SPORT CANADA ATHLETE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM SELECTION CRITERIA 2013-14

SPORT CANADA ATHLETE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
SELECTION CRITERIA 2013-14
For the 2013-14 carding cycle, Athlete Assistance Program (AAP) support to
racquetball athletes is contingent to Racquetball Canada meeting the AAP
requirements for NSOs eligibility.
1) Introduction
In August of each year, Racquetball Canada (RC) nominates athletes to Sport Canada
for Athlete Assistance Program (AAP) support according to criteria developed by
Racquetball Canada and meeting Sport Canada`s AAP requirements. The
recommendation comes from the High Performance Committee to RC's executive for
official approval. The recommendations are based on the criteria in this document and
whenever possible will include an equal number of male and female athletes. With four
cards, the top two male athletes and the top two female athletes will be recommended
for AAP approval. The athletes will be ranked conjunctively and strictly on the criteria
listed in this document; that process will continue whenever an extra card is available or
part of an awarded card becomes available. The AAP assists international caliber
athletes with their training and competition needs, through the provision of a living and
training allowance and, where applicable, tuition expenses.
The carding year for racquetball athletes begins on October 1 and ends on September
30 of the following year.
If the number of cards is even they will be divided equally amongst the men and women
program.
For complete details of the Athlete Assistance Program (AAP), carded athletes should
refer to the document published by Sport Canada, Athlete Assistance Program Policies,
Procedures and Guidelines, Athlete Handbook available on the Sport Canada website
www.pch.gc.ca.
2) General Requirements
To be eligible for consideration under AAP, athletes must meet the following general
requirements:
2.1
Athletes, under the eligibility requirements of the International Racquetball
Federation (IRF), must currently be eligible to represent Canada at major
international events including the World Championships at the beginning of the
carding cycle for which the athlete is being nominated. The IRF rules require
that athletes must verify citizenship with a valid passport or a letter from their
National Olympic Committee stating that they may represent that country in
International Competition.
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2.2
The athlete must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada at the
beginning of the carding cycle for which the athlete is being nominated.
Permanent residents must live in Canada for the full year preceding the
carding cycle for which the athlete is being considered for AAP support. All
athletes are expected to have participated in NSO-sanctioned programs during
that time period. The athlete must be available to represent Canada in major
international competitions, including World Championships.
2.3
Athletes must sign an Athlete/Racquetball Canada Agreement and complete an
AAP Application Form.
2.4
Athletes must have a clearly articulated program, approved by Racquetball
Canada, with appropriate training and competitive opportunities, both
domestic and international. The athlete’s individualized annual training
program must be based on year-round training principles that include
significant daily training activities.
2.5
Excluding the years where an athletes was under the age of 27 at the
beginning of the carding cycle, once an athlete has been carded three (3)
years at the Senior card level (SR1, SR2, SR & C1), to be eligible for AAP
support the athlete must meet the International criteria or Maintenance
Criteria (described below at 3.2 and 3.3)
3) Carding Criteria
3.1.
3.2.
Senior and Development Cards are awarded on the basis of three (3)
different sets of criteria:
3.1.1.
Senior international criteria (Senior SR1/SR2 Cards) – Sport Canada sets
the international criteria for Senior Cards. Athletes who meet the
International Criteria are eligible to be nominated by Racquetball Canada
for two consecutive years, with the card for the first year referred to as
SR1 and the card for the second year referred to as SR2.
3.1.2.
Senior national criteria (Senior SR/C1 Cards) – Racquetball Canada sets
the national criteria for Senior Cards. Senior Cards based on national
criteria are awarded for one year. The first time an athlete is eligible for
a card based on National Criteria they will receive a C1 Card.
3.1.3.
Development criteria (Development Cards) – Racquetball Canada sets
the criteria for Development Cards. Development Cards based on
development criteria are awarded for one year. Athletes who meet the
Development Criteria are eligible to be nominated by Racquetball
Canada for the upcoming year.
