AAU MEMBERSHIP: All athletes and coaches must be members of their AAU Association and be able to present their AAU membership card at time of check-in. To purchase AAU membership cards you can call your local AAU Association at 1-800-AAU-4USA or register on line at www.aausports.org.

RULES: AAU/modified International Federation rules. Officials wishing to judge, referee or arbitrate at the University Hospitals Health System 1999 AAU Junior Olympic Games must have completed the Officials' Certification Course at the AAU National Karate Championship and be a current AAU license holder. This applies to all Officials. Coaches must be registered members of the National AAU Program. Rulebooks may be purchased from AAU National Headquarters for $10.00 each. Coaches must attend one of the two-certification courses at the Cleveland Convention Center in order to be allowed on the competition floor.

COACHES: ONLY AAU CERTIFIED KARATE COACHES ARE ALLOWED ON COMPETITION FLOOR.

Coaches Clinic: For coaches participating in the national karate event, the mandatory coaches' certification clinic will be conducted on Thursday, August 5 at 6:00 p.m. at the Cleveland Convention Center. (Same site as Athlete Check-In)

ALL COACHES MUST WEAR WHITE GI PANTS AND DARK BLUE AAU COACHES SHIRTS TO BE ALLOWED ON THE COMPETITION FLOOR. (A limited number of shirts will be on sale at the coaches clinics)

Coaches must be properly attired according to AAU Karate Rules. A limited number of coaches shirts will be available for sale at the clinic. Only proper attire as deemed by the National AAU Executive Committee will be acceptable.

Follow the posted signs at Athlete Check-In for the exact site of the meetings within the Cleveland Convention Center.

AWARDS: AAU Junior Olympic Games medals will be awarded to the top six (6) places in each advanced division and discipline for the advanced competition.

QUALIFICATION: Qualification to the AAU Junior Olympic Games must be determined by actual competition. Qualification may be determined only through: (A) AAU Regional Karate Championships, (B) AAU Junior Olympic Games Qualifier, (C) AAU National Karate Championships.

A. AAU Regional Karate Championships

The Regional Championship shall qualify the top four (4) athletes from each appropriate age category from the Advanced and Intermediate Divisions to participate at the AAU Junior Olympic Games.

B. Special AAU Junior Olympic Games Qualifier

The Region may opt, at the discretion of the Regional Director, in lieu of the method prescribed above, to conduct an AAU Junior Olympic Games qualifier separate from the Regional Championships. The Regional AAU Junior Olympic Games Qualifier must conduct the same divisions that are utilized at the AAU Junior Olympic Games. These Regional AAU Junior Olympic Games Qualifiers must be open to all levels within the appropriate age/experience categories. These Regional AAU Junior Olympic Games Qualifiers shall qualify the top eight (8) athletes from each appropriate age/experience categories to participate at the AAU Junior Olympic Games.

C. AAU National Karate Championship

The AAU National Karate Championships shall qualify the top eight (8) from each appropriate age category from the Advanced and Intermediate Divisions to participate at the AAU Junior Olympic Games. The same qualifying criteria apply to athletes registered by the host AAU Association.

CHECK-IN: Pre-Registration: It is extremely important that all entries be received no later than the previously mentioned-deadline date. ENTRY FORM (S) RECEIVED BEYOND THAT DATE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED! Guaranteed overnight delivery will become mandatory if it is the only way to ensure compliance with the deadline date.

On-Site Check In: Check-in for all athletes, coaches, clubs and teams participating will be held at the Cleveland Convention Center located at 500 Lakeside Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio. For check-in hours, mapping, and specific directions from locations throughout the Cleveland Metropolitan Area, please consult your Athletes', Coaches' and Parents' Handbook.

DIRECTIONS TO ATHLETE CHECK-IN:

From the South: Take either I-77 or I-71 North into downtown Cleveland. Exit at the East 9^th Street exit. Follow East 9^th Street North to St. Clair Avenue. Turn left onto St. Clair. The Cleveland Convention Center will be on the right side after the East 6^th Street traffic light.

From the East: Take I-90 West into downtown Cleveland. Exit at the East 9^th Street exit. Turn left (South) at the light. Then two lights to St. Clair Avenue and make a right. The Cleveland Convention center will be on your right after one light.

From the West: Take I-90 East into downtown Cleveland. Exit at the East 9^th Street Exit. Follow East 9^th Street North to St. Clair Avenue. Turn left onto St. Clair. The Cleveland Convention Center will be on the right side after the East 6^th Street traffic light.

UNIFORMS: Solid white GI only with a maximum of one patch (6" diameter maximum). NO school or club design on back of the uniform. No lettering or striping may appear on the uniform

CAUTIONS: The following items may not be worn during competition: headbands, jewelry, colored t-shirts, and metal hair clips. Sleeves may not be rolled up. Fingernails should be cut short. Bandages and/or any wraps must be approved by the sports medicine staff on site prior to competition. Regular plastic eyeglasses may not be worn during fighting competition. Lettering on gi is not permitted.

MANDATORY EQUIPMENT: Solid white headgear for all fighters, mouth guards for all fighters, cups for all male fighters, knuckle pads (white cotton type) for all fighters. AAU National Karate Committee approved equipment only. No competitor will be allowed to compete without proper uniform and mandatory equipment.

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT: Shin and instep guard (white cotton type only), breast protectors for female fighters, certified prescription safety glasses with strap.

CELEBRATION CEREMONY: Celebration Ceremony will be held at Gund Arena on Wednesday, August 4 at 7:30 p.m. To facilitate your arrival at the event, the Local Organizing Committee is setting up a hassle free transportation system that will make scheduled pick-ups at convenient locations throughout the Cleveland area and deliver you right to the arena doors. At the conclusion of the Celebration Ceremony, you will board the shuttles and be returned to your parking location. In order to arrive at the arena in time for the festivities, please plan to use the transportation system by utilizing the parking lots located close to your hotel. (A detailed map and parking directions will be provided at athlete check-in at the Cleveland Convention Center). Enjoy the spectacular show without the hassle of restrictive parking. Please be sure to fill out the appropriate section of your Event Registration Forms so that we can accurately plan to have enough shuttles at designated locations to pick you up! We look forward to seeing you at this year's Celebration Ceremony!

HOUSING: All requests for housing will be handled by the LCI Travel. Simply call our toll free number and make your reservations at 1-888-524-8785. A list of hotels and areas in which they are located can be found in the Athletes', Coaches', and Parents' Handbook, review this information and then call the reservations number. Be sure to have the following information ready:

· the sport you will be competing in
· the number of people in your party
· the number of rooms you need
· your arrival and departure dates
· your credit card number

IMPORTANT: Please note all hotels will send a confirmation with their individual cancellation policies. Each hotel may differ. If you have not received a confirmation within 30 days of making your reservation, please contact LCI Travel.

Dormitory housing will also be available at Cleveland State University and Baldwin-Wallace College. Ask the operator for details!

INFORMATION:

AAU NATIONAL CHAIR:	AAU NATIONAL STAFF:
Joe Mirza	Adrian Ellis
237 E. Prospect	AAU National Headquarters
Mt. Prospect, IL 60056	c/o Walt Disney World Resort
847-797-9940 (O)	PO Box 10,000
847-797-0510 (Fax)	Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000
	407-828-5602 (O)
	407-934-7242 (F)
	aellis@aausports.org
	Web site: www.aausports.org

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