2012 USA Taekwondo Qualification Explanation

1. 2012 USA Taekwondo Qualification Explanation What's New In order to be eligible to compete in a 2012 Regional Qualifier, an athlete must participate in a USAT State Championship first. The only exception is for athletes who live in a state that doesn�t have a USAT State Championship. Those athletes are eligible to go directly to the 2012 Regional Qualifiers if they choose or they can compete in another state�s USAT State Championship. Even though an athlete may have a USAT State Championship in their own state, they are able to participate in another state�s USAT State Championship if they choose. Athletes must participate in a State Championship or Regional Qualifier in order to participate at the 2012 Junior & Senior National Championships. Like past years, athletes can still qualify directly for USAT�s Junior & Senior National Championships through a USAT State Championship but participation in a 2012 Regional Qualifier may improve the athlete�s seed at Nationals, give the athlete more USAT National Points and provide a high quality competition experience. Sparring Athletes must compete in the age category according to the age he/she will be as of December 31, 2012. Color Belts (Grass Root only): 6+ year olds � All participants will qualify for the 2012 USAT Junior & Senior National Championships if they participate in a sanctioned 2012 State Championships. Black Belts (Grass Root only): 6-9 and 33+ year olds -- All participants will qualify for the 2012 USAT Junior & Senior National Championships if they compete in a sanctioned 2012 State Championships. Black Belts: 10-32 year olds � The top four finalists at a 2012 State Championships or USAT Regional Qualifier will qualify for World Class sparring divisions. All other participants will qualify for the Grass Root divisions. Poomsae All individuals participating in a state championships will advance to the 2012 USAT Junior & Senior National Championships. 14-99 year old Black Belts � The top 3 finalists at a 2012 State Championships or USAT Regional Qualifier will qualify for World Class Poomsae divisions. 2012 U.S. National Poomsae Team Trials -- The World Class Poomsae divisions at the 2012 National Championships will serve as the 2012 U.S. National Team Trials. Open Divisions The following divisions are non-qualifying (Open) divisions at the 2012 USAT National Championships. 2012 State Championships have the option to offer these divisions, They will NOT be held at 2012 USAT Regional Qualifiers. Board Breaking Creative Forms Weapons Demonstration Teams ** All National Team pipeline divisions (World Class) will follow the appropriate selection procedures. Current selection procedures can be found at SELECTION PROCEDURES.