Athlete Selection Criteria - 2024 World Deaf Mountain Bike Championships
This selection policy has been agreed upon by US Deaf Cycling Association and the USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF). It provides details regarding the process by which US Deaf Cycling Association will arrive at staff nominations. The US Deaf Cycling Association will submit these nominations to USADSF for consideration and final selection as a staff on the US Deaf Cycling Association roster for the 2024 World Deaf Mountain Bike Championships (hereafter called the "Games" or "Event").
1. TIMELINE
1.1 Athlete selection criteria must be submitted at least one (1) year in advance of the event except when the event is announced within a year, or in other extenuating circumstances. If an event is announced within one (1) year, the selection criteria shall be due within forty-five (45) days of the event announcement.
1.2 USADSF must give express written approval of the criteria prior to any selection events taking place.
1.3 National Sport Organizations and Committees may request a preliminary review of the criteria prior to submission.
1.4 Seletion criteria will be reviewed by USADSF within a thirty (30) day review period. Reviews will take place on a rolling basis.
1.5 Selection criteria must be approved at least ninety (90) days prior to any selection event.
1.6 If not known at the time of submission of criteria, NSOs and NSCs shall report tryout plans and selection committee members at least ninety (90) days in advance.
1.7 Failure to adhere to the above milestones will be subject to fines (refer to USADSF Fee Schedule).
2. NUMBER OF ATHLETES
2.1 The below table outlines the estimated number of athletes, including alternates for the 2024 World Deaf Mountain Bike Championships. These estimates are not binding and can be adjusted prior to the final submission. USADSF encourages conservative, data-driven estimates that have a reasonable degree of accuracy and/or confidence. For certain events, ICSD will impose a limit or quota to the number of athletes.
- Athletes:
- Women: 3
- Men: 3
- Total Athletes: 6
- Alternates: 0
3. SELECTION SYSTEM
3.1 Minimum eligibility requirements for athletes to be considered for selection to the Team:
3.1.1 Nationality/Passport Requirements:
3.1.1.1 Athletes must be a national of the United States at the time of nomination.
3.1.1.2 Athletes must hold a valid U.S. passport that expires by six months following the end of the competition.
3.1.2 Have a hearing loss of at least 55db (3-tone frequency average at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hertz, ISO 1964 Standard) in the better-unaided ear, as documented on a recent audiologist-certified audiogram. See audiogram regulations at http://www.deaflympics.com/pdf/AudiogramRegulations.pdf
3.1.3 Athletes must be a member of USADSF and the National Governing Body in their respective sport.
3.1.4 Minimum International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) standards for participation:
3.1.4.1 Any competitor in the 2024 World Deaf Mountain Bike Championships must be a national of the country of the National Deaf Sports Federation (NDSF) which is entering such competitor.
3.1.4.2 For additional information regarding an athlete who is a national of two or more countries, has changed their nationality, or acquired a new nationality, refer to the ICSD Regulations at http://deaflympics.com/icsd/icsd-athlete-nationality-policy
3.1.5 Minimum International Sports Federation standards and/or ICSD Entry Standards for Participation:
- 3.1.5.1 See the entry standard at https://www.uci.org/
3.1.6 Commit to participating in mandatory training and competitions.
3.1.7 Complete the USA Deaf Sports Federation National Team application packet in a timely manner.
3.1.8 Sign and abide by the USADSF Honor Code and other applicable forms.
3.1.9 Submit her/himself without any reservations to all doping control policies and procedures of the USADSF, ICSD, and World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) (https://www.deaflympics.com/icsd.asp?anti-doping)
3.1.10 May not participate as a team official (coach, trainer, medic, etc.)
3.1.11 Agree to, at your own expense, comply with travel restrictions and requirements established by the United States, the host country, or other organizations or governments with such authority, including requirements set due to the pandemic.
