Has anyone else seen the USATF trials uniform policy? Everyone stop for a second and think has anything really changed since the undoing of the AAU? The very athletes that railed against the AAU (Mr. Masback) now are in charge and today's athletes are being denied an opportunity to get sponsors and make a living. All I hear is distance runners complaining and saying that no one supports them, there is no money etc. Well here is your chance to do something. Show up at the annual meeting this winter and voice your displeasure. We have no representation at annual meetings and thus receive nothing. The saddest thing is that we have been selling out for small individualized buy offs from USATF for years. To paraphrase Jim Morrison, "they have the guns but we have the numbers." We have to stick together, we have historically gone down easier than Monica on Bill Clinton.
Below is the text of the uniform policy. Makes it pretty hard to get a sponsor when you can't even sell your own shirt.
LYMPIC TRIALS ATHLETE UNIFORM POLICY
Competitor Clothing
Athlete competition attire worn at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials is governed by United
States Olympic Committee (USOC) and International Olympic Committee (IOC)
regulations. Per USATF's agreement with the USOC, the athlete clothing policy for the
Olympic Team Trials will allow both club names and a manufacturer's name/logo on an
athlete's attire. The size of the club name and manufacturer's name/logo must meet IAAF
guidelines (outlined below).
Any advertising or other identification on such attire not permitted under these
regulations is strictly prohibited and will constitute a breach of these regulations.
It is the responsibility of the athlete to ensure his/her clothing meets these
requirements. Strict adherence to these U.S. Olympic Team Trials rules will be
enforced at the competition -- if an athlete's attire does not meet these requirements,
he/she will not be permitted to wear it in the Olympic Team Trials.
Only clubs registered with USATF in 2007 prior to the USATF National Club Track &
Field Championships (July 15, 2007) are eligible to have their club name on the
competition or warm-up attire at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. In order for
athletes to be permitted to wear the club uniform at Olympic Team Trials events, their
club must be a registered USATF club at the time of the Olympic Trials competition.
Clubs registered on July 16, 2007 or later, or registering for the first time, may apply in
writing for a waiver of this restriction, which must be approved in writing by the USATF
CEO.
To apply for a waiver or for any questions about these rules and regulations, please
contact Jim Estes at the USATF National Office (317-713-4661 or
).
Upper-body Attire
Manufacturer's Logo and Club Identification
Competition attire (vests/leotards) worn by an athlete on the upper body may carry a
manufacturer's logo on the left chest, which may be a maximum of a 30 cm2 rectangle
with the lettering a maximum height of 4 cm and the total logo a maximum height of 5
cm. The manufacturer's logo may appear only once on vests/leotards. (See diagram)
A graphic or figurative logo of the manufacturer (not including name or any text) may
also be used as a decorative "design mark" once or repeatedly as a strip not exceeding 10
cm in width in one of the following positions, provided such use does not, in the opinion
of the IAAF (USATF acting on behalf of the IAAF) at its discretion, dominate or unduly
detract from the appearance of the garment:
- Across the bottom of the sleeves
- On the outer seam of the sleeves
- Down the outer seams of the garment
Other competition and warm-up attire (track suit tops, t-shirts, sweatshirts, rain
jackets) worn by an athlete on the upper body must conform to the same regulations as
the vests/leotards, except the size of the manufacturer's logo display on such attire may be
a maximum of a 40 cm2 rectangle.
In addition, an athlete who is a member of a duly registered club (as described above)
may, on their upper-body attire, have the club name appear once on the front or back of
the shirt or singlet in letters a maximum of 4 cm high but not restricted in width. The size
of the identification is considered to be the size while worn by the athlete. (See diagram)
Lower-body Attire
Manufacturer's Name/Logo
The manufacturer's name/logo is the only identification that may appear on lower-body
competition attire (shorts, tights), and it may be a maximum of 20 cm2 in area, with a
maximum height of 4 cm and may appear only once.
A graphic or figurative logo of the manufacturer (not including name or any text) may
also be used as a decorative "design mark" once or repeatedly as a strip not exceeding 10
cm in width in one of the following positions, provided such use does not, in the opinion
of the IAAF (USATF acting on behalf of the IAAF) at its discretion, dominate or unduly
detract from the appearance of the garment:
- Across the bottom of the legs
- Down the outer seams of the legs
Socks may also have the manufacturer's name/logo displayed once, with a maximum size
of 5 cm2 in area and a maximum height of 2.5 cm.
A graphic or figurative logo of the manufacturer (not including name or any text) may
also be used on socks as a decorative "design mark" once or repeatedly as a strip not
exceeding 5 cm in width across the top edge of each sock, provided such use does not, in
the opinion of USATF at its discretion, dominate or unduly detract from the appearance
of the socks.
Other competition and warm-up attire worn on the lower body is subject to the same
requirements as that for the competition attire for the lower body.
The identification of the name/logo of the manufacturer on other apparel such as
headgear, hats, headbands, gloves, armbands, wristbands, glasses and sunglasses is
limited to one identification mark, which may be a maximum size of 6 cm2.
The name/logo of the manufacturer of shoes used by an athlete during the course of the
competition is not restricted in size.
If an athlete's clothing is not in compliance with these regulations, the athlete may
be required by the event officials to wear plain attire as provided by the competition
organizer.
Schools/Universities/Military/Longstanding Club Exemptions
IAAF size restrictions shall not apply to uniforms of colleges/universities/military units
or branches, or longstanding track clubs (under IAAF rules, clubs existing prior to
January 1, 1980) whose names do not include any sponsor identification. However,
longstanding track clubs wishing to be exempted from the IAAF size restrictions must
request an exemption in writing, and the exemption must be granted in writing by the
USATF CEO. Please contact Jim Estes at 317-713-4661 or
for more
information on this topic.