POLICY FOR THE SELECTION OF HKSF NATIONAL YOUTH SQUAD AND FOR PARTICIPATION IN EVENTS WHERE NOMINATION BY THE HONG KONG SAILING FEDERATION IS REQUIRED IN THE FOLLOWING CLASSES;
OPTIMIST CLASS (Under 16)
LASER 4.7 CLASS (Under 18)
LASER RADIAL CLASS (Under 19)
420 CLASS (Under 19)
1. PURPOSE/AIMS OF THIS DOCUMENT
This document aims to:-
1.1 provide an open, fair, non-biased and wholly transparent account of how young sailors in the youth sailing classes referred to in paragraph 2 can follow their dreams of participating in top level competitions at national and international events. Primarily, it sets out the (new) selection process for youth sailors seeking to take part in those national or international events which require nomination of entries by the national authority, viz., HKSF.
1.2 provide a clear and transparent pathway to young sailors to get to international youth performance levels through these targeted classes (first), and specifically to provide training and preparation for the Asian Championships and Asian Games
1.3 expand the base of youth sailors to create a sound feeder system to other classes with the ultimate aim to achieve results in the Asian Games and Olympic Games.
2. YOUTH CLASSES COVERED IN THIS POLICY
2.1 The following youth classes are covered under this policy:-
1. Optimist Class (Under 16)
2. Laser 4.7 Class (Under 18)
3. Laser Radial Class (Under 19)
4. 420 Class (Under 19)
2.2 Currently, due to limited available resources, HKSF is limited in its organization of youth squads to the 4 classes referred to in paragraph 2.1 above. However, HKSF may decide to include other youth sailing classes in the squads in the future and any such additional classes shall also be covered in this policy subject to further announcement.
2.3 Subject to unforeseen changes in the age limit introduced by ISAF or the Organizing Authority in the youth classes in 2.1 above, HKSF may have to revise the age limit in the respective class as and when necessary. Announcement will be made when such revision is necessary.
3. EVENTS THIS POLICY COVER
3.1 Events where these youth classes participate and for which national authority nomination is required are covered under this policy. They are:-
1 ISAF Youth Worlds;
2 Asian Sailing Championship;
3 Asian Games; and
4 Any other multi-sports Games where selection is made by the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC).
Such events generally set a limit on the number of entries from each authority.
4. GENERAL SELECTION PRINCIPLES AND PROCESSES
4.1 The HKSF will run four selection trials for the four youth sailing classes mentioned above each year between November to February the following year for the selection of sailors for nomination for events covered in para 3.1 above, for the following year. (For example, results of selection trials held between Nov 2010 and Feb 2011, will be used for nomination of sailors to ISAF Youth World 2011).
4.2 Two trials will be held at Sail Training Association of HK Ltd, and the other two held at Hong Kong Sea School – or any other venue on the south-side of the Island
4.3 The schedule of the selection trials will be published on the HKSF website on or before 30 April each year while the Notice of Race will be published three months before the trials. Circulars giving information on the trials will also be sent to the respective national class associations, the HKSF Recognised Teaching Centres, and local yacht clubs.
4.4 The best three overall results of the four events will be counted for the selection of HKSF National Youth Squads. Two of the four events will be identified as open selections for ISAF Youth World, Asian Sailing Championship (and possibly Asian Games) depending on the time frame. Announcement of the selection events will be made on or before 30 April each year. Results in the selection trials as specified in para. 4.1 will be used for nomination. The Notice of Race for each event will also indicate the purpose of selection, and specifics on calculation of the indicator rankings.
4.5 For Asian Games and if, due to unforeseen circumstances, information of another multisports Games to be held in the year is received after the selection trials, results in the same HKSF National Squad selection trials as specified in para 2.1 will be used for nomination (ie best three events out of the four HKSF events).
4.6 Results of the selection trials of individual youth classes will be the final basis on which the HKSF Council will make its decisions on nomination (unless varied by the circumstances set out in paras 4.8, 4.12 hereunder).
4.7 Selections will be made in accordance with the entry/eligibility requirements of the event as imposed by the organizing authority. For example, a maximum of two boats per class will be selected for the Asian Sailing Championship and a maximum of one boat per class for ISAF Youth Worlds.
4.8 For Asian Games, a maximum of one boat per class will be nominated subject to the selected sailors having fulfilled or undertake to fulfill the eligibility requirement of Asian Olympic Committee and have overseas results which HKSF can use to support their nomination to SF&OC. For details, please refer to para 7 below.
4.9 For other multisports Games, depending on the entry requirement, the selected sailors will be nominated subject to them having fulfilled or undertaken to fulfill the eligibility requirement imposed by the Organizing Authority or the SF&OC or Asian Olympic Committee and having overseas results which HKSF can use to support their nomination to SF&OC. For details, please refer to para 7 below.
4.10 In respect of the trial results being used to qualify sailors for the HKSF National youth squads, a maximum of four boats (single gender teams) in the 420 Youth Squad (top three ranked teams, and the subsequent highest ranked girls team), six boats in each of Laser Radial and Laser 4.7 of the Laser Youth Squad (top four ranked sailors, and the subsequent highest ranked two girls for each class) and ten boats in the Optimist Squad (top eight ranked sailors, and the subsequent two highest ranked girls), will receive the HKSF invitation to join-up. It is up to individual sailors to decide whether they will join the HKSF squads.
