Senior Competition Opportunity

Selection Criteria for the

2006 Pan American Judo Union Championships

May 24-29

Buenos Aires, Argentina

The 2006 USA Judo Senior National Judo Championships (referred to herein as “the nationals”) shall serve as the selection event for the USA Judo Pan American Team to the 2006 Pan American Judo Union Championships.  The Nationals will be held in Houston, Texas, April 21-22, 2006

Athletes attending the Nationals shall be seeded according to the established USA Judo seeding protocols.  If the #1 seed, in all divisions excluding Open, wins the Nationals he/she shall be the athlete selected in each category of competition.  If the #1 seed does not win Nationals, then that athlete and the winner of the Nationals shall then engage in a best of three contest.  The winner of that fight off shall be the athlete selected for that category of competition. 

If the #1 seed of the Open division is the highest ranking American, he/she shall be the athlete selected in each category of competition.  If the #1 seed is not the highest ranking American, then that athlete and the highest ranking American shall then engage in a best of three contest.  The winner of that fight off shall be the athlete selected for that category of competition. 

In divisions where fight offs are needed, these matches will take place immediately following the completion of all of the gold medal matches during the same day’s competition.

All athletes have a maximum of 48 hours from the naming of the Pan American Team to accept or decline their position.

If the athlete selected, according to the above criteria, declines for any reason, the person who is then ranked highest, on the USA Judo National Point Roster, after reflecting the results of the 2006 Senior National Championships, who participated in the 2006 Senior National Judo Championships will be the athlete selected.  Subsequent declines will result in a progressive movement down the roster, according to the same criteria.

An athlete who is to be nominated to the USA Judo Pan American Team by USA Judo may be removed from the nominations for any of the following reasons, as determined by the Development Committee:

* Voluntary withdrawal.  Athlete must submit a written letter to Eddie Liddie, Director of Coaching and Athlete Development.

* Injury or illness as certified by a USA Judo approved physician (or medical staff).  If an athlete refuses verification of their illness or injury by a USA Judo approved care giver, their injury will be assumed to be disabling and they may be removed.

* Violation of the USA Judo Code of Conduct.