VETERANS SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Registration/Check in date options available below: All Veterans

July 24    6:30 PM - 9:00 PM      EMBASSY SUITES BY HILTON - 17TH STREET 

July 25   10:00 AM - 3:00 PM      EMBASSY SUITES BY HILTON - 17TH STREET

July 27   10:00 AM - 12:00 PM   TOURNAMENT SITE

July 27   Unofficial Weigh-in- All Veterans

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM TOURNAMENT SITE

July    27  Official Weigh-in- All Veterans 

11:30 AM - 1:30 PM     TOURNAMENT SITE

July 27 Exhibition Match Meeting (TBA) TOURNAMENT SITE

July 28  Competition Begins:   9:00 AM - TOURNAMENT SITE  -  All Athletes 

VETERANS METHOD OF COMPETITION, AGE, WEIGHTS, RULES AND POINTS

Novice Category age, weights, rank: Athletes born in 1994 or earlier and holding belt ranks brown belt and below may compete in the Novice Category.  Weights for Novices will be Light/Medium/Heavy.

Novice Rules: Same as those for the Championships with the exception that there will be NO chokes or armlocks allowed in the Novice divisions.

Championship Category Age and Rank Requirement: Any black belt born in 1994 or earlier with proof of black belt rank may compete in this event. Brown belts and below not meeting the requirements as set forth in this entry form may fill out the waiver request:

Please  send an email to [email protected] to apply for a Veterans Brown Belt Waiver. or visit www.usopenjudo.com to obtain form

USA Judo National Ranking Points: For USA Athletes, points on the USA Judo national rosters will be awarded in accordance with the current USA Judo point system. To receive points on the USA Judo Roster you must be a member of USA Judo prior to the event. Criteria can be found at https://www.usajudo.com/veteran-point-criteria

Seeding: There will be NO SEEDING in the Veterans category.

Participation Limit: There is no participation limit.

Elimination Systems: Round Robin for divisions of 5 or fewer; Modified Double Elimination for all others.

Match Lengths: Lengths:  M1/F1 through M6/F6 will be three minutes and two minutes golden score.  M7/F7 through M11/F11 will be two and one half  (2.5) minutes and one minute golden score.

Awards: Awards will be given out within one hour of each category’s completion

HOW “AGE” IS DETERMINED. (New Shime-waza limitations for 2024)

Players will be assigned to an Age Division based on their year of birth.  A player must be born in 1994 or earlier and will be assigned to a four year age range as shown below:

Division As of 1/20/2024 per IJF and Modified by USA Judo

Age at end of 2024

F1/M1  Ages  30 – 34   Year of birth  1990-1994

F2/M2 Ages 35 – 39     Year of birth 1985-1989

F3/M3 Ages 40 – 44     Year of birth 1980-1984

F4/M4 Ages 45 – 49     Year of birth 1975-1979 

F5/M5 Ages 50– 54     Year of birth 1970-1974  

F6/M6 Ages 55 - 59     Year of birth 1965 -1969 

F7/M7 Ages 60 - 64      Year of birth 1960 - 1964

F8/M8 Ages 65 - 69      Year of birth 1955 - 1959

F9/M9 Ages 70 -74       Year of birth  1950-1954

F10/M10 Ages 75-79     Year of birth 1945-1949

F11/M11 Ages 80 +        Year of birth 1944 and Earlier

Match Scheduling Conflicts: Veterans may also compete in Seniors (if rank qualified) but both categories compete on the same day.  Tournament staff will attempt to schedule the divisions as far apart as possible to avoid conflicts, but this is not guaranteed.  The standard “no show” protocol will apply if an athletes fail to appear because they are competing in another division at the same time.

VETERANS AGE/WEIGHT CATEGORIES; WEIGH IN, POINTS

VETERANS WEIGHT DIVISIONS TO BE CONTESTED:

Novice Category (NOT a USA Judo point event): Weights will be Light, Medium, Heavy

Championship Category: A weight division is defined as over the next lower weight division and up to and including the weight division number.  Example:  Male 73 kg means over 66 kg up to and including 73kg.

Males:

60 kg, 66 kg, 73 kg, 81 kg, 90 kg, 100 kg, +100 kg

Females:

48 kg, 52 kg, 57 kg, 63 kg, 70 kg, 78 kg, +78 kg

Declaration of Weight: Veteran athletes must make a preliminary declaration of weight on their entry form or at Registration/Check-in.  However, the athlete’s measured weight at weigh-in will determine the competition division.

Naked weigh-in is no longer allowed for any category. To compensate, 0.1kg will be allowed. For example, in the 66kg category, the limit will be 66.1kg. This is a clothing allowance only and the 0.1kg will only be added to the true weight.

Weigh-in:  Competitors will not be allowed to check their weight on official scale during weigh-in times; however, an unofficial scale will be available for the purpose of checking weight outside of the weigh in room during official weigh-in times.  At OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN, athletes must present their tournament-issued identification card AND a photo ID/Passport.

Points and Exhibition Matches: For USA athletes in the Veterans Championship category, points on the USA Judo national rosters will be awarded in accordance with the current USA Judo point system.  It is the policy of USA Judo that competitors will get their medal and points for an uncontested division. In addition, divisions may be combined FOR EXHIBITION PURPOSES ONLY.  A meeting will be held at TOURNAMENT SITE (time and location will be announced) prior to the day of competition to discuss creating these divisions. All competitors must be present and consent to these changes.

AGAIN THIS YEAR!  VETERANS’ TEAM COMPETITION

On Sunday, July 28th a team event will be held as described below.

This event is IN ADDITION to the normal age-weight division Championship.  The Team Event IS NOT a USA Judo point event.  It will begin after the conclusion of the Individual Veterans’ championship.

Registration: Teams may register during the Thursday registration period or on Saturday during the tournament (a registration area will be set up and announcements will be made).

Entry fee: will be $250 per team. No late entry fee.  No weigh-in.  Weights used will be the athlete’s weight for the Veterans US Open Championship.  No additional weigh-in will be held.

Eligibility: Athletes MUST compete in the individual Veterans U.S. Open Judo Championship.

Team Composition:  Separate Male and Female teams: 3 persons each. No restrictions as to Country/Club affiliation.

Male Team Age Groups:  M1 thru M4  and  M5 thru M8    

Male Team Weights:   

73 kg and under

90 kg and under

Over 90 kg

Female Team Age Groups:  F1 thru F4 and F5 thru F8

Female Team Weights: 

57 kg and under

70 kg and under

Over 70 kg

Match Lengths:  3 minutes for M/F1-M/F4,   2.5 minutes for M/F5 - M/F8  

Awards: Medals to the 1st, 2nd & 3rd place winners in each category.

Elimination Systems: Round Robin for divisions of 5 or fewer; Modified Double Elimination for all others.