Criteria for a Legal Meet

USATF / Olympic Trials COVID-19 Protocols

Criteria for a Meet/Event to be acceptable for qualifying for 2020 Outdoor (U-20 Championships & Olympic Trials)

In order for a mark from a meet or single event to be accepted for qualifying for the USATF T&F Championships, USATF U-20 (Junior) T&F Championships or U.S. Olympic T&F Trials – as well as for USATF to be able to validate the mark(s) to the World Athletics World Championships qualifying purposes, the following criteria apply: 

1. The meet/event must appear on an organization’s previously published calendar of events.

2. Meets which are not on an organization’s previously published calendar of events, must be reported to USATF via email or at 317-715-8996 not later than Monday – May 1, 2020. 
   1. ​Note: Doing so will permit the USATF staff member designated by the Sports Committee Chairs, to review the proposed meet/event. If the meet/event were then approved, this would give sufficient time for meet information to be disseminated to as wide a range of interested athletes as possible.
   2. Note: Failure to adhere to this protocol will likely result in the performance(s) being disallowed for qualifying for these Championships.

3. The meet/event must be sanctioned in advance by USATF or the Governing Body of another nation.  While they might not be sanctioned by USATF, high level collegiate and high school meets, such as a high school or college invitationals, championships, relay carnivals, etc., will be recognized as valid meets for qualifying provided all other criteria are met.

4. The meet/event must be held on a legal facility as per USATF and/or World Athletics rules.

5. USATF certified or recognized officials must officiate at the meet/event.

6. In the 100m, 200m, 400m, 100m hurdles, 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles, only marks made using FAT (full automatic timing to the hundredth of a second [.01]) will be accepted for QUALIFYING PURPOSES.  The provisions of USATF Rule 165 shall apply for video tape timing.

7. In the short sprints (100m & 200m), short hurdles (100m & 110m), horizontal jumps (long jump & triple jump), a wind gauge must be used and reported.  A mark made with a wind reading exceeding 2.0 meters per second or higher will not be acceptable for qualifying.

8. At least five (5) competitors must participate in each event.  All such athletes must be of the same gender and may not be a mix of masters and/or youth athletes.

9. In throwing events, all implements must be officially measured and certified according to USATF and/or World Athletics rules.

10. Mixed competitions for events inside the stadium are generally not acceptable.  However, in field events and races of 5000m or longer, mixed competition may be approved by the respective Sport Committee - this approval being needed in advance of the event.

11. Trials-finals, qualifying-finals, rounds in running events, etc. must be run according to USATF and/or World Athletics rules & regulations.  Duplicate events on the same day, unless following the World/Olympic same day qualifying & finals format, will not be acceptable for qualifying purposes.

12. Meet results for each jumping and throwing event, including field event recording sheet(s) and throwing implement verification sheets, may be requested and sent/faxed (317-261-0514) to the USATF National Office, attn:  Ed Gorman.

13. Meet results should always be faxed or e-mailed to: USATF Stats, T&F News, and Ed Gorman.