Rochester, New York
 
  • Competition Divisions
There are two Divisions within the Empire State Games summer games:  Scholastic and Open.
 
A. Scholastic Division
  • Maximum Age:   An Applicant must be age 17 or younger as of August 31st in the year the summer games are held.
  • Minimum Age:   In the following contact sports an applicant also must be age 13 as of April 30th in the year the summer games are held; baseball, basketball, field hockey, ice hockey, judo, lacrosse, soccer, softball, volleyball and wrestling.
  • Sports With No Scholastic Divisions:  An applicant younger than age 18 may compete in the open division for a sport if the open division includes that sport but the scholastic division does not.

B. Open Division
  • Minimum Age:  An applicant must be age 18 or older as of August 31st in the year the summer games are held.  All open sports will have age classifications when appropriate to be sure athletes are competing with others of like age and abilities (please check sport listings).    
  • Exceptions
    1. Boxing
      • Age requirements will follow USA boxing rules which shall be posted on the Sport Listings page.
    2. Gymnastics
      • Scholastic and Open Divisions (Women) - Female gymnasts eligible for scholastic and open divisions must try out together.  The top seven qualifiers shall compete in the open division finals and the next seven regionals qualifiers shall compete in the scholastic division finals.  However, participants who are age 18 or older as of August 31st in the year the games are held must finish in the top seven at a regional trial and must compete in open division for finals.
      • Scholastic and Open  Divisions (Men) - A male gymnast who is eligible for the scholastic division may try out for the open division.  However, the gymnast must choose to participate in the open division by notifying the ESG men’s gymnastics coach and regional director before the regional trial begins.  In addition, the applicant must have a minimum score of 33.00 at the regional trials to compete at finals.
    3. Synchronized Swimming
      • Open division - Applicants must be at least age 12 as of April 30th in the year the summer games are held
    4. Sports with No Scholastic Divisions
      • An applicant younger than age 18 may compete in the open division for a sport if the open division includes that sport but the scholastic division does not.