7000-400 Athlete Selection Criteria National Games

7000-400 National Games: Athlete Identification Criteria for Advancement to National Games (Individual Sports) Review Date: February 2021                                            Effective Date: January 2022                                          Special Olympics Canada has implemented the Pan Canadian Policies for all chapters. PAN CANADIAN ATHLETE IDENTIFICATION FOR COMPETITION SELECTION POLICY Due to the size of Special Olympics Ontario programs and to ensure the most equitable opportunity within Ontario, Special Olympics Ontario reserves the right to implement the following exceptions/additions: Age Athlete identification will proportionally represent athletes within the age groups that they participated in at the sport specific Provincial Games preceding the National Games. The athlete's age for which they competed at the provincial competition will be the age used for identification to advance to Provincial Games. Athlete Endorsement While point results may be available at the conclusion of the Provincial Games a final decision on athlete identification necessitates a great deal of consultation between SOO, Community Coordinators, Educators (for School Based Teams), Club Coaches, and Parents or Guardians.  The athlete evaluation from the Provincial Games is also consulted. Due to the demands that are put on athletes at National Games and the fact that the experience should be enjoyable for all involved, athletes should have demonstrated the ability to cope with the pressures involved in traveling, staying in the designated Athlete's Village, competing and being removed from their usual environment for up to a one week period.  With this in mind, athletes who have demonstrated uncontrollable problems with social adaptation or behaviour, in the past, should not be endorsed. These athletes may deprive other team members of a pleasant and rewarding experience and place undue stress and responsibility upon coaches assigned to their supervision. Upon receipt of the Athlete Endorsement List from SOO, the Program Consultant will proceed with the endorsement of the athletes in consultation with Club Coaches, Parents and Guardians to determine each athlete's suitability as a National Competitor. PAN CANADIAN ENDORSEMENT AND ENDORSEMENT RECONSIDERATION POLICY Use of Athlete Assistant at National Games Special Olympics Canada does not allocate a quota for the use of Athlete Assistants at National Games.   Athletes who attended Provincial Games with an Athlete Assistant are eligible for selection to National Games but must be able to attend National Games without the Athlete Assistant. Athlete Code of Conduct Athlete must be a member in good standing within their sport club and community. He/ she must be willing to adhere to the Athlete Code of Conduct and Athlete Rights and Responsibilities. Athlete Code of Conduct can be found in the Athlete section of the Resource Library. Final Athlete Identification Where the identification of athletes for National Games requires a decision which falls outside of circumstances outlined above, the Chef De Mission shall consult with the SOO Program Services Team and District Developer to make a final determination.  All decisions of the Identification Committee are final. No athlete, coach, volunteer or parent/guardian shall presume that an athlete has been identified to National Games until an 'OFFICIAL' Team list is distributed by Special Olympics Ontario. Any individual who informs the athlete that he or she has been identified prior to the official notification from SOO will assume responsibility for his/her actions. Once Provincial Team members are announced, competitors will be registered in events according to their results achieved at the sport specific Provincial Games preceding the National Games. Identification Appeal Process Athletes will have the opportunity to appeal the identification process.  Please refer to the Appeal Policy for more information.  

7000-401 Team Identification to National Games

7000-401 National Games: Team Sport Identification Criteria for Advancement to National Games Review Date: February 2021                  Effective Date: January 2022 Special Olympics Canada has implemented the Pan Canadian Policies for all chapters. PAN CANADIAN ATHLETE IDENTIFICATION FOR COMPETITION SELECTION POLICY Due to the size of Special Olympics Ontario programs and to ensure the most equitable competition environment within Ontario, Special Olympics Ontario reserves the right to implement the following exceptions/additions: Athlete/Team Endorsement While point results may be available at the conclusion of the Provincial Games a final decision on athlete identification necessitates a great deal of consultation between SOO, Community Coordinators, Educators (for School Based Teams), Club Coaches, and Parents or Guardians. The athlete evaluation from the Provincial Games is also consulted. Due to the demands that are put on athletes at National Games and the fact that the experience should be enjoyable for all involved, athletes should have demonstrated the ability to cope with the pressures involved in traveling, staying in the designated Athlete's Village, competing and being removed from their usual environment for up to a one week period. With this in mind, athletes who have demonstrated uncontrollable problems with social adaptation or behaviour, in the past, should not be endorsed. These athletes may deprive other team members of a pleasant and rewarding experience and place undue stress and responsibility upon coaches assigned to their supervision. Upon receipt of the Athlete Endorsement List from SOO, the Program Consultant will proceed with the endorsement of the athletes in consultation with Club Coaches, Parents and Guardians to determine each athlete's suitability as a National Competitor. PAN CANADIAN ENDORSEMENT AND ENDORSEMENT RECONSIDERATION POLICY Use of Athlete Assistants at National Games Special Olympics Canada does not allocate a quota for the use of Athlete Assistants at National Games. Athletes who attended Provincial Games with an Athlete Assistant are eligible for selection to National Games but must be able to attend National Games without the Athlete Assistant. Athlete Code of Conduct Athlete must be a member in good standing within their sport club and community. He/ she must be willing to adhere to the Athlete Code of Conduct and Athlete Rights and Responsibilities. The Athlete Code of Conduct can be found in the Resource Library. Final Team Selection Where the identification of athletes for National Games requires a decision which falls outside of circumstances outlined above, the Chef De Mission shall consult with the SOO Program Services Team and District Developer to make a final determination. All decisions of the Selection Committee are final. No athlete, coach, volunteer or parent/guardian shall presume that an athlete has been identified to compete at National Games until an 'OFFICIAL' Team list is distributed by Special Olympics Ontario. Any individual who informs the athlete that he or she has been identified prior to the official notification from SOO will assume responsibility for his/her actions. Once Provincial Team members are announced, competitors will be registered in events according to their results achieved at the sport specific Provincial Games preceding the National Games. Identification Appeal Process Athletes will have the opportunity to appeal the identification process.  Please see the Appeal Policy for more information.  

