2013 PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
2013 WOMEN`S NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION PROCESS
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SECTION 1 – PURPOSE
The Senior Women’s National Team Program for 2013 will compete in the 2013 Pan American Championships. The purpose of this document is to set out the process that will be used by Softball Canada to select athletes to the 2013 Pan American Championship team. This process will also be used to identify athletes eligible to be nominated for future carding (Athlete Assistance Program).
This selection process has three objectives:
• Select eligible athletes to an Athlete Pool. Athletes in the Pool are those identified by Softball Canada as having demonstrated potential to earn a position on a current or future national team. At any given time, the Athlete Pool represents a ‘snapshot’ of Canadian talent in women’s softball.
• From the Pool, select the best possible Teams for specific events. While some objective criteria will be used to select Teams, it is also recognized that there is a significant subjective element. Subjective elements include such factors as previous and current performance, experience, positional requirements, leadership and team cohesion.
• This selection process also forms the basis for nomination of athletes for Sport Canada’s Athlete Assistance Program (carding).
SECTION 2 – ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible to be selected to the Athlete pool, an athlete must be in good standing with Softball Canada, a Canadian Citizen holding a Canadian passport valid up to 6 months after the Pan American Championships (that is to February, 2014), or a person eligible for Canadian Citizenship who is actively pursuing Citizenship.
To be eligible to be selected to a Team, the athlete must meet any age requirements and citizenship requirements stipulated by the organizers of the event at which the Team will be competing.
Once selected to the Pool or to a Team, all athletes will be expected to be training towards, or to meet the physical standards outlined in Appendix B. These standards on their own will not be used to include or exclude an athlete from consideration for the Pool or a Team, but they will be used by Softball Canada to measure and monitor an athlete’s training, progress and preparation.
SECTION 3 – AUTHORITY FOR SELECTION
The Board of Directors has delegated authority for all decision making under this policy to the Head Coach.
The Head Coach has final authority for all selection decisions, including selecting athletes to the Pool, adding additional athletes to the Pool, selecting Teams from the Pool, removing athletes from the Pool or from a Team, and selecting replacement athletes to a Team where applicable. In making selection decisions, the Head Coach will consult with the Manager - National Teams (NT), and with coaching staff, defined for the purposes of this document to include assistant coaches, scouts and evaluators as designated by Softball Canada.
SECTION 4 – ATHLETE SELECTION PROCESS
Pool Selection
The Head Coach, in consultation with the coaching staff and Manager – National Teams, will evaluate athletes at identification camps to be held in British Columbia in late May and Ontario in mid-June. From those camps a list of up to 25 athletesin the pool will be identified. Selected athletes in the pool may be invited to attend a pre-event camp in early July (location TBA), the U.S. World Cup and the Canadian Open. Athletes may be invited to attend one, two or three of these evente, at the Head Coach`s discretion. The Head Coach also has the discretion not to invite an athlete to attend any of the events, even though they are selected to the pool. Athletes may be added, at the Head Coach`s discretion at any time to the pool for possible selection. The selection of the pool will be based on:
- Previous and current performance
- Experience
- Positional requirements
- Present and projected development and/or improvement
- Leadership/Contribution to team chemistry
- Availability for competition and training
- Experience
- Positional requirements
- Present and projected development and/or improvement
- Leadership/Contribution to team chemistry
- Availability for competition and training
AAP Nominations
The Athlete Assistance Program (AAP) carding cycle for Softball Canada begins June 1 and ends May 31 of the following year. The initial group of athletes nominated for carding will be identified on or before June 21, 2013, following the British Columbia and Ontario identification camps. Additional athletes may be nominated for carding based on the discretion of the Head Coach by October 31, 2013. The number of athletes nominated will depend on the allotment of cards by Sport Canada. Any athlete nominated for carding must meet the eligibility requirements of the Sport Canada Athlete Assistance Program.
