B O C C I A PARALYMPIC HIGH PERFORMANCE PLAN 2013-2016 Boccia Paralympic High Performance Plan Page 0 of 15
INTRODUCTION The 2013-2016 quadrennium represents a period of potential growth for Boccia within the United States as BlazeSports America, the USA member of CPISRA prepares for a new series of international competitions, the inclusion of Boccia as a medal sport in the National Veteran Wheelchair Games and the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. The following BlazeSports America s Boccia High Performance and Sport Development Plan are designed to continue sporting excellence in Boccia at the national and international levels. The BlazeSports America s Boccia High Performance Plan includes: 1) Providing strong engaged leadership in the management of high performance sport in Boccia; 2) Advocating for additional and more effective application of resources from the NPC (USOC), donors, partner organizations, sponsors (within the guidelines and restrictions of the USOC), and fundraising; 3) Promoting stronger partnerships and collaborative working agreements (already in progress with significant success) between key stakeholders including UCPA, NRPA, NYAS, AAHPERD, Paralympic Sport Clubs, World Sport Chicago, the Department of Veterans Affairs and other like-minded organizations and their affiliated groups; 4) A sport-specific approach that recognizes that each Paralympic Sport is unique in its high performance and sport development pathways, athletes needs, and competition hierarchy and requires a strong aggressive sport-specific approach to recruit, retain, and train high performance athletes; 5) Improving the quality and availability of professional sport management services and support structures available to Boccia athletes, coaches, officials and classifiers; 6) Increasing opportunities for athletes to access support services required at the various stages of the athlete development pathway; 7) Raising the overall quality and depth of coaching, officiating and classification 8) Developing and implementing a communications and outreach strategy to promote the sport through established organizations and systems that have direct connections to potential athletes and the general public. 9) Developing the sport management systems that will support the inclusion of Boccia at additional regional and national competitions. Boccia at the Paralympic level presents medals in seven divisions for a total of 21 medal opportunities. BlazeSports America has developed a multi-faceted approach to the governance and management of the sport of boccia, identification and recruitment of players, development of coaches and officials and National Team development. Boccia Paralympic High Performance Plan Page 1 of 15
BlazeSports has identified six key areas for program development during this quadrennium: National Team Development Player and Talent Identification Competition Management Coaches Education and Training Officials Recruitment, Training, and Certification National Classification Records Program PROGRAM GOAL: National Team Development The primary focus for our National Team development in first year of the 2013-2016 quadrennium is to prepare qualified athletes for participation in the 2016 Paralympic Games. Given the proper resources to implement an elite training schedule over the next four years, Team USA can dramatically improve their potential for being competitive for medals. During the first three years of the quadrennium, the emphasis for National Team development transitions to increasing the international ranking of individual players, Pairs and Team. This will require a multi-facet approach centered on our National Team participation in a series of annual international competitions. Our long term specific goal of qualifying more athletes for the 2016 Paralympic Games primarily depends on accumulating international ranking points over each of the three years prior to 2016. Quadrennial Goals: To increase the international ranking of individual players, Pairs and Team To increase the number of athletes qualifying for the 2016 Paralympic Games To increase the number of female players on the National Team To increase the number of athletes in the pool of Emerging Athletes Annual Goals: 2013 win one (1) medals at the 2013 Boccia America s Cup 2013 Finish in the top 8 in Pairs and Team play at the 2013 America s Cup 2014 win one (1) medals at the 2014 Boccia World Championships 2014 - Finish in the top 8 in Pairs and Team play at the World Championships 2015 win one (1) medals at the 2015 Boccia World Cup 2015 - Finish in the top 8 in Pairs and Team play at the World Cup 2016 qualify two (2) athletes for the 2016 Paralympic Games Critical pathways in pursuit of these program goals will include: 1. Continued implementation of a National Team selection process based on a newly developed the national ranking system developed by the Boccia Sport Technical Advisory Committee 2. Annual selection of a National Team 3. Governance of the Sport and the National Team program Boccia Paralympic High Performance Plan Page 2 of 15
