Team USA Athlete's Commission & USATKD AAC - Nomination Window Open

by USA Taekwondo


Team USA Athletes’ Commission and USATKD Athletes Advisory Council 2025-2028 Self Nominations Now Open


TEAM USA ATHLETES’ COMMISSION (Team USA AC)

The Team USA AC is calling for self-nominations to serve as the Team USA AC representative for Taekwondo. Team USA AC, formerly the USOPC Athletes’ Advisory Council (“AAC”), serves as the representative group and voice of Team USA athletes. Team USA AC is responsible for broadening communication between the USOPC and active athletes and serves as a source of input and advice to the USOPC board of directors. The Team USA AC consists of at least one athlete from each National Governing Body ("NGB") in which the United States is represented at the Olympic and Pan American Games, one athlete from Sports on the program at Delegation events that are governed and managed by the USOPC, six athletes representing the Paralympic Sport Organizations or NGBs designated to govern a Paralympic sport, and seven athletes elected to serve on leadership by the Team USA AC four serve at-large, two vice chairs and one chair.


The athlete voice is stronger than ever and a vital part of sport governance. Click here to watch a video about the role and work of the Team USA AC. Additionally, please read the Team USA AC Representative job description that details the roles, responsibilities, and eligibility requirements of being an athlete rep on the Team USA AC.

In accordance with the Team USA AC bylaws, only 10 Year athletes (as defined below) are eligible to participate as both candidates and voters in the Team USA AC elections. Candidates running for the Team USA AC rep do not need to be a current member of USATKD. 

  • USOPC 10 Year Athlete– As defined in the USOPC Bylaws, an athlete who has been selected by their NGB to represent the United States in a Delegation Event or other International Qualifying Competition within the previous 10 years. 

If you are interested in the position, please submit a statement of interest, resume or any other information pertaining to your ability to serve the Mission of the Team USA AC to Associate Director of National Teams Eric Wininger (ewininger@usatkd.org) and Director of Athlete Affairs Sherman Nelson (snelson@usatkd.org) by the end of day, Friday, October 11, 2024. Additionally, all conflicts of interest disclosures should be made according to the eligibility requirements of the Team USA AC Bylaws.


Below is the election timeline and process for the Team USA AC reps: 

  • Friday, October 11. Self-nominations are due at the end of day. 
  • Friday, October 18. USATKD shall distribute the list of eligible nominees, along with statements of intent and other candidate submissions, disclosures, and voting instructions to eligible voters. 
  • Friday, October 18 - Friday, October 25. USATKD shall conduct an election where the top two candidates with the most votes are named the Representative and Alternate, respectively. The highest vote getter is the Representative and the next highest vote getter is the Alternate. The Team USA AC Representative is automatically a member of the USATKD Board of Directors. 
  • Friday, November 1. USATKD shall notify Team USA AC Staff of the results. Team USA AC Onboarding and first meeting of the Quad will be January 23-January 26, 2025. Elected Representatives will be expected to attend. 

More information can be found in the Team USA AC Bylaws and Election and Voting Policy. If you have any questions regarding the role of being a Team USA AC Rep or the election reach out to teamusa.ac@teamusa-ac.org. 


USATKD ATHLETES ADVISORY COUNCIL (AAC)

USATKD AAC is seeking candidates for the next election to serve from 2025-2028. The mission of the AAC is to communicate the interests and protect the rights of athletes in cooperative support of USATKD in achieving its mission. The AAC is responsible for broadening communication between USATKD and active sparring, poomsae, and paralympic athletes, and serves as a source of input and advice to the USATKD Board of Directors with regard to current and contemplated USATKD policies.

The AAC is composed of 11 individuals: two Team USA Athletes’ Commission (Team USA AC) reps, four sparring reps, three poomsae reps, and two para reps. From these 11 individuals, three AAC members are elected onto the USATKD Board of Directors. The Team USA AC rep is automatically the fourth USATKD Board of Directors member. 

In accordance with updates to the USATKD and AAC bylaws, only 10 Year and 10 Year +  athletes (as defined below) as measured by the November 2, 2024 AAC meeting, are eligible to participate as both candidates and voters in the USATKD AAC elections. 

