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Team Selection Guidelines Process for Commonwealth Games
Approved CGAJ Council Meeting, 22nd September 2006

Principles

The key principles underpinning the selection procedure for Commonwealth Games (“the Games”) are as follows:

  • The process of becoming a member of the Jersey Team is as transparent as possible
  • The ownership of the qualifying standards is with the affiliated bodies
  • There is a shared understanding between the Association, the affiliated bodies ,all competitors and members of the Validation Group of the interpretation of the qualifying standards
  • The qualifying standards are demanding, and will allow competitors who perform to those standards and higher to compete with integrity in the Games
  • The process is effective, in that those competitors and officials, who should go to the Games, go to the Games.
  • This Team Selection Process may be changed from time to time by the Council in the light of experience but not so as to materially affect the process during one Games cycle.

Process

The entire process evolves over the 3 year period prior to the Opening Ceremony of the Games. There is a requirement to elect individuals to serve on various sub-committees and/or to fill Official Positions as follows:-

Validation Group

At least 30 months prior to the Opening Ceremony of the next Games, the Council will elect a Validation Group consisting of the President, Honorary Secretary and five elected Council members. The functions of this Group are to:-

  • Agree on a timetable of ‘selection process' dates leading up to the Opening Ceremony of the next Games and distribute to affiliated bodies.
  • Send out guidance to each affiliated body on the format and content of the qualifying standards for each sport
  • Agree, following consultation with each affiliated body (where necessary), the qualifying standards for each sport
  • Send out guidance and a Curriculum Vitae template to each affiliated body on the presentation of the evidence as to how each proposed competitor has met the qualifying standards. Reference to the previous Validation Group's recommendations will be made in compiling this ‘guidance' document.
  • Agree on the qualities and experience required of nominees for the positions as Team Managers and distribute this advice to affiliated bodies.
  • Endorse the selection of Team Managers in consultation with the General Team Manager.
  • Use the agreed qualifying standards within each affiliated body as a guide in the decision to approve nominations so that those approved can be considered for selection.
  • Ensure that all nominees are suitable ambassadors for their sport and for Jersey
  • Ensure that all nominees meet the eligibility requirements as detailed in the Constitution or otherwise.
  • Have the authority to agree any late changes to the qualifying standards as a result of unforeseen, exceptional circumstances e.g. Rule Changes within the sport that it can be demonstrated materially impact performances within the sport at Games level. Any such late changes to the Qualifying Standards will be made at the instigation of either the Validation Group or the relevant affiliated body and shall be made in consultation with the relevant affiliated body.
  • Endorse the provisional validation of competitors who have yet to meet the appropriate Qualifying Standard but who are expected to do so before the final deadline set by the Validation Group or Council.
  • The Validation Group will be quorate with 5 members, where none of group members have a declared conflict of interest. Any member of the Validation Group who is from the Affiliated Body whose qualifying standards or whose prospective competitor is being considered by the Validation Group or any member who is a close family relative of a prospective competitor shall be regarded as conflicted.  

Appeals Panel

At least 30 months prior to the Opening Ceremony of the Games the Council will elect an Appeals Panel consisting of an independent Chairperson who is not a member of the Council and four additional members, one of whom may not be a member of the Council. Elected members are required to declare any conflict of interest and to take no part in the hearing if either a close member of the family is involved or if they have any official status within the sport involved. This Panel will only meet to hear appeals brought by Affiliated Bodies where the Affiliated Body and the Validation Group have not been able to agree on either qualifying standards or the endorsement for the inclusion in the team of a competitor. Appeals may only be made by the Affiliated Body i.e. not by the prospective competitor, and the Appeals Panel may hear representations from both the Affiliated body and the Validation Group. An application for a hearing of the Appeals Panel must be lodged with the Association's Secretary within no more than 14 days of the date of notification of the decision to be appealed against . The decision of the Appeals Panel will be final.

General Team Manager

At least 2 years prior to the Opening Ceremony of the Games the Council will appoint a General Team Manager from nominations submitted by Affiliated Bodies.

