Squash Magazine

2005 United States Men's Team SELECTION PROCEDURES

Eligibility: Must be male, United States citizen, member of the USSRA in good standing and comply with all World Squash Federation eligibility requirements regarding international championships. I. Selection System There will be two phases involved in the selection of male athletes for the 2005 Pan American Federation Games and two phases involved in the selection of male athletes for the 2005 Men’s World Team Championships. For the 2005 Pan American Federation Games: Phase One –Qualification for the team trials for the 2005 Pan American Federation Games will be based 100% on regular season rankings from five national team selection events listed below (see V. Tryout Sites and Events). Participation in the S.L. Green U.S. Nationals is mandatory for all athletes. Phase Two – Final Team selection for the 2005 Pan American Federation Games:  The best three results from the first five selection events listed below (see V. Tryout Sites and Events) will be counted toward a players ranking.  The top two ranked players as of May 1, 2005 automatically make the team.  The remaining two positions will be selected by a play-off with the players ranked 3 through 6 as of May 1, 2005. The top two finishers in the play-off make the team. The play-off will take place May 13-15 at a location to be confirmed. For the 2005 Men’s World Team Championships: Phase One –Qualification for the team trials for the 2005 Men’s World Team Championships will be based 100% on regular season rankings from last five national team selection events listed below (see V. Tryout Sites and Events). Participation in the S.L. Green U.S. Nationals is mandatory for all athletes. Phase Two –Final Team selection for the 2005 World Team Championships:  The best three results from the previous five selection events listed below (see V. Tryout Sites and Events) will be counted toward a player’s ranking.  Based on rankings as of October 1, 2005 the top two players automatically make the team.  The remaining two positions will be selected by a play-off with the players ranked 3 through 6. The top two finishers in the play-off make the team. The play-off will take place in October. The location and exact date are to be confirmed. Note: Rankings will be calculated as the player’s average points score using his best three events. If a player only plays one or two events then his point total will be taken and divided by the minimum divisor of three. Note: The individual placing 3rd in the final team trials is the first replacement; the individual placing 4th in the final team trial is the second replacement - in the event of injury to any one of the final top 2 finishing players. II. Inability to Participate in a Mandatory Event before final team trials Event Cancellation: If, through no fault of his own, an event is cancelled and a player will not have three results to compute his ranking then that player will be awarded the point equivalent of his most recent result. Injury or illness: The athlete must provide a physician's note to the Chairman of the USSRA Men's Committee describing injury or illness as soon as he knows that he will be unable to participate in any scheduled event. III. Replacement Due To Injury after the Team has been Selected. In the event of illness or injury as determined by an NGB medical staff person and/or USOC medical staff person, a replacement athlete will be taken in descending numerical order from final trial placement. The individual placing 3rd in the final team selection is the first replacement; the individual placing 4th in the final team trial is the second replacement etc. IV. Discretionary Selection: Not Illness or injury Other circumstances: The committee shall have the discretion to evaluate other circumstances, other than injury or illness, which preclude an athlete from participating in a (one) scheduled selection event. Only one exemption for one mandatory (selection) event will be considered. The player must be ranked in the top 10 athlete pool based on rankings in the month the "other circumstance(s) 'occurs: hence in the month the exemption is considered. V. Selection Events and Team Play-offs Mandatory event: 1. The S.L. Green Championships (a.k.a Men's Open) (March 16-20, 2005) is mandatory for all athletes ($22,000 prize money). The S.L. Green Championships is the elite men's event held during the United States Championships, March 16-20, 2005 in Boston, Massachusetts. This event is open to athletes eligible to represent the US in the 2005 Pan American Federation Games and 2005 World Team Championships. Other Selection Events:: · Elite Men's US Selection Event #1 – November 4-7, 2004, Cincinnati Country Club, - Prize Money - $5000 Location: Cincinnati, OH · Elite Men's US Selection Event #2 - December 