FREESTYLE SKIING ONTARIO
Quest for Gold – Ontario Athlete Assistance Program 2008-2009
ATHLETE SELECTION CRITERIA
 
 
Quest for Gold – Ontario Athlete Assistance Program 2008-2009 (OAAP) is funded by the Government of Ontario, through the Ministry of Health Promotion (MHP), and operated through the Sport and Recreation Branch. The overarching goal of the Quest for Gold – OAAPis directly related to the Enhanced Excellence goals of both ACTIVE2010 and the Canadian Sport Policy – to improve the performance and number of Ontario athletes performing at the national and international level; thereby contributing to the improved performance of Canada at international competitions. Specific objectives of the program are:
a)       To help athletes continue their pursuit of athletic excellence at the highest levels of national and international competition;
b)       To encourage athletes to stay in Ontario to live and train;
c)       To compensate athletes for earnings lost while training;
d)       To enable athletes to successfully pursue excellence in sport while fulfilling their educational goals;
e)       To increase athlete access to improved high performance coaching; and
f)         To enhance training and competitive opportunities available to athletes.
 
The program will provide direct financial assistance to Ontario junior-aged athletes through an “Ontario Card” designation. “Junior-aged athlete” is defined as those athletes who fall within the eligible age range for the Canada Games - 11 to 22 years of age. (Consideration will be given to older junior-aged athletes if a PSO/MSO’s NSO-approved Long Term Athlete Development model (LTAD) identifies older athletes in the “Train to Train” and “Train to Compete” categories). The intent of the OAAP is to provide funding to individual athletes based on their demonstrated commitment to high performance sport, allowing them to pursue athletic excellence at the highest levels of national and international competition.
 
How does it work?
In accordance with the OAAP guidelines, the Freestyle Skiing Ontario is responsible for developing sport specific selection criteria and forming a Selection Committee that will apply the criteria to select those athletes who will be awarded Ontario Card status in 2008-2009.  The Selection Criteria is approved by the Board of Directors and reviewed by MHP staff. Nominated athletes will be required to sign an Athlete Agreement between the athlete and Freestyle Skiing Ontario. Carding status will be for one year starting April 1, 2008 ending March 31, 2009.
In 2008-2009, the Ministry of Health Promotion allocated a certain amount of OAAP Ontario Cards to each eligible Provincial Sport / Multi-Sport Organization (PSO/MSO). Freestyle Skiing Ontario has been allotted a total of XX Ontario cards (split evenly as X Male and X Female Cards).
Freestyle Skiing Ontario has also decided to exercise the option made available by MHP to split up to 30% of its carding allotment (i.e. issue ½ cards in designated categories). Please see the chart below to see the designations.
A minimum of 70% of the Ontario cards will be allocated to what the Ministry of Health Promotion defines as junior-aged athletes (11 to 22 years of age). A maximum of 30% of the Ontario cards may be allocated to athletes no longer eligible for "junior athlete" status, (athletes 23 and over). 
As a result, the 8 cards issued to Freestyle Skiing Ontario will be specifically allocated to the following categories/disciplines:

Discipline
Number of cards
Aerial
2 full cards (1M/1F)
Mogul
4 full cards (2M/2F)
Park & Pipe
2 full cards, split into 4 half cards (2M/2F half cards)

 
In accordance with the OAAP guidelines Freestyle Skiing Ontario is responsible for forming a Selection Committee and sport specific selection criteria to nominate the athletes for Ontario carding status in 2008-2009. This selection criteria has been approved by the Freestyle Skiing Ontario Board of Directors.  
The Selection Committee is comprised of the following members:
Voting members:
Diana Edmonds, Director of Risk Management, FSO BOD
Liz Ord, Parent of former FSO Provincial Team athlete & Scoring Official
Julie Steggall, FSO Employee, Technical Director
        Non-Voting members:
Elisa Kurylowicz, Head Coach - Ontario Provincial Mogul Team
Dustin Foreman, Head Coach - Ontario Provincial Park & Pipe Team
Jane Curtis, - FSO Executive Director
 
How much funding is available?
The exact level of funding for the 2008-2009 carding year will be determined by the Ministry after the total number of athletes nominated for Ontario Card status has been determined. Funding will be released prior to March 31, 2009.