  • USOPC 10 Year Athlete– As defined in the USOPC Bylaws, an athlete who has been selected by their NGB to represent the United States in a Delegation Event or other International Qualifying Competition within the previous 10 years. 
  • USOPC 10 Year+ Athlete– As defined in the USOPC Bylaws, an athlete who has been selected by their NGB to represent the United States in a Delegation Event or other International Qualifying Competition,but not within the previous 10 years.


Additionally, for the general AAC and AAC BOD members elections, you must also be a member of USATKD in good standing on the date this announcement was published and be at least 18 years of age as of December 31, 2024. 


There are three (3) voting cycles: 

  • The first voting cycle will elect one Team USA AC rep and one Team USA AC alternate rep. Voting is open to all members who meet the eligibility requirements as outlined in the Team USA AC bylaws. Both representatives are automatically part of USATKD AAC. 
  • The second voting cycle will elect the remaining 9 positions on the AAC which include four sparring reps, three poomsae reps, and two para reps. This voting cycle shall be conducted by each discipline (sparring/poomsae/para). An individual who qualifies under separate disciplines (sparring/poomsae/para) shall be eligible to vote in each election (i.e. if you qualify as both a poomsae athlete and a sparring athlete you may vote in both elections). 
  • The third and final voting cycle will elect three additional BOD members from the newly elected AAC. This cycle is again open to all members who meet the eligibility requirements as outlined above for the USATKD AAC. The ballots will be sent to the email address registered in your Sport:80 membership account.

If you believe you are eligible and are interested in running for the USATKD AAC, please fill out this form before the end of the day Friday, November 1, 2024. If you have any questions, please contact Associate Director of National Teams Eric Wininger (ewininger@usatkd.org) and Director of Athlete Affairs Sherman Nelson (snelson@usatkd.org). When writing your statement, please express your qualities and experiences in being able to advocate for athletes. These statements will be circulated to eligible members during the voting process.   


Below is the election timeline and process for the USATKD AAC general members and AAC BOD members:  

  • Thursday, September 19. Nominations/self-nominations for Team USA AC rep and general AAC reps now open. Vetting for eligibility begins as nominations come in. Please fill out this form if you’re interested in running. 
  • Tuesday, September 24. AAC Candidate Zoom info session #1 from 12-1PM ET (zoom link below)
  • Friday, October 18. AAC Candidate Zoom info session #2 from 7-8PM ET (zoom link below)  
  • Friday, November 1. Self-nominations for the AAC general reps are due by the end of the day. 
  • Friday, November 8. USATKD shall distribute the list of eligible nominees, along with statements of intent and other candidate submissions, disclosures, and voting instructions to eligible voters. 
  • Friday, November 8 - Friday, November 15. USATKD shall conduct an election where the top four vote-getters for sparring, top three vote-getters for poomsae, and top two vote-getters for para are named to the council (note: per USATKD AAC Bylaws only one 10 Year+ Athlete may serve in each discipline, all subsequent positions must be 10 Year Athletes). 
  • By Friday, November 22. USATKD shall notify the membership of the USATKD AAC election results. An onboarding meeting of new members will take place December 7 over zoom. 
  • Saturday, December 7. Onboarding meeting of new AAC members. At this meeting, the AAC will receive nominations of those interested in running for the USATKD Board positions. In December, USATKD will run a third voting cycle for the AAC BOD reps. 

The ideal candidate will:
● Study/utilize the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act
● Possess high communication/collaboration skills
● Advocate in best interest of all USA Taekwondo athletes
● Participate in monthly meetings
● Participate in long-term strategic initiative


Upcoming USATKD AAC Info Session Zoom meeting info:

Tuesday, September 24

Time: 12:00pm ET

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83305288352?pwd=BYPoAD8YlToCOsVJi7yWi2bxYobmMT.1

Meeting ID: 833 0528 8352

Password: 865693


Friday, October 18

Time: 7:00pm ET

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87640876334?pwd=AwJvGJuabfXAZoV0OTTaIyX7ssJdn7.1

Meeting ID: 876 4087 6334

Passcode: 057184