Athlete & Club Eligibility and Residency Regulations

 Athlete Eligibility:

1. All gymnasts participating in a USA Gymnastics-sanctioned competition must be registered as a USA Gymnastics Athlete Member with a current valid registration number
2. All gymnasts must meet the entry, score and age requirements as designated in order to compete in each level

Athlete Residency

1. The geographic location of the gymnast’s club or team determines the residency of the gymnast.
2. If a gymnast resides in one state and her club or team is located in another neighboring state the following regulations exist: A gymnast may compete in the State Meet based on: the state in which her club is located OR the state in which she actually resides. The gymnast MAYNOT compete in both State Meets. The gymnast must compete in the proper Regional meet, based upon the State Meet in which she competed.

Club Residency: a club MUST compete in the State Meet(s) of the state in which the club is located.

 Foreign Athletes & Non-Citizen Athletes Residing in the USA
1. The USA Gymnastics National Office must be notified of any competitions in the U.S. involving athletes, coaches and/or judges who are non-citizens and who reside in and/or represent a foreign country.

2. Non citizens/foreign athletes may participate up to and including Jr. Olympic Level 8,9 or 10 Regional meets, provided they have met the qualification criteria. This rule applies to athletes presently residing and training in the United States with a U.S. Club Team, as well as to athletes who are residing / training in a foreign country. These athletes are eligible to receive awards. It is not necessary to give duplicate awards to foreign/non-citizen athletes. Up to and including State meet, scores achieved by athletes who are non-citizens but train at a US club may be included in the team score.

3. At Level 8 Regional Championships, foreign athletes (non-citizens) are not eligible to compete if qualification is by a specific number or by percentage since they may not take the place of a US citizen. A foreign athletes (non-citizen) is eligible to count toward team score if a State team competition is conducted within the individual competition and the scores of all team members or specifically designated team members are used to determine the team score. A foreign athletes (non-citizen) is not eligible to qualify as a member of a State Team if the Team competition is held separately from the individual competition, with a designated number of athletes qualifying by rank order. All Invitational competitions, foreign/non-citizen athletes are eligible for awards and may be included in a Club’s Team score.

 Club/Team
1. Clubs that have gyms in different locations (under the same ownership) have the option of competing under one club name or as separate clubs. The decision must be made at the beginning of the competitive year and communicated to the State Administrative Committee and/or Regional Administrative Chairman, if appropriate.

2. If two different clubs (different names/owners) are coached by the same person, the State Administrative Committee may decide if the clubs may compete as one combined team in USA Gymnastics qualifying State Meets.