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Selection Policy for Wales
SELECTION Strategy The strategies that WALES INTERNATIONAL ROWING(expressed as WIR from now on) are undertaking for the selection of crews for the Home Countries International and all other events where WIR produce a team. WIR and the National Coach will select the best possible boat types and athletes that they feel will bring the highest results for Wales and the athletes concerned. ¨ · Athletes will select themselves into crew units · They will select their own personal coach to help them through the processes and training. If the athletes do not have a coach, WIR coaches will represent them. · Athletes and coaches will undertake to ensure that crew units train to the levels expected. WIR produce an international level training programme that athletes should follow to the best of their ability. Obviously there have to be allowances for club representation in certain events. · Coaches obviously know their athletes and are expected to help personalise the training to suit their athletes needs and aspirations BUT WIR base their training on sound physiological practice and will ensure the correct fitness levels required to row at the highest levels. The National Coach is always on call to help with any queries in this area to give unbiased help and advice. · Once selected as the crew "designate" WARA have full authority to expect that crew to perform at the higher levels and show its worthiness to compete for Wales. · WARA would prefer to see individual units raising themselves to the required level but if a talented athlete or athletes could help a combination to raise their performance standard, then WARA will talk to the athletes and their coaches involved to ensure that everyone's views are considered and the right course of action is taken. Ultimately WIR job is to ensure the highest level of performance for Wales and to ensure the highest achievement for each and every athlete. · If a boat category is not selected the WIR will either try to create a fast enough unit or get crews to double up. The ideal situation is that a specialist boat unit covers every boat class. · Another course of action that may be entertained by WIR is putting certain smaller units together in to a larger unit in order to strengthen a performance standard. · Athletes are expected to submit Concept II C type ergometer scores through the season. WIR will post these on WIR web site. There is one compulsory ergometer tests all year and a public test to be incorporated into THE WELSH ERGOMETER CHAMPIONSHIPS. Any athlete seriously looking to be selected for Wales should attend this. If for any reason an athlete cannot comply with this then they MUST contact the National Coach with reasons and offering an alternative arrangement to mutually acceptable. · Athletes are expected to compete in certain events posted by the team and to have raced in Wales. Athletes looking to be considered and be seen can contact the Events Secretary. Trial runs at Welsh League races can be arranged through the National Coach and Events Secretary. Eligibility to compete for Wales As the rule stand the athlete must: Have at least one Welsh Grandparent OR be resident in the Country of Wales for more than 6 months and be a member of a WARA Affiliated Rowing Club. Eligibility to compete for Wales at the Commonwealth Rowing Championships 2002, Nottingham Have at least one Welsh Parent OR be resident in the Country of Wales for 12 months or more and be a member of a WARA Affiliated Rowing Club. Also you must have either a British passport or if resident have a passport from another Commonwealth Country. Selection Boat types for selection: Men/Women/Junior men/Junior women (No Lwt 1x for Juniors. There are 15 athletes to be selected for each of the sections, MENS/WOMENS/JUNIOR MEN/JUNIOR WOMEN (Juniors have more selections available). Some athletes are expected to double up in Senior events events. The team may select a spare oarsman that can compete in one event. · 1X · LWT 1X · 2X · 2- · LWT 4- · 4+ · 4x · 8+ Boat types for selection for the Commonwealth Rowing Championships: M2-,W2-,M2X,W2X,M4-,LM4-,LW2-,LM2X,M1x,W1X,LW1X,LM1X,LM8+,HM4X,LW2-,W4-,M4+,LM4X,LM4-,LW4X,W8+,M8+. The main selection will be at a course to be decided preferably 2k but again to be decided. This will only be used if the main body of athletes have not been identified at the Welsh National Champs. ¨ · It will be a weekend very close after the Welsh National Championships possibly the next weekend. · Crews and athletes must have registered an interest for their boat type by April otherwise WIR will designate choices. · Crews will be invited to final trials if this deemed necessary. To be invited athletes must have placed an outstanding performance somewhere, a winning or good performance at the Welsh National Championships or previous international form that warrants WIR to include them. · Once selected at final trials or decided by other performances, the crew will be the Welsh National Crew "DESIGNATE". · If another crew wants to place a challenge, WIR will consider this on an individual basis. If the challenging crew is given an opportunity to race off, there will be 2 x 2k races or other distance agreed by the tow crews, their coaches and WIR. If on the first race either of the crews wins substantially by more than 2 seconds then that is the crew designate, if there is under 2 seconds between the crews then a second race off will be set within 30 minutes of the first race. At this point a series of options become available. 1. On the second race a time matrix is formed, the crew selected will have the greater time difference over the two races. 2. The crew that wins the second race with a margin of over 2 seconds will become the crew designate. 3. WIR may decide that a higher performance unit can be selected from the individual athletes. This and other combinations are placed in a trailling matrix. From this it will be shown if a crew has the speed or potential speed to be a better unit. This boat would then become the designate. · INDIVIDUAL ATHLETES;responsibility clause. When competing for Wales and Welsh International will conduct themselves with upmost dicipline and behaviour befitting a international representative of WALES. Whe representing Wales any behaviour that will bring any disgrace on to the team will not be tolerated. OTHER ATHLETES. If it is deemed by the WIR and the National Coach that your behaviour may effect the performances of other athletes then THIS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. You will not be selected or if at a championships/events you will be ejected from the team and WIR will placein a substitute from the rest of the team. There is no way that other athletes who also put in the hard work and time to get to compete in this team will be stopped from doing the best they possibly can because every performance is important to us. · WIR and THE NATIONAL COACH FOR WALES WILL MAKE ALL SELECTIONS. If a through the general processes of selection, challenging and trailling no apparent unit has been found, athletes will have to trust in the skill and expertise of WIR and the National Coach to make the decision. All points of view will be listened to and after due consideration the National Coach will select the unit deemed to be the best option. · Crews will be informed of their selection for the Home Countries International the Friday three weeks before the National Championships of Great Britain. If no unit seen to be a better unit at these Championships then selection to represent Wales is Final. PROVISO: Selections for the Commonwealth Regatta, 2002, will be run on a similar format but there will be certain changes that will be advertised in year 2001/2002