4. National Team participation in the annual IPC/CPISRA sanctioned competition 5. Hosting bi-monthly National Team training camps 6. Hosting annual Emerging Athlete invitational training camps 7. Continued management of the Boccia Sport Technical Advisory Committee 8. Hosting of a national sport development and promotional website on Boccia 9. Use of social media to promote the sport, the functions of the Boccia Sport Technical Advisory Committee, Team USA, BlazeSports sanctioned competitions and National Championships 10. High performance training utilizing sport science and sport high performance technology such as fitness measurement and monitoring, Dartfish biomechanical analysis of technique, etc. and National Team coordination and support PROGRAM GOAL: Player Identification The primary focus for player identification during the 2013-2016 quadrennium is: increase the number of athletes playing Boccia inclusion of Boccia in the National Veteran Wheelchair Games talent identification by tracking performance trends and utilizing sport science technical resources for objective evaluation; and securing official CPISRA confirmed classifications for athletes to prevent player re-classification during competitions. Quadrennial Goals: To increase the number of athletes playing Boccia by 40% To increase the number of Military/VA athletes playing Boccia by 500% Annual Goals: 2013 To increase the number of athletes playing Boccia by 10% 2013 To increase the number of Military athletes playing Boccia by 50% 2014 To increase the number of athletes playing Boccia by 10% 2014 To increase the number of Military athletes playing Boccia by 50% 2015 To increase the number of athletes playing Boccia by 10% 2015 To increase the number of Military athletes playing Boccia by 50% Critical pathways in pursuit of these program goals will include: 1. Develop and implement a specific recruitment program targeted at Military/VA athletes. Oversee the inclusion of Boccia at the 2013 National Veteran Wheelchair Games 2. Increase athlete identification and recruitment in target classes and disability groups, specifically athletes in BC4 class 3. Increase athlete identification and recruitment, in collaboration with key partner Organizations 4. Implement National Team selection process based on a national ranking system 5. Develop a Boccia K-12 physical education/adapted PE curriculum. Boccia Paralympic High Performance Plan Page 3 of 15
6. Maintain a National Website on Boccia and use of social media (as previously detailed) 7. Development and distribution a quarterly Boccia e-newsletter PROGRAM GOAL: Competition Management The primary focus of our Competition Management in 2013-2016 quadrennium is: The implementation of an annual National Championships bid process The inclusion and sanctioning of Boccia in increasing numbers of regional competitions Quadrennial Goals: To administer an annual bid process for the hosting of the National Boccia Championships and to work cooperatively with the designated LOC for the hosting of successful tournaments To upgrade and implement a sanctioning process for regional competitions in Boccia To increase the number of current regional competitions offering Boccia by 50% Annual Goals: 2013 sanctioned six (6) regional Boccia qualifying competitions 2013 secure a bid to host the 2014 Boccia National Championships 2014 sanction seven (7) regional Boccia qualifying competitions 2014 secure a bid to host the 2015 Boccia National Championships 2015 secure a bid to host the 2016 Boccia National Championships 2015 sanction seven (8) regional Boccia qualifying competitions 2016 sanction seven (9) regional Boccia qualifying competitions 2016 secure a bid to host the 2017 Boccia National Championships Critical pathways in pursuit of these program goals will include: 1. Annual review of the Boccia National Bid Application packet 2. Annual posting of BlazeSports National Bid Process in August 3. Selection and awarding of successful national bids by the conclusion of the current National Championships 4. Ongoing coordination with LOC throughout the planning process, hosting and post event evaluation of Boccia National Championships 5. Development and implementation of a regional games sanctioning protocol and process 6. Active review of competition management issues by Boccia Sport Technical Advisory Committee 7. Solidifying partnership with a national equipment supplier 8. Launching of BlazeSports Official National Boccia Website for sport promotion, communication, news, and technical assistance 9. Effective use of social media to promote the sport as well as national and regional competitions Boccia Paralympic High Performance Plan Page 4 of 15
