Ski & Snowboard Australia Limited (SSA) Selection Policy and Criteria Discipline: Event(s): Level: Gender: Classification: Para Alpine Skiing Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super-G, Super Combined, Downhill IPCAS World Championships Male/ Female All 1. Objective To select athletes capable of producing the best possible performances at the IPCAS World Championship level. Note: By meeting this SSA Selection Policy and Criteria for the IPCAS World Championships it does not automatically qualify an athlete for support and/or consideration for selection, to an AWE Athlete Category, SSA Athlete Contract or scholarship opportunity offered via the SIS/SAS network. 2. Selection Committee 2.1 The selection committee will comprise the National Head Coach, Development Coach and two other members as appointed by SSA. 2.2 A majority decision of the selection committee is required. The decision of the selection committee shall be final. Reasons shall not be given for any selection or other decision of the selection committee unless requested by non-selected athlete(s). The selection committee may meet with nonselected athletes to explain their decision. 2.3 Unless expressly requested by the selection committee, athletes have no right to make submissions or representations to, or appear before, the selection committee. Any right or claim to natural justice in this regard is expressly excluded, such right being preserved in the appeal process under section 10. 2.4 Selections made by the selection committee are subject to final approval by the SSA Board. 1 P age
3. Eligibility 3.1 To be eligible for selection athletes must: 3.1.1 Be a current member of SSA. Membership is available via the SSA Website (www.skiandsnowboard.org.au). Membership required for Para-alpine athletes is the individual member category, which is approx. $77. And ; 3.1.2 Be Internationally Classified; 3.1.3 Hold an IPCAS license to compete at the relevant level; 3.1.4 Have met the minimum IPCAS points required for participation at the selected competition level, and; 3.1.5 Have appropriate competition insurance if competing internationally. 4. SSA Para-alpine Program 4.1 SSA operates high performance Para-winter sport programs for contracted athletes. SSA Athlete Contracts are determined by the SSA Para-Winter Athlete Performance Categorisation which is in line with Australia s Winning Edge principals as developed by the ASC. SSA Athlete Contacts enable specialised support to high performance Para-winter athletes to pursue a commitment to performance excellence along their pathway to international success at benchmark events. 4.2 Where SSA operates a Para-winter sport program, priority selections are reserved for SSA contracted athletes. 4.3 If in any event where an SSA Para-winter sport program operates and all places for selection are not filled; then the remaining spots will be available for athletes to fill according to criteria outlined in section 5. 5. Selection Criteria 5.1 SSA will select eligible athletes (according to section 3. of this criteria) with respect to the number of quota places allowed by IPCAS quota for World Championships participation according to this criterion. 5.2 SSA reserves the right to exercise its discretion with respect to not selecting athletes to fill the maximum IPCAS quota availability. 5.3 Quotas will be filled in the order of the criteria listed in section 5.6 of this criteria. 5.4 Where athletes achieve identical results, priority is given to the highest ranked athlete according to the latest IPCAS Points List. 2 P age
5.5 IPCAS qualification criteria can be found on the IPCAS website (www.paralympic.org.au) or directly via the following link: https://www.paralympic.org/sites/default/files/document/160705134050038 _2016_07_01_ParticipationInIPCAScompetitions2016_2017.pdf 5.6 IPCAS Points 5.6.1 Where an athlete achieves a two discipline average IPCAS point profile of less than 140 IPCAS points, Athletes will be selected in the order of lowest points. Then; 6. Discretionary Selection 5.6.2 Where an athlete achieves a single event performance of less than 100 IPCAS points in the 2016/2017 season, athletes will be selected according to the single lowest point result. 6.1 The SSA Selection Committee reserves the right to exercise discretionary selection where quota places remain after applying the criteria outlined in section 5. 6.2 Without in anyway limiting the discretion of the SSA Selection Committee, in forming its opinion, the SSA Selection Committee will take into consideration the following factors: Opportunities previously provided to an athlete in relationship to results Attitude and commitment Outstanding results Physical fitness level Injuries 7. Expression of Interest Process 7.1 Only athletes that have submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) form to the SSA Office (am@skiandsnowboard.org.au) at least 5 weeks prior to the event start date will be considered for entry. 7.2 SSA will submit the Official Entry to the Event Organisers at least 3 weeks prior to the start of the competition. 7.3 Where IPCAS points are used to prioritise entry, the latest list published prior to the 5 week cut-off date will be used. 7.4 Should an event be rescheduled and entries need to be re-submitted the EOI process re-opens and athletes will need to reconfirm their attendance. 7.5 If an athlete request for entry has been successful but for any reason they can no longer compete, it is up to the athlete to notify SSA immediately. 3 P age
7.6 Failure to notify the SSA Office within a reasonable time and without a suitable reason could result in sanctioning as this may prevent other athletes from competing. 7.7 All entry fees are to be paid directly to the organisers prior to competing. 7.8 Where entry fees and any other associated costs are required to be paid for by SSA, athletes will be notified and invoiced for the amount owing. 8. SSA Support 8.1 SSA does not take on the responsibility of providing support and services for athletes not provided with an SSA Athlete Contract. 8.2 In the event that an SSA Para-alpine Program is attending the competition, selected non SSA contracted athletes at SSA s discretion may be invited to receive support with coaching, equipment preparation, logistics and representation at Team Captains meetings. 8.3 Support offered to SSA contracted athletes in the SSA Para-alpine Emerging Program who have received a development opportunity to attend the World Championships will be worked out on a case by case basis. 9. Extenuating Circumstances 9.1 In considering the selection criteria, the SSA Selection Committee may in their discretion give weight to extenuating circumstances. Extenuating circumstances may include but are not limited to injury, personal bereavement, equipment failure and travel delays. 9.2 Athletes unable to compete at events, trials, training camps required under these criteria must notify the SSA of this fact and the reasons therefore at least five days prior to the commencement of the events, trials, training camps or other attendances required under this policy. 9.3 In the case of illness or injury, athletes may be required to undergo a medical examination by a doctor or doctors appointed by SSA. 9.4 In the case of bereavement, equipment failure, travel delays, or other extenuating circumstances, the selection committee will make a decision on a case by case basis. 10. Appeal 10.1 Refer SSA Appeal process as published on the SSA website. 4 P age
Document History Date Version Action 22/09/2016 1 Adopted 5 P age