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1998 Team Selection Criteria -- DRAFT

From: MSloanC1
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 17:59:09 EDT

Final pre-approval draft of team selection criteria. The USCKT Board still needs to give final approval, but it is extremely unlikely that there will be any changes.

Thanks

Mike

1998 NWSC NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION CRITERIA

The U.S. National Whitewater Slalom Team for 1998 will be selected at the U.S. Team Trials to be held in Wausau, Wisconsin on May 8,9,and 10, 1998.

I.ELIGIBILITY TO COMPETE IN THE 1998 NATIONAL TEAM TRIALS

A.Affiliation

Only registered USCKT members who are qualified to compete for the United States in international competition according to current ICF rules and regulations are eligible to qualify to compete in the final National Team Trials, and to represent the U.S. in international competition incl uding the World Championships and the World Cup.

B.Qualification:

1.Entry to the National Team Trials shall be limited to boats that qualify to participate in the 1998 National Team Trials in a given boat class by one of three procedures:

a.Based on 1997 NWSC Slalom Paddler Rankings

A boat automatically qualifies for the National Team Trials by virtue of a norm score of 75.00 or greater in the 1997 NWSC Slalom Paddler Rankings.

b.By Placement in Any One of Four Qualifying Races

1) NWSC has approved the following four races as National Team Trials qualifying races: 1) Nantahala Falls Rapids Race, March 28-29, 2) Kernville Park California, April 18-19, 3) New England Cup, April 18, 4) South Bend, April 25.

2) The top four K-1's, the top three C-1's, the top three K-1W's and the top two C-2's from each race qualify for the final Trials.

3) Any boat that has previously qualified under method a or b is excluded when determining placements.

4) If a qualifying boat chooses not to attend the Trials, substitution of a lower placed boat is not permitted.

c.By Written Petition to the NWSC Team Support Committee

1) A boat may be added to the final National Team Trials by the Team Support Committee when injury or other extenuating circumstances have prevented qualification under method a or b. The athlete(s) shall petition the Team Support Committee in writing. The petition is to be submitted to the USCKT national office, and must be received by the USCKT on or before April 28, 1998. The NWSC Chair will poll the Committee, with a decision reached by majority vote and reasons given in writing in the event of a negative vote. In deciding on petitions, the Committee will consider the merits of the petition and the target number of boats for the Trials set forth by the Trials Steering Committee. The Committee shall seek additional input from knowledgeable persons such as the National Team Coaching Staff, COE Coaches, or NWSC divisional representatives.

2) If there are fewer than four eligible K-1's, three eligible C-1's, three eligible K-1W's or two eligible C-2's at a team trials qualification given race, the NWSC Team Support Committee may elect to approve a petition by the highest placing unqualified boat or boats in that class from another qualifying race.

2.C2 teams shall qualify as a team, and not as individuals. C2 teams which have not qualified in according to the procedures outlined above will not be permitted to compete in the National Team Trials even if both individuals in the C2 team have qualified as part of other C2 teams, or individually in C1's or K1's.

II.RULES GOVERNING THE 1998 NATIONAL TEAM TRIALS

A.National Team Trials Selection Race Dates.

1. The national team trials is scheduled to consist of three races. The first race is currently scheduled to be held at Wausau on May 8, 1998. The second race is scheduled to be held at Wausau on May 9, 1998. The third race is scheduled to be held at Wausau on May 10, 1998.

2. In the event that one or more of the three races shall be canceled for any reason, the NWSC Executive Committee shall designate an additional race or races to replace the canceled race(s). Any replacement race shall be held as soon as possibe after the completion of the final scheduled team selection race. In the event that the NWSC Executive Committee determines that no alternative race sites and dates are reasonably available,

the National Team selection process shall be modified as follows:

a. Team selection shall be based on a minimum of two team selection races.

b. In the event that only two team selection races are completed, the national team shall be selected using the results of the two completed selection races as follows: Boats one, two, five, seven, etc... will be selected based on the results of the first race. Boats three, four, six, eight, etc... will be selected based on the results of the second race.

B. Rules and Procedures For National Team Trials Selection Races.

1. The Trials will be governed by the then current ICF Racing Rules.

2. Practice runs shall not be allowed.

3. The same class order will be used each day so that every racer has the same time period between events.

4. The classes will be split into two groups so that the C-1 and the K-1W do first and second runs, then the K-1 and C-2 do first and second runs, with a minimum of 60 minutes between runs.

5. The start order for each class shall be determined based on final National Ranking results from the 1997 competitive season, with the highest ranked boats running last. Boats with 1997 rankings substantially below 1996 rankings due to injury may petition the Team Support Committee to be allowed to run at the front of their class. Petitions must be received by the Team Support Committee two weeks prior to the start of team trials.

Petitions will be granted only in cases where 1998 race results demonstrate that the boat is likely to competitive for the National A or B teams.

6. Boats will be started at one minute intervals.

7. Boats may petition the chief judge to allow an additional one minute interval. The chief judge will grant the petition only in cases where the boat has been interfered with by a slower boat or has overtaken a slower boat during a previous 1998 national team trials race run.