PROGRAM GOAL: Coaches Education and Training The primary focus during the 2013-2016 quadrennium will be to increase the number of education and training opportunities. Quadrennial Goals: To increase the number of education and training opportunities by 50% To increase the quality and types of education and training materials available to coaches, athletes and officials To increase the quality and types of education and training materials available to professional organizations and key stakeholders including UCPA, NRPA, NYAS, AAPHERD,the Department of Veteran Affairs and Paralympic Sport Clubs. Annual Goals: 2013 To increase the number of presentations made at local, regional or national conferences, clinics or coaching workshops by 10% 2014 To increase the number of presentations made at local, regional or national conferences, clinics or coaching workshops by 10% 2015 To increase the number of presentations made at local, regional or national conferences, clinics or coaching workshops by 10% 2016 To increase the number of presentations made at local, regional or national conferences, clinics or coaching workshops by 10% Critical pathways in pursuit of these program goals will include: 1. Production of promotional and educational PowerPoint presentations and educational videos utilizing BlazeSports TV with follow-up dissemination to partners for use building Boccia programs locally 2. Development of Activity Cards presenting different Boccia drills useful to coaches and to physical education teachers 3. BlazeSports staff and Boccia Sports Technical Committee providing regularly scheduled Boccia training open to all constituent groups and promoted to Paralympic Sport Clubs 4. Providing ongoing real-time technical assistance to coaches and local programs 5. Identification of developmental coaches or coaches of specific elite players to have the opportunity to work with and be mentored by a National Coaches 6. Providing developmental coaches the opportunity to travel with the National Team to be able to witness and understand the international playing field 7. Use local coaches of top developing players as designated coach for selected events outside the designated National Team events 8. Follow up by National Coach and National Team Manager with the identified development and local coaches on an on-going basis to facilitate their learning about how to prepare their player(s) to be a top international caliber player 9. Utilize the National Boccia Website and social media to promote opportunities 10. Development and distribution a quarterly Boccia e-newsletter Boccia Paralympic High Performance Plan Page 5 of 15
PROGRAM GOAL: Official Certification The primary focus for official certification during the 2013-2016 quadrennium will be to increase the number of nationally and regionally trained officials. Quadrennial Goals: To increase the number of nationally trained officials by 50% To increase the number of regionally trained officials by 100% To increase the types of education and training materials available to potential certified officials Annual Goals: 2013 To increase the number of nationally trained officials by 20% and the number of regionally trained officials by 25% 2014 To increase the number of nationally trained officials by 20% and the number of regionally trained officials by 25% 2015 To increase the number of nationally trained officials by 20% and the number of regionally trained officials by 25% 2016 To increase the number of nationally trained officials by 20% and the number of regionally trained officials by 25% Critical pathways in pursuit of these program goals will include: 1. Production of PowerPoint presentations and dissemination to partners and Paralympic Sport Clubs specifically for officials training workshops 2. Hosting of BlazeSports officials training workshops at national and regional events 3. Providing ongoing technical assistance 4. Inclusion of information relevant to officials on the BlazeSports National Boccia Website and BlazeSports TV and quarterly e-newsletter 5. Use of social media to promote training opportunities 6. Subject to funding, send officials to national training camps for in-service training 7. To promote the criteria for an official to be granted a national certification 8. To establish a process for officials to maintain their National certification during years they are unable to officiate at a national event. PROGRAM GOAL: National Classification Records Program The primary focus for the national boccia classification records program during the 2013-2016 quadrennium will be to: develop and implement a comprehensive data bank of classification records on all boccia players competing at the national level, and to increase the number of classifiers experience with the international boccia classification system. Boccia Paralympic High Performance Plan Page 6 of 15
