We, the undersigned, petition USA Archery (USAA) to reinstate the long-standing rules relating to Event Eligibility for International Competitors, and:
Require US Citizenship for placement on the United States Archery Team (USAT);
Require US Citizenship to earn a National Ranking;
Require US Citizenship to be eligible for USOC athlete support programs;
Require US Citizenship to be eligible to shoot for a National Title, and
Require US Citizenship to be eligible to hold National Records.
In January 2017 the Board of Directors at USAA changed the rules, effective immediately, to allow non-citizens to be eligible to compete as representatives of the United States at all National and International Events. This was done with no notice to or input from the membership, and without involvement of the full Athlete Advisory Commission. This rule reversed the October rules changes that excluded international archers from full participation in USAT events, and now allows international archers not only the right to full participation in USAT qualifiers, but gives them access to the National Standings, Titles and Teams. This rule benefits only a small number of international archers to the detriment of all US archers who are now, or in the future will be, working to make the US National Teams.
The stated purpose of this rule change is to bring our team into compliance with World Archery Eligibility Rules, but those Rules apply only to World Cup and World Championship competitions. There is no express World Archery requirement that National Teams be required to include non-citizens. The Olympic Charter, however, is clear. Rule 41.1 of the Olympic Charter (2016) states: “Any competitor in the Olympic Games must be a national of the country of the NOC which is entering such competitor.” This new USAA rule would allow foreign athletes, who would be ineligible to represent TEAM USA at the Olympics, to take advantage of our National Team benefits and experience. This is in direct conflict with USAA’s stated Mission, to “enable United States athletes to achieve sustained competitive excellence in Olympic, Paralympic, World Championships and international competitions and to promote and grow the sport of Archery in the United States.
The time to reverse this rule is now, before the first 2017 USAT Event, in order to prevent American citizens' potential loss of the privilege of representing our country.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
February 20, 2017
February 15, 2017
I am honestly overwhelmed by the momentum this has gained lately. This movement belongs entirely to the community that keeps stepping up to protect the integrity of our team.
February 12, 2017
I honestly never imagined this would reach one hundred signatures. Watching this grow is entirely down to the community showing how much this matters. Thank you for making me realize I am not alone in this.
Reached 100 supporters
February 10, 2017
58 Comments
USA citizenship should be required to be a USA archery team member. This appears to be a move to try to stack the deck by accepting archers from other countries just for immediate results on the scoreboard. Let's plan long term and invest more in the programs for USA archers. USA teams should be comprised of USA citizens.
I've seen kids lose thier ambition to participate in archery because they now believe there is no longer a chance for them to make the team. I think the rule change will undermine the grass roots efforts of US Archery.
This new rule is unjust. If athletes from other countries want to compete for the USA then they need to be citizens. To create a rule like this shows American athletes that America only cares about the win, not the sport, athletes and citizens.
It's bad enough the athletes have to fund most of the expenses for travel. Now they have to compete with people that are not allowed to go to the Olympics. This rule change is a bad move for our citizen atheletes, and their family's.
We love the international competition at our events which challenge us and them to perform at our best. But our teams should have our athletes, just as their teams should have their athletes.
I believe that ONLY US CITIZENS should be allowed to be on TEAM USA. I also believe if the athlete TRAINS in the USA they should COMPETE FOR TEAM USA. I get tired of hearing athletes training here and then competing for a different nation than that in which they train and are using the resources to train.
I also don't think it is fair to have Mexico compete and win awards in California state games.
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We, the undersigned, petition USA Archery (USAA) to reinstate the long-standing rules relating to Event Eligibility for International Competitors, and:
Require US Citizenship for placement on the United States Archery Team (USAT);
Require US Citizenship to earn a National Ranking;
Require US Citizenship to be eligible for USOC athlete support programs;
Require US Citizenship to be eligible to shoot for a National Title, and
Require US Citizenship to be eligible to hold National Records.
In January 2017 the Board of Directors at USAA changed the rules, effective immediately, to allow non-citizens to be eligible to compete as representatives of the United States at all National and International Events. This was done with no notice to or input from the membership, and without involvement of the full Athlete Advisory Commission. This rule reversed the October rules changes that excluded international archers from full participation in USAT events, and now allows international archers not only the right to full participation in USAT qualifiers, but gives them access to the National Standings, Titles and Teams. This rule benefits only a small number of international archers to the detriment of all US archers who are now, or in the future will be, working to make the US National Teams.
The stated purpose of this rule change is to bring our team into compliance with World Archery Eligibility Rules, but those Rules apply only to World Cup and World Championship competitions. There is no express World Archery requirement that National Teams be required to include non-citizens. The Olympic Charter, however, is clear. Rule 41.1 of the Olympic Charter (2016) states: “Any competitor in the Olympic Games must be a national of the country of the NOC which is entering such competitor.” This new USAA rule would allow foreign athletes, who would be ineligible to represent TEAM USA at the Olympics, to take advantage of our National Team benefits and experience. This is in direct conflict with USAA’s stated Mission, to “enable United States athletes to achieve sustained competitive excellence in Olympic, Paralympic, World Championships and international competitions and to promote and grow the sport of Archery in the United States.
The time to reverse this rule is now, before the first 2017 USAT Event, in order to prevent American citizens' potential loss of the privilege of representing our country.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
February 20, 2017
February 15, 2017
I am honestly overwhelmed by the momentum this has gained lately. This movement belongs entirely to the community that keeps stepping up to protect the integrity of our team.
February 12, 2017
I honestly never imagined this would reach one hundred signatures. Watching this grow is entirely down to the community showing how much this matters. Thank you for making me realize I am not alone in this.
Reached 100 supporters
February 10, 2017
58 Comments
While I believe immigrants do make this country a beautiful place to live I also believe that to represent this country in any capacity one must be proud to hold the title of US Citizen to do so.
USA citizenship should be required to be a USA archery team member. This appears to be a move to try to stack the deck by accepting archers from other countries just for immediate results on the scoreboard. Let's plan long term and invest more in the programs for USA archers. USA teams should be comprised of USA citizens.
I've seen kids lose thier ambition to participate in archery because they now believe there is no longer a chance for them to make the team. I think the rule change will undermine the grass roots efforts of US Archery.
This new rule is unjust. If athletes from other countries want to compete for the USA then they need to be citizens. To create a rule like this shows American athletes that America only cares about the win, not the sport, athletes and citizens.
It's bad enough the athletes have to fund most of the expenses for travel. Now they have to compete with people that are not allowed to go to the Olympics. This rule change is a bad move for our citizen atheletes, and their family's.
We love the international competition at our events which challenge us and them to perform at our best. But our teams should have our athletes, just as their teams should have their athletes.
I believe that ONLY US CITIZENS should be allowed to be on TEAM USA. I also believe if the athlete TRAINS in the USA they should COMPETE FOR TEAM USA. I get tired of hearing athletes training here and then competing for a different nation than that in which they train and are using the resources to train.
I also don't think it is fair to have Mexico compete and win awards in California state games.
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While I believe immigrants do make this country a beautiful place to live I also believe that to represent this country in any capacity one must be proud to hold the title of US Citizen to do so.