Eligibility Requirements

Clubs

• All clubs must be registered with USATF for 2009 or 2010. Please submit your club application to your local Association office.
• Only teams consisting of duly accredited representatives of a member club shall be eligible to score as a team.
• All athletes entering as part of a club must be affiliated with that club as part of their USATF membership (an athlete's current affiliation can be viewed in his/her membership profile and as part of the online entry process) and meet the requirements of USATF Competition Rule 4. Athletes wishing to change affiliations can make such a request through their local Association (note that this request must be made by the athlete--see Regulation 7 in the USATF Governance Manual, Section III).
• The formation of club teams must meet all of the parameters as noted in Regulations 4 and 8 in the USATF Governance Handbook, Section III and the USATF Rules of Competition, specifically Rule 4. This will be strictly enforced. Please note that in Long Distance Running, an athlete who is a non-resident member of an Association is eligible to compete for a team in that Association only if the athlete: (a) resides in an adjoining Association and the Association of residence does not offer the program, or (b) neither the Association of residence nor any Association adjoining the Association of residence offers the program. ( c) has historical membership based upon Association residency (at least 3 continuous USATF membership years) in a club and is eligible to compete for that club.

Open Athletes

• Only citizens of the United States are eligible to compete in these Championships.
• Female athletes must be 14 years or older and male athletes must be 16 years or older on the day of competition.

Masters Athletes

• Only citizens of the United States or resident aliens are eligible to compete in these Championships.  However, only U.S. citizens may score or win championship medals.
• Athletes must be 40 years or older on the day of competition.
• All masters athletes must wear a back number showing age division. Runners without back numbers will be subject to disqualification.

All Athletes

• All athletes must be U.S. citizens (with the exception of Masters athletes, who may also be resident aliens).
• All athletes must be 2009 or 2010 members of USATF in good standing. USATF memberships may be purchased online, through your local Association Office, or by calling the USATF National Office at 317-713-4665.
• Club affiliation: Athletes must be bona fide members of a 2009 or 2010 USATF club in order to represent a club and score team points. All athletes entering as part of a club must be affiliated with that club as part of their USATF membership (an athlete's current affiliation can be viewed in his/her membership profile and as part of the online entry process). Athletes wishing to change affiliations can make such a request through their local Association (note that this request must be made by the athlete--see Regulation 7 in the USATF Governance Manual, Section III).
• Unattached athletes are encouraged to join a local club or create a new club. Contact your local Association for information on starting your own club. "Unattached/Non-Scoring" athletes (those athletes not with a registered USATF club) may participate but will not be factored into team scores.
• There are no performance standards to participate.