(1) The athlete must place first in his/her weight category at the trials to qualify for the team. No second place finishers qualify for the team, even if there are spots available (e.g. no changing weight categories in order to qualify for the team). That is: only one athlete from each weight category may qualify for the team.
(2) Any athlete placing first in his/her weight category automatically qualifies for the team unless the situation described in (3) arises.
(3) If more athletes place first in their weight categories than there are spots available, the Arbitration Committee will choose from among these athletes to form the team. The criteria by which they will select the team (and thus exclude certain first place finishers) may include but are not limited to the following, which are not listed in order of importance:
(a) The percentage of rounds won at the trials by each athlete. A higher percentage implies that he/she was more dominating against opponents.
(b) The number of bouts he/she fought at the trials. A higher number of bouts implies that his/her weight category was more difficult to win because of a higher number and variety of opponents.
(c) His/her overall sanshou skills. An athlete with a more complete skill set (punching, kicking, and throwing) may have a better chance of doing well at the World Championships, provided they are clearly capable of performing these skills well.
(d) His/her results at previous World Championships (1st, 2nd, or 3rd place) or previous Pan-American Wushu Championships (1st, 2nd, or 3rd).
The Arbitration Committee will be guided but not bound by any of the criteria in point (3) in selecting the team.
The USAWKF reserves the discretionary right to make final decisions on team composition (including changes) in the interest of providing the best U.S. representation at the 10th World Wushu Championships in Canada.
(B) Team Reserves
USAWKF will select reserve athletes who can replace in the event that a team athlete is unable to attend the championships or is disqualified from the team after being selected.
(C) Arbitration
An athlete and/or coach may protest a decision by USAWKF officials at the trials if and only if both of the following conditions are met:
(1) The protest is filed with the Arbitration Committee (AC) within one hour of the decision being protested.
(2) The athlete and/or coach pays a fee of $100. If the AC decides in favor of the athlete,
the $100 fee will be returned. If the AC decides against the athlete, USAWKF will keep the $100 fee.
(D) Protocol and Behavior Violations
Athletes who violate standards of protocol and behavior established by USAWKF, including but not limited to those contained in the 2009 Sanshou Team Trials Registration Form and IWUF sanshou rules, may be excluded from the team, or be banned from attending future USAWKF events (for a period of time or permanently), or suffer other appropriate penalties as decided by USAWKF. Such violations include by are not limited to: the use of vulgar and abusive language by an athlete or his/her coach; threats or violent behavior toward USAWKF officials or others; refusal to accept final decisions by USAWKF and the Arbitration Committee; and violations of rules of behavior contained in the IWUF sanshou rules.
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