2003 USA Table Tennis World and Pan Am Trials

Entry Form

Entry Form in Microsoft Word

Top player listing ("Distribution List") as of Nov. 2, 2003

Shown below please find the pertinent information and entry form for participation in the trials for the 2003 USA Table Tennis World and Pan Am Team.  

The selection procedure is pending USOC approval, which is expected by January 15, 2003.  An announcement will be posted on the USATT web page as soon as the approval is received.  Please send the entry form only after the USOC approval has been confirmed and announced.  For any athletes who are not U.S. citizens as of January 1, 2003, please proceed with the petition procedure as outlined under the "eligibility" section. 

USATT will host one Trials event whereby 12 men and 12 women will compete in a single giant round robin of 12 players/gender. 

Top 10 eligible players of each gender entered by the deadline will be invited to participate in the Trials.  The remaining two spots at the Trials (two spots for men, two spots for women) will be reserved for two athletes of each gender who place first and second at the Qualifying Tournament to be held for other eligible athletes who are not among the top 10 eligible athletes. 

The playing format for the qualifying tournament will be decided according to the number of entries. 

Top 4 finishers of each gender in the Trials, according to their eligibility, will make the 2003 Pan Am and World Team. 

According to the Pan Am Technical Manual the winners of the Men’s singles and Women’s singles events will qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games.  

Date and Time

Qualifying Tournament - will be completed in one or two days, depending upon the final number of entries, on March 17-18, 2003 

The Trials will be held on March 19-22, 2003.  

Location

The Qualifying Tournament and the Trials will be held at The Sporting Club at Windy Hill, 135 Interstate North Parkway, NW, Atlanta, GA 30339 

Competition Format

The Qualifying Tournament- playing format will be decided according to the number of entries. Each match will be the best of seven games. The Qualifying Tournament will be completed in one or two days, depending upon the final number of entries, on March 17-18, 2003.

The Trials-12 athletes participating in a single giant round robin in which each athlete will compete against every other athlete. Each match will be the best of seven games. If one or more of the 12 athletes participating in the Trials are not eligible for the Pan Am Games, the number of players invited to participate in the Trials will be increased by a number equal to the number of players not eligible for nomination to the Pan Am Team.

USATT Rating

The ratings used to select the top 10 eligible players for the Trials, and the seeding for the Qualifying Tournament, will be the USATT rating results after the 2002 National Championships. 

Equipment

Butterfly tables, Nittaku orange balls

Eligibility

In order to be eligible to participate in the 2003 USA Table Tennis World and Pan Am Team Trials, an athlete must:

• Be a U.S. citizen, with the exception of those who were nominated to compete for the U.S. in international championships prior to August 31, 1997. There is some very technical fine print which accompanies this basic rule. If you are unsure of your eligibility, please contact USA Table Tennis for clarification. Some of the athletes might be eligible only for the Worlds and not for Pan Am.

• Have on file at USA Table Tennis headquarters or submit with the entry form verification of eligibility (copy of photo page of U.S. passport, copy of U.S. birth certificate, etc.). 

• Be a current member of USA Table Tennis

Note

If any of the athletes, male or female, are not U.S. citizens as of January 1, 2003, they may petition USATT in writing by January 20, 2003, to be considered eligible for nomination to the Pan American Team (petition must be received by USATT National Office by January 20, 2003).  The petition must include copies of official documentation that demonstrate the petitioner’s initiation of the USA citizenship process as well as a timeline of the anticipated “swearing in” date. Petitioning athletes will be notified in writing by February 1, 2003, of their pre-approval for invitation to participate in the Trials and consideration for nomination to the Pan American Team, or their denial.

Final approval of a petitioner’s request to compete in the Trials for consideration of nomination to the 2003 Pan American Team will be contingent upon his/her proof of U.S. citizenship by the date of the Official Draw, which will occur three weeks prior to the commencement of the Trials.  The final decision on eligibility will rest with the USOC.

If an athlete has questions regarding his/her opportunity to compete that are not answered by USA Table Tennis, he/she may contact the USOC Athlete Ombudsman, John W. Ruger, at 888-ATHLETE (telephone) or by e-mail at john.ruger@usoc.org. 

Entry Process

Entry deadline – February 7^th, 2003.

A completed entry form (including proof of eligibility, a signed Release &Waiver of Liability and $100 entry fee) must be received at USA Table Tennis headquarters no later than Friday, February 7^th, 2003.  

Entry forms submitted without eligibility verification, the signed Release & Waiver of Liability and $100 entry fee will be REJECTED.

Additionally, applicants selected to compete in the Trials must sign the 2003 Athlete Agreement and the Code of Conduct prior to the beginning of the competition.

The $100 entry fee will be refunded to those who participate in the Trials and/or Qualifying Tournament.

