Athletic Australia Selection Policy
2016 World Race Walking Team Championships
ATHLETICS AUSTRALIA
SELECTION POLICY
WORLD RACE WALKING TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
7-8 May 2016, Rome, Italy
In November 2015 the IAAF took the unprecedented step of suspending the Russian Athletics
Federation.
As a consequence their right to host the World Race Walking Team
Championships was revoked. The IAAF have awarded hosting rights to Rome, Italy and
confirmed the originally published date for the Championships (7 and 8 May 2016). The IAAF
also confirmed that the original qualification and entry procedures will be retained. This
document sets out the basis on which Athletics Australia intends to select its Team for the IAAF
World Race Walking Team Championships.
1
Aims
The aim of Athletics Australia’s Selection Policy for the World Race Walking Team
Championships is to nominate a quality team to represent Australia. The policy is aligned with
the Athletics Australia Strategic Plan (2013-2016) and with the Australian Institute of Sport
Winning Edge Program. Specifically the policy aims to facilitate the following outcomes:

Selecting athletes that are realistic medal contenders at the World Race Walking Team
Championships, and;

Providing major Championships experience to potential future Olympic and World
Championships finalists (top eight places)
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2
Standards, criteria and athlete numbers
Athletics Australia has set its own Qualification Standards for each event to be held at the 2016
World Race Walking Team Championships except for the Men’s 50km event. These
Qualification Standards are listed in Appendix 1.
2.1
2.1.1
2.1.2
2.1.3
2.1.4
There will be five (5) events contested at the IAAF World Race Walking Team
Championships. Those events are the:
Senior Men 20km & 50km
Senior Women 20km
Junior Men 10km (using IAAF “Pit Lane” rule)
Junior Women 10km (using IAAF “Pit Lane” rule)
2.2
Each event will be conducted as both an individual event and team championship
event. Entry rules permit a maximum of five (5) athletes per team to be entered in each
of the Senior Men and Women’s events of which three (3) will score for the Team in each
race.
2.3
For the Junior events, the entry rules permit a maximum of three (3) athletes per team to
be entered, of whom two (2) will score points for the team event.
2.4
We expect that athletes may be entered as individuals only or as individuals and as part
of a team.
3
Selection
There will be Selection Trials for each event at the World Race Walking Team Championships.
3.1
3.2
Those trials are:
o
Men’s 50km Walk – Australian 50km Race Walking Championships, Melbourne 13
December 2015.
o
Men’s and Women’s 20km Walk – Australian 20km Race Walking Championships,
Adelaide 21 February 2016.
o
Junior Men’s and Women’s 10km Walk – to be conducted as invitation events at the
2016 Australian 20km Race Walking Championships, Adelaide 21 February 2016.
Selection Senior Men 50km and 20km and Senior Women 20km
3.2.1 Any athlete that finishes in the top twenty four at the 2015 IAAF World Championships will
be automatically selected subject to compliance with clause 4 and the athlete having
nominated for that event.
3.2.2 The first two eligible athletes (excluding any athlete selected by clause 3.2.1) in the
selection trial will be automatically selected in the team provided that the athlete has
nominated for selection and in the case of the 20km events, the athlete has achieved
the performance standard outlined in appendix 1.
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3.2.3 If positions remain in the event after the operation of clause 3.2.1 and 3.2.2, further
selections may be made at the discretion of the selectors. This discretion is absolute and
it need not be exercised.
3.3
Selection Junior Men and Women 10km
3.3.1 The first two eligible athletes in the selection trial will be automatically selected in the
team provided that the athlete has nominated for selection and has achieved the
performance standard outlined in appendix 1.
3.3.2 If positions remain in the event after the operation of clause 3.3.1, further selections may
be made at the discretion of the selectors. This discretion is absolute and it need not be
exercised.
3.3.3 Any junior athlete who accepts selection in the Team to compete in the 2016 World Race
Walking Team Championships will be ineligible to compete in Athletics Australia’s team
for the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships unless that athlete has been granted
exemption in writing by the Director of High Performance as set out in clause 5. As a
consequence, all junior athletes who have not received written permission must
acknowledge their ineligibility for the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships in writing by
signing the acknowledgement form set out in appendix 2.
