Hello everyone-
Just a reminder that if you have an athlete who is representing a foreign country, and wishes to compete in the Dev program, they must go through a process to petition in order to be eligible to compete in the Dev program. This process must be completed annually.
Here is the process from page 24 in Rules and Policies:
B. Foreign Elite athletes who have represented a foreign country and Foreign Elite National Team Members (current or former): A non-US citizen Elite gymnast residing in the US who wants to compete in the Development Program and who is currently named to, has previously competed for, or has represented a foreign national team, must petition to enter the Development Program by sending a formal written request and proof of citizenship (driver’s license, birth certificate, passport) to the National Development Program Committee Chair.
In addition to the formal request, the athlete must request documentation be sent to the Vice President of Women’s Program at USA Gymnastics directly from the country’s federation in which she has competed, granting the athlete permission to compete in the Development Program for the US Club.
1. The two-step process must be completed before the athlete’s scores achieved in the Development Program are valid for any qualifying purposes.
2. Once proper documentation has been received by USA Gymnastics, the athlete may compete in the Development Program and represent her club up to, and including Regional Championships for the current competitive season.
3. For the athlete to remain eligible to compete in the Development Program, this process must be completed annually.
4. An Elite gymnast residing in the US who is a US Citizen or has retained a green card (demonstrating intent to become a US Citizen) and who wants to compete in the Development Program and who is currently named to, has previously competed for, or has represented a foreign national team, she must petition to enter the Development Program by sending a formal written request to the National Development Program Committee Chair. In addition to the formal request, the athlete must request documentation be sent to the Vice President of Women’s Program at USA Gymnastics directly from the country’s federation in which she has competed, granting the athlete permission to compete in the Development Program for the US Club.
a. The two-step process must be completed before the athlete’s scores achieved in the Development Program are valid for any qualifying purposes.
b. Once proper documentation has been received by USA Gymnastics, the athlete may compete in the Development Program and represent her club up to and including East/West Championships and National Championships.
Please note that any scores obtained before this process has been completed may NOT be used for qualification within the Dev program. Once approved, Tom Koll will notify the regional officers of that approval and scores may then be used for qualification to states and regionals. They will be then eligible to qualify for Easterns and Dev Nationals.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
Thanks.
Linda Johnson
Region 7 USAG-WDPCC
USA Gymnastics
443-569-9412
r7jocc@gmail.com