Team Selection
Athletes from the Pool will be selected to the Team, with the goal being to put together the best possible team for any particular event. Factors that will be considered in this selection include physical and technical aspects of the game, as well as team dynamics. These factors, which will be assigned weight by the Head Coach, as he or she deems appropriate for the decision making process, include:
- Previous and current performance
- Experience
- Positional requirements (primary and backup)
- Present and projected development and/or improvement
- Leadership/Contribution to team chemistry
- Availability for competition and training
- The depth chart, as developed from the evaluation criteria in Appendix A
- Experience
- Positional requirements (primary and backup)
- Present and projected development and/or improvement
- Leadership/Contribution to team chemistry
- Availability for competition and training
- The depth chart, as developed from the evaluation criteria in Appendix A
It is understood that in making selections to create the best possible Team, it is possible that the best individual athletes may not be selected. The Head Coach also has the discretion to name an athlete to a Team even though that athlete may not have participated in selection camps or other Team events.
The timelines that will be followed in selecting the Pool and selecting athletes for the Pan American Championship Team are as follows. Note that specific events, dates and times may be subject to change.
• The Head Coach will identify the initial Pool by June 21, 2013.
• The Head Coach may add to the pool at any time at their discretion..
• The Head Coach will identify the initial list of athletes to be nominated for AAP on or before June 21, 2013.
• From the pool of athletes the Head Coach will select athletes to participate in a camp in early July, the U.S. World Cup from (dates TBA), the Canadian Open from July 16 to 22 and the Pan American Championships from August 8 to 17, 2013. The final roster for the Pan American Championship team will be determined by July 24, 2013. Players may be selected to the team in stages, before that date, at the Head Coach`s discretion.
• Alternates may be added to the Team to replace an athlete removed from the team pursuant to section 5. The addition of alternates to the team is at the sole discretion of the Head Coach and will be in keeping with the philosophy of fielding the best possible team.
• The Head Coach may add to the pool at any time at their discretion..
• The Head Coach will identify the initial list of athletes to be nominated for AAP on or before June 21, 2013.
• From the pool of athletes the Head Coach will select athletes to participate in a camp in early July, the U.S. World Cup from (dates TBA), the Canadian Open from July 16 to 22 and the Pan American Championships from August 8 to 17, 2013. The final roster for the Pan American Championship team will be determined by July 24, 2013. Players may be selected to the team in stages, before that date, at the Head Coach`s discretion.
• Alternates may be added to the Team to replace an athlete removed from the team pursuant to section 5. The addition of alternates to the team is at the sole discretion of the Head Coach and will be in keeping with the philosophy of fielding the best possible team.
Off-season camps will be held throughout 2013-14. The initial schedule (subject to change) is:
November 23-30, 2013 (location TBA)
January 1-8, 2014 (location TBA)
Additional activities will be held in the MArch-May, 2014 time period.
In addition to the above schedule, athletes are expected to follow the prescribed training regime, take the required regularly scheduled fitness tests and be available to meet with national team staff at agreed to times and locations throughout the year.
UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES/CHANGES TO THE DOCUMENT
If unforeseen circumstances arise which do not allow for this selection process or the above timelines to be implemented as outlined in this document, Softball Canada reserves the right to identify an alternate process or alternate timelines. Should this occur, all athletes in the Athlete Pool will be notified of these changes in a timely manner.
SECTION 5 – REMOVAL FROM THE ATHLETE POOL OR FROM A TEAM
5.1 Upon selection to the Athlete Pool or Team, an athlete must:
a) Sign a Team member agreement
b) Provide Softball Canada with all required documents (passport information etc.)
c) Participate in Team events, activities and meetings, as directed by the Head Coach or his/her designate
d) Ensure they wear proper equipment and clothing
e) Obey all rules established by the Head Coach and/or Softball Canada
f) Assist Softball Canada in public relations and fund raising projects where required
5.2 An athlete may be removed from the Athlete Pool or from a Team where the athlete:
a) Is unable to maintain, or being working towards, to the Head Coaches satisfaction, the training standards set out in Appendix B;
b) Is unable to meet performance expectations;
c) Is unable to perform due to injury, illness or for other medical reason as determined by Softball Canada’s medical staff;
d) Is unable to commit to National Team Program activities and events (note that an athlete may obtain an exemption from the Head Coach and Softball Canada)
e) Violates team rules and/or Softball Canada’s policies and procedures
f) Exhibits conduct that is detrimental to the image of the National Team program of Softball Canada
g) Breaches the Athlete Agreement
h) Voluntarily withdraws
i) Is removed by a Softball Canada Discipline and/or Appeal panel; or
j) Fraudulently misrepresents themselves
SECTION 6 – SUBSTITUTION OF ALTERNATES
November 23-30, 2013 (location TBA)
January 1-8, 2014 (location TBA)
Additional activities will be held in the MArch-May, 2014 time period.