3.1.12 Additional Requirements
Eligibility: In order to participate in the selection process, athletes must meet eligibility requirements for participation in the next upcoming international competition. Minimum eligibility requirements are:
- Proof of USA Cycling racing license
- Racing Membership in the United States Deaf Cycling Association (USDCA)
- Membership in the USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF) if applicable
- Satisfaction of the age requirement: Riders must meet the age requirement for the upcoming competition to be selected for the national team for that competition.
- Have competed in at least the following number of sanctioned races prior to selection.
- Men - 10 races total (minimum 3 races in each discipline of interest). For Mountain Bike, at least 3 sanctioned races and 10 races in total.
- Women - 3 races total (minimum 3 races in each discipline of interest) For Mountain Bike, at least 1 sanctioned race and 3 races in total.
- Active TrainingPeaks account and add USDCA Team Manager(s) as additional coach;
- For former USA Team cyclists: at least a year before the tryout or selection to monitor the progress.
- For new cyclists: at least 3 months of data and additional tests may be required.
- Strava account to be shared with Team Managers
3.2 Tryout, Evaluation, and/or Selection Events
There are no tryout events. Instead of tryouts, we encourage cyclists to join any local cycling club and participate in any sanctioned race. In this way, we will know their level of experience and results. And see Eligibility (3.1.12) for further details.
3.3 Selection Process for Athletes to become National Team Nominees
The goal of the USDCA is to select those athletes who are capable of winning medals in specific cycling events at the Deaf World Championships and the Deaflympics, and who demonstrate good character to work as a team. Thus, USDCA has established criteria for selection as listed below:
- Medal Capable Athletes - A medal capable athlete has clearly demonstrated the ability to produce a medal winning result in the competition for which the athlete is being selected by achieving one of the following criteria:
- a) Winning a medal (top 3 finish) in the past 48 months at the World Championships or Deaflympics and demonstrating the continuing ability to perform at that level or higher based on results and performances in Top Level Competition in the past 12 months; or,
- b) Beating the previous year's World Championship or Deaflympics medalists or the current top-ranked UCI Elite athletes in Top Level Competition on courses similar to the event that the athlete is being selected for on multiple occasions in the past 12 months.
- Athletes Who Maximize Team Performance - It is necessary to select the best team and not necessarily the best individual athlete(s). Team chemistry and the ability of an athlete to fulfill a specific role on the team are vital for success. For example, the Road or Point Race event is scored individually but requires a team of athletes to work together and execute a team strategy so the designated leader(s) can achieve the best result possible.
Subjective judgment is required to select the athletes who will work together as an effective team and contribute to the execution of USDCA's strategy for team success or a team leader's success. Where reasonable, USDCA will use objective measures to support subjective judgments under this criterion. - Future Medal Capable Athletes - An athlete who is future medal capable has the potential to produce a medal-winning result within three years at a World Championship or Deaflympics by demonstrating a recent trend of improving performance in Top Level Competition or training.
- National Development Team - USA Deaf Cycling will select a number of prospective athletes with the potential to meet the criteria outlined here to join a National Development Team for further training, development, and evaluation. Athletes on the National Development Team will be considered prospective National Team athletes for the World Championships and the Deaflympics. However, selection to the National Development Team does not guarantee a spot on the World Championship or Deaflympic roster.
- International Events - Some events have little or no value to the USA. However, they can be important for our future youth or potential athletes to start building their preparation for Deaflympics and World Championships. For this reason, USDCA will endeavor to select via discretionary criteria, in order of importance:
- Data to Support Discretionary Selection Criteria
USDCA considers data useful when making discretionary selections. Below are examples of relevant data. This list is neither exclusive nor mandatory:
For all criteria (in no particular order):
- Times on courses (or portions of courses) of similar length or course profile;
- Athlete power data;
- Event and specific role demand data.
For Athletes Who Maximize Team Performance selections (in no particular order):
- Demonstrated willingness to work selflessly for team objectives;
- Demonstrated tactical proficiency;
- Previous experience fulfilling similar roles;
- Coachability;
- Ability to enhance team chemistry.
