

Event-specific tiebreakers
Head-to-head results
Last event placement
Total reps (if applicable)

For first-time competitions, use the standard CrossFit Games point system (100, 95, 90, 85…). It’s familiar to athletes and handles ties well.

Submitting Scores

Score Entry Workflow

Navigate to Leaderboard

From competition detail, open the Leaderboard or Scores tab.

Select Event

Choose which event you’re entering scores for:

Event 1, Event 2, etc.
Shows list of registered athletes

Enter Athlete Score

For each athlete:For Time events:

Enter finish time (MM:SS format)
Record tiebreaker time if applicable
Mark DNF if did not finish

For AMRAP events:

Enter total reps completed
Record tiebreaker if applicable

For Load events:

Enter max weight achieved
Note attempts if relevant

Validate Score

Judges can:

Approve score (green check)
Contest score (red flag)
Add notes or video review

Requiring judge validation adds an approval step before scores go live on the leaderboard.

Publish Results

Once all scores for an event are entered and validated:

Click “PUBLISH EVENT RESULTS”
Scores become visible to athletes
Leaderboard updates automatically

Score Display

Leaderboard shows:

Athlete name and division
Per-event scores
Overall placement
Total points/time
Gap to leader (“Behind by 15 pts”)

Live Leaderboard

Real-Time Updates

As scores are submitted:

Leaderboard recalculates
Athlete rankings shift
Points/placements update
Graphs show progress

Athletes and spectators can:

View live standings
Filter by division
See event-by-event breakdown
Track their position

Leaderboard Features

Division Filters: Toggle between divisions
Event Tabs: See standings after each event
Overall Tab: Cumulative scores
Podium View: Top 3 highlighted
Mobile Optimized: Responsive on all devices

Display the leaderboard on a TV or projector at your box during the competition. Athletes love seeing live updates!

Advanced Features

Team Competitions

For team events:

Create team entries (not individual athletes)
Register team members under team name
Enter combined scores
Calculate team totals

Multi-Division Competitions

Run parallel divisions:

Each division has own leaderboard
Share same events
Different scaling options
Separate awards

Heat Management

Organize athletes into heats:

Assign based on seeding
Balance judge coverage
Optimize flow and timing
Track heat completion status

Competition Day Workflow

Before Competition

Finalize Registration

Close registration 24-48 hours before
Verify all athletes paid
Confirm division assignments
Send final athlete briefing

Prepare Events

Publish event details
Set up equipment
Brief judges on standards
Test scoring system

Athlete Check-In

Verify registration
Collect waivers
Assign bib numbers
Conduct athlete briefing

During Competition

Run Events: Execute according to schedule
Enter Scores: Submit after each heat
Update Leaderboard: Publish event results
Monitor Standings: Check for ties or disputes
Communicate: Announce next heats and rankings

After Competition

Verify Final Scores: Double-check for errors
Apply Tiebreakers: Resolve any ties
Set Status to Finished: Lock leaderboard
Award Ceremony: Announce winners
Export Results: Save for records

Best Practices

Planning

Start Early: Create competition 4-6 weeks in advance
Clear Communication: Detailed athlete packet with all info
Test Systems: Do a dry-run with test data
Backup Plan: Have paper score sheets ready

Event Design

Variety: Mix time, load, and rep-based events
Scalability: Provide clear scaling options
Safety: No excessively dangerous movements
Feasibility: Ensure events are completable in time cap

Always have a medical professional on-site during competitions. Athletes push harder in competitive environments.

Judging

Ratios: 1 judge per 4-5 athletes minimum
Training: Brief judges before each event
Consistency: Use same standards for all heats
Video: Record workouts when possible for review

Troubleshooting

Athlete registered in wrong division

To fix:

Remove athlete from competition
Re-add with correct division
Manually re-enter any scores they had

Division changes after scores are entered require data migration.

Score entry error

If a score was entered incorrectly:

Navigate to that event’s scores
Find the athlete
Click edit icon
Update score
Republish event results

The leaderboard recalculates automatically.

Leaderboard not updating

Check:

Event results are published (not just saved)
Scoring method is configured
No validation errors on scores
Browser cache cleared

Republishing event results usually fixes this.

Tiebreaker not working

Ensure:

Tiebreaker field is filled for all tied athletes
Tiebreaker format matches (all times or all reps)
Tiebreaker rules are configured in settings

Export and Reporting

Available Exports

Final Results: PDF or CSV with all placements
Division Leaderboards: Separate files per division
Event Breakdowns: Per-event results and stats
Athlete Performance: Individual athlete report cards

Share leaderboard URL publicly
Post to social media with auto-generated graphics
Email results to all participants
Print certificates for podium finishers

Save your competition configuration as a template. You can duplicate it for next year’s event with all the same settings and event structures.

Get Started

Core Features

User Roles

Guides

​Running Competitions

​Overview

​Creating a Competition

​Basic Information

​Competition Status Workflow

​Status Types

​Typical Competition Lifecycle

​Competition Cards

​Information Display

​Managing Participants

​Adding Athletes

​Division Management

​Creating Events

​Event Builder

​Event Standards

​Judge Management

​Assigning Judges

​Judge Cards

​Scoring System

​Scoring Methods

​Points-Based Scoring

​Placing-Based Scoring

​Time-Based Scoring

​Configuring Scoring Rules

​Submitting Scores

​Score Entry Workflow

​Score Display

​Live Leaderboard

​Real-Time Updates

​Leaderboard Features

​Advanced Features

​Team Competitions

​Multi-Division Competitions

​Heat Management

​Competition Day Workflow

​Before Competition

​During Competition

​After Competition

​Best Practices

​Planning

​Event Design

​Judging

​Troubleshooting

​Export and Reporting

​Available Exports

​Sharing Results

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Running Competitions

Overview

Creating a Competition

Basic Information

Competition Status Workflow

Status Types

Typical Competition Lifecycle

Competition Cards

Information Display

Managing Participants

Adding Athletes

Division Management

Creating Events

Event Builder

Event Standards

Judge Management

Assigning Judges

Judge Cards

Scoring System

Scoring Methods

Points-Based Scoring

Placing-Based Scoring

Time-Based Scoring

Configuring Scoring Rules

Submitting Scores

Score Entry Workflow

Score Display

Live Leaderboard

Real-Time Updates

Leaderboard Features

Advanced Features

Team Competitions

Multi-Division Competitions

Heat Management

Competition Day Workflow

Before Competition

During Competition

After Competition

Best Practices

Planning

Event Design

Judging

Troubleshooting

Export and Reporting

Available Exports

Sharing Results