TEAM USA OLYMPIC HOPES REGATTA Piestany, Slovakia September 12 th 14 th, 2014 SELECTION CRITERIA FINAL
USA Canoe / Kayak will send a Team to the Olympic Hopes Regatta in 2014. This prestigious annual regatta offers an opportunity for young developing US athletes born in 1999, 1998 & 1997 - who aspire to compete at the 2015 Junior World Championships, to measure their performance relative to athletes of their same age from around the world who have similar aspirations. This great opportunity is a benchmark for athletes to train and prepare effectively for high level competitions in the year to come. Like the World Championships, the Olympic Hopes Regatta moves to a different location each year. This year it is in the beautiful and historic city of Piestany, Slovakia. A. Minimum eligibility requirements for an athlete to be considered for nomination to the 2014 OLYMPIC HOPES REGATTA. 1. Requirements: All athletes must have a current USA Canoe/Kayak membership and be in good standing. Athletes must abide by all of the requirements of the 2014 Team USA - Olympic Hopes Regatta (OHR) selection criteria www.usack.org This is an athlete funded High Level European Competition. 2. Minimum age according to ICF standards for participation at 2014 Olympic Hopes Regatta: The 2014 OHR minimum age class category is for an athlete born in 1999. All athletes must also be eligible for the 2014 Junior World Championships and therefore, be born in the year 1999, 1998 or 1997 according to ICF regulations www.canoeicf.com 3. Identify the events involved in the selection process: 2014 National Team Trials April 25 th 26 th Oklahoma City, OK 2014 Lake Placid International Regatta July 6 th / 7 th Lake Placid, NY B. Comprehensive description explaining how athletes are selected for the 2014 Team USA - Olympic Hopes Regatta: 1. Singles Performance Ranking National Team Trials Points will be awarded to each athlete based on their order of finish in the following junior single final events: JMK1 / MC1 1000m & 200m; JWK1 500m & 200m; JWC1 200m See Figure 1 for point system to be used. An athlete s points are totaled for their singles final performance giving a combined total for each athlete. The athlete s combined total number of points will be used to rank each athlete per discipline MWK & MWC. The athlete with the highest combined point total is ranked first. 2
Athletes seeking a position on the Team USA OHR will be competing with athletes at the National Team Trials seeking a position on the Team USA Junior World Championships. The points of the athletes named to the JWC Team USA will be removed if those athletes are ineligible for the OHR Team USA born 1996. Is it possible for an athlete to compete at both the JWC and the OHR in 2014? YES. Ranking Figure 1 POINTS for ORDER of FINISH SINGLES Events Placing Points Awarded in Junior Singles Final A & B. MK1/MC1 A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 A9 B1 B2 B3 1000/200m 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 WK1-500/200m & WC1 200m - Same point system - 2. Lake Placid Training Camp June 29 th to July 8 th Following the National Team Trials in OKC, based on the selection criteria contained within this document, M/WK/C athletes will be invited to take part in the Lake Placid Training Camp June 29th to July 8th and its associated competition LPI July 6th and 7th. This will be a combined camp and will include athletes striving for JWC and OHR Team USA as well as U14 athletes who have demonstrated exceptional status by their performances at the National Team Trails. The SSC will look at the performances of these exceptional status U14 athletes in comparison to U16 athletes selected for the LPTC. The 2014 LPTC fee is $650.00 USD. This fee does not include the athlete s airfare to and from Albany, NY. The user fee payment amount is to offset costs associated with running the camp and includes boat transportation, gas for shuttle buses to and from the Albany airport, gas for daily shuttle vans, gas for coach boats, entry fee for the LPI, athlete accommodation fees and airfares/travel expenses for the camp coaching staff. The user fee payment to USA Canoe Kayak is to be completed with Gerald Babao, Gerald@usack.org (w-1 704 348 4330 / c-1 704 778 0525) in the USA Canoe Kayak office by the deadline of June 2nd, 2014 midnight ET. The maximum number of athletes selected to the LPTC is a combined total of the two teams. The Sprint Selection Committee will use the Singles Performance Ranking from the National Team Trials, OKC to select the maximum number of athletes NOTE: the ceiling will be set by beds available at the OTC LP. This final bed count may not be available until approximately April 30, 2014 and is dependent on other NGB s finalizing their selections. Being invited to the Lake Placid Training Camp does not guarantee the athlete will be named to the 2014 Team USA Olympic Hopes Regatta but it does make the athlete eligible for final selection. 3
