Canadian National Championships/NorAm Finals Selection Policy
Revisions Approved by the AOS Board of Directors January 22, 2009.
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance to the Association of Ontario Snowboarders (AOS) Board and the AOS membership on the criteria to be used in selecting athletes for attendance at the Canadian Nationals and NorAm Finals.
The intent of the policy is to:
1) Assure a fair and open process
2) Assure that the most qualified athletes are selected.
‘Most Qualified’ is defined as most likely to succeed at these or subsequent (FIS) competitions.
Introduction
1) The AOS, through its membership in the CSF, is granted the right to enter eligible athletes in the CSF Nationals event. Athletes who are not eligible, as established by CSF, AOS, FIS and other member associations, may not participate in this event.
2) This document sets out the process for identifying those athletes who will be invited by the AOS to participate in the Canadian National Championships/NorAm Finals.
Terms
The following abbreviated terms are used in this selection policy:
AOS: Association of Ontario Snowboarders
CSF: Canadian Snowboard Federation
FIS: Federation Internationale de Ski
NorAm: a North American Race
Eligibility
National Championships
To be eligible to be selected to participate in the Canadian National Championships/NorAm Finals, an athlete must:
1. Be a member of the AOS in good standing;
2. Have an active Canadian FIS license and CAIP insurance;
3. Are medically fit to compete.
4. Athletes are required to declare their Provincial Snowboard Association affiliation and prove their Ontario residency at the time of registration. Athletes receiving funding from another province will not be eligible to compete for Ontario.
5. Participate in one NorAm (FIS) Event in their discipline in the current season, (FIS registered injury at the time of competition is the sole automatic exception to this requirement) and in the AOS Competitive Series including Provincial Championships in their discipline in the current season.
a. The expectation is that all athletes understand that the NorAm circuit is the highest level of amateur competition in the country and that participation is an indication of a serious interest in pursuing an amateur competitive career.
b. The AOS recognizes that exceptional circumstances (i.e. travel, coaching, and competitions) may arise. An athlete may make application to have this requirement waived. The application should clearly lay out the reasons why the athlete is unable to meet the requirements.
c. The Board or its committee will review the application and provide a timely decision. This decision is not subject to appeal.
6. The Board may make 1 or 2 wild card spot(s) available in senior Freestyle disciplines. These spot(s) are intended for athletes that do not otherwise qualify for nationals but can demonstrate a level of 2008/2009 performance at TTR Level 4 or above or equivalent level competitions indicating the strong possibility of a podium performance at Nationals. These athletes are invited to apply to the Board with a comprehensive application outlining their competitive achievements and plans. Coach support is mandatory and third party agreement and support will be a significant factor in the decision. The Board’s decision is final and not subject to appeal.
CSF Discretion
Athletes on the National Team and on the National Development Group will get automatic entry into Nationals and will not count as part of the provincial quota according to the CSF.
Selection Process
The list of athletes chosen to represent Ontario at the Canadian National
Championships/NorAm Finals will be published March 12, 2009. The number of selections will not exceed Ontario’s quota limit and alternates may be named in each discipline.
Any additional quota spots that become available from the CSF will be announced as soon as they become available.
Athletes shall be selected for participation in the Canadian National Championships / NorAm Finals in the order of their ranking:
1. From the most current FIS Points list
2. Should a tie exist on the FIS Points list, the athlete with the most AOS points shall be given the higher ranking.
3. Should there still be spots available the athlete with the highest number of AOS points
The Board will appoint a Selection Committee.
Appeals to National Selections can be made under the AOS’s Appeal policy. A non-refundable appeal fee shall apply.
*Please note that this policy is subject to change based upon revised National’s information from the CSF.
Necessary changes shall be at the AOS Board’s sole discretion.
