Should citizenship be a national roller sports event eligibility requirement?

National Championships are the highest level sporting events for individual countries and specific sports. They determine national teams, which are invited to represent each country and that country's National Governing Body (NGB) at World Championships and international events. They also determine the domestic event national athletes who will be the role models, icons and examples for the sport in that given country.

Many feel that each National Championship should be open only to those registered athletes who have been citizens or permanent residents of that country for the complete season in question, and that athletes should compete in only one National Championship for one NGB in a specific sport discipline per season. If an athlete competes in a National Qualifier tournament (or other event leading to a National Championship) in one country, he or she should not compete in National Qualifier tournaments or National Championships for another country in the same season or for a specified amount of time.

Current Status

Participation in USA Roller Sports (the United States' NGB) competitive events is currently open to anyone from any country who meets the age and event requirements as long as that athlete registers to participate in the events as required.

Background

This open policy means that many USA Roller Sports 2008 National Championship domestic events include Junior and Senior World level competitors who are citizens of other countries and will represent those other countries to compete against our Junior and Senior athletes in international events in this competitive season.

Many athletes who are dedicated to representing the United States exclusively as a resident or citizen are frustrated. Some of the frustration comes from finding world-level international competitors in domestic National events who will not represent the United States at international events.