Quadrennial Goals: To develop and implement a classification records program To recruit and train 2-3 boccia classification teams To develop resources to put at least one classifier through the international certification process Annual Goals: 2013 To introduce the new classification records program at Nationals 2013 To enter all new players into classification records system 2013 To enter all new players into classification records system 2013 Recruit and train additional classifiers 2014 To enter all new players into classification records system 2014 Recruit and train additional classifiers 2015 To enter all new players into classification records system 2015 Recruit and train additional classifiers 2016 To enter all new players into classification records system 2016 Recruit and train additional classifiers Critical pathways in pursuit of these program goals will include: 1. Development of a classification card system as a permanent classification record for all athletes 2. Development of a Classification Sub-committee of the Boccia Sports Technical Advisory Committee to assist in the development and implementation of the classification records program 3. Recruit and train additional classifiers and implement classification reviews at regional boccia competitions. 2013-2016 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES National Team athletes will be required to attend all competitions and training camps. National Team Training Camps January - August, 2013 Emerging Athlete Invitational Training Camps Spring/Fall, 2013 2013 VA National Wheelchair Games July, 2013 Tampa, FL Boccia Paralympic High Performance Plan Page 7 of 15
Boccia Sports Technical Advisory Committee Meeting July, 2013 2013 National Championships July/August, 2013 America s Cup Fall, 2013 Note: The United States has submitted a bid to host the 2013 Americas Cup in Century, KS. National Team Training Camps January - August, 2014 Emerging Athlete Invitational Training Camps Spring/Fall, 2014 2014 VA National Wheelchair Games Summer, 2014 Boccia Sports Technical Advisory Committee Meeting July, 2014 2014 National Championships July/August, 2014 2014 Boccia World Championship, 2014 National Team Training Camps January - August, 2015 Emerging Athlete Invitational Training Camps Spring/Fall, 2015 Boccia Paralympic High Performance Plan Page 8 of 15
2015 VA National Wheelchair Games Summer, 2015 Boccia Sports Technical Advisory Committee Meeting July, 2015 2015 National Championships July/August, 2015 2015 Boccia World Cup, 2015 National Team Training Camps January - August, 2016 Emerging Athlete Invitational Training Camps Spring/Fall, 2016 2016 VA National Wheelchair Games Summer, 2016 Boccia Sports Technical Advisory Committee Meeting July, 2016 2016 National Championships July/August, 2016 2016 Rio Paralympic Games September 7-18, 2016 Boccia Paralympic High Performance Plan Page 9 of 15
2012-13 NATIONAL TEAM BlazeSports America will nominate Boccia National Teams based on a national ranking system and athlete performance at the previous National Championships. Over the next quadrennium resources must be allocated to increase the number of female athletes eligible for international competition. Paralympic boccia rules require a specific quota of female players. In order to be named to the Paralympic team, athletes must have competed internationally in the current quadrennium. The National Team status applies from September 1 through August 31 of a given year to coincide with our annual Nationals Championships. National Team status and benefits are only conferred upon athletes who accept, sign and remain current with the U.S. Paralympics National Team Athlete Agreement which will involve a commitment to train and compete. BlazeSports America s governance plan for the National Team will include: 1. Athlete Agreement signed by all National Team Members. 2. Individualized competition plan around boccia schedule or other events. 3. Athlete Guidance for how to train. 4. Fitness Training: evaluation and provision of support material and equipment. Use of fitness gyms and/or personal trainers where available. 5. Knowledge of rule changes and how to incorporate into their competition tactics and then how to technically train to be able to apply those tactics. 6. Communication with local coaches on how to train their player by recognizing their weaknesses and strengths and how to build on their individual strengths. 