Team BC Wheelchair Rugby 2022/23 Selection Criteria

TEAM BC – SELECTION CRITERIA
WHEELCHAIR RUGBY PROVINCIAL TEAM TRYOUTS

Provincial Team Program 2022/2023 Season
The British Columbia Wheelchair Rugby Team will consist of a pool of no more than 16 athletes. These athletes will have the opportunity to compete for Team BC at a variety of competitions at the appropriate level throughout the season.

The focus of Team BC is to be the best prepared as possible to compete to win the National Championships. The team will attend competitions appropriate for the level of the athlete to ensure they are advancing through the stages of Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD).

If you wish to be considered for a spot in the program, you must demonstrate, through the evidence-based selection process, that you can meet performance standards that will enable the Team to reach its goals.
 

1.  Team Selection (tryouts): November 18th, 2022 - Friday 9:00am – 4:00pm @ Richmond Olympic Oval
2. Training Camp: January 6-8, 2023 – Friday 6:00pm – 8:00pm, Saturday 10:00am – 5:00pm, Sunday 9:00am – 2:00pm @ Richmond Olympic Oval
3.  Training Camp: February 3-5, 2023 – Friday 6:00pm – 8:00pm, Saturday 10:00am – 4:00pm, Sunday 9:00am – 2:00pm @ Richmond Olympic Oval
4.  Vancouver Invitational: March 30th – April 2nd, 2023 @ Richmond Olympic Oval
5.  Training Camp: April - TBC
6.  National Championships: April or May 2023 (TBC)
7.  Other competitions: Athletes will be notified when competition dates and locations are confirmed.

Selection Criteria and Procedures

Eligibility
In order to compete for selection to the Provincial Team, at a minimum, athletes must:

• Be a current member, in good standing, with BCWSA.
• Be a Canadian citizen, landed immigrant, or have met all of the required elements of WRC’s Player Eligibility criteria.
• Hold a Canadian and/or WWR classification (0.5 – 3.5) or meet minimum eligibility standards as outlined in the WWR Classification Manual.
• Note: current members of the Canadian National Team will receive an automatic selection to the Provincial Team pool as they meet or exceed the selection requirements laid out in this manual.

Selection Testing: Procedures and Scoring

A detailed breakdown of all the testing procedures and applicable scoring is available in the selection criteria document accessible here. 

Appeal Procedures

Athletes’ Appeals will be addressed in accordance with the BCWSA Appeal Policies and Procedures.

BC WHEELCHAIR SPORTS ASSOCIATION APPEAL POLICY
Note: In this policy “member” refers to any director, employee (including contract personnel), coach, athlete, official, manager, committee member, volunteer, or any affiliate association of BC Wheelchair Sports Association; “appellant” refers to the member appealing a decision; and “respondent” refers to the body whose decision is being appealed.
1. Any member of BC Wheelchair Sports Association (the Association) who is affected by a decision of the Board, of any Committee of the Board, or of anybody or individual who has been delegated authority to make decisions on behalf of the Board shall have the right to appeal that decision.
2. This policy shall not apply to matters relating to harassment policy which has its own appeal procedures, or to matters relating to the Rules of the Game, which may not be appealed.
3. Members who wish to appeal a decision shall have 10 days from the date on which they received notice of the decision, to submit written notice of their intention to appeal, along with detailed reasons for the appeal, to the President of the Association.
4. An appeal may only be heard if there are sufficient grounds for the appeal. Sufficient grounds include the respondent:
a. making a decision for which it did not have authority or jurisdiction as set out in governing documents;
b. failing to follow procedures as laid out in the bylaws or approved policies of the Association;
c. making a decision that was influenced by bias;
d. failing to consider relevant information or taking into account irrelevant information in making the decision;
e. exercising its discretion for an improper purpose; and/or
f. making an unreasonable decision.
5. Within 10 days of receiving notice of an appeal, the President (or designate) shall appoint three persons to constitute a Tribunal, in accordance with the following:
18
a. The Tribunal shall be comprised of members in good standing of the Association who shall have no significant relationship with the appellant, shall have had no involvement with the decision being appealed, and shall be free from actual or perceived bias or conflict.
b. At least one of the Tribunal members shall be from among the appellant’s peers (for example, if the appellant is an athlete, one Tribunal member shall be an athlete; if the appellant is a coach, one Tribunal member shall be a coach, etc.)
c. In appointing the Tribunal, consideration shall be given to the geographic location of the appellant, respondent and Tribunal members, in order to minimize the inconvenience and expense to all parties.
d. The appellant shall be given an opportunity to recommend one of the Tribunal members, provided the member satisfies criteria (a) and (c) above.
6. Within 7 days of its appointment, the Tribunal shall review the notice of appeal and reasons for the appeal and shall decide whether or not there are sufficient grounds for an appeal. This decision is discretionary and may not be appealed.
7. If the Tribunal is satisfied that there are not sufficient grounds for an appeal, it shall notify the appellant of this decision in writing, stating reasons. If the Tribunal is satisfied that there are sufficient grounds for an appeal, it shall conduct a Hearing.
8. If the Tribunal conducts a Hearing, it shall govern the Hearing by such procedures as it deems appropriate in the circumstances, provided that:
a. The Hearing shall be held within 21 days of the Tribunal’s appointment;
b. The appellant and respondent shall be given 10 days written notice of the day, time and place of the Hearing;
c. Tribunal members shall select from themselves a Chairperson;
d. A quorum shall be all three Tribunal members;
e. Decisions shall be by majority vote;
f. Copies of any written documents which either the appellant or respondent wish to have the Tribunal consider shall be provided to all parties at least 2 days in advance of the Hearing;
g. Both the appellant and respondent may be accompanied by a representative or adviser, including legal counsel;
h. The Tribunal may request that any other individual participate and give evidence at the Hearing.
9. In order to keep costs to a reasonable level, the Tribunal may conduct the Hearing by means of a conference call or videoconference.

10. Within 3 days of concluding the Hearing, the Tribunal shall issue its written decision, with reasons. The Tribunal may decide:

• a. To void, vary or confirm the decision being appealed;
• b. To make any decision it feels the respondent should have made;
• c. To refer the matter back to the respondent for a new decision, correcting any errors that were made; and/or
• d. To determine how costs of the appeal shall be allocated.

A copy of this decision shall be provided to the appellant, the respondent and the President (or designate) of the Association.
11. If the circumstances of the dispute are such that this policy will not allow a timely appeal, the President (or designate) may direct that these timelines be shortened. Should this be the case, the appellant, respondent and members of the Tribunal will make every reasonable effort to comply with the revised timelines in order to conclude the appeal in a timely manner.
12. If the circumstances of the dispute are such that an appeal cannot be concluded within the timelines of this policy, the President (or designate) may seek agreement from the appellant and respondent to extend the timelines.
13. The appellant shall have the right to decline a Hearing in favour of a documentary review. Should this be the case, the Tribunal shall request both appellant and respondent to provide written submissions, upon which the Tribunal shall make its decision. The Tribunal may direct such timelines, as it deems appropriate in the circumstance in order to conclude the appeal in a timely manner.
14. The decision of the Tribunal shall be final and binding, and not open to any further appeal or intervention by any court.