Biathlon: how it is set up and scored.
Biathlon is an individual sport combining cross-country skiing with rifle shooting, raced on a prepared snow course with a shooting range of five targets at 50 metres. Competitors ski set loops and stop to shoot between them, alternating prone and standing positions depending on the event. Each miss costs a penalty loop or added time, and the result is recorded as the total elapsed time. IBU Event and Competition Rules apply.
How biathlon is set up.
- Match
- 2 stages
- Squad
- 1 on the field per side, no rolling substitutes
- Scoring
- A score is a win; the result is in wins.
- Rules
- IBU Event and Competition Rules (2026)
How a result is recorded.
There is no lineup to pick in biathlon. A coach records these for each athlete at every competition.
Scoring and results
- Shot Hit
- Shot Missed
- Clean Stage (5 of 5)
- Race Win
- Podium Finish
- Top Ten Finish
Turnovers and non-finishes
- Penalty Loop
- Penalty Minute
- DNF (Did Not Finish)
Playmaking and performance
- Fastest Ski Time
Discipline
- Time Penalty
- Disqualified
Pick the shape, drag your players onto it and share the team sheet with parents before the game. The Vanta Club app is free.