7. Contact with local coaches for organized preparation plan for critical tournaments and support of competitive plan that will motivates that player to train and seek out appropriate training opportunities available to them. 8. Help local coaches and players implement National Training Program to build on these strengths and minimize weaknesses; specifically how the coach can present individualized training to teach the parts of the sport the player needs to improve upon. 9. Training and competition plan for each year will vary according to the CPISRA s competition schedules. Individual player development will include technical and physical preparation, starting with the identification of weaknesses and strengths. Coaches will capitalize on how to strengthen the players fitness and technical execution of technique and game strategy. National Team players technique and throws will be assessed through biomechanical analysis with contemporary computer and video analysis using the Dartfish system during training camps when new tactics can be learned and applied in controlled and simulated competition Boccia Paralympic High Performance Plan Page 10 of 15
environments. Physical preparation will be on going throughout the year based on sound training exercises specific to Boccia for strength, coordination, range of motion, and flexibility. Technology support is essential for the top players in regards to having access to available video footage from previous Championships, proper seating and strapping, and individualized ramps as appropriate. Analysis of personal results of top players will occur at the end of each season. Reviewing Team results and results trends will help to plan for the following season. Periods of poor performance will be analyzed to adapt/change training cycles. Changes in tactical preparation for major opponents in the next season and a time for review of any new rule changes will take place. Analyzing the depth and consistency of results from regional and national competitions will identify the pool of potential players as we build to 2016 and beyond. DISCRETIONARY NOMINATION Discretionary selection may be used if an athlete who has demonstrated international competitiveness during the qualification period for a National Team was ill, injured, or otherwise unable to compete or perform at a level to qualify him/her for the team; but is expected to return to internationally competitiveness. The Boccia Head Coach, the National Team Manager and the Sport Performance Team Leader will make the final selection(s) for any discretionary nominations. All athletes nominated to the National Team through discretionary selection must have been on a previous National Team during the preceding three years. EMERGING ATHLETES Athletes who have generally competed at national and international competition for fewer than four (4) years whose performances approximate national team ranking, and who show continued improvement in performances may be invited, at their own cost, to participate in Emerging Athlete Invitational Training Camps. Any such invitations will be limited to the specific activity and will not constitute any type of ongoing National Team status. MILITARY ATHLETES Boccia was offered as a demonstration sport at the 2012 National Veteran Wheelchair Games in Richmond VA. Based on the success of that event Boccia will be offered as a full medal sport beginning with the 2013 Games in Tampa. The standards listed below are based on BlazeSports America s National Team Selection Procedures and will be used to determine athlete eligibility for U.S. Paralympics, BlazeSports Boccia Paralympic High Performance Plan Page 11 of 15
America s National Boccia Team and Veterans Administration funding and training and competition opportunities. The athlete must: 1. be named to the BlazeSports America s National Boccia Pool of Emerging Players, which is accomplished when an athlete: o places first, second or third at the National Boccia Championships in one of four divisions., o or is placed in the top five on the BlazeSports National Ranking List. 2. be a Veteran with a service-connected or nonservice-connected disability that meets the IPC disability eligibility rules for Boccia. 3. be nationally or internationally classified (the process which determines eligibility based on impairment to compete decided on a sport-by-sport basis), by their respective sport federation as eligible for Paralympic competition in the sport/event in which they have qualified within six or 12 months of the qualifying performance. 4. have established training and competition plans and are responsible for turning in monthly and quarterly reports in order to continue receiving monthly assistance allowance. NATIONAL TEAM BENEFITS National Team athletes are eligible for the following benefits provided by the USOC: 1. Five Hundred Dollars ($500) for members of the National team will be paid each calendar quarter during the year in which the athlete is on the national team, processed on February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1, for home training support provided that they are current with the Athlete Agreement obligations as of team nomination. If an athlete is not current with the Athlete Agreement obligations on the first day of the quarter in which the payment is being made, the athletes payment will be withheld until the athlete is compliant. 