ISSF Dress Code for athletes - Detailed interpretation

ISSF Rule 6.4.2.1.  It is the responsibility of the competitor to appear on the ranges dressed in a manner appropriate to a public event. This must be controlled by the Jury….

All sports are concerned with the image they present to the public and media.  Olympic sports, in particular, are judged by whether their competitors look like athletes and their officials appear professional.  Shooting’s ability to grow as a sport and its future status in the Olympic movement may be affected by how its athletes and officials appear to the public and media.

Recent evaluations made by ISSF leaders in cooperation with IOC and media officials have identified concerns regarding certain clothing worn by shooters during competitions and award ceremonies.  Of special concern are blue jeans and ragged cut-off shorts worn by pistol and shotgun shooters during qualification and final round competitions.  There have also been cases of clothing worn during award ceremonies that clearly does not represent the sport of shooting or the national federations, Olympic committees or nations of those athletes in a positive way.

CLOTHING REGULATIONS.  In order to address this situation and achieve positive change, the ISSF Executive Committee provides the following guidelines regarding how Rule 6.4.2.1 will be interpreted and enforced, beginning in 2010:

1.     All clothing worn by competitors in training, elimination, qualification and final round competitions and in award ceremonies must be clothing that is appropriate for wear by athletes in international-class competition.  All clothing must convey positive images of shooting athletes as competitors in an Olympic sport.

2.     During award or other ceremonies, athletes are required to be dressed in their official national uniform or national tracksuits (tops and bottoms of training or warm-up uniforms including sport shoes).  For teams, all members of the team must wear the same national uniforms. Rule 6.17.5.5.

3.     Pistol competitors must comply with Pistol Clothing Regulations described in Rule 8.4.5.

4.     Shotgun competitors must comply with Shotgun Clothing Regulations described in Rule 9.9.1. 

5.     Rifle competitors must wear shooting jackets and trousers that comply with Rifle Clothing Regulations described in Rule 7.4.6.

6.     The intention of ISSF pistol and shotgun clothing rules is that shooters in competitions must wear sports-type clothing that incorporates or displays national, NOC or NF colors and emblems.  Appropriate clothing for wear during competitions includes training suits, tracksuits or warm-up uniforms, etc. as issued by national federations or NOCs.  

7.     Prohibited clothing items for competitions and award ceremonies include blue jeans, jeans or similar trousers in non-sporting colors, camouflage clothing, sleeveless T-shirts, shorts that are too short, ragged cut-off shorts, all types of sandals, trousers with patches or holes as well as shirts or trousers with non-sporting or inappropriate messages (See Rule 6.10.1).

8.     Changing clothing must be done in designated areas and not on the field of play. 

9.     All clothing must comply with ISSF Eligibility and Sponsorship Rules regarding the display of manufacturer and sponsor marks.

ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES.

¤    ISSF Equipment Control, Shotgun, Pistol and Rifle Juries are responsible for enforcing ISSF Clothing Regulations and this interpretation of ISSF Clothing Regulations.

¤    During the 2010 World Cups, ISSF Juries will issue verbal warnings regarding violations.  Juries will maintain a record of all warnings issued, noting the shooter’s name, national federation and specific violation.  ISSF Technical Delegates will forward this information to ISSF Headquarters.  ISSF Headquarters will request National Federations with many athletes that receive warnings to assist in correcting these violations.

¤    Beginning with the 2010 World Shooting Championship, ISSF Juries will issue written warnings with requests to correct clothing violations for first violations.  Athletes who receive written warnings and who do not correct clothing violations (change clothing) will be disqualified.  Juries will normally give warnings during equipment inspection or training.   Juries may allow a competitor to complete a pre-event training series or stage (shotgun or 25m pistol) before changing if sufficient time to change is not available.   No athlete will be permitted to participate in a qualification or final round competition while wearing inappropriate or prohibited clothing.