In addition to the above schedule, athletes are expected to follow the prescribed training regime, take the required regularly scheduled fitness tests and be available to meet with national team staff at agreed to times and locations throughout the year.
UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES/CHANGES TO THE DOCUMENT
If unforeseen circumstances arise which do not allow for this selection process or the above timelines to be implemented as outlined in this document, Softball Canada reserves the right to identify an alternate process or alternate timelines. Should this occur, all athletes in the Athlete Pool will be notified of these changes in a timely manner.
SECTION 5 – REMOVAL FROM THE ATHLETE POOL OR FROM A TEAM
5.1 Upon selection to the Athlete Pool or Team, an athlete must:
a) Sign a Team member agreement
b) Provide Softball Canada with all required documents (passport information etc.)
c) Participate in Team events, activities and meetings, as directed by the Head Coach or his/her designate
d) Ensure they wear proper equipment and clothing
e) Obey all rules established by the Head Coach and/or Softball Canada
f) Assist Softball Canada in public relations and fund raising projects where required
5.2 An athlete may be removed from the Athlete Pool or from a Team where the athlete:
a) Is unable to maintain, or being working towards, to the Head Coaches satisfaction, the training standards set out in Appendix B;
b) Is unable to meet performance expectations;
c) Is unable to perform due to injury, illness or for other medical reason as determined by Softball Canada’s medical staff;
d) Is unable to commit to National Team Program activities and events (note that an athlete may obtain an exemption from the Head Coach and Softball Canada)
e) Violates team rules and/or Softball Canada’s policies and procedures
f) Exhibits conduct that is detrimental to the image of the National Team program of Softball Canada
g) Breaches the Athlete Agreement
h) Voluntarily withdraws
i) Is removed by a Softball Canada Discipline and/or Appeal panel; or
j) Fraudulently misrepresents themselves
SECTION 6 – SUBSTITUTION OF ALTERNATES
Where necessary and appropriate, an athlete removed from a Team may be replaced by an alternate from the Athlete Pool.
SECTION 7 – APPEALS
Softball Canada World Championship team selections may be appealed in accordance with the procedures set out in the Softball Canada Appeals policy.
Decisions of the Head Coach on AAP nominations may be appealed pursuant to the Appeals Policy of Softball Canada and the applicable provisions of Sport Canada’s Athlete Assistance Program (AAP) Policies and Procedures (Section 13) http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/sc/pol/athl/index-eng.cfm.
APPENDIX A - INFIELDERS
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APPENDIX A - OUTFIELDERS
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APPENDIX A - PITCHERS
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APPENDIX A - CATCHERS
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APPENDIX B – TRAINING STANDARDS
Pitchers
Minimum Standard
National Team Best
Fastball
60mph
65mph
Change-Up
15-18 mph slower than maximum
Any (2) of the following:
Rise
58mph
60mph
Curve
58mph
60mph
Screw ball
60mph
62mph
Catchers
| Minimum Standard | National Team Best | |
| Throw: H-2B | < 2.00 seconds | 1.84 seconds |
| Glove to glove Release | < 0.95 | 0.80 |
General Fitness
|
|
Minimum Standard (4 of 9) |
National Team Best |
|
|
|
|
|
Throwing Speed (overhand) |
> 55mph |
65mph |
|
Plank |
> 2.00 min |
3.00 min |
|
Beep Test (Leger) |
6 |
8.5 |
|
Pro Agility |
6.0 |
5.00 |
|
Crunches |
30 in 1 min |
60 in 1 min |
|
Push Ups |
15 in 1 min |
25 in 1 min |
APPENDIX C - TESTING PROTOCOL FORM
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