2. Athletes nominated to the National Team are eligible for the USOC Elite Athlete Health Insurance (EAHI) program. 3. Air transportation (or ground equivalent), lodging, ground transportation, meal per diem, and coaching support at official national team training and competition activities. 4. Eligibility for Olympic Job Opportunities Program (OJOP). Note that this program is very competitive and eligibility is not a guarantee of acceptance into the program. 5. Use of the designation of National Team member in non-commercial situations. 6. Eligibility for U.S. Paralympics Athlete Access speakers program with The Hartford and other USOC/Paralympic sponsors. 7. U.S. Paralympics National Team Uniform. Boccia Paralympic High Performance Plan Page 12 of 15
OPERATION GOLD U.S. Paralympics will award Operation Gold funds in Boccia based off of the results at CP-ISRA or IPC sanctioned events as outlined below. In the Olympic/Paralympic year, multiple Operation Gold Awards will be paid to qualifying athletes. In non-olympic/paralympic years, Operation Gold Awards are limited to one award per athlete in a program year. Athletes who qualify in multiple events during a non-olympic/paralympic year will only receive the highest award amount for which he/she qualified at the specified competition. U.S. Paralympics will award Operation Gold funds in Boccia based off of the athlete s best result at the 2010 Boccia World Championships as outlined below. Paralympic Sport Payment Schedule World Championships 2nd Year in Quad Paralym pic Year* Place America s Cup 1st Year in Quad World Cup 3rd Year in Quad 1st $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $5,000 2nd $2,500 $2,500 $2,500 $3,500 3rd $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,500 4th $1,500 $1,500 $1,500 5th $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 6th $500 $500 $500 Boccia Paralympic High Performance Plan Page 13 of 15
2013-2016 Paralympic Boccia High Performance Plan Budget Budget Item USOC Funding BSA Funding BSA/Athlete Fundraising Total 2013 Emerging Athlete Camps 1,000 1,000 5,000 7,000 2013 National Championships 3,000 3,000 12,000 18,000 2013 National Veteran W/C Games 4,000 4,000 2013 Sports Tech Meetings 1,000 500 1,500 2013 National Team Camps 5,000 2,000 13,000 20,000 2013 America s Cup 5,000 2,000 30,000 37,000 2013 Education/Training 1,500 1,500 3,000 2013 Competition Management 2,000 2,000 2013 Official Certification 2,000 2,000 2013 HP & Sport Dev. Manager 10,000 10,000 2013 Personnel 23, 300 23,300 2013 Fringe Benefits 23% 5,300 5,300 2013 Indirect Cost 17% 6,562 6,562 2013 Totals 25,000 48,842 65,500 139,342 2014 Emerging Athlete Camps 1,000 1,000 6,000 8,000 2014 National Championships 3,000 3,000 15,000 21,000 2013 National Veteran W/C Games 6,000 6,000 2014 Sports Tech Meetings 1,000 500 1,500 2014 National Team Camps 5,000 1,000 13,000 19,000 2014 World Championships 5,000 3,000 40,000 48,000 2014 Education/Training 1,500 1,500 3,000 2014 Competition Management 2,000 2,000 2014 Official Certification 3,000 3,000 2014 HP & Sport Dev. Manager 10,000 10,000 2014 Personnel 23, 300 23,300 2014 Fringe Benefits 23% 5,300 5,300 2014 Indirect Cost 17% 7,412 7,412 2014 Totals 25,000 51,012 81,500 157,512 2015 Emerging Athlete Camps 1,000 1,000 6,000 8,000 2015 National Championships 3,000 4,000 17,000 24,000 2013 National Veteran W/C Games 5,000 5,000 2015 Sports Tech Meeting 1,000 1,000 2,000 2015 National Team Camps 5,000 1,000 13,000 19,000 2015 World Cup 5,000 3,000 40,000 48,000 2015 Education/Training 2,000 2,000 4,000 2015 Competition Management 2,000 2,000 2015 Official Certification 3,000 3,000 2015 HP & Sport Dev. Manager 10,000 10,000 2015 Personnel 23, 300 23,300 2015 Fringe Benefits 5,300 5,300 2015 Indirect Cost 7,752 7,752 2015 Totals 25,000 53,352 83,000 161,352 Boccia Paralympic High Performance Plan Page 14 of 15
2016 Emerging Athlete Camps 1,000 1,000 5,000 7,000 2016 National Championships 3,000 3,000 24,000 30,000 2016 VA National W/C Games 3,000 3,000 6,000 2016 Sports Tech Meeting 1,000 1,000 2,000 2016 Paralympic Team Camps 10,000 12,000 22,000 2016 Paralympic Games * 5,000 5,000* 2016 Education/Training 1,000 1,000 2,000 2016 Competition Management 2,000 2,000 2016 Official Certification 2,000 2,000 2016 HP & Sport Dev. Manager 10,000 10,000 2016 Personnel 23,300 23,300 2016 Fringe Benefits 23% 5,300 5,300 2016 Indirect Cost 17% 7,072 2016 Totals 25,000 48,672 50,000 123,672 2013-2016 Budget Summary USOC Funding BSA Funding BSA/Athlete Fundraising Total 2013 Totals 25,000 48,842 65,500 139,342 2014 Totals 25,000 51,012 81,500 157,512 2015 Totals 25,000 53,352 83,000 161,352 2016 Totals 25,000 48,672 50,000 123,672 100,000 201,878 280,000 581,878 Boccia Paralympic High Performance Plan Page 15 of 15