4 3. Maximum number of athletes for 2014 Team USA Olympic Hopes Regatta. The SSC may select up to a maximum of 20 athletes. The SSC will be selecting a U16 Team to compete in the OHR age categories of 1999 & 1998 The SSC will use the following guidelines in selecting 17 year old athletes born in 1997: i. Must have qualified for the LP Training Camp. ii. If JWC athlete/s is 17 and wishes to compete at the OHR the athlete/s will be added to the Team USA iii. A 17 year old athlete, who attended the LPTC, but did not make the Team USA JWC, may be selected for the Team USA to compete in the OHR K4 events where the OHR Rules for the K4 is 17 & under. C. Exceptional Circumstances There are no provisions for illness or injury causing an athlete to miss the OKC 2014 National Team Trials #1 or the Lake Placid International Regatta Trials #2 in the selection process for the 2014 Team USA - OHR. All potential OHR athletes must compete at the National Team Trials #1 & #2 and be selected to the Lake Placid Training Camp to be eligible. If an athlete is ill or injured following the National Team Trials and/or LPI and is unable to train, travel or compete the SSC may name a replacement based on their National Team Trials &/or LPI performance in the case of canoe athletes, the athlete named will be a left or right, matching the injured athlete, where the SSC decides to name a replacement. D. Names of the Selection Committee who will oversee the selection process. USA Canoe Kayak - Sprint Selection Committee: Mac Hickox, National Sprint Development Director Shaun Caven, National Team Coach Michele Eray, High Performance Sprint Director Jordan Malloch, Athlete Representative Sprint Coaches Association SCA - Directors Alan Anderson, Head Coach, Gig Harbor Aasim Saleh, Head Coach, OKC RIVERSPORT Junior Canoe/Kayak Team Chris Barlow, Head Coach, San Diego Canoe and Kayak Team Claudiu Ciur, Head Coach, Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club High Performance Committee HPC Jordan Malloch, Athlete Rep, Greg Barton, Nominated by USA Canoe Kayak Board Peter Newton, Athlete Rep Jay T Kearney, Nominated by USA Canoe Kayak Board Michele Eray, Sprint High Performance Manager Shaun Caven, National Team Coach Chris Barlow, Coach Rep Mac Hickox, National Sprint Development Director
E. Required Documents & Declaration of Intention to Compete Athletes must have a USA passport with an expiration date through to December, 2014. Please bring the passport to the National Team Trials for verification of expiry date. All athletes named to the Team USA - OHR will be required to complete two documents USA Canoe Kayak Travel Form and USA Canoe Kayak Athlete Code of Conduct. Both of these documents will be sent to the athletes via email by the National Sprint Development Director. F. Projected Costs per Athlete maximum $2700.00 Athletes nominated to the 2014 Olympic Hopes Regatta will be required to cover all costs associated with this High Level European Competition. The athlete fees will include costs associated with the OHR pre camp (Piestany) and actual competition in Slovakia flights to and from USA, accreditation, food, accommodation, ground transportation, staff costs and boat rental fees. The Team will leave the US on Friday September 5 th and return to the US on Monday September 15 th. Athletes selected are to pay the fees in full to the USA Canoe Kayak office by Friday August 29 th, 5:00 pm ET. Details will be communicated to Team USA athletes/parents in early July 2014. All questions concerning fees are to be directed to the National Sprint Development Director, Mac Hickox Email: mac@usack.org Cell # 647 999 8671. G. Nomination The athletes selected to Team USA OHR will have their names posted on the USA Canoe Kayak website by July 10 th, 2014. H. Uniforms Athletes are asked to bring the racing uniforms issued at the 2014 Lake Placid Training Camp. Additional Team USA OHR clothing will be issued to nominated athletes. I. Travel Itinerary Team USA will leave the US on Friday, September 5 th and travel to Slovakia. Arriving in Piestany on Saturday, September 6 th ; departure on Monday September 15 th. These plans are subject to change as details emerge from the Slovakia Canoe Federation. J. USA Canoe Kayak Bylaws and Grievance Procedures http://usack.org/pages/2703 K. Athlete Questions 5 Athletes and/or parents who may have questions regarding any aspect of the 2014 Team USA - OHR selection criteria are to contact the USA Canoe Kayak National Sprint Development Director or members of Sprint Selection Committee for clarification.
L. International Disclaimer These procedures and costs are based on information located on the ICF website and OHR Bulletins / Rules / Regulations as presently known and understood. Any change in the selection procedures or costs caused by a change in OHR, as applicable, and/or ICF Rules / Regulations will be distributed to the affected athletes/parents immediately. The selection criteria and costs are based on the latest information available to USA Canoe/Kayak, November, 2013. However, the selections and projected costs are always subject to unforeseen, intervening circumstances, and realistically may not have accounted for every possible contingency. NOTE: If any force of nature, or force majeure, should cause the altercation or cancellation of any of the selection events listed in this document, these selection procedures will be revised, pursuant to their resubmission to the Sprint Selection Committee. M. Athlete Ombudsman Athletes who have questions regarding their opportunity to compete for selection to the 2014 Team USA - OHR that are not first answered by USA Canoe Kayak or the Sprint Selection Committee may contact the USOC Athlete Ombudsman John Ruger john.ruger@usoc.org : Toll free at (888) ATHLETE or view information at www.888athlete.org 6