2025 AAC Election

• One (1) Paralympic Representative
• One (1) Veteran Representative
• One (1) Kata Representative
• One (1) U23 Representative

USA Judo Athletes' Advisory Council INFORMATION  

The USA Judo Athletes’ Advisory Council (AAC) is to provide athletes with a voice in the governance structure of USA Judo in a way that athletes find appropriate. The AAC consists of 7 members: Team USA Athletes’ Commission representative and alternate are automatically members of the AAC. At least two (2) of the seats must be designated for Paralympic representation. The remaining seats shall consist of one (1) Veteran member, one (1) Kata member, one (1) U23 member. All members of the AAC must be 10-Year Athletes as defined by USA Judo.  

• The AAC is a forum to provide a comprehensive communication between athletes and USA Judo. The AAC leads, serves, and engages athletes to communicate the interests and protect the rights of athletes, and serves as a conduit to USA Judo. Specifically, the AAC:
  • Serves as a vehicle for athlete engagement;
  • Endeavors to protect the rights of athletes;
  • Provides athlete feedback;
  • Builds and establishes relationships among the athletes of USA Judo;
  • Assists in identifying potential future athlete board representation candidates;
  • Appoints eligible athletes to USA Judo committees  and otherwise introduces athletes to USA Judo's governance structure;
  • Serves as SafeSport and USADA ambassadors and advocates; and
  • Develops pathways for athletes within the structure of USA Judo

• Elected AAC Members are expected to check their email on a regular and consistent basis. This should be done no less than once per week.
• Monthly, one-hour, virtual meetings
• Elected AAC Members may be asked to serve on working groups, task forces, and committees in areas they are interested in
• Time commitment and frequency of communications can vary depending on season and needs as they arise

All Elected AAC Members must be at least 18 years of age, and a 10-Year Athlete as defined by USA Judo, at the time when their term would commence.  There are NO exceptions to this rule.

• Eligibility to serve as a USA Judo 10-Year Athlete representative may not be obtained through events that categorize entrants in age-restricted classifications commonly known as “U23,” “Masters,” “Veterans,” or other similarly designated age-restricted competitions. 

• The period of eligibility starts when an athlete is named to Team USA in a qualifying competition and ends on December 31 of the 10th year after their last qualifying participation.
• USA Judo shiai participants in a “Delegation Event” meaning individually or collectively as applicable, the Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games, the Pan American Games and the Parapan Am Games.
• USA Judo shiai or kata participants in a “Protected Competition” meaning:
  • any international competition between athlete(s) officially designated by USA Judo as representing the United States, either individually or as part of a team, and any athlete(s) representing any foreign country where:
    • the terms of such competition require that the entrants be individuals or teams representing their respective nations;
    • the athlete(s) representing the United States are organized and supported by USA Judo in accordance with a defined selection or tryout procedure that is open to all and publicly announced in advance except for domestic amateur athletic competition, which, by its terms, requires that entrants be expressly restricted to members of a specific class of athletes such as those referred to in Section 220526(a) of the Act (i.e., high school students, college students, members of the Armed Forces, or similar groups or categories). 
    • (Examples of these “Protected Competitions” may include World Championships and International Judo Federation Grand Prix, Grand Slam or Continental events)
  • Any able-bodied or Paralympic shiai athletes listed on the USA Judo National Roster

• An individual is ineligible to run for election if they have any prior felony convictions or any period of ineligibility served in sport. Failure to disclose in advance of the election is cause for immediate removal from the ballot and/or the removal of the members once elected.
• An individual running for election must disclose any actual, possible, or perceived conflict of interest consistent with USA Judo’s Conflicts of Interest Policy as part of the vetting process for candidates. The disclosure shall be made to all eligible voters prior to the vote so that the disclosure may be considered in the voting process. Failure to disclose in advance of the election can be cause for the removal of the member once the results have been determined.
• Athletes who medal at D-level for the following disciplines have been approved by the AAWRG to be included in the NGB 10-year Athlete Pool for AAC participation.
  • U23 IJF Juniors
  • Kata
  • Veterans

Composition

The USA JUDO Athletes’ Advisory Council will be composed of 7 members:

• One (1) Sport Representative (currently served by Angie Delgado)
  • The highest vote-getter of the Team USA AC Election
  • The Sport Representative automatically has a seat on the USA Judo Board of Directors
  • The Sport Representatives term ends December 31, 2028

• One (1) Alternate Sport Representative (currently served by Nicole Stout-Berliner)
  • The next highest vote-getter of the AC Election
  • The Alternate Sport Representative term ends December 31, 2028

• Two (2) Paralympic 10-Year Athletes (One position currently served by Maria Liana Mutia)
  • The Paralympic Sport Representative term ends December 31, 2027

• One Kata 10 Year Athlete
  • The Kata Representative term ends December 31, 2027

• One Veteran 10 Year Athlete
  • The Veteran Representative term ends December 31, 2027

• One U23 IJF Junior 10 Year Athlete
  • The U23 IJF Junior Representative term ends December 31, 2027

• An interest in sport governance and athlete advocacy
• Strong reading comprehension skills
• Strong communication skills
• The ability to keep an open mind and listen to all opinions
• Detail oriented

Athlete representatives shall be directly elected by athletes who are eligible to run (10-year athletes). All eligible athletes wanting to vote must register in each of their eligible categories to receive their ballot and participate in the election. 

The term for Elected AAC Members is two (2) years, January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2027.

• Elected AAC Members may not serve more than two (2) full terms.
• Individuals shall not be considered to have served a term under the term limit requirements unless they were seated as the Representative for two (2) or more years of a term.