A. Minimum Requirements:

To be recognized as a Regional Training Center by USA Wrestling a club must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Be a chartered club with USA Wrestling.

2. Be a registered RTC with USA Wrestling through USA Wrestling’s National Teams High-Performance Manager. a. Membership year runs September 1 – August 31.

3. Submit coach, staff and athlete rosters, training, and competition schedules, and have them approved annually by USA Wrestling. Roster, training and competition schedules can be updated throughout the year. a. All training and competition schedules must be approved by the national team’s head coach. b. Any changes or additions to RTC rosters must be immediately sent to USA Wrestling for approval before participating in the RTC practices. c. All RTCs must secure 501c3 status within the current USA Wrestling membership year. Failure to comply will result in non-renewal for the following membership year. i. Exceptions may be granted through official appeal to the USA Wrestling Ethics Committee.

4. Have use of a facility for wrestling training year-round. The facility must be of a type and quality customarily accepted and used for the training of USA Wrestling member wrestlers. a. An RTC may limit the size of their roster based upon safety (facility size).

5. Have a minimum of four established National Team contenders who recognize the club as their Primary Training Site. An established National Team contender shall be considered to be a wrestler who meets at least one of the competitive accomplishments within the last five calendar years as noted below in Athlete Criteria. a. Ongoing eligibility requirement will be verified by USA Wrestling’s Membership Management System: i. A minimum of four athletes from an RTC must have competed in a USA Wrestling national event in that calendar year.

6. All practices must be conducted in the international styles of wrestling only.

7. All RTC camps and clinics must be conducted in the facility where the RTC is registered and operated. No remote RTC camps and clinics are permissible.

8. Abide by applicable USA Wrestling by-laws, rules, and policies and: a. Incorporate USA Wrestling's mission into all aspects of the program and activities of the RTC. b. Support and respect the programs, activities, and operations of USA Wrestling.

B. Athlete Criteria:

All wrestlers participating in the RTC practice must meet one of the stated criteria below and must be current athlete members of USA Wrestling. All RTC athletes must be in good standing with the both the RTC and the RTC host site.

1. Won at least one match at a Senior USAW World or Olympic Team Trials

2. Placed top 8 at USAW Senior Open Championships

3. Placed top 8 at USAW U23 National Championship

4. Placed top 8 at UWW Junior National Championship

5. Placed top 8 at USAW Junior National Championship

6. Placed top 4 at USAW Junior Regional

7. Placed top 8 at USAW 16U National Championship

8. Placed top 8 at UWW Cadet National Championship

9. Placed top 6 at USAW State Junior Freestyle/Greco-Roman Championships

10. Placed top 6 at USAW State 16U Freestyle/Greco-Roman Championships

11. Placed top 4 at USAW Senior Regional

12. Placed top 4 at New York Athletic Club International

13. Placed top 4 at Dave Schultz Memorial International

14. Competed in a Continental Championships/Games, World Championships/Games at any age level a. 5 year criteria does NOT apply

15. Any veteran athlete who has represented the U.S. within the last two years at the Veteran’s World Championships or is scheduled to compete at the next world championship event

16. Waivered, first year collegiate athlete who was unable to compete because of USA Wrestling events cancelled due Covid-19.

17. “Grandfather” clause will apply to any previously RTC rostered athlete who met the “Top 4 Finish at a State Folkstyle Tournament” criteria. International athletes/coaches who currently represent a country other than the U.S. may attend on a limited basis based on approval of the NGB and RTC. These individuals must be of similar competitive caliber. These individuals may attend on an intermittent basis in order to enhance national team development.

C. Coach Criteria:

1. All coaches on staff must be current USA Wrestling Leader members (includes United States Center for SafeSport training and USA Wrestling required background screening). Must include having successfully completed the USA Wrestling Bronze Certification.

2. All RTC employees may NOT recruit prospective student-athletes. a. Examples are: no calling, no texting i. Communication can only be mass distribution with regards to practice times. b. No publication of prospective student athletes in any way. c. During a two-year period before a prospective student-athlete's anticipated enrollment and a two-year period after the prospective student-athlete's actual enrollment, an RTC shall not employ (or enter into a contract for future employment with) an individual associated with the prospective student-athlete in any RTC position. *This definition includes, but is not limited to, parents, legal guardians, handlers, personal trainers and coaches. An individual who meets this definition retains such status during the enrollment of the prospective student-athlete at the institution. “Grandfather” clause will apply to any currently employed RTC staff members as of September 1, 2019.

3. An RTC coach, who is employed at a college/university, may NOT coach a PSA at any competition unless they are on coaching assignment by USA Wrestling National Office or the USA Wrestling State Chapter.

4. When scheduled, a coach should attend the annual national coaches' summit.

D. Prospective Student-Athlete Requirements:

1. A PSA must live within 250 miles of an RTC to participate in practice. If there is no RTC within the boundaries listed above, the PSA may join the closest RTC to his residence by applying for an exemption through USA Wrestling. a. The 250 mile radius is determined by using the home address of the athlete to the zip code of the regional training center. b. Once a PSA has signed a National Letter of Intent, the 250 miles radius rule is no longer applicable and that PSA may attend the RTC of their choice.

2. A PSA may belong to more than one RTC.

3. A PSA may not practice at an RTC during that PSA’s traditional high school wrestling season. Dates are determined by the PSA’s State Activities Association.

4. If a PSA in not participating in their traditional high school season, they may attend RTC practice during the traditional folkstyle season.

5. A PSA that is graduated from high school and is taking a year off before matriculating to college, may practice during the traditional folkstyle season with a RTC.

6. Only the PSA or USA Wrestling can pay for a prospect to attend RTC practice.

7. An RTC may NOT pay travel expenses or fees associated with competition for the PSA.

E. Current Student-Athlete Requirements:

1. Athletes with NCAA eligibility remaining may only be paid for actual and necessary expenses for travel specific to competition and nothing more. a. No room and board, stipends, misc. expenses, etc. for any wrestler enrolled in college with remaining NCAA eligibility. b. Cannot be employed or offered future employment by the RTC in any capacity while they are student-athletes.

2. RTCs are for Olympic Development and should not be considered a professional organization.

F. Reporting of RTC Infractions:

RTC infractions must be reported in writing to USA Wrestling’s National Teams High Performance Manager. If the matter cannot be resolved by USA Wrestling staff, it will be forwarded to USA Wrestling’s Ethics Committee or the appropriate authority (i.e., NCAA Enforcement, USOC, United States Center for SafeSport or other applicable governing body). The USA Wrestling Ethics Committee will work closely with national staff to determine the appropriate action. RTC sanctions can include, but not limited to: 1. Suspension of RTC status 2. Suspension of club charter 3. Suspension of individual USA Wrestling membership privileges 4. Suspension of USA Wrestling Leader/coach membership privileges 5. Public reprimand of the RTC and/or individual member 6. Other sanctions as deemed appropriate by the Ethics Committee RTC rules are evaluated annually and adjusted as deemed necessary by USA Wrestling.