For choosing between two or more athletes under the same criterion (other than Medal Capable) (in no particular order):
- Race results in Top Level Competitions;
- Head-to-head competition results;
- Assessment of an athlete's ability to meet the performance demands of the course;
- Assessment of an athlete's ability to execute USDCA's strategy or race plan.
3.4 Selection Committee
3.4.1 The Athlete Selection Committee for the 2024 World Deaf Mountain Bike Championships shall be comprised of the following individuals:
• John Skjeveland - Team Manager
• Michael Wynne - Team Manager
3.4.2 Any Selection Committee member with a possible conflict of interest must disclose it. If such conflict exists, the Selection Committee member must recuse themselves from the Committee discussions and voting. Further, the Committee member shall not otherwise influence other Committee members in the selection process.
4. REMOVAL OF ATHLETES
4.1 Before entry by name to USA Deaf Sports Federation, US Deaf Cycling Association has jurisdiction over potential nominees
4.1.1 Voluntary withdrawal. An athlete must submit a letter to the US Deaf Cycling Association Team Leader.
4.1.2 Injury or illness as certified by a physician (or medical staff) approved by US Deaf Cycling Association or USADSF. Suppose an athlete refuses verification of their illness or injury by a physician (or medical staff) approved by US Deaf Cycling Association or USADSF. In that case, their injury will be assumed to be disabling, and they may be removed.
4.1.3 Failure to participate in mandatory training and/or competitions.
4.1.4 If, for any reason, US Deaf Cycling Association believes that it may not be safe for athletes or other coaches to have this individual on the team between the time of appointment and the event, US Deaf Cycling Association retains the right to remove the athlete.
4.2 Once athlete entries have been submitted to the USADSF, the USADSF has jurisdiction over the Team rosters.
4.2.1 Voluntary withdrawal. An athlete must submit a written letter to the USADSF Team Leader.
4.2.2 Injury or illness as certified by a physician (or medical staff) approved by USADSF. Suppose an athlete refuses verification of their illness or injury by a physician (or medical staff) approved by USADSF. In that case, their injury will be assumed to be disabling, and they may be removed.
4.2.3 Failure to participate in mandatory training and/or competitions.
4.2.4 Violation of the USADSF Honor Code.
4.3 An athlete may be removed as a nominee to the Team or from the Team for an adjudicated violation of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), ICSD, International Federation, and/or USADSF anti-doping protocol, policies, and procedures, as well as the U.S. Center for SafeSport Code policies, as applicable.
5. REPLACEMENT OF ATHLETES
5.1 Before entry by name to the USA Deaf Sports Federation, US Deaf Cycling Association has jurisdiction over potential nominees.
5.1.1 Should a vacancy occur at this time, each Men's and Women's team has two alternates of interest who qualify under the current policies. Suppose one of the selected alternates is unable to attend for any reason. In that case, the first alternate will be contacted immediately by the US Deaf Cycling Association, offering the opportunity to participate. If needed, the second individual will be offered the chance to go, keeping time, logistics, and finances in mind.
5.2 Once athlete entries have been submitted to USA Deaf Sports Federation, the USADSF has jurisdiction over the Team.
5.2.1 If a qualified Team loses one of its athletes due to illness, injury, or "force majeure," then the US Deaf Cycling Association Team Leader shall propose a replacement athlete in consultation with the USADSF President. The replacement athlete shall be the most qualified candidate who meets the earlier criteria. Suppose the ICSD, USADSF, or Games Organizing Committee requires different replacement procedures within a certain period before the Games or after the official nomination of the Final Roster to the USADSF.
6. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
6.1 US Deaf Cycling Association will retain the approved Selection Procedures and all supporting documents, including scouting or evaluation forms, and all data from the selection process for a minimum of six months past the date of the Closing Ceremony of the Games.
6.2 US Deaf Cycling Association shall upload Supporting Documents to USADSF at the time of roster nomination.
7. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
7.1 In addition to the USADSF Honor Code, the following documents are required to be signed by an athlete as a condition for nomination to the 2024 World Deaf Mountain Bike Championships and are included as attachments: USDCA Code of Conduct
8. PUBLICITY/DISTRIBUTION OF PROCEDURES
8.1 The USADSF approved Selection Procedures (complete and unaltered) will be posted/published within ten (10) days of approval by the USA Deaf Sports Federation Board of Directors.
8.2 Information shall be published:
8.2.1 on the USADSF website
8.2.2 on the US Deaf Cycling Association website at the following link: www.usdeafcycling.org
8.2.3 Additional means of disseminating the Selection Criteria and Process:
- USDCA Facebook
- USDCA Instagram
9. DATE OF NOMINATION
9.1 The US Deaf Cycling Association shall submit the final list of athletes, including alternates and replacements to USADSF on or before: June 1, 2024.
9.2 The list of athletes on the Team will be announced to the public only after USADSF approves the rosters.
9.3 Final rosters, including alternates, are due no less than four (4) months prior to competition. Late rosters are subject to penalty fees (please refer to USADSF Fee Schedule).
10. MANDATORY TRAINING AND/OR COMPETITIONS
10.1 The team managers keep their eye on the progress of cyclists' participating the race. They can keep a track of their training online known as TrainingPeaks and Strava.
11. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES
11.1 All athletes have a right to obtain due process. The following is the procedure by which individuals and representatives of USDCA shall attempt to discuss and resolve grievances:
1. Individuals are to discuss grievances that they may have with the staff with whom they are in contact. If a grievance cannot be resolved by the staff, the staff shall inform the individual of the grievance procedure and inform the next higher level of supervisor of the unresolved grievance.
2. If the complainant(s) wishes to pursue the grievance procedure, they must inform the staff member or staff member's supervisor of that intent in writing along with a description of the complaint. Such intent will be communicated by the appropriate personnel to the highest level of supervisor or director.
3. Within ten working days, the complainant, staff member, andctor will discuss the grievance and attempt resolution.
4. In the event the grievance is not satisfactorily resolved at this point, the complainant may elect to submit the grievance to the USDCA executive board. The board reviews the case and responds within ten working days.
5. If the complainant remains unsatisfied with the resolution, they may appeal the matter to the USA Deaf Sports Federation. See "13. ATHLETE GRIEVANCES AND COMPLIANTS" below.
All written grievances, USDCA's response to them, and a summary of the action taken on each complaint, will be filed and results reported to USADSF.
11.2 If the selection criteria and the grievance procedures were not followed properly, see 13. ATHLETE GRIEVANCES AND COMPLAINTS.
12. INTERNATIONAL DISCLAIMER
12.1 These procedures are based on ICSD, as applicable, and/or International Federation rules and regulations as presently known and understood. Any change in the selection procedures caused by a change in ICSD, as applicable, and/or International Federation rules and regulations will be distributed to the affected athletes immediately. The selection criteria are based on the latest information available to US Deaf Cycling Association. However, the selections are always subject to unforeseen, intervening circumstances and, realistically, may have accounted for only some possible contingency. 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 and amended, pursuant to their resubmission to the USADSF and approval by USADSF.
13. ATHLETE GRIEVANCES AND COMPLAINTS
13.1 If an athlete has concerns or complaints regarding their opportunity to compete that US Deaf Cycling Association does not answer, they may contact the USADSF President, Jeffrey Mansfield, at mansfield@usdeafsports.org or refer to USADSF's Grievance Policy and Procedure.
14. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
14.1 This document certifies that US Deaf Cycling Association individuals on the Selection Committee understand the standards/criteria set by ICSD, International Federation, and/or USADSF and have incorporated those standards/criteria into the Selection Procedures. These individuals certify that the information provided regarding Athlete Selection Procedures represents the method approved by US Deaf Cycling Association.