How will the Freestyle Skiing Ontario Selection Committee decide who receives funding?
The FSO Selection Committee will use both the Ministry of Health Promotion Eligibility Criteria and the Sport Specific selection criteria detailed below to determine which athletes will be nominated by FSO for Ontario Card status in 2008-2009:
 
Ministry of Health Promotion Eligibility Criteria:
All athletes must also meet the Ministry of Health Promotion’s minimum athlete eligibility criteria:
·         Athlete must be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant;
·         Athlete must be a resident of Ontario for one year prior to his/her nomination for carding status, with the following exception;
The residency requirement will be waived if the athlete is a direct family member of:
·         a regular force member, or
·         a reservist as defined in subsection 1 (1) of the Employment Standards Act, 2000 who is deployed under a circumstance described in clause 50.2 (1) (a) or (b) of that Act, or who is deployed or in any other way placed on active duty under a circumstance described in regulations made for the purposes of clause 50.2 (1) (c) of that Act.     
·         Athletes must be training and continuing to train in Ontario. Exceptions (“Residency Exceptions”) will be made on a case specific basis providing that the athlete can substantiate that:
o        He/She cannot receive the required level of training in Ontario and is out of the province temporarily during the year (i.e. due to lack of facilities, coaching, competitions);
*       The onus is on the athlete to demonstrate that he/she needs to be out of province. The athlete will submit written documentation to their PSO/MSO’s Selection Committee clearly indicating how they meet these exceptions. The Ministry may require that the athlete provide supporting documentation from the athlete’s PSO/ NSO, National Sport Organization (NSO) or other sources to verify reasons for athlete’s absence from the Province of Ontario.
o        He/She must attend a post-secondary institution out-of-province because the course of study is not available to him/her in Ontario;
o        It is more financially feasible to attend a post-secondary institution out-of-province, or other extenuating circumstances that require the athlete to be out of the province.
·         Athlete must be a member in good standing with PSO/MSO and NSO where applicable.
·         Athlete must demonstrate a commitment and dedication to a proper training and competitive program.
·         Athlete must be instructed by a coach who has been trained and certified in the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) Level 2 or equivalent.
·         Athlete must not be under sanction as per the Canadian Anti-Doping Policy.
·         Athlete must be attending an educational institution full-time (i.e. primary and secondary schools)
o              Exceptions will be made providing that the athlete can substantiate that his/her training will not allow for full-time attendance or if an athlete requires special needs that preclude full or part-time attendance (e.g. Athlete with a disability (AWAD))
·         Athletes who have completed their area of study at the secondary level (i.e. high school) and who continue to train towards participation in major national or international competitions will also be given consideration.
·         If eligible, the athlete must compete, and continue to compete for Ontario for one year from the date of the Minister’s letter informing the athlete of acceptance into OAAP program, at Canada Games and other national competitions involving provincial team competitions. Athletes who have achieved Canada Card status are not eligible for Ontario Cards.
·         Eligibility will be limited to Ontario junior-aged athletes ((“junior-aged” refers to chronological age, not a sport’s specific age category - only exception is for PSO/MSOs using 30% of Ontario Card allotment for Sr. level athletes not funded by Sport Canada – see below) who have been identified as a next generation national team athlete as demonstrated by:
o              Identification within the NSO pool of identified next generation national team athletes for the last two competitive seasons; OR
o              Results at regional championships, national championships (junior and/or senior) or other recognized national/international competitions over the last two competitive seasons; OR
o              Representation on a Canadian National Team (developmental and/or junior). Athletes training for Canada Games or provincial teams may also be considered.
 
 
Sport Specific Athlete Selection Criteria:
The sport specific athlete selection criteria will be utilized in the identification, ranking and selection of athletes for Ontario Cards.  
1)      Eligibility: The athletes must meet the general eligibility and sport criteria stated throughout this document in order to be considered for carding status.
 