  • Nominations must be made in writing together with a CV to the Honorary Secretary at least 2 months prior to the deadline for the appointment
  • The General Team Manager will be in overall control of the administration of the team, once it is named, and of team members whilst travelling and attending the Games.
  • The appointment will be made on the understanding that the appointee will agree to conform to any guidelines that may be issued by the Council. Such Guidelines, which may be revised from the previous Games, must be issued at least 3 months prior to the deadline for the appointment.
  • The General Manager will be required to submit a written report of the Games to the Council.

Timetable for the process to identify the Jersey Team

  • At least two and a half years (30 months) prior to the Opening Ceremony of the Games, affiliated bodies will submit their proposed qualifying standards to the Association
  • At least two years prior to the Games, the Validation Group, having consulted with the affiliated bodies (where necessary) will issue the agreed Qualifying Standards
  • Competitors achieving the Qualifying Standard will be eligible for selection to the team representing the Association and the Island in the Games. The Affiliated Body shall be charged with deciding whether or not a competitor has achieved the Qualifying Standard and the Validation Group shall be charged with endorsing that decision or not as the case may be. Competitors should be aware that achieving the Qualifying Standard does not of itself guarantee selection. The Affiliated Body shall be charged with making the final selection from those competitors from within their sport that have been approved by the Validation Group
  • One year prior to the Games, affiliated bodies may submit a provisional short list of potential competitors. Other competitors will still have the opportunity to participate in the Games
  • Each sport having a competitor named in the team is entitled to one Team Manager/Coach and may submit names for supporting officials, depending on team size and discipline. Although it is hoped that extra officials will gain accreditation to support their sport at the Games, there is no guarantee that they will be selected as official members of the Jersey Team.
  • The General Team Manager may request additional specialists to be included in the team
  • At least eighteen weeks prior to the Opening Ceremony, and on a date specified by the Validation Group, names of the of competitors (and substitutes if appropriate) for inclusion in the Jersey Team, and evidence of their having obtained the Qualifying Standard or the potential to attain the Qualifying Standard must be submitted to the Association. Affiliated Bodies may begin submission from 36 weeks prior to the Opening Ceremony.
  • At least eighteen weeks prior to the Opening Ceremony, and on a date specified by the Validation Group, affiliated bodies will submit names and curriculum vitae of team managers and coaches, with details of their experience. Affiliated Bodies may begin submission from 36 weeks prior to the Opening Ceremony.

The Validation Group, will commence review of competitors CV's against the Qualifying Standards set for their sport 36 weeks prior to the date of the Opening Ceremony and be empowered to:

  • Endorse the selection of competitors who have met the Qualifying Standard
  • Endorse additional coaches whose position, in their view, are required
  • Endorse the provisional selection of competitors who have yet to meet the Qualifying Standard, but are anticipated, by their Affiliated Body, to do so before the final deadline specified by the Validation Group/Council which may be after the announcement of the Jersey Team.
  • Endorse the inclusion in the team, of additional support team members requested by the General Team Manager
  • At least sixteen weeks prior to the Opening Ceremony, the Jersey Team will be announced. Additional members may be added to the team by the Validation Group if the Qualifying Standard is met after the announcement of the Team and before the final deadline issued in the timetable.
  • Each team member will be required to enter into a contract with the Association

Definition of Terms  

“ Nomination ” in the context of this Team Selection Process shall mean the nomination of a prospective competitor by his/her affiliated body to the Validation Group as, in the opinion of the affiliated body, having met their respective Qualifying Standard. The term “ nominee ” shall be construed accordingly.

“ Validation ” in the context of this Team Selection Process shall mean the validation of the nomination of a nominee by the Validation Group once they are satisfied that the prospective competitor has met their respective Qualifying Standard. The term “ validated nominee ” shall be construed accordingly.

“ Selection ” in the context of this Team Selection Process shall mean the selection of a validated nominee to compete as a member of the Jersey Team at a Games from the group of validated nominees who have to that point successfully passed through the nomination and validation processes.

Youth Games

Whilst this Team Selection Process is intended to apply to the main Commonwealth Games, the Validation Group recommends that essentially the same process should be applied for the Youth Games although clearly separate Qualifying Standards would need to be agreed for the Youth Games.

The Validation Group also recommend that the General Team Manager for the Youth Games be appointed at least 18 months before the Youth Games are due to take place.