7000-403 Canada Games Athlete Identification

7000-403 Canada Games: Athlete Identification Criteria to Canada Games Review Date: February 2021                     Effective Date: June 2021 To ensure fair and equitable identification of athletes to Canada Games, the criteria outlined in the policy details below will be used to determine which athletes will advance to Canada Games. General Principles Athletes must: Be registered active athletes of Special Olympics Ontario Be a member in good standing within their Sport Club and Community and must be willing to adhere to the Athlete Code of Conduct and Athletes Rights and Responsibilities' Meet the minimum and maximum age guidelines for their sport as per the Canada Games Technical Package Not have attended a World Games in the same sport* Have been training in the sport in which they are competing in for a minimum of two consecutive sport seasons immediately preceding Canada Games Have been training with a Special Olympics Ontario registered sport club Gender Athlete identification will be based on the Canada Games Technical Package. Age Age guidelines differ for each sport, please refer to the Canada Games Sport Technical package. Identification Athletes must meet the minimum standards set out by Special Olympics Canada and must provide proof of such results.  Athletes must be endorsed by their community and coach first, followed by endorsement by the parent/guardian, to be formally identified as a Canada Games eligible athlete.  Once the above criteria are met, athletes will be identified by the Provincial Office as Canada Games Eligible Athletes to compete at the qualifying competition. Qualifying Athletes must attend a Special Olympics sanctioned event in order to qualify for the Canada Games. identification is based on the performance guidelines set out by the generic sport governing body in conjunction with Special Olympics Ontario. *Quota If the allotted quota cannot be filled using the above stated general principles, eligibility will be extended to athletes who have competed at World Games in the same sport.

7000-402 Coach Selection to National Games

7000-402 National Games: Coach Selection to National Games Review Date: February 2021                   Effective Date: February 2021 To ensure fair and equitable selection of coaches to National Games the criteria outlined in the policy details below will be used to determine which coaches will be selected to Team Ontario. Selection Process: SOO will receive the quota from Special Olympics Canada for the number of Coach positions needed for each sport. A Coach Selection Committee (CSC), which will consist of the Chef de Mission, Mission Staff and Volunteers, will choose coaches in each sport. It is the responsibility of SOO to distribute the Application Process to all Coaches that attended Provincial Games. All coaches are required to submit an application to be eligible for selection. Completed application forms must be submitted to SOO by the date stated on each application. Members of the selection committee will meet (in person or by conference call) to select the coaches. The Chef de Mission will notify all successful applicants. Any unsuccessful applicants may request, in writing, within 15 days of selection, an explanation as to why they were not selected. The Chef de Mission must respond within 30 days of receipt of the request. Selection Criteria: Candidates must be registered volunteers with Special Olympics Ontario and eighteen (18) years of age as of the first day of competition Candidates shall attend the Provincial Games in the sport the year(s) preceding the National Games. Coaches who volunteered at the Provincial Games  as Sport Technical Advisors/ Venue Managers or Officials are eligible to apply for a coaching position for National games Minimum Coach Certifications are completed Coaching and management skills observed at the Provincial Games by the  SOO staff in attendance Information contained on application form regarding coaching and management of elite athletes Candidates shall be available to accompany the team for the entire length of the event Candidates shall be prepared to chaperone and coach a maximum of five (5) athletes, realizing at times you will be covering for other coaches who are attending other events Candidates shall be capable of functioning well in group settings, and as productive and positive team members Coaches should be knowledgeable in first aid and sports related injuries Coaches should have some travel experience with Special Olympics athletes When two coaches have equivalent qualifications, priority for selection shall be given to the coach whose athlete(s) are attending National Games Additional Selection Criteria: Coaching staff will be selected for their leadership skills, coaching experience and technical knowledge.  Additional Criteria that will be used for consideration: Additional qualifications (officiating, CPR/First Aid) Attendance at previous National Games (balance of experienced and new coaches) Coaches from communities that athletes are coming from Number of years with Special Olympics Number of years coaching sport applying for Endorsement A representative from the community council will be required to submit a letter of reference as their community endorsement  for National Games.