Segment C -- Eligibility and National Events

C.1 PROFESSIONAL
A professional is defined as any player who has accepted prize money regardless of the amount in any professional sanctioned (including IRT/WIRT) tournament or in any other tournament so deemed by the USRA Board of Directors. (NOTE: Any player concerned about the adverse effect of losing amateur status should contact the USRA National Office at the earliest opportunity to ensure a clear understanding of this rule and that no action is taken that could jeopardize that status.)

• (a) An amateur player may participate in a professional sanctioned tournament but will not be considered a professional
  • (i) if no prize money is accepted or
  • (ii) if the prize money received remains intact and placed in trust under USRA guidelines.
• (b) The acceptance of merchandise or travel expenses shall not be considered prize money, and thus does not jeopardize a player's amateur status.

C.2 RETURN TO AMATEUR STATUS
Any player who has been classified as a professional can re-establish amateur status by requesting, in writing, this desire to be reclassified as an amateur. This application shall be tendered to the Executive Director of the USRA or a designated representative, and shall become effective immediately as long as the player making application for reinstatement of amateur status has received no money in any tournament, as defined in C.1, for the past 12 months.

C.3 USRA ELIGIBILITY

• (a) Any current USRA member who has not been classified as a professional (See C.1) may compete in any USRA sanctioned tournament.
• (b) Any current USRA member who has been classified as a professional may compete in any event at a USRA sanctioned tournament that offers prize money or merchandise.
• (c) Amateur Athletic Waiver and Release of Liability. In consideration of being allowed to participate in any United States Racquetball Association athletics/sports programs, and related events and activities, all member signators:
  • 1. Agree that prior to participating, they will inspect the facilities and equipment to be used, and if they believe anything is unsafe, they will immediately advise their coach, supervisor, or USRA personnel of such condition(s) and refuse to participate.
  • 2. Acknowledge and fully understand that each participant will be engaging in activities that involve risk of serious injury, including permanent disability and death, and severe social and economic losses which might result not only from their own actions, inactions of negligence but the actions, inactions or negligence of others, the rules of play, or the condition of the premises or of any equipment used. Further, that there may be other risks not known to us or not reasonably foreseeable at this time.
  • 3. Assume all the foregoing risks and accept personal responsibility for the damages following such injury, permanent disability or death.
  • 4. Release, waive, discharge and covenant not to sue the United States Racquetball Association, its affiliated clubs, regional sports organizations, their respective administrators, directors, agents, coaches, and other employees of the organization, other participants, sponsoring agencies, sponsors, advertisers, and, if applicable, owners and lessees of premises used to conduct the event, all of which are hereinafter referred to as "releasees" from any and all liability to the signator on the opposite side of this form, his or her heirs and next of kin for any and all claims, demands, losses or damages on account of injury including death or damage to property, caused or alleged to be caused in whole or in part by the negligence of the release of otherwise.

C.4 RECOGNIZED DIVISIONS
Title opportunities at national championships will be selected from the division lists which follow. Combined "Age + Skill" divisions may also be offered to provide additional competitive opportunities for non-open entrants. For ranking consistency, state organizations are encouraged to select from these recognized divisions when establishing competition in all sanctioned events.

• (a) Open Division. Any player with amateur status.
• (b) Adult Age Divisions. Eligibility is determined by the player's age on the first day of the tournament. Divisions are:
  • 24 & under - Varsity
  • 25+ - Junior Veterans
  • 30+ - Veterans
  • 35+ - Seniors
  • 40+ - Veteran Seniors
  • 45+ - Masters
  • 50+ - Veteran Masters
  • 55+ - Golden Masters
  • 60+ - Veteran Golden Masters
  • 65+ - Senior Golden Masters
  • 70+ - Advanced Golden Masters
  • 75+ - Super Golden Masters
  • 80+ - Grand Masters
  • 85+ - Super Grand Masters
• (c) Junior Age Divisions. Player eligibility is determined by the player's age on January 1st of the current calendar year. Divisions are:
  • 18 & Under
  • 16 & Under
  • 14 & Under
  • 12 & Under
  • 10 & Under
  • 8 & Under (regular rules)
  • 8 & Under (multi-bounce rules)
  • 6 & Under (regular rules)
  • 6 & Under (multi-bounce rules)
• (d) Skill Divisions. Player eligibility is determined by AmPRO skill level certification, or verification by a state association official, at the entered level.
  • Elite [Open level drop-down]
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • Novice
• (e) Age + Skill Divisions. Player eligibility is determined by the player's age on the first day of the tournament, plus AmPRO skill level certification, or verification by a state association official, at the entered level. Such combinations may be offered as additional competition to players who do not fall into the "open" or designated skill levels of play. For example: 24- A/B • 30+ B • 35+ C/D• 40+ A • 65 + A/B, etc.

C.5 DIVISION COMPETITION BY GENDER
Men and women may compete only in events and divisions for their respective gender during regional and national tournaments. If there is not sufficient number of players to warrant play in a specific division, the tournament director may place the entrants in a comparably competitive division. Note: For the purpose of encouraging the development of women's racquetball, the governing bodies of numerous states permit women to play in men's divisions when a comparable skill level is not available in the women's divisions.

C.6 USRA REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• (a) Adult Regional Tournaments
  • 1. Regional tournaments will be conducted at various metropolitan sites designated annually by the USRA and players may compete at any site they choose.
  • 2. A person may compete in any number of adult regional tournaments, but may not enter a championship division (as listed in C.4) after having won that division at a previous adult regional tournament that same year.
  • 3. A person cannot participate in more than two championship events at a regional tournament.
  • 4. Any awards or remuneration to a USRA National Championship will be posted on the entry blank.
• (b) Junior Regional Tournaments. Separate regional qualifying events for juniors have been discontinued. In order to qualify for annual Junior National events, players must compete in a sanctioned Level Three State Championship.

C.7 U.S. NATIONAL SINGLES AND DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIPS
The U.S. National Singles and Doubles Tournaments are separate tournaments and are played on different dates. National Singles are traditionally held in May; National Doubles in October.

• (a) Competition in an Adult Regional singles tournament (or recognized qualifying event) is required to qualify for the National Singles Championship.
  • 1. Recognized qualifying events are:
    WSMA Championships (January)
    NMRA Singles Championships (February)
    World Intercollegiate Championships (April)
• (b) The National Tournament Director may handle the rating of each region and determine how many players shall qualify from each regional tournament.

C.8 U.S. NATIONAL JUNIOR OLYMPIC CHAMPIONSHIPS
It will be conducted on a different date than all other National Championships. Traditionally held in June.

C.9 U.S. NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS
It will be conducted on a different date than all other National Championships. Traditionally held in March.

C.10 WORLD INTERCOLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
It will be conducted on a different date than all other National Championships. Traditionally held in March/April.

C.11 U.S. OPEN RACQUETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
It will be conducted on a different date than all other National Championships, and include both pro and amateur competitive divisions. Traditionally held in November/December.

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