4.11 If sailors selected from the trials for events covered in para 3.1 are not HKSF National squad members and do not wish to join the HKSF National squad, they may submit an application to HKSF Council, giving details of their alternative training program, for approval. Such training program if approved by the Council will be carried out at the sailor’s own expense.
4.12 If sailors selected from the trials are existing members of the HKSF youth squads, the HKSF Racing Coach’s recommendations may also be a factor to be taken into account in the nominations by HKSF Council. The HKSF Racing Coach will submit his/her recommendation based on the following criteria to the HKSF Council for consideration:-
a. Attendance for training. (At least 80% attendance is required)
b. Performance in training.
c. Results in local and overseas events.
d. Conduct in training, eg. attitude, sportsmanship.
4.13 Sailors whose nominations are approved by SF&OC to take part in the Asian Games, the SF&OC will provide them with accommodation, transportation, meals and cost for transportation of equipment for taking part in the Games. As for other multisports Games, the funding support will depend on what provisions will be given by SF&OC.
4.14 To ensure fairness and transparency, two members of the HKSF Council will be appointed to attend each selection trial as observer and provide the Council an observation report on the the trial.
5. WITHDRAWALS, REPLACEMENTS
5.1 If nominated sailors that have agreed to enter specified events subsequently seek to withdraw from the Hong Kong entry, they must communicate this in writing, with reasons, to HKSF as soon as possible, in any event not later than two months before the entry deadline for approval. If a replacement is needed, the HKSF Council will nominate the next sailor in the ranking of results in the trials subject to appropriate checking of the new arrangement.
5.2 Nomination by the HKSF will be withdrawn if a selected sailor commits and is found guilty of any of the following acts:-
a. Gross misconduct in local and/or overseas events
b. a criminal act
c. a breach of anti-doping rules
d. failure to comply with the eligibility requirement imposed by the Organizer two months before the entry deadline.
5.3 Under the circumstances of action under para 5.2 above, the HKSF Council will replace the sailor with the next one on the ranking, if appropriate. Please refer to paras 4.8, 4.9 and 7 for details.
6. FUNDING AND BENEFITS
6.1 All nominated sailors will have to attend the events at their own expense, except for Asian Games in which expenses for participating will be covered by SF&OC. For Asian Sailing Championship, the HKSF will provide financial subsidy for selected youth sailors at an equal basis regardless whether or not they are HKSF National Youth Squad Members to support youth development.
6.2 HKSF National Youth Squad Members will be provided an all-year round intensive training programme at STA on every Saturday and Sunday plus public holidays at a monthly fee of $500 per person.
6.3 Any youth sailors, regardless whether they are HKSF Youth Squad Members that win selections in the HKSF Selection trials to compete in the ISAF Youth Worlds will be eligible for applying retrospectively for a subsidy towards the costs of participating in the competition of up to HK$10,000 from the HKSF Council if he/she ranks top ten in 420 or top twenty in Laser in the ISAF Youth Worlds
6.4 Any youth sailors, regardless whether they are HKSF Youth Squad Members for the Classes covered by this policy that win selections in the HKSF Selection trials to compete in the following events will be eligible for applying retrospectively for a subsidy towards the costs of participating in the competition of up to HK$10,000 from the HKSF Council as follows;
OP Asian or World Championships; top 15
420 European or World Championships; top 10
Laser European or World Championships; top 15
PROVIDED that the respective Class agrees to use the HKSF Indicator Trials for their open selections to these events.
6.5 Any youth sailors, regardless whether they are HKSF Youth Squad Members, will be eligible to apply for the Elite Training Grants/Individual Athletes Support Scheme provided by Hong Kong Sports Institute, if he or she has obtained results from overseas events which have met the criteria for the grants. Applications for the Elite Training Grants will have to be approved and endorsed by the HKSF Council.
7. SPECIFIC SELECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR ASIAN GAMES/OTHER MULTISPORTS GAMES
7.1 Selection of entries for Asian Games/other multisports Games is made by SF&OC based on sailors’ overseas results. Even if sailors are selected from the selection trials run by HKSF, they may not be selected by SF&OC if they do not possess overseas results that fulfill SF&OC’s criteria.
7.2 For details of Asian Games Selection Criteria, please refer to SF&OC Asian Games Selection Criteria in Appendix 1 and the Eligibility Code of Olympic Council of Asia in Appendix 4 attached.
7.3 Selection Criteria of other Multisports Games will depend on the criteria imposed the Organizing Authority and/or SF&OC at the time.
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Attachments
Appendix 1 - SF&OC Asian Games Selection Criteria
Appendix 2 - Eligibility Requirement of ISAF Youth Worlds
Appendix 3 - Eligibility Requirement of Asian Sailing Champ
Appendix 4 - Eligibility Code of Olympic Council of Asia
Appendix 5 - HKSF Youth Squads
Appendix 6 - ISAF Eligibility Code
Appendix 7 - Elite Training Grants (Individual Athletes Support Scheme/IASS)