2016 NACAC – U23 CHAMPIONSHIPS SELECTION CRITERIA

OVERVIEW All selections will be made in accordance with Athletics Canada’s (AC) National Team – Selection Rules Book . The

National Team Committee (NTC) is responsible for the implementation of these criteria and has the sole authority to

make all decisions relating to the selection of the Canadian Team for the 2016 NACAC U23 Championships.

1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION

1.1 Event Location and Dates San Salvador, El Salvador Competition Dates: July 15th – 17th 2016 Travel Dates: July 12th – 18th 2016 (tentative)

1.2 Important Dates (*SUBJECT TO CHANGE*)

Date Event/Note Location/Notes

April 1 2016 – June 26 2016 Qualifying Period*

June 26 2016 Athlete Declaration Deadline Online Form

June 27 2016 Team Selection Date

July 7 – 10 2016 Canadian National Championships Edmonton, AB

July 15 – 17 2016 Competition Dates San Salvador, El Salvador

*exceptions – Steeplechase, Race Walk, 5,000, 10,000m and Combined Events

1.3 Eligibility

Must be a registered current member (athlete) of Athletics Canada (AC) Must hold Canadian Citizenship by the Final Selection Date Must submit an Athlete Declaration Form as per the dates outlined in Section 1.2 Must be born in 1994, 1995, or 1996 Must comply with Competitive Readiness Requirements as outlined in Section 5.0 Must otherwise be eligible to participate in the 2016 NACAC U23 Championships

1.4 Funding This team will be fully funded.

1.5 Events 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m, 3000mSC, 110mH/100mH, 400mH, HJ, PV, LJ, TJ, SP, DT, HT, JT, DEC/HEP, 20kRW (*SUBJECT TO CHANGE*)

1.6 Maximum per Event Up to two (2) athletes per event with standard may be selected.

1.7 Qualifying Trials There will be no formal selection trials for the 2016 NACAC u23 Championships. Athletes selected to the team will be required to compete at the 2016 Athletics Canada National Championships in Edmonton, Alberta to prove fitness. Exceptions – 20k Race Walk, 3000m S/C, 5,000, 10,000m and Combined Events –

1.8 Qualifying Period(s)

The Qualifying Period to achieve standards (Appendix A) is between April 1, 2016 and June 26, 2016. Exceptions – 20k Race Walk, 3000m S/C, 5,000, 10,000m and Combined Events – qualifying period: January 1, 2016 to June 26, 2016.

1.9 Final Selection Date and Team Announcement

The NTC will make its final team selections immediately following the completion of the Qualifying Period. The team will be announced through established communication channels (Branches, AC website, bulletin). Athletes selected to the team will be contacted directly.

1.10 Final Declaration Date Athletes are required to submit the Athlete Declaration Form no later than June 26, 2016. Failure to submit this form by the deadline will render the athlete ineligible for selection.

2.0 TEAM OBJECTIVES

To exceed Canada’s best ever performances at the NACAC U23 Championships of 20 medals (2002) and 2nd place in final team score (2010)

To have more athletes advance to finals and semi-finals than in 2014 To select athletes capable of performing at their personal best level

3.0 SELECTION PROCESS

3.1 Eligibility Pool All eligible (Section 1.3) declared athletes achieving their applicable standard (Appendix A) within the Qualifying Period (Section 1.8) will be placed in the eligibility pool. Please note that being in the Eligibility Pool does not guarantee selection.

3.2 Final Selection Process The top 2 ranked athletes from the Eligibility Pool (Section 3.1) in each event at the end of the Qualifying Period (1.8) will be selected, provided they meet the requirements of section 5.0 – Competitive Readiness.

See the National Team – Selection Rules Book for Performance Regulations.

4.0 RELAY SELECTION Fundamental Principles

Relay teams will be comprised of athletes competing in individual events.

Full cooperation on and off the track will be expected. Athletes must have a willingness to learn and adapt to relay fundamentals.

The running order will be determined by the NACAC Head Coach and Event Group Coach for relays at the NACAC U-23 Championships. Potential athletes will be notified in a timely manner.

All notified potential athletes will be expected to fully participate in team practices, including dressing and warming up with the team on the day of competition ready to contribute if needed.

All potential athletes will be expected to sign a “Relay Agreement”, which outlines responsibilities of selected relay team members which includes expectations and commitments to the team. Athletes who fail to sign the agreement will be removed from the relay pool of potential team members.

Athletes who are competing individually at the NACAC U-23 Championships will be selected to participate in the relay pool.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

All athletes, if requested by the NACAC Head Coach, must be prepared to compete in relays.

The final decision on relay team composition and positioning will be made by the NACAC Head Coach in consultation with the Team Event Group Coach for Relays.

