Masters National Club Grand Prix Rules

Team Divisions:

Scoring: At each event, all complete teams in each division (40+, 50+, 60+, 70+, 80+) will earn points as follows:

Grand Prix Awards:

• 1^st Place Teams - $1000, club-house banner, and USATF Masters LDR Team Grand Prix certificate
• 2^nd Place Teams - $500 and USATF Masters LDR Team Grand Prix certificate
• 3^rd Place Teams - $250 and USATF Masters LDR Team Grand Prix certificate
• 4^th thru 10^th Place Teams - USATF Masters LDR Team Grand Prix certificate

Team Eligibility: To be eligible for any Grand Prix awards, teams must participate in a minimum of 3 of the designated 2022 USATF Masters LDR Championships with Team Scoring (see Schedule). Team point totals will be the sum of points scored in that team's best 5 events. These are Teams scoring points, not individuals. The same runners do not have to represent Teams in different events. All Teams must represent 2022 USATF member Clubs according to USATF Rules of Competition and USATF Operating Regulations. An individual’s team membership must conform to USATF rules. Final place ranking in a team division will be determined by total points in each team’s best 5 events and awards will be determined by these final rankings. For award purposes only, teams meeting the minimum participation standard may displace teams who do not meet the minimum standard in the final rankings.
 
Clubs: All clubs must be registered with USATF for 2022. 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 and meet the requirements of USATF Competition Rule 341.8. 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 4 in the USATF Governance Manual, Section III). The formation of club teams must meet all of the parameters as noted in Regulations 4 and 6 in the USATF Governance Manual, Section III; and the USATF Rules of Competition, specifically Rule 4 and Rule 341.8. This will be strictly enforced. Pursuant to Rule 341.8, Masters Teams shall represent current member clubs of USATF, verified through the National Office. USATF Association, Regional, or National “all-star” teams are not eligible to compete in Masters Long Distance Running Team competition. Team members shall be affiliated with the club they are representing on their USATF membership record prior to entering the competition. One athlete per team (e.g. Club M50+ team) who is a non-resident member of an Association is eligible to compete for a team in that Association. This assumes that the non-resident member of that club has transferred their membership to the proper Association and is a bona-fide member of that club.
 
Club Affiliation: Athletes must be bona fide members of a 2022 USATF Club 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. 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 4 in the USATF Governance Manual, Section III).
 
Sponsor Affiliation: In addition to a club affiliation, athletes are able to represent one (1) corporate sponsor. This corporate sponsor must be a registered USATF Corporate Member and be part of the athlete's membership profile. Corporate Membership applications can be obtained by sending an e-mail to membership@usatf.org. All sponsor affiliations must be finalized by close of entries for any Masters LDR Championship event.

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. Unless your date of birth/age has already been verified according to your USATF online membership profile, all entries for Masters LDR Championship events must be accompanied by a copy of a legal document (passport or birth certificate) to verify date of birth and citizenship. If you have a valid passport at the time of entry, you will need to log into your USATF Connect account and upload the copy under the “Athlete Verifications” tab. If you need help with the process, here is a link to a video that takes you through it step by step. This must be completed prior to the close of online entries for any Masters LDR Championship event. There are no performance standards to participate in Masters LDR Championship events.
 
All Masters Athletes: All Masters athletes must be U.S. citizens or resident aliens at least 40 years of age on the date of the competition. All athletes must be 2022 members of USATF in good standing. USATF memberships may be purchased online or through your local Association office. Existing members can manage their account. Athletes will not be permitted to compete unless they have a 2022 USATF membership and completed the entry process for each event. Resident aliens may compete but may not score for a team nor win awards.

Breaking Ties in the Final Standings:

1. In case of a tie or ties for the first place team in a division, the tie(s) will be broken using the following guidelines:

   1. Compare head to head competition between/among the tying teams. The team with the most head to head higher places between/among the tying teams will be awarded 1st place in the division.

   2. In case teams are still tied after applying (A.), then the team with the most 1st place team titles among the tying teams will be awarded 1st place in the division.

   3. In case the teams are still tied after applying (A.) and (B.), then the teams which are still tied will be declared division co-champions. Each team will receive a banner and the money prizes for the tied places will be added together and evenly divided between/among the tying teams.

2. In case of a tie for 2nd and/or 3rd places in a division, the ties will not be broken and money prizes for the tied places will be added together and evenly divided between/among the tying teams.

3. In case of ties for 4th through 10th places in a division, the ties will not be broken and duplicate certificates will be presented to all tying teams.

4. Ties for places above 10th will not be broken.

Appeals: Grand Prix scoring decisions of the Masters LDR Committee are final and are not subject to appeal.

2022 USATF Competition Scoring Rules:

• Cross Country Scoring: Team scoring for cross country shall be as follows:

  • M40+ and M50+: five (5) individuals shall score with a maximum of nine (9) individuals declared per team

  • M60+ and above and all women's teams: three (3) individuals shall score with a maximum of five (5) individuals declared per team.

  • All Masters Cross Country team scores will be calculated by place within the division.

  • Ties will be broken according to USATF Competition Rule 7.9.b (“Ties between two or more teams shall be resolved in favor of the team whose last scoring member finishes nearer to first place.”)

• Road Race Scoring: Team scoring for all road racing Championships shall be as follows:

  • All Masters teams, men and women, in all 10-year age divisions: three (3) individuals shall score with a maximum of five (5) individuals declared per team

  • All Masters Road Race Team scores will be calculated by total time of the scoring team members. Ties in team scoring will be broken according to USATF Competition Rule 7.9.b. (“Ties between two or more teams shall be resolved in favor of the team whose last scoring member finishes nearer to first place.”)

Team Uniform Rule for all Masters LDR Championships with team scoring:

• Rule 341.11: For Masters Long Distance Running Championships with team scoring, unless the Championship event has issued items such as letters or distinguishing numbers to identify teams, the jersey or singlet worn by the members of a team shall be basically identical for each member in color and style, and must be clearly visible throughout the race, i.e., worn as the outer garment if other apparel items are worn underneath by one or more team members. The preferences of individual athletes in certain weather situations will allow other apparel items to vary widely without penalty. Individuals not complying with this rule may be disqualified from scoring for a team.

Team Eligibility Requirement for individuals at Masters LDR Championship team events:

• Rule 341.8: Teams shall represent current member clubs of USATF, verified through the national office. USATF Association, Regional, or National “all-star” teams are not eligible to compete in Masters Long Distance Running Team competition. Team members shall be affiliated with the club they are representing on their USATF membership record prior to entering the competition. One athlete per team (e.g., Club M50+ team) who is a non-resident member of an Association is eligible to compete for a team in that Association. 
  
  Note: Rule 341.8 will allow each Masters team at Masters LDR Championship events to add one athlete who is a non-resident Association member per team (i.e. Club XX M50+ team can add one individual, Club XX M60+ “A” team can add one individual, Club XX M60+ “B” team can add one individual, etc.). This means that each Masters club team at any Masters LDR Championship event may include one individual who is a non-resident of the club’s Association to join and score for their team. 
  
  This assumes that the individual has transferred their membership from their Association of residence to their new club’s Association and is a bona fide member of that club. All membership changes must go through the Membership Secretaries of both Associations and all changes must be reflected in the individual runner’s online membership profile in the USATF National membership database prior to registering for the Championship event.