The AAC shall consider issues of the corporation which affect active athletes and shall be a forum to provide a comprehensive means of communication between athletes and the corporation. To be eligible as an athlete director, an athlete must meet the standards specified for an athlete representative to a board of directors of a NGB as defined in the USOPC Bylaws or accepted by the USOPC exception process at the time of election. Election of the members will be as set forth in the AAC Operating Policies.

The AAC shall:

1. Serve as a vehicle for athlete engagement;
2. Endeavor to protect the rights of athletes;
3. Provide athlete feedback;
4. Build and establish relationships among the disciplines of the sport of wrestling;
5. Assist in identifying potential future athlete board representative candidates and introduce athletes to the corporation’s governance structure;
6. Serve as SafeSport and USADA ambassadors and advocates;
7. Appoint athlete representatives to committees and councils as needed; and
8. Develop pathways for athletes within the structure of the corporation.

Compensation.

AAC members may receive compensation for their services as AAC members.  The corporation shall pay for the reasonable expenses of all members of the AAC to attend AAC meetings.  In addition, the corporation shall pay for the reasonable expenses of the athlete members of the Board of Directors to attend the corporation’s Board meetings.  AAC members shall also be entitled to obtain compensation from the corporation in connection with their capacity as athletes, including, but not limited to, compensation in the form of Direct Athlete Support or in connection with Operation Gold.  Each member of the AAC shall be bound by the corporation’s Conflicts of Interest Policy.

Athletes shall constitute a minimum of 33.33%of the total voting membership of the Board. Further, at least 20% will be NGB 10 Year Athlete representatives; the remaining will be either NGB 10 Year or NGB 10 Year+ Athlete representatives as defined in Section 8.5 of the USOPC Bylaws. At least half of these athlete representatives will have obtained NGB 10 Year or NGB 10 Year+ Athlete representative eligibility through having been selected to compete at an event that, at the time of election/selection, is on a Delegation Event program as required by Section 8.5.3 of the USOPC Bylaws. 

The athlete board members shall consist of fifteen (15) Athlete Representatives, as defined in the AAC Bylaws and as follows:

1. Men’s Greco Roman. Three (3) from Men’s Greco-Roman wrestling;
2. Men’s Freestyle Representatives. Three (3) from Men’s Freestyle wrestling; and
3. Women’s Freestyle Representatives. Three (3) from Women’s Freestyle wrestling.
4. Elected Team USA Athlete Commission Members. Athlete Commission members are individuals who are Members by virtue of their appointment/election to the Team USA Athletes’ Commission (Team USA AC) to serve as the Representative or Alternate. They shall serve as Members of the AAC throughout the tenure of their appointment to the Team USA AC, have voice and vote, but are not subject to the term limits.
5. At-Large Members. The remainder of Representatives necessary to achieve fifteen (15) Members.

The term for style specific athlete board members is four (4) years commencing on September 1 in the year of the election. Terms shall be staggered by two (2) year increments as determined by the AAC. The term for At-Large AAC Members is two (2) years commencing on September 1 in the year of the election. An individual elected to the Team USA AC Representative or Alternate position may serve the full four (4) year term regardless of such individual’s AAC term length.

• Safe Sport
• Athlete Services