We know how important the NCL Finals are to many of our athletes, parents and spectators – the passion of our community is invigorating and keeps us pushing to deliver the best events we can.

However, with great passion must also come great restraint to ensure a good time is had by all competitors, spectators and officials.

Below is a list of behaviour standards outlining what we expect from all competitors, parents and spectators at the NCL Finals 2025.

While not a formal code of conduct, if any competitor, parent or spectator breaks these standards, they will face consequences – with the severity at the sole discretion of the NCL commissioner depending on the extent of the violation.

1. Respect the officials

There is no Ninja Challenge League without the officials who run our events, so we expect all athletes, parents and spectators to treat them with respect.

This includes but is not limited to:

• listening to their directions on all matters relating to the competition, including leaving the course in a timely manner after your run is over or your time has run out
• being respectful when requesting a review of a red flag
• accepting the outcome of any yellow flag review
• refraining from any form of physical or verbal abuse of a specific referee, in person or online

It’s okay to express disappointment with the outcome of your run in person or online (you’re only human), but placing blame at the feet of the officials will not be tolerated.

Our officials are only human and may miss a call, but they do not have an agenda to promote or punish any particular athlete and are doing their very best to act with integrity to ensure a fair competition worthy of the amazing field of competitors taking part.

2. Respect the competitors

While there can only be one winner in any division, the real opponents at the NCL Finals are the three stages the athletes are trying to conquer. We expect all athletes and competitors to approach this event with a ninja vs the course mentality and focus on their own results instead of trying to bring down their fellow athletes. You don’t have to be friends with everyone in the ninja community, but you are expected to keep your behaviour civil when engaging with each other.

This includes but is not limited to:

• offering encouragement and words of support for all competitors, not just those you are personally close with
• refraining for any negative talk or implied negativity directed at a competitor before, during or after the competition either in person or on social media
• refraining from trying to distract or disrupt the run of any other competitor through our words or actions
• refraining from trying to get an official to review another competitor’s run if you feel they violated a rule but weren’t called

This last one is particularly important – not only is it a clear example of trying to bring someone else down, it is also not allowed under our review process. We strongly encourage all parents, athletes and spectators to read the rules and format section of your respective NCL Finals hub to ensure you are familiar with how the review process works, including what can and can’t be reviewed.

3. Respect the course

A lot of effort goes into designing and installing these courses to provide a fun and challenging experience for all competitors that mirrors the vibes of the original Ninja Warrior – Sasuke. This includes providing a fair playing field where competitors only get to touch the course for the first time in their official run. We ask you to recognise this effort and act accordingly.

This includes but is not limited to:

• refraining from sneaking onto the course to test the Finals obstacles before your official run on that stage
• staying within the designated spectator areas while runs are taking place – entering the active course area is not only unsafe, but can be detrimental to the performance of the athlete on the course

4. Respect the media team

We have invested a great deal of resources into ensuring the NCL Finals and Youth Finals are captured by our film crew and professional photographer. For them to do their jobs, they need space to operate and we expect all athletes and spectators to act accordingly.

This includes but is not limited to:

• listening to their directions when organising group photos and looking at the official photographer’s camera instead of a friend or family member’s phone until the official photos are taken
• giving way to the photographer and livestream crew as they follow the athletes around the course
• being aware of your surroundings when moving around the course and not stepping in front of the lens – particularly if you’re trying to film another competitor yourself
• remaining in the designated spectator area when trying to record your own footage of another competitor’s run

5. Respect the venue

The Finals wouldn’t be happening without our amazing hosts, Geelong Ninjas, so we ask that you treat their venue with the respect that merits.

This includes but is not limited to:

• disposing of rubbish appropriately – we don’t want to find a bunch of wrappers or used serviettes stuffed under a crash mat after the competition
• cleaning up after yourself when using the restroom
• refraining from bringing any foods onto the course area when it is open for spectators to sit on
• respecting signs indicating areas that are off-limits

If you have any questions about these standards, don’t hesitate to contact us at contact@ninjachallengeleague.com.