The US Model Rocket Sporting Code ("Pink Book") describes rules for 27 different rocket competition events. The Pink Book is a free benefit of NAR membership.

NAR Competition covers three skill areas:

Altitude - How to maximize altitude without just switching to a more powerful motor? There is more to optimizing a model rocket for increased altitude performance than making it as light and small as possible. Model rockets that consistently and reliably outperform other similar models typically exhibit a high degree of craftsmanship. In order to be tracked, your model must be made visible at apogee, and for some events be able to recover it.

Duration - Merely getting a model rocket to drift away to the next county is only a fringe benefit to challenging the NAR member to develop skills in reliable recovery system deployment. Imagine building model rockets that never lawn dart, parachutes that always deploy, shock cords that never break, and gliders that never crash. This is what top competitors have spent years trying to achieve, and have spent just as long in teaching others how to do.

Craftsmanship - Building beautiful flying scale models of sounding rockets, missiles, and space launch vehicles can be an engrossing and rewarding pastime. Many NAR members devote all of their hobby-time to building such models. NAR competition offers you the opportunity to showcase and improve on your talents.

Additionally, there is another category of events that do not quite fit into any of the above categories.

Miscellaneous Events - Spot Landing and Research and Development are two of the most popular of the miscellaneous events.

The National Association of Rocketry Annual Meet (NARAM) is the NAR's annual model rocketry championship. This is the big meet, where NAR members from around the world gather for a week-long rocketeers' reunion.

The first NARAM was held in 1959, just two years after the NAR was formed. It was, and still is, primarily a National Championship, where the best compete for top National standing. Winners earn recognition for their achievement, and trophies are awarded for the top places in each event, for the NARAM Champions, and for the overall National Champions.

Probably the most important reason people keep coming back to NARAM year after year is because it is a chance to get together with acquaintances and friends and have fun. There are numerous activities than run day and night. Anything from informal bull sessions back at the hotel, to more formal activities. Below is a list of just some of the activities that you can expect to find at NARAM.

Sport Flying

A sport range is maintained starting the weekend before the competition range opens on Monday. Some NAR members come to NARAM just to fly rockets for a whole week at the sport range. What a vacation opportunity! If a week-long FAA waiver is granted, NAR members can fly High Power Rockets (HPR) all week. Level 2 HPR certification exams are usually given on the first weekend of NARAM, and then aspirants have a whole week to prepare for and make their certification flights.

Radio-Controlled Rocket Glider Championship - R/C rocket glider enthusiasts face off for a friendly show down. Experienced volunteer instructors may also be on hand to teach you how to fly an R/C rocket glider.

Manufacturer's Forum - The manufacturers who support our hobby come to NARAM to talk about their latest products and answer your questions. This is a chance to see the latest gear and meet the manufacturers.

Reseach and Development Presentations - This is where NAR members present the results of their research and development efforts. Many of the latest trends and innovations of our hobby have made their debut at a NARAM R&D presentation.

Scale Rocketry Display - Probably the only place that one will ever see 100-200 scale model rockets in one room. These models represent the best efforts of modelers from all over the country.