There are many resources on the internet to help you learn how to solve the cube. Here is one very nice beginner tutorial, however there are many others as well. Sometimes it takes watching a few different videos to find one that matches your individual learning style.

The World Cube Association (WCA) is the organization that governs competitions for twisty puzzles, of which the Rubik's Cube is the most well known. The WCA appoints delegates who are responsible for making sure that all WCA competitions are run according to the WCA's mission, spirit, and regulations. You will find one or more delegate at every WCA competition.

The Midwest Cubing Association is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization, run entirely by volunteers. If you would like to volunteer to help, please reach out to us on our Contact page with your ideas and we will get back to you as soon as we can!

A list of all US competitions can be found here. You can also find a link to all current MCA supported competitions here.

Of course not! If you can solve a cube you can compete! A big part of gong to competitions is the social aspect that takes place in between competing. That is a great time to learn new techniques, hear about different types of cubes and make friends. Most competitions have a 5 minute time limit for the 3x3x3 cube event. Each competition lists the time limits and cut-offs for each event. If you can solve the puzzle in that time YOU CAN COMPETE!

Anyone can compete at any age! Competitors range in age from 5-85 years, however most competitors are aged 10-20 years old. If you are considering coming to a competition - JUST DO IT! Competitions are a great experience regardless of age.

All competitors compete on the same level and all ages are welcome. WCA competitions are incredibly supportive environments and there is always a large range of ages and abilities.

First, you need to make sure you have created a WCA account. You can do this by going to the sign-up page on the WCA website and creating an account. Once you have created the account and confirmed your email address, go to the Register page of the competition and follow the instructions carefully. Registrations usually fill very quickly, so make sure to register early. If a competition has filled up we will add your name to the waiting list.

You will need to pay for the competition right after registering. Upon registering you will receive an email stating your registration has been submitted and pending approval. This does NOT mean that you are on the registration list. Competitors will not be approved until payment has been made. If the competition is full, you must pay the registration fee to be put on the waiting list. If spots do not open up by the time registration closes, your registration fee will be fully refunded.

There are currently 17 official WCA events. Not every competition will have every event, so make sure to look at the event tab to see what events are being held at your competition. Events will often have time limits. If you think you can solve in less than that time then you can compete.

Yes! Make sure to bring your own puzzles for all events you are competing in. There are 1000's of puzzles at these events so make sure you keep yours with you at all times.

Many competitors file their efforts during competitions. There are also often family and/or friends taking photos or video recordings. There are a few important rules to remember. Do NOT use flash; spectators MUST be 5 feet away from the solving station and competitors MUST NOT be able to see the screen of the camera.

Of course! Throughout the day we will need judges and sometimes runners so please see our delegates and organizers to ask how you can best assist. Parents and other spectators are welcome to help as well!

Yes! Although some competitions (especially post-COVID) may have spectator limits due to space constraints, if space is available we encourage and welcome spectators (any limitations will be on the competition website). It is often a good idea to come to a competition to see what it is all about. It can look a bit chaotic at first but they are well organized and everyone is very friendly!

The first steps in organizing a competition are finding a delegate in your area, coordinating the date with them, and securing a venue. You can find the more detailed steps about organizing a competition by reading through this page on our website: https://www.midwestcubing.org/processes-and-tools