Below I have outlined key portions of the new USAT Division and Qualfication information for competition.
Specifically note the change in divisions:
Color Belt Sparring – Dragon(6‐7), Ninja(8‐9), Youth(10‐11), Cadet(12‐14), Junior(15‐17), Senior(18‐32) & Ultra(33+)
Black Belt Sparring – Dragon(6‐7), Ninja(8‐9), Youth(10‐11), Cadet(12‐14) & Ultra(33+)
World Class:
Also in 2013 there is a Cadet World Class Division.
Take a minute to review the information below taken directly from the USAT web site.
Thank You,
Shane Merem
Michigan Sport Taekwondo
www.michigansporttaekwondo.com
contact@michigansporttaekwondo.com
Athlete Qualifications & Divisions
All USAT State Championships will use the same age, belt color, weight categories and rules that are followed at the USAT National Championships. See the appropriate attachments for a complete list of these divisions.
A State Championship may choose to add divisions other than the required divisions, but these divisions will not qualify athletes to compete at the USAT National Championships.
**USAT uses the date December 31 of the given year(December 31, 2013) to determine the age of all competitors. For example: an athlete turns 15 on October 26, 2013, so they would compete as a 15 year old in the given event, even though they are 14 years old at the time of the event.
USAT State Championships are direct qualifiers for the USAT National Championships. For certain divisions an athlete must be a U.S. Citizen in order to compete in. Those divisions are usually ones that lead to USA Taekwondo National Teams or Team Trials. Basic rule is 14 and older black belts competing in sparring or poomsae must be a U.S. Citizen.
Proof of Citizenship is fulfilled only by showing a U.S. Birth Certificate or U.S. Passport. Social Security Cards DO NOT prove proof of Citizenship.
Proof of Residency is fulfilled only by showing one of the following documents: Social Security Card, Green Card, school report card/official U.S. college transcript, and in some circumstances a valid U.S. driver's license.
If an individual is not a valid resident or U.S. citizen he/she will not be allowed to compete at the USAT National Championships or State Championships period. This rule must be enforced by all State
Associations. If it is deemed that the State Association allowed participation from a non‐resident or non‐citizen USAT may reconsider approving the State Association for the following year. 2013 USAT National Championships Qualifications
All athletes participating in the following divisions at a sanctioned USAT State Championship will automatically qualify to compete at the USAT National Championships.
**The word participating means athletes must have officially weighed‐in at the event scales and/or participated on the competition mats in front of the event referees and received a place within the division.**
SPARRING
Color Belt Sparring – Dragon(6‐7), Ninja(8‐9), Youth(10‐11), Cadet(12‐14), Junior(15‐17), Senior(18‐32) & Ultra(33+)
Black Belt Sparring – Dragon(6‐7), Ninja(8‐9), Youth(10‐11), Cadet(12‐14) & Ultra(33+)
POOMSAE
Color Belt Poomsae – Dragon(6‐7), Ninja(8‐9), Youth(10‐11), Cadet(12‐14), Junior(15‐17), 1st Senior(18‐29), 2nd Senior (30‐39) & 1st, 2nd, 3rd Masters(40+)
Athletes must compete in the age category according to the age he/she will be as of December 31, 2013.
World Class vs. Grass Roots
All athletes placing in the top 4 per weight category in the following divisions at a sanctioned USAT State Championship will automatically qualify to compete in the World Class Divisions at the USAT National Championships. Those athletes placing outside the top 4 will qualify for the Grass Roots divisions at the USAT National Championships.
SPARRING
Black Belt Sparring – Junior(15‐17), Senior(18‐32) & **Cadet(12‐14)
**USAT will offer Cadet World Class divisions at the USAT National Championships. These divisions will follow Adult Sparring rules. The divisions are considered “open” to any eligible cadet athlete who participated at a USAT State Championships. Athletes cannot compete in both the Cadet Grass Roots and Cadet World Class division. They must choose the divisions appropriate to their skill level at the time of registration.
POOMSAE
Black Belt Individual Poomsae – Junior(15‐17), 1st Senior(18‐29), 2nd Senior(30‐39), 1st Masters(40‐49), 2nd Masters(50‐59), & 3rd Masters(60+)
Black Belt Pairs Poomsae – Junior Pairs (15‐17), 1st Pairs(18‐29), 2nd Pairs(30+)
Black Belt Team Poomsae – Junior Team (15‐17), 1st Team(18‐29), 2nd Team(30+)
**An athlete MAY NOT QUALIFY in the same WORLD CLASS weight category in MULTIPLE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS. Athletes found doing so may jeopardize their qualification for the USAT National Championships. **
Coaching Requirements
All coaches ARE required to hold at minimum an Associate Coach (AC) Certification within the USA
Taekwondo CIDP program and be a current member of USA Taekwondo. Coaches may obtain the AC
certification by passing the Associate Coach Quiz within the Hang‐a‐star system.
Age/Weight Divisions (click to view divisions)
2013 Male Sparring Age/Weight Divisions
2013 Female Sparring Age/Weight Divisions
Individual Poomsae Divisions
Misc. Information
-- If an athlete wants to compete in both Junior and Senior divisions, they must compete andqualify for both divisions.
-- Winner of these Grass Roots divisions will automatically qualify for the corresponding World Class division at the USAT National Championships. The winner will receive the last seed in theirqualifying World Class division.
--Once qualified for World Class, an athlete is not eligible for Grass Roots divisions. Exception – If a coach/parent provides to the USAT Director of Events a legitimate reason an athlete should not compete in the World Class division. If approved, the athlete will be placed in appropriate Grass Root division, but cannot move back to the World Class division if they place 1st at the USAT National Championships.