Senior International criteria (SR1)
3.2.1.
3.3.
To be eligible for an AAP Senior SR1 Card, athletes must achieve in the
current year at the World Championships
(individual part of the
tournament) a result of top 8 and in the top half of the field.
Senior international maintenance criteria (SR2)
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3.3.1.
3.4.
Senior national criteria (SR/C1)
3.4.1.
3.5.
To be eligible for SR2, athletes must have an SR1 card in 2012-2013 and
maintain a position that is no lower than Top 5 Singles players or Top 6
Doubles players based on the national team selection points table at the
end of the 2012-2013 season.
In the event that there are still cards remaining after the application of
the Senior international criteria (SR1/SR2), athletes may be eligible for a
one (1) year Senior (SR/C1) card by being selected on the National Elite
team for the 2013-2014 season.
Development Criteria
3.5.1.
In the event that there is still cards remaining after the application of the
Senior international and Senior national criteria, athletes may be eligible
for a one (1) year Development card by being selected on the National
Development Team for the 2013-2014 season.
4) Carding nomination
4.1.
Cards will be allocated to eligible athletes in the following order of
priority:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
4.2.
Athletes eligible for “SR1” cards;
Athletes eligible for “SR2” cards;
Athletes carded the previous year at the “SR1” levels who placed in the top
3 at the 2012 world championship and meet the Illness, Injury or Pregnancy
criteria (see #5 below);
Athletes eligible for “SR” or “C-1” cards;
Athletes eligible for “D” cards.
Fewer cards than eligible athletes or tie between 2 or more athletes
If at any of those prioritization levels listed in 4.1 there are more athletes qualifying
then there is carding available, the priority will go to the athlete(s) who had:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
4.3
the most points according to National Team Selection Points table, for the
event related to the International Criteria;
the highest rank in the National Team Selection Points table;
the best result in Singles at the most recent National Championships;
the best result in Singles at the most recent Selection Event;
the best result in Doubles at the most recent National Championships;
Highest rank in Racquetball Canada National Ranking after the most recent
National Championship.
If a currently carded athlete is no longer eligible for support during the
2013/2014 season, the remainder of the carding support will be assigned to
the next eligible athlete of the same gender as the currently carded athlete
based on the Carding nomination formula.
5) Illness, Injury or Pregnancy
A SR1 carded athlete who at the end of the carding cycle has not achieved the standard
required for the renewal of carding status because of strictly health related reasons may
be considered for re-nomination for the upcoming year provided the following conditions
are met:
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a) The athlete has fulfilled all reasonable training and rehabilitation requirements
aimed at a speedy return to full high performance training and competition
during the period of his or her injury, illness or pregnancy or is continuing a
rehabilitation program approved by the Racquetball Canada High Performance
Director;
b) In the view of Racquetball Canada , the athlete’s failure to attain the applicable
carding standards is strictly related to the injury, illness or pregnancy;
c) Racquetball Canada, based on its technical judgment and that of its team
physician or equivalent, indicates in writing the expectation that the athlete will
achieve at least the minimum standards required for carding during the
upcoming carding period;
d) The athlete has demonstrated and continues to demonstrate his or her longterm commitment to high performance training and competition goals, as well
as his or her intention to pursue full high performance training and competition
throughout the carding period for which he or she wishes to be renewed despite
not having met the carding criteria;
e) Racquetball Canada must provide evidence that the above requirements are
being met in order to nominate athletes for carding based on the above
provisions.
6) Non-health related issues
Any circumstance not specified under the 5) Illness, Injury or Pregnancy policies that prevents
an athlete from making any of the carding criteria can be submitted to the HPC for evaluation:
1) Request must be made as soon as the problem is known.
2) The request must be made in writing stating the circumstances with supporting
evidence faxed or mailed to the Racquetball Canada office.
The High Performance Committee will evaluate all requests and deliver its decision in writing.
Such decision will be final and without appeal.
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