3.4
Team Events
The entry of a Team by Athletics Australia in any of the categories at the IAAF 2016 World Race
Walking Team Championships, and the selection of further athletes to make up those Teams
should they be entered, will be at the discretion of the Selectors. This discretion is absolute and
need not be exercised.
Athletes aspiring to selection to represent Australia at the IAAF 2016 World Race Walking Team
Championships should not assume that Athletics Australia will select enough athletes in any
particular division (Senior Men or Senior Women, Junior Men or Junior Women) for a Team to
be entered in that division.
4
Athlete Eligibility Criteria
Only those athletes who qualify according to this clause will be eligible for selection in the
Team:
4.1
Satisfy all IAAF nationality and World Race Walking Team Championships participation
rules (including rules regarding age for the junior events) when published.
4.2
Be a citizen of Australia.
4.3
Be a registered member of Athletics Australia through their Member Association.
4.4
Senior men will only be eligible for selection in the Team in either the 50km event or the
20km event. Senior men must indicate which event they are seeking selection by 31
January 2016.
4.5
Complete and submit the online Application for Consideration for Selection form (which
can be found at www.athletics.com.au) for each event in which the athlete is seeking
selection. The form must be submitted no later than 31 January 2016. The date for
submission of the Application for Selection may be extended at the discretion of the
Chairman of Selectors on the recommendation of the Director of High Performance.
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4.6
Be and remain in ‘good standing’ with Athletics Australia and at all times comply with
Athletics Australia’s Code of Conduct and conduct themselves in a way that does not
bring themselves, their sport or the National Team into disrepute. Athletics Australia may
consider past and present behavioural conduct in determining whether an athlete is in
‘good standing’. If Athletics Australia determines that an athlete is not in ‘good
standing’, Athletics Australia may in its absolute discretion choose not to select that
athlete.
4.7
For the 20km senior and 10km junior events, meet the Qualification Standard listed in
appendix 1 in the event in which the athlete is seeking selection in the Team during the
applicable period and under conditions that satisfy the IAAF and Athletics Australia for
such purpose.
5
Eligibility for athletes relating to the IAAF World U20 Championships Bydgozscz Poland
19-24 July
5.1
Athletics Australia has determined that only in the limited circumstances set out in this
clause 5 should Junior Men and Women be selected in both the 2016 IAAF World Race
Walking Team Championships and the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships.
5.2
Consistent with clause 5.1, unless exempt in writing according to the terms of this clause
5, Junior Men and Women who wish to remain eligible for selection in Athletics
Australia’s team for the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships must make written
application to the Athletics Australia Director of High Performance by 31 January 2016
setting out their training and competition program and written submissions which
demonstrate their ability to achieve peak fitness and a peak performance at each
championship in 2016.
5.3
Within at least two weeks the Director of High Performance will advise all athletes in
writing of the outcome of their application for exemption according to this clause 5. Only
athletes who have been given written permission by the Director of High Performance
will be eligible for selection in both the World Race Walking Team Championships and
the World U20 Championships in 2016.
5.4
For the avoidance of any misunderstanding, it is the intended operation of this clause
that all Junior athletes who satisfy the eligibility requirements in clause 4 will be eligible
for selection in the Team for the World Race Walking Team Championships. However, for
any athlete who confirms their selection in the Team according to the operation of this
policy will be ineligible for selection in the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships Team
according to the terms of the selection policy for that championship unless that athlete
has been granted exemption in writing by the Director of High Performance as set out in
this clause 5.
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6
Qualification Period
6.1
All qualification performances must be achieved between the following dates:
Events
Qualifying Start
Qualifying End
Men’s 50km
1 January 2015
Sunday 13 December
2015.
Senior 20km
1 August 2015
Sunday 21 February
2016
Junior 10km
1 August 2015
Sunday 21 February
2016
7
Eligible Performance Criteria
7.1
Performances must be achieved during competitions organised or authorised by the
IAAF, its Area Associations or its National Member Federations. Results achieved at
university or school competitions must be certified by Athletics Australia or the National
Federation of the country in which the competition was organised.
7.2
Performances must be achieved during an official competition organised in conformity
with IAAF Rules.
7.3
To be recognised for the purposes of this Policy, performances achieved in Australia must
be achieved in a competition sanctioned by Athletics Australia as an Athletics Australia
“National Permit Meeting”. Athletics Australia operates a sanctioning process across all
meets that involves the issuing of a permit – “National Permit” or “Recreational (State)
Permit”. A current list of all “National Permit” meetings will be available on the Athletics
Australia website.