2-5, 2004, University Club Open, - Prize Money - $5000 Location: Boston, MA · Elite Men's US Selection Event #3 – January 21-23, 2005 Field Club of Greenwich, - Prize Money - $5000 Location: Greenwich, CT · Elite Men's US Selection Event #4 – March 16-20, 2005 S.L. Green U.S. National Championships, - Prize Money - $22000 Location: Boston, MA · Elite Men's US Selection Event #5 – April 7-10, 2005 The VSRA & CCV Open, - Prize Money - $5000 Location: To be confirmed · Elite Men's US Selection Event #6 – August 2005 To Be Determined, - Prize Money - $5000 Location: To be confirmed · Elite Men's US Selection Event #7 – September 23-25, 2005 Lake Forest Club, - Prize Money - $5000 Location: Lake Forest, IL Note: For ranking purposes the Selection Events will be worth 5000 points and the S.L. Green U.S. National Championships will be worth 7500 points. The points breakdown will be: For a 5000 point selection event For the S.L. Green U.S. Nationals 9th - 16th 187.5 points 281.25 points 5th – 8th 275 points 412.5 points 3rd – 4th 400 points 600 points 2nd 700 points 1050 points 1st 900 points 1350 points Team Play-offs: · Team play-offs for 2005 Pan American Federation Championships will be May 13-15, 2005 with prize money of $5000 at a location to be confirmed. · Team play-offs for 2005 World Team Championships will be in October 2005 with prize money of $5000 at a location to be confirmed. Note: Athletes must submit their entry to Selection Events to Mark Lewis at lewmark1@mindspring.com or by fax to 617-725-0569 two weeks prior to the start of a Selection Tournament. Athletes must submit all of their results (wins and losses) from all events played by the end of the first week of every month to Robert Graham at sbbolox@aol.com or by fax to 805-963-5796. Note: An athlete candidate citing "extenuating circumstances" must advise USSRA national office in writing or via email at palmerp@optonline.net. Failure to submit results for two consecutive months will result in dismissal from this selection process. VII. Date of Nomination The final pool of candidates qualifying for the final play-offs for the 2005 Pan American Federation Championships will be announced May 1, 2005. The final pool of candidates qualifying for the final play-offs for the 2005 Men’s World Team Championships will be announced September 30, 2005. The 4-team members and the replacement (player placing 3rd in the trials) will be announced after the team trials. Replacement of Named Athletes Following final selection of the competitors for all events, replacements will only be made if: 1. Necessitated by illness or injury to a named athlete certified by a medical doctor, - or - 2. A named athlete voluntarily submits his/her resignation from that event to the USSRA Men's Committee Chairman. Note: The method of replacement in the event one or more of the original 4 team members must withdraw is simply the appointment of the next person in the final play-off i.e. 3rd place or 4th place to the team. Other Actions: Selection Announcement Selections will be announced within 48 hours of the completion of the final trials, unless any extraordinary circumstances prompt review by The Committee. Team Positions Team Coach will select team order for the 2005 Pan American Federation Games and the 2005 Men’s World Team Championships. VIII. Potential Training Squad Training – March 26-27, 2005 location to be confirmed Squad Training – May 2005 exact date and location to be confirmed Squad Training – June 2005 exact date and location to be confirmed Squad Training – November 2005 exact date and location to be confirmed IX. Athlete Representation All of the USSRA Committees, Executive Committee and Board of Directors; all bodies that govern maintain a minimum 20% elite athlete representation according to USOC and USSRA bylaws. USSRA Men's Committee will manage the selection process for the athletes and will submit all selections to the USSRA Executive Committee for approval. USSRA Men's Committee Members (as of October 1, 2004) Paul Assaiante Julia Beaver Robert Graham Mark Lewis (Chair) Berkeley Revenaugh * Mark Talbott * * - Active Athlete Representative X. International Disclaimer These procedures are based on PASO and/or World Squash Federation (IF) rules and regulations as presently known and understood. Any change in the selection procedures caused by a change in PASO and/or World Squash Federation rules and regulations will be distributed to the affected athletes immediately. The selection criteria are based on the latest information available to the USSRA. However, the selections are always subject to unforeseen, intervening circumstances, and realistically have not accounted for every possible contingency. XI. Submission of US Anti-Doping Agency Forms Players must submit Athlete Location Forms to the US Anti-Doping.