Home / About /

Team Selection Guidelines

The following notes may seem to state the obvious but the Validation Group is very keen to make the task of selection as easy as possible and by asking each sport to spell out their respective Qualifying Standard in detail the Validation Group hope to avoid the need for their having to place their own interpretation on or second guess what is meant by a term or phrase contained in the Standard.

The Validation Group will make their decisions based solely upon the selection process as attached as Appendix 1 to this document and the Qualifying Standards agreed with each member sport as part of that process. These are the only criteria that will govern the size of the team selected.

The selectors may invite "independent" experts to advise them should they feel they lack specific knowledge in a given field.

Any member of the Validation Group with a personal connection, relationship with or interest in a selection candidate is expected to declare that fact and shall not vote on any decision in respect of that candidate.

Whilst much of what is requested may seem intrusive and, to someone with a knowledge of the sport, may seem excessive, the Validation Group believe that it is important that all members of the Validation Group and indeed any potential competitors have a clear understanding of the sport concerned and the basis of selection. The Validation Group are keen to ensure that the selection process remains transparent to all interested parties.

It is essential that potential selection candidates for the Games are either already established at the required standard (and may in some cases have exceeded that level) or have just progressed to the required standard and are at a stage in their sporting development which makes them ready for the new challenge at the higher level. It should be understood that selection candidates must be presently competing at or above the level or have demonstrated progression over recent season(s) to have achieved the standard.

(a)  Please detail the way in which your sport measures the progression or development of competitors through various competitive levels giving a clear picture of the standards at each level. Please state the obvious so that the Validation Group have a clear understanding of the sport and how a competitor may progress or develop through the various levels to achieve Qualifying Standard. e.g. Level 1 Club Championships, Level 2 Island Championships, Level 3 CI Championships, etc..

(b) Give an indication of the size of the sport ie the number of countries that participate at international competition level. It may be that competitive levels vary little across all participant countries but if not please include details of countries or regions with particular strength in a sport.

(c) Please explain how sporting achievement is measured as competitors reach each level if not already covered in para (a) above.

(d) If possible please show or explain how the Home Countries rank in your sport in the Games and how the entry criteria at the Games affects the quality of the event eg., how many competitors are there in each event from each participant country.

(e) Present the Qualifying Standards clearly with detailed explanatory notes leaving as little scope as possible for "individual interpretation". In consultation with the sport the Validation Group will satisfy itself that the Qualifying Standards are at an appropriate level and that the notes are unequivocal.

This information should tie in with the general notes on development within the sport so that the progression or development to Games Qualifying Standard is demonstrated clearly within the document.

(f) Please explain the timescales over which a competitor should seek to achieve the Qualifying Standards and specifically address any particular challenges raised by the timing of the next Games in relation to competitor's ability to achieve Qualifying Standards given the timing of the sporting "season" if any.

(g) Give an indication of how the proposed Qualifying Standards relate to or compare with the results in the sport and/or event in the last Games.

Guidance To Affiliated Bodies And Prospective Competitors On The Preparation Of CV's

The Selection Process is based upon each competitor achieving a Qualifying Standard in their respective sport. It is the responsibility of each competitor to maintain a record of their achievements and sporting development during the relevant period leading up to selection and the Games. This includes keeping official records of results in competition.

The competitor's record of achievement should be set out in a CV which should be presented in the first instance to the relevant person within the competitor's Affiliated Body. The Affiliated Body will use the CV together with any further information they may require including official results to determine to their satisfaction whether or not the competitor has achieved the agreed Qualifying Standard for their sport and if so to decide whether to submit the competitor's name forward to the Validation Group of the CGAJ.

Clearly the CV has a crucial part to play in demonstrating whether the competitor has achieved the appropriate level to be considered for selection. Preparation of the CV is the responsibility of the competitor. Set out in Appendix 2 to these guidance notes is a basic template CV showing in outline a suggested format for such a CV which clearly each sport and each competitor will need to tailor to their own circumstances but which should assist the Affiliated Body and the Validation Group in processing the competitor's submission.

The Validation Group was established under the terms of the Team Selection Process approved by Council of the CGAJ on [Date to be inserted]. These Guidelines were approved and issued by the Validation Group on [Date to be inserted] .