Organizer Guide: USEA Intercollegiate Team Challenges

Introduction

Since its inception in 2014, the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing program – aimed to enfranchise and maintain the participation in eventing by the college-student age group – has experienced a notable increase in the level of membership and in competition entries as well as welcome new faces to the sport of eventing.

The USEA thanks all the organizers who have helped host these important, sport-enhancing competitions, and hope that organizers in every Area will consider offering an Intercollegiate Team Challenge.

The USEA has formulated this guide to assist organizers in easily incorporating a USEA Intercollegiate Team Challenge into a USEA horse trial. This “Organizer’s Guide” will help answer questions and provide solutions to many potential organizational challenges. The guide covers event promotion, entries, team dynamics and scoring, awards, and affiliates.

What is Intercollegiate Eventing?

Intercollegiate Eventing is the USEA program that is aimed uniquely at the college student who would like to continue to event or expand their eventing experience while enrolled in an accredited college or university.

The program is strongly based on a team competition – referred to as an Intercollegiate Team Challenge – between two or more teams of students from one or more colleges or universities and held under the auspices of a USEA/USEF-recognized Horse Trial. All rules of competition as put forth in the USEA and USEF Rule Book apply to Intercollegiate competitors.

Who may participate?

Any student who is enrolled part- or full-time at any college or university. The program is open to students of any age. It is the responsibility of the students and institutions to be in membership compliance.
It is acceptable for Team Challenges to open entries to graduate students and alumni to increase participation, if there is interest.
Participants must be a current individual member of the USEA with either as a “Full” or “Life” status.
The college or university that the student is representing is strongly encouraged, but not required, to be a current Affiliate member of the USEA. This is an annual membership.
Only students from colleges and universities that are registered as Affiliate Organizations may participate in the annual USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship.

Quick Tips

An organizer may either 1) choose to host an Intercollegiate Team Challenge or 2) accept the request of a college team or group of teams to host one at their event.
Levels of Competition: Levels to be included in an Intercollegiate Team Challenge are offered at the discretion of the organizer. Frequently, Starter through Preliminary are the levels offered.
Teams: Teams can consist of either three or four riders. Four-member teams will utilize a “drop score”; three-member teams may not do so.
Individual riders representing their college are greatly encouraged to participate by joining a “scramble” team.
Fees: No fees are required by the USEA for offering an Intercollegiate Team Challenge. It is the organizer’s discretion whether to charge a nominal fee to participate in their Team Challenge.
Scoring: The USEA encourages all host venues to utilize the scoring guidelines provided in the Intercollegiate Eventing Handbook, though it is not required. Many online scoring platforms, such as ShowConnect, EventEntries, and StartBox, offer team scoring capabilities that utilize the coefficient system outlined in the handbook.
Awards: While not required, organizers are encouraged to classify separately and award ribbons and/or small prizes for the Intercollegiate Team Challenge competitors.
Communication: To register to host an Intercollegiate Team Challenge, please contact Kaleigh Collett at [email protected]. The USEA Staff Liaison will be available to assist with any questions regarding the program. Once the challenge is complete, organizers are expected to submit results to Cindy Clingman at [email protected] no later than seven days following the completion of the event. The Intercollegiate Eventing Committee is always available to assist with questions regarding Team Challenge hosting as well.

**Please read all sections of this guide for a complete understanding of hosting an Intercollegiate Team Challenge

Get the Word Out

Once an organizer has determined that they would like to host a USEA Intercollegiate Team Challenge at their event, the following promotional steps are recommended:

List your event on the Intercollegiate Team Challenge calendar found on the USEA website by emailing event information to Kaleigh Collett at [email protected]
Add Intercollegiate Team Challenge information to the host event’s USEA Omnibus listing by emailing USEA Director of Competitions, Hannah Seagle, at [email protected].
Alert the students, colleges/universities, and eventers in your Area. Share the announcement on your event’s website and social media pages. An organizer or event representative may also write a brief announcement for inclusion on the News section of the USEventing.com. When possible, alert the Athletics Director and/or Riding Director of colleges in your area and encourage their participation.

Entries

When listing a USEA Intercollegiate Team Challenge in the Omnibus, Intercollegiate Calendar or elsewhere, organizers should indicate:

The levels to be offered for the Intercollegiate Team Challenge
The preferred method (online, paper, etc.) for making a team entry

The USEA is currently refining the entry process for team challenges, including working with online entry systems to incorporate a section for team challenge sign-ups.

Team Dynamics and Scoring

Although there are no official requirements for team dynamics or for scoring an Intercollegiate Team Challenge, the USEA would like to encourage all host venues to use the guidelines outlined in in the Intercollegiate Eventing Handbook.

Awards

It is recommended that the organizer post the scores for an Intercollegiate Team Challenge separately from the horse trials divisions, so the teams can keep up with the team challenge standings.

Organizers may offer team ribbons and/or prizes, and if possible, host an awards ceremony for the team challenge.

The USEA requests that final results of the team challenge be submitted to the Association within seven days of the conclusion of the competition.