PA/USATF Athlete Eligibility

There are often questions about who is eligible to join PA/USATF.
The PA/USATF Membership Committee has developed criteria that will be used to determine eligibility.
In general memberships are accepted by the office and online without confirming eligibility, but
the following guidelines are used by the membership committee if there is some question:

PA/USATF Membership Eligibility Policy – 8/21/2002

To be eligible for membership in PA/USATF, an individual must meet any applicable criteria specified by USATF and IAAF regulations. PA/USATF has come up with the following guidelines to help clarify these rules as well as PA/USATF’s position on situations not specifically covered by the rules. Any official national decision or interpretation that conflicts with these guidelines shall take precedence.

Definition of residency:

A youth under the age of 18 shall be considered a resident of the PA/USATF association if at least one parent or the youth’s primary guardian is determined to be a resident of the PA/USATF association. Situations where more than one USATF association claim the youth as a resident shall be dealt with on a case by case basis, taking into account the desires of the youth, the youth’s parent or guardian, and the USATF associations involved.

An adult aged 18 or older shall be considered a resident of the PA/USATF association if he/she can provide proof of that she/he resides in the PA/USATF association. Proof of residency may include, but is not limited to, the following:

1. Proof of a driver’s license in the PA/USATF association.
2. Copy of a utility or phone bill in the name of the individual in question, associated with an address in the PA/USATF association.
3. For non-citizens, proof of a I-551 resident card (“green card”) indicating PA/USATF association residency.
4. Proof of actual physical presence in the PA/USATF association for at least six months preceding the effective date of membership.
5. Other clear evidence of residency in the PA/USATF association.

Eligibility for PA/USATF membership

1. Any individual who is a member of another USATF association is not eligible to be a PA/USATF member.
2. A resident of the PA/USATF association (as defined in #1) is eligible to be a member of the PA/USATF association, provided that the individual is not a member of another USATF association.
3. An Individual who is a resident of another USATF association may be eligible to be a member of the PA/USATF association. The membership committee shall determine residency in another USATF association using similar criteria to those outlined in #1. Such individuals shall be entitled to be PA/USATF members if the USATF association in which they reside has agreed they they be allowed to join PA/USATF. In cases where the USATF association in which they reside does not agree (either by denial or failure to respond to inquiries), the membership committee may choose to grant some or all of the rights associated with PA/USATF membership to that member.
4. A U.S. citizen who does not reside in any USATF association (i.e. someone who resides in another country) may be eligible to be a member of the PA/USATF association. The membership committee shall evaluate eligibity for such individuals on a case by case basis.
5. A non-citizen of the U.S. who does not reside in any USATF association is not eligible to be a member of the PA/USATF association