Distribution of Entry

This entry form and information packet will be distributed to the top 40 ranked males and females in the United States, regardless of eligibility status (see distribution list). It has been noted on the list, which athletes do not have on file at USA Table Tennis headquarters proof of eligibility to participate in these trials. If an athlete wishes to enter the trials and there is an asterisk (*) beside his/her name, he/she MUST submit proof of eligibility along with the entry form and entry fee.

Invitations

After receipt of all entry forms, invitations will be extended to the 10 highest rated male and female applicants according to USATT Rating List after the Nationals (Nationals results included). The rest of the eligible applicants will be notified that they will play in the Qualifying Tournament for the two remaining spots 

Special Notes

By entering the 2003 USA Table Tennis World and Pan American Team Trials, each athlete agrees to participation in the following events (if successful in achieving a position on the team):

• May 19-25 – World Championships, Paris, France

• August 1-18 – Pan American Games, Dominican Republic

2003 USA Table Tennis World and Pan American Team Trials

The Sporting Club at Windy Hill,135 Interstate North Parkway, NW

Atlanta, GA 30339

March 2003

All entries must be received at USATT Headquarters

no later than February 7, 2003

ENTRY FORM

ENTRIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT FULL PAYMENT AND ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

I will abide by all USATT regulations for tournament play. I understand that the following MUST accompany the above-completed entry form and arrive no later than February 7, 2003 to:

USATT Headquarters, One Olympic Plaza, Colorado Springs, CO 80909:

·         A signed Release & Waiver of Liability form (on reverse side)

·         Entry fee of $100

·         Verification of eligibility

USA Table Tennis

Release and Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and

Indemnity Agreement

("Agreement")

1. IN CONSIDERATION of being permitted to participate in any way in USA Table Tennis sanctioned events, I and/or my minor child, our personal representatives, assigns, heirs, and next of kin:

2. ACKNOWLEDGE, agree, and represent that I and/or my minor understand the nature of Table Tennis Activities and that I and/or my minor child are qualified, in good health, and in proper physical condition to participate in such Activity. I further agree that if at any time I believe conditions or equipment to be unsafe, I and/or my minor child will immediately discontinue further participation in the Activity.

3. FULLY UNDERSTAND that (a) TABLE TENNIS ACTIVITIES INVOLVE RISKS AND DANGERS OF SERIOUS BODILY INJURY, INCLUDING PERMANENT DISABILITY, PARALYSIS AND DEATH ("RISKS"); (b) these Risks and dangers may be caused by me and/or my child's own actions, or inaction, or the actions or inaction of others participating in the Activity, the condition in which the Activity takes place, or THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE "RELEASEES" NAMED BELOW; (c) there may be OTHER RISKS AND SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LOSSES either not known to me or not readily foreseeable at this time; and I FULLY ACCEPT AND ASSUME ALL SUCH RISKS AND ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOSSES, COSTS, AND DAMAGES I and/or my minor child incur as a result of my participation in the Activity.

4. HEREBY ACCEPT AND ASSUME ALL SUCH RISKS, KNOWN AND UNKNOWN, AND ASSUME ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LOSSES, COSTS, AND/OR DAMAGES FOLLOWING SUCH INJURY, DISABILITY, PARALYSIS, OR DEATH, EVEN IF CAUSED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE "RELEASEES" NAMED BELOW;

5. HEREBY RELEASE, DISCHARGE, AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE USA TABLE TENNIS, their respective administrators, directors, agents, officers, officials, volunteers, and employees, other participants, any sponsors, advertisers, and if applicable, owners and lessors of premises on which the Activity takes place, (each considered one of the "RELEASEES" herein) FROM ALL LIABILITY, CLAIMS, DEMANDS, LOSSES, OR DAMAGES ON MY ACCOUNT CAUSED OR ALLEGED TO BE CAUSED IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE "RELEASEES" OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING NEGLIGENT RESCUE OPERATIONS; AND I FURTHER AGREE that if, despite this RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY, ASSUMPTION OF RISK, AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT I and/or my minor child, or anyone on my and/or my minor child's behalf, makes a claim against any of the Releases, I WILL INDEMNIFY, SAVE, AND HOLD HARMLESS EACH OF THE RELEASEES from any litigation expenses, attorney fees, loss, liability, damage, or cost which may incur as the result of such claim.

6. I HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT, FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS, UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN UP SUBSTANTIAL RIGHTS BY SIGNING IT, AND HAVE SIGNED IT FREELY AND WITHOUT ANY INDUCEMENT OR ASSURANCE OF ANY NATURE AND INTEND IT TO BE A COMPLETE AND UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF ALL LIABILITY TO THE GREATEST EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW AND AGREE THAT IF ANY PORTION OF THIS AGREEMENT IS HELD TO BE INVALID THE BALANCE, NOTWITHSTANDING, SHALL CONTINUE IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT.