FAQs

It is clear in the ILS Handbook for LWC2026 that a Youth or Open National Team may consist of a minimum of one competitor and a maximum of six women and a maximum of six men competitors (12 in total).  It is not mandatory to have both men and women competitors in a team. National Teams may not increase the number of entered men or women competitors beyond six men and six women (reference Part B, Section 14.2f).

It is also clear in the ILS Handbook for LWC2026 that a Youth or Open  Interclub Team may consist of a minimum of one competitor and a maximum of 10 women and a maximum of 10 men competitors (20 in total).  It is not mandatory to have both men and women competitors in a team. Interclub Teams may not increase the number of entered men or women competitors beyond 10 men and 10 women (reference Part B, Section 14.4f).

i.e. It is not permitted in the rules to pre-nominate reserves for the Open and Youth ILS National Teams or Interclub LWCs.

However, prior to the closure of entries on Friday, 30 October 2026 teams are free to change their entered athletes using the Live Heats entry system (reference Part B, Section 15.1 of the ILS Handbook for LWC2026).

Following the closing date of entries and up to 48 hours prior to the team’s first entry into the relative LWC point score event, a Team Manager may request approval from the LWC organisers to change their team’s size up to the maximum permitted under the rules or change particular competitors (up to the maximum 6 males and 6 women competitors for National Teams and 10/10 for Interclub Teams) event (reference Part B, Section 15.1 and 15.5)

Upon application such requests are usually granted by the Event Management Committee (EMC).

The EMC also recognise that illness, injury or other personal circumstances may result in a team seeking to make a change after the 48 hour window closes and before a LWC commences.

An example of this may be a competitor who has competed in the National Teams LWC and is also entered to participate in the Interclub Teams LWC but is , say, injured or otherwise becomes unwell, and cannot compete in the Interclub Teams LWC.

The EMC will consider genuine applications for substitutions and may approve a substitution up until two hours before the commencement of the first event in a Championship (note for LWC 2026 the first events conducted are the SERC events  for both the National Teams and Interclub LWCs).  The application process for this is detailed at Part B, Section 15.5 of the ILS Handbook for LWC2026.

The absolute cut off dates and times for the receipt of applications for each of the Open and Youth National Teams and Interclub LWCs in 2026 are:

• 6am on Wednesday, 2 December 2026 for the National Teams Youth LWC.
• 12 Noon on Wednesday, 2 December 2026 for the National Teams Open LWC.
• 6am on Monday, 7 December 2026 for the Interclub Teams Youth LWC.
• 12 Noon on Monday, 7 December 2026 for the Interclub Teams Open LWC.

 Please note that should the EMC approve a change in team competitor composition it will be done so on the basis that the competitor coming into the team is eligible to participate at the LWC for the team.  ILS will check with the National Federation and there may be significant disciplinary consequences if it is subsequently determined that the substitute competitor is not eligible to participate in the LWC.

Please also note that once the first event conducted in a LWC no change of the competitors who comprise a team is permitted (reference Part B, Section 15.5a Note 1[and also Note 2 exception for Surf Boats]).  However, during a LWC substitution of competitors within the entered team is permitted as per the standard competitor substitution rules for individual and team events (reference Part B, Section 15.6 and 15.7 of the ILS LWC 2026 Handbook).”