2)      Nomination of athletes by FSO Rankings: The Q4G OAAP nomination committee will rely on the FSO Athlete Rankings, which are posted on the FSO website, and/or are available from the FSO Technical Director. Please review the FSO Selection Criteria document to learn how rankings are calculated for each discipline. http://www.ontariofreestyle.com/ranking.html The highest ranking athletes in each discipline will be nominated for carding, as detailed above (example – top ranked male and female aerial athletes will be nominated).
·          The FSO Rankings from the previous season will be used to rank athletes for nomination for Quest for Gold Ontario Athlete Assistance Program.
·          Recognised Events: Please refer to the FSO Competition Calendar for the dates of all event opportunities: http://www.ontariofreestyle.com/coach/comps.html  which is available September 15 2008 - April 31st 2009.  Please read the selection criteria document at the link above to see which events are “recognised” and used for the FSO Athlete Ranking Lists which will be used to nominate eligible athletes for the Q4G OAAP Ontario Cards.
·          Tie Break: for the sake of OAAP Q4G Ontario Card nominations, ties will be broken by the higher placing at Sr. National Championships of the previous season prior to nominations of the OAAP. If both athletes being considered were not at Sr. National Championships then Jr. Nationals will be taken in to use from the previous season.
·          Athletes who have been injured and were held back from competing in recognised events for the FSO ranking list can apply for the “Event and Quest for Gold Injury Clause” described below in section 8and in the FSO Selection Criteria document for Event & Quest for Gold Selection Injury Clause.
 
3)      The committee will forward their nominations to the FSO Board for approval.
 
4)      The FSO Board will forward the nominations to the Ministry of Health promotion for approval.
 
5)      If an athlete is eligible for a Quest for Gold nomination on the basis of the previous year’s competitive ranking they must be nominated for the award unless:
·        they are not skiing for the current competitive season because of injury, school or personal reasons, or,they are not meeting the training and competitive requirements of the FSO Team. In order to be considered ineligible under this provision, the athletes must have received an written Official Warning Notice from the High Performance Director that they are failing to meet the training and competitive requirements of the FSO Team. The athlete must be given a reasonable time to remedy the failure. The athlete must be able to appeal this Official Warning Notice, and this appeal must be exhausted before this provision is considered in force to exclude an athlete from Q4G funding. This provision may exclude an athlete from initial consideration for Q4G nomination, and can also be used to recommend to the Ministry of Health promotion that an athlete be stripped of Q4G funding during the competitive season. They are too old as per the Ministry of Health’s guidelines stated above – 22 yrs of age or younger. However, up to 30% of athletes can be over age 22.
 
6)      Unused Cards:
·          If no qualified male or female athlete is eligible, within the discipline of which the cards that they are initially allocated, the card will revert to the pool.
·          Once cards are designated Male or Female they must remain that gender.
·          Each discipline must receive the same value of cards i.e. if Moguls is designated as full cards then all the cards must remain full cards so each athlete receives the same amount of money. If a discipline is receiving half cards all athletes in that discipline must receive half cards.
·          E.g: If Aerial cards are not used, they can move over to Mogul, however they can’t go to Park and Pipe since those are half cards. Similarly, unused Park and Pipe cards are half cards, so they can’t be transferred to the other disciplines, unless they are transferred as full cards and gender equity is maintained. In this case this would mean that 2 Park & Pipe half cards would need to be reverted.
·          As per the Ministry’s guidelines, cards do not have to be used. The purpose is that the cards are used to help FSO’s next generation athletes.
   
7)      Alternates:
·          FSO has decided to exercise the option of nominating alternates to those athletes nominated for Ontario Card status. Alternates must be those athletes who are ranked directly behind those athletes nominated for the allotment of Ontario Cards in a particular category. The names of alternates will be published along with the names of nominated athletes
 
8)      Failure to Meet Selection Criteria for Health-related Reasons
Injured Athletes: FSO will be permitted to substitute an alternate for an Ontario Carded athlete who drops out or is removed from the OAAP due to injury or other health related reasons provided that:
·          Alternate is substituted within 2008-2009 fiscal year,
·          Funding for athlete being substituted is still available within fiscal year (e.g. full funding for card has not already been paid out to athlete no longer in program)
·          Short-term curtailment of training and competition for health-related circumstances that limit training and competition for relatively short periods (i.e., less than four months) are a matter strictly between the FSO and the athlete and should not affect an athlete's Ontario Card status.
·          Long-term curtailment of training and competition for health-related reasons: Carded athletes who are unable to maintain full training and competition commitments for periods longer than four months because of injury, illