sports

Orienteering - Athlete Selection Criteria

Stockholm 2023

This selection policy has been agreed upon by the USA Deaf Orienteering (USADO) and the USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF). It provides details regarding the process by which USADO will arrive at athlete nominations. These nominations will be submitted to USADSF for consideration and for final selection to the USA Deaf Orienteering Team for the World Deaf Orienteering Championships in Stockholm , Sweden (hereinafter called the "Games").

1. SELECTION SYSTEM

1.1 Minimum eligibility requirements for athletes to be considered for selection to the Team:

1.1.1 Nationality/Passport requirements:

1.1.1.1 Athlete must be a national of the United States at the time of nomination.

1.1.1.2 Athlete must hold a valid U.S. passport that will not expire for six months after the conclusion of the Games and 6 months prior to the Games. Except for USA-hosted Games, the staff must possess a valid government-issue identity card.

1.1.2 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

1.1.3 Minimum International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) standards for participation:

1.1.3.1 Any competitor in the World Deaf Orienteering Championships must be a national of the country of the National Deaf Sports Federation (NDSF) which is entering such competitor.

1.1.3.2 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

1.1.4 Minimum International Sports Federation - International Orienteering Federation (IOF) - standards and/or ICSD Entry Standards for participation:

Not Applicable

1.1.5 Commit to participation in mandatory training and competitions.

1.1.6 Complete the USA Deaf Sports Federation National Team application packet.

1.1.7 Can not participate as a team official - coach, trainer, medic, etc.

1.1.8 Other requirements:

Be a current member in good standing of your local affiliated Orienteering USA club: https://orienteeringusa.org/events/clubs/

1.2 Tryout Events:

In place of specific tryout events, prospective athletes should submit official results from one or more events sanctioned by Orienteering USA. See Section 1.3 below.

1.3 Selection process for athletes to become National Team nominees:

1.3.1

Selection will be based on the athlete's results at their local Orienteering USA club events.

Maximum Qualification: Athletes who successfully complete an advanced level course (Brown, Green, Red or Blue) with a pace average of 10 minutes or less are automatically selected to the team.

Pace average can be calculated here: https://www.dvoa.org/events/results/pacecalc.php

Minimum Qualification: Athletes who successfully complete an intermediate level course (Orange) in the top half of competitors and can demonstrate a commitment to improvement will be considered for selection.

USA Deaf Orienteering can bring a maximum of six (6) men and six (6) women athletes.

Event results can be sent to usadeafo@gmail.com for consideration of selection onto the team by the USA Deaf Orienteering Selection Committee.

1.4 Selection Committee:

1.4.1 The USA Deaf Orienteering Selection Committee is comprised of the following members:

• Tom Wells - USA Deaf Orienteering Team Leader
• Mark Mace - Former Deaflympics Orienteering Coach

1.4.2 Any member of the selection committee that has 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 members of the committee in the selection process.

2. REMOVAL OF ATHLETES

2.1 Prior to entry by name to USA Deaf Sports Federation, USA Deaf Orienteering has jurisdiction over potential nominees.

2.1.1 Voluntary withdrawal. Athlete must submit a written letter to the USA Deaf Orienteering Executive Director.

2.1.2 Injury or illness as certified by a physician (or medical staff) approved by USA Deaf Orienteering. If an athlete refuses verification of their illness or injury by a physician (or medical staff) approved by USA Deaf Orienteering, their injury will be assumed to be disabling and they may be removed.

2.1.3 Failure to participate in mandatory training and/or competitions.

2.1.4 Violation of USA Deaf Orienteering Code of Conduct - MISSING FILE.

2.1.5 If for any reason, USA Deaf Orienteering 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, USA Deaf Orienteering retains the right to remove the athlete.

2.2 Once athlete entries have been submitted to the USA Deaf Sports Federation, the USADSF has jurisdiction over the Team rosters.

2.2.1 Voluntary withdrawal. Athlete must submit a written letter to the USADSF Team Leader.

2.2.2 Injury or illness as certified by a physician (or medical staff) approved by USADSF. If an athlete refuses verification of their illness or injury by a physician (or medical staff) approved by USADSF, their injury will be assumed to be disabling and they may be removed.

2.2.3 Failure to participate in mandatory training and/or competitions.

2.2.4 Violation of USADSF Code of Conduct.

2.3 An athlete may be removed as a nominee to the Team or from the Team for an adjudicated violation of ICSD, WADA, IOF, USADA and/or USADSF anti-doping protocol, policies and procedures, as well as the U.S. Center for SafeSport Code and USA Deaf Orienteering SafeSport policies, as applicable.

3. REPLACEMENT OF ATHLETES

3.1 Prior to entry by name to the USA Deaf Sports Federation, USA Deaf Orienteering has jurisdiction over potential nominees.

3.1.1 Any athlete shall be removed from the team if, for any reason that they are unable or unwilling to maintain a training regimen that is necessary for their performance at the event and/or does not abide by selection criteria requirements. Athlete shall also be removed from the team if they do not satisfactorily perform their fundraising duties required by USADSF. If an athlete is removed from the team, the next place athlete shall be placed on the team, provided that they also meet the selection criteria.

3.2 Once athlete entries have been submitted to USA Deaf Sports Federation, the USADSF has jurisdiction over the Team.

3.2.1 In the event a qualified Team loses one of its athletes due to illness, injury or "force majeure" then the USA Deaf Orienteering Team Leader, in consultation with the USADSF Executive Director, shall propose a replacement athlete. The replacement athlete shall be the most qualified candidate that meets the aforementioned criteria.

If the ICSD, USADSF or Games Organizing Committee (hereinafter "GOC") requires different replacement procedures within a certain time period before the Games or after official nomination of the Final Roster to the USADSF, such procedures for replacement shall be followed.

4. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

4.1 USA Deaf Orienteering will retain the approved Selection Procedures and all supporting documents, including scouting or evaluation forms, and all data from the selection process for six months past the date of the Closing Ceremony of the Games.

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

5.1 In addition to the USADSF Code of Conduct, the following documents are required to be signed by an athlete as a condition for nomination to the World Deaf Orienteering Championships and are included as attachments:

Not Available.

6. PUBLICITY/DISTRIBUTION OF PROCEDURES

6.1 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.

6.2 Information shall be published:

6.2.1 on the USADSF website (http://www.usdeafsports.org/sports/OR/criteria-athlete).

7. DATE OF NOMINATION

7.1 The Nomination of Athletes form, including replacements, will be submitted to USADSF on or before 05 May 2023.

7.2 The list of athletes on the Team are to be announced publicly only after USADSF approves the rosters.

8. MANDATORY TRAINING AND/OR COMPETITIONS

Continue to participate in your local Orienteering USA club events, submit a link to event results.
Athletes shall be capable of continuous workout regimens supporting the physical demands of running events in consecutive days.
Maintain contact with the team leader and keep them informed about training regiments and other pertinent information.
Exhibit good sportsmanship and character.

9. ANTI-DOPING REQUIREMENTS

9.1 Athletes must adhere to all ICSD, WADA, IF, USADA and USADSF anti­-doping protocols, policies and procedures, as applicable. This includes participation in Out-of-Competition Testing as required by the ICSD, WADA, IF, USADA and USADSF Rules, as applicable.

10. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES

10.1 All athletes have a right to obtain due process. Refer to USA Deaf Orienteering's procedures below:

The selection of individuals to the Team will be the sole decision of the USA Deaf Orienteering Selection Committee. In cases where malfeasance or corruption on the part of the USA Deaf Orienteering Selection Committee is alleged, a grievance may be filed with the USADSF.

Please refer to Section 12 - ATHLETES GRIEVANCES AND COMPLAINTS below.

10.2 If the selection criteria and the grievance procedures were not followed properly, see ATHLETE GRIEVANCES AND COMPLAINTS.

11. INTERNATIONAL DISCLAIMER

11.1 These procedures are based on ICSD, as applicable, and/or IOF rules and regulations as presently known and understood. Any change in the selection procedures caused by a change in ICSD, as applicable, and/or IOF rules and regulations will be distributed to the affected athletes immediately. The selection criteria are based on the latest information available to USA Deaf Orienteering. However, the selections are always subject to unforeseen, intervening circumstances, and realistically may not have accounted for every 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, pursuant to their resubmission to the USADSF.

12. ATHLETE GRIEVANCES AND COMPLAINTS

12.1 If an athlete has questions regarding their opportunity to compete that are not answered by USA Deaf Orienteering, they may contact the USADSF Executive Director, Jameson Crane Iii at crane@usdeafsports.org. If the Executive Director does not respond within 3 business days, the complaint may then contact the USADSF President, Jeffrey Mansfield at mansfield@usdeafsports.org.

13. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

13.1 This document certifies that USADO individuals on the Selection Committee understand the standards/criteria set by ICSD, IF, and/or USADSF and have incorporated those standards/criteria into the Selection Procedures. These individuals certify that the information provided herein regarding Athlete Selection Procedures represents the method approved by USA Deaf Orienteering.

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