Selection Criteria
Nominees for induction into the Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame must have gained prominence in the Greater Washington, DC area through their achievements in professional, intercollegiate, amateur or high school sports as an athlete, a coach/manager, an owner, an executive, a member of the media or a contributor who, with notable accomplishments, have brought honor and distinction to the Nation’s Capital.
The following criteria will be used:
Criteria revised for 2020 selections.
The following criteria will be used:
- A native of the Greater DC area who has made a significant contribution to the sports industry shall be eligible for nomination.
- Any person whose professional sports career has taken place in the Greater DC area shall be eligible for nomination.
- A professional athlete must be retired to be eligible for nomination.
- A coach/manager must have served specifically in the Greater DC area and for a minimum of 10 years or be at least 50 years old to be eligible for nomination.
- Any person who was an athlete for at least three years during his or her college career at a Greater DC area intercollegiate program and has at least 15 years since his/her college athletic eligibility ended shall be eligible for nomination.
- No more than two Greater DC area college athletes may be inducted in a calendar year unless an athlete grew up in the area or has other sufficient ties to the area, as determined by the selection committee.
- No more than two members of the media shall be inducted in a calendar year.
- At least one individual representing an area high school as an athlete, coach/manager, administrator or contributor shall be included for induction each year.
- At least one individual from a sport other than a representative from Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League and major college men’s basketball and football shall be included for induction each year.
- From time to time, the selection committee may vote to honor a Team of Distinction, a professional, collegiate, or high school team that has made a significant and positive impact in the Greater Washington community through outstanding achievement.
- Each year, the selection committee may override the criteria to nominate, consider and induct one individual whose accomplishments are of exceptional merit or is otherwise worthy of special consideration. This exception is to be used only in extraordinary circumstances.
- To be elected, nominees must receive more than 50 percent of the votes from the committee. At least 75 percent of the members of the nominating committee must have voted in the election process. No more than 10 honorees, not counting a Team of Distinction, shall be inducted in a calendar year.
Criteria revised for 2020 selections.