III.1998 NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION

A.GENERAL TEAM SELECTION POLICIES

1. The National Team selection procedures will be the same for all boat classes.

2. The results of the 1998 National Team Trials shall be used to determine athlete eligibility for national team selection for all World Championships and World Cup races, national team coaching, USCKT athlete funding, and other national team benefits provided by the USCKT from the completion of the 1998 National Team Trials until the completion of the 1999 National Team Trials.

B.RANKING OF COMPETITORS FOR TEAM SELECTION PROCESS

1. Within one hour of the posting of the final results on the final day of the National Team Trials, boats in position to win a position on the National "A" Team based on the criteria specified in provision III.B.2 and III.C.1 must commit to represent the United States in a minimum of two World Cup races in 1998. If a boat fails to commit, that boat's results in each of the three National Team Trials races will be ignored when determining the fastest boat in each class according to provision III.B.2 below, and the boat shall be ranked no higher than fifth in the final boat rankings.

2. After completion of the third day of trials, the boats in each boat class will be rank-listed on the following basis:

a) In each of the trials races, the overall score of the fastest boat in each class will be used to calculate the percentage-off-leader for each boat.

b) For each boat, the best (lowest) two percentage-off-leader scores will be averaged to create a series percentage-off-leader score.

c) The boat with the lowest series percentage-off-leader score shall be the first ranked boat.

d) The boat with the next lowest series percentage-off-leader score shall be the second ranked boat.

e) The boat with the next lowest series percentage-off-leader score shall be the third ranked boat.

f) The boat with the next lowest series percentage-off-leader score shall be the fourth ranked boat.

g) The fifth and sixth ranked boats, and lower ranked boats, will be determined in the same manner.

3. In the event that any boat wins the first two team selection races, this boat's results shall be excluded from all three races.

4. An athlete may be ranked in the top four in only one class. If, after completion of the three national team trials races, an athlete is positioned to be ranked in the top four in two classes, the athlete must indicate to the National Team Leader in which class the athlete will be ranked within one hour of the posting of all final results. The athlete's race result in the class in which the athlete chooses not to be ranked will be ignored when determining the fastest boats in each class according to provision III.B.2.

C.SELECTION OF THE NATIONAL TEAM AND NATIONAL COMPETITION TEAMS

1.National A Team

a. The top four ranked boats in each class committing to represent the United States in the 1998 World Cup competition will make up the National A Team for 1998.

b. An athlete may be named to the National A Team in only one class.

2.National B Team

Athletes will qualify for the National B Team based on the final rankings after the completion of the national team trials.

a. Boat 5: In each class, the boat with the highest ranking who has not already qualified for the National A team.

b. Boat 6: In each class, the boat with the highest ranking who has not already qualified for the National A or B team.

c. Top Qualifying Junior: In each class, the junior with the highest ran king, who has not already qualified for the National A or B team will be named to the National B Team for coaching and training camp opportunities, provided that the average percentage-off-leader score of the boat's two best trials races is less than or equal to 20 percent. The percentage-off-leader score in each race shall be calculated as defined in section II I.B.2 above. Designation of "Top Qualifying Junior" will not change the ranking of the boat when selecting alternatives.

d. An athlete may be named to the National Team (consisting of the National A team and the National B Team) in only one class.

3.1998 World Cup Team

a) The top four ranked boats after the completion of the 1998 team trial s from each class shall be invited to participate in each 1998 World Cup Race, with boats ranked 5 and 6 being the first and second alternates respectively should Boats 1-4 be unable or choose not to compete. Boats selected for the World Cup Team must commit to compete in each World Cup race within one hour of posting the final results of the final team selection race.

b) Additional alternates will be chosen from Boats 7,8,9,10,11, etc., respectively. Alternates must commit within one week of notification.

c) To be eligible to be named as an alternate to any European World Cup race, a boat must have a combined percentage-off-leader score of less than 15 percent relative to the fastest boat in each class at the 1998 National Team Trials.

4.1999 World Cup Team

If any 1999 World Cup races or other major international races take place before the 1999 Team Trials, the 1998 World Cup Team selection process will be used.

5.Athlete Replacement Procedures

Substitutions by designated alternatives will be allowed due to written resignation or injury as certified by a qualified physician. If either member of a C-2 boat resigns or is unable to compete, the entire boat must be replaced.

IV.DISCRETIONARY SELECTIONS

A.ELIGIBILITY TO COMPETE AT TRIALS

1.Procedures - see above.

B.NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION

1.No discretion is permitted.

C.ATHLETE REPLACEMENT

1.Procedures - see above.

V.NATIONAL TEAM ATHLETE FUNDING AND BENEFITS

A.USCKT ATHLETE TRAINING AND TRAVEL GRANTS

1. Level Of Funding

a) The USCKT has budgeted $21,000 for slalom athlete training and travel grants for 1998. The budget line item may be increased or decreased by the USCKT Board Of Directors.

b) The available budget will be allocated between the athletes in the highest ranked three boats in each class on the National A Team committing to attend the World Cup Finals in 1998 and the highest ranked three boats in each class committing to attend the European portion of the World Cup. Athletes committing to attend three or more World Cup races in 1998, including the World Cup final will receive a full funding share. Athletes committing to attend only two World Cup races in 1998, including the World Cup final will receive a half funding share.


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