5.0 COMPETITIVE READINESS REQUIREMENTS Selected athletes are expected to demonstrate competitive readiness for the NACAC U-23 Championships and travel will not be confirmed until they submit their plan and complete the process outlined below.

5.1 Training and Competition Plan

Athletes and/or their personal coach are required to present training and competition plans for the period July 1 – July 15, 2016 to the NACAC Head Coach, Sean Baynton (sean.baynton@ualberta.ca) on or before July 1, 2016. Athletes are required to immediately report any injury, illness, or change in training that could affect their ability to compete at their highest level in San Salvador.

5.2 Questionable Competitive Readiness

Once selected, athletes with questionable competitive readiness because of lack of fitness, injury or illness may be removed from the team at any time, including at the event itself or even prior to departure. Notification must be sent to Sean Baynton (sean.baynton@ualberta.ca). Failure to properly report injury or illness prior to the event will result in the athlete being deselected and financially responsible for all costs associated with the athlete for this event.

5.3 Evaluation of Competitive Readiness

“Competitive Ready” is defined as the ability of the athlete to achieve equal or superior performance(s) onsite at the scheduled event, as compared to the performance(s) achieved in qualifying for the team. An athlete’s competitive readiness will be evaluated in 2 distinct steps

before their entry will be confirmed. The final decision on competitive readiness will be made by the NACAC Head Coach using all available information:

STEP 1: Medical Clearance Will be completed by AC West/East Hub IST professionals and will consist of 2 phases:

1. An initial medical evaluation and paramedical assessment(s) to determine if the athlete is fit to return to full training or competition. This would occur once stabilization of health has been achieved and may include a functional evaluation of movement patterns

2. A dynamic functional evaluation will be carried out by AC Hub IST that would be specific

to the event (and injury or illness if applicable). This evaluation would identify dysfunctional movement patterns that could increase the risk of re-injury or undermine a championship performance.

In the case that the athlete is deemed unfit to resume training/competition or that dysfunctional movement patterns are identified in either phases of Step 1, the athlete would be declared unready for competition.

STEP 2: Specific Evaluation Following functional clearance by the medical team, a more comprehensive physical readiness test to compete will be established as follows:

• Determination of the Performance Test will involve AC IST, NACAC Head Coach and Event Group Coach of the NACAC U-23 Team • The Performance Test will vary according to the event the athlete must compete in.

If competitive readiness cannot be established before departure, the athlete will not travel to San Salvador.

5.4 Health Questionnaire

All athletes will have to fill out a standard health questionnaire before the trip.

6.0 APPEALS

6.1 Only athletes who have achieved their standards (see Appendix A) outdoors during the qualifying period (Section 1.8) may submit an appeal for selection.

6.1 Appeals for selection are to be submitted only by filling out the official Athletics Canada form Appeals for

Selection; please refer to Section 3.0 of National Team - Selection Rules Book for exact directions. 6.2 Appeals must be received within 5 business days of the team announcement.

7.0 AMENDMENTS TO THIS DOCUMENT The NTC reserves the right to amend this document at any time up to the Selection Date for changes imposed by parties external to the NTC or for changes that, in the opinion of the NTC would improve or enhance the selection process. Any changes made by the NTC are deemed to come into effect immediately upon publication on the AC website. Additional publication of the amended Selection Criteria will be made by whatever means and wherever the original Selection Criteria was published.

APPENDIX A – ATHLETICS CANADA/NACAC U23 SELECTION STANDARDS

TRACK EVENTS

Men Women

100m 10.50 11.80

200m 21.40 24.30

400m 48.00 54.00

800m 1:49.00 2:06.00

1500m 3:45.00 4:22.00

5000m 13:50.00 15:50.00

10,000m 29:30.00 34:00.00

110mH/100mH 14.35 13.75

400mH 52.00 59.00

3000m S/C 8:45.00 10:10.00

20km RW 1:30:00 1:40:00

FIELD EVENTS

Men Women

High Jump 2.15 1.80

Pole Vault 5.15 4.00

Long Jump 7.65 6.10

Triple Jump 15.70 13.20

Shot Put 16.80 15.20

Discus Throw 55.00 50.00

Hammer Throw 63.50 55.50

Javelin Throw 69.00 51.20

Decathlon/Heptathlon 7100 5150

Performances must appear on Athletics Canada’s 2016 Outdoor Rankings. It is the responsibility of the athlete to submit eligible performances to AC in order to be considered for selection. Please consult the Rankings section on

Athletics Canada’s website for further details: http://athletics.ca/calendar-rankings/rankings/#sthash.BXMpl0A1.dpbs

Standards must be achieved in accordance with the Performance Regulations outlined in section 2.0 of the National Team – Selection Rules Book