8
Selection Meetings
There will be three selection meetings to determine the athletes who will be selected in the
2016 World Race Walking Cup Team.
8.1
Selection for the Men’s 50km event will be the week beginning 22 February 2016.
8.2
Selection for the 20km events will be the week beginning 22 February 2016.
8.3
Selection for the junior events will be the week beginning 14 March 2016.
9
Prioritising athletes
Where the selectors have a choice between two or more athletes for selection for a particular
event then they will prioritise selection in the following order:
9.1
Potential to win a medal at the 2016 World Race Walking Team Championships,
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9.2
Potential to finish in the top eight at the 2016 World Race Walking Team
Championships,
9.3
Potential to finish in the top eight at a future Olympic Games or IAAF World Athletics
Championships.
9.4
If two or more athletes are considered equally likely to meet one of the criteria above
(e.g. if the selectors consider that two or more athletes are equally likely to finish in the
top eight) then the selectors will prioritise in the following order:
9.4.1
Head to Head performance in the qualification period,
9.4.2
Recent form and fitness.
9.5
For the avoidance of doubt only athletes who have met the Eligibility Requirements may
be selected subject to the application of Sections 2 and 4. Furthermore the selection of
any athlete is at the absolute discretion of Athletics Australia.
10
Funding
Athletics Australia may not provide full financial support for the 2016 World Race Walking Team
Championships and therefore participating athletes, selected according to the terms of this
policy, may be required to cover some costs in addition to any assistance provided by the
IAAF and the local organising committee. The allocation of any financial assistance offered by
the IAAF or the local organising committee will be by the Director of High Performance, whose
decision shall be final. Junior athletes in particular should anticipate a levy to offset some of
the costs of the trip will be imposed. As a guide the levy will be at least $3,000.
11
Appeal Process
The appeal process can be found in the Athletics Australia By-Laws (section 8) available at
www.athletics.com.au.
12
Amendment to Policy
This Policy can be amended at any time by Athletics Australia if it is of the opinion that such
an amendment is necessary as a result of any change to the Participation Rules, to give effect
to the Policy following discovery of a drafting error or oversight, or for any other reason
determined to be in the best interests of Athletics Australia. Athletics Australia shall not be
responsible or liable in any way to any one as a result of any such amendment.
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Appendix 1 – Qualification Standards
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Men
1:28:00
Event
20km (Senior)
Women
1:36:00
46:30.00
10km (Junior)
50:00.00
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Athletic Australia Selection Policy
2016 World Race Walking Team Championships
Appendix 2
ATHLETICS AUSTRALIA
ACCEPTANCE OF SELECTION IN ATHLETICS AUSTRALIA’S TEAM FOR THE 2016 WORLD RACE
WALKING TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS – JUNIOR ATHLETES ONLY
I,
, of
confirm that I accept my selection as part of Athletics Australia’s Team for the IAAF 2016
World Race Walking Team Championships.
I acknowledge that I have not been granted exemption under clause 5 of the Policy by the
Athletics Australia Director of High Performance to compete in the World Race Walking Team
Championships and remain eligible for selection in Athletics Australia’s Team for the 2016
IAAF World U20 Championships.
I acknowledge that by accepting selection in the Team, I am no longer eligible to compete
in Australia’s Team for the 2016 World U20 Championships.
Signed:…………………………………………………………… (athlete)
Date: ………………………………….
Signed by the athlete
)
In the presence of:
) ……………………………………
………………………………………..
(witness)
Where the athlete is under 18 years of age, this form must also be signed by the athlete’s
parent or legal guardian.
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PARENT/GUARDIAN’S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR MINORS
I/we
am/are the
parent(s) or guardian(s) of the athlete signing this Agreement and acknowledge as follows:
1.
The athlete is under the age of 18 years at the date of signing this Acknowledgement.
2.
I/we have read and understood the terms of the Acknowledgement and have fully
explained the terms of this Acknowledgement to the athlete.
3.
The athlete has read this Acknowledgement and, together with the benefit of our
explanation, understands its terms.
Signed by the parent/guardian
In the presence of:
)
) ……………………………….………………
………………………………………..
(witness)
Date:
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