I have never been a big fan of the uniform guidelines (IAAF uniform rules) that USATF began enforcing this year, but I assumed and was led to believe that these were the rules the IAAF wanted us to follow, that we had been doing something wrong by not following them sooner.
I was wrong.
Here is what I have learned over the past few weeks.
If I am wrong about any of this, PLEASE let me know and give me some evidence to the contrary.
– The IAAF uniform rules are only applicable to IAAF permit meets. USATF is under no obligation to the IAAF to enforce the IAAF rules at USATF’s national championships.
– These uniform guidelines were not adopted by the Rules Committee.
– These guidelines were not adopted by the L&L Committee.
– These guidelines were not adopted by the Board of Directors.
– These guidelines were not adopted at the Annual Meeting by the delegates.
– The adoption of these guidelines may have violated the Amateur Sports Act
The time has come for the membership of USA Track and Field to act. Below is a resolution submitted by David Greifinger who has served as the USATF Board’s legal counsel in the past and is very familiar with this process.
RESOLUTION TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE USATF MEMBERSHIP AT THE 2011 ANNUAL MEETING
SUBMITTED BY DAVID GREIFINGER, ATHLETE ADVOCATE
WHEREAS, the IAAF through its rules and regulations restricts the size and content of logos on athletes’ uniforms in certain specified “international competitions;” andWHEREAS, USATF does not through its bylaws or rules similarly restrict the size or content of logos on athletes’ uniforms in meets that are not classified as “international competitions” by the IAAF; and
WHEREAS, USATF’S Competition Rules require that athletes’ attire be clean, designed, and worn so as not to be objectionable; and not impede the view of the judges; and
WHEREAS, the membership declares that USATF’S policy is to permit athletes to promote their clubs to the maximum extent possible and to maximize the potential for athletes to obtain support and earnings from clubs and individual sponsors; and
WHEREAS, restricting the size and content of logos on athletes’ uniforms impinges upon athletes’ abilities to promote their clubs; to obtain individual sponsors; and to maximize support and earnings from clubs and sponsors.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that USATF shall not adopt or enforce any policy restricting the size or content on athletes’ uniforms when not required under IAAF rules and regulations; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution does not abrogate USATF’S Rule of Competition that athletes’ attire be clean, designed, and worn so as not to be objectionable; and not impede the view of the judges.
What happens next?
This will be voted on by the delegates at the closing session on Sunday, December 4. If you are a USATF member (and if you’re not, you should join and make your voice heard), please contact the delegates from your association and encourage them to approve this. You may need to contact your association to find out who the delegates are. Perhaps you could send it to the president of your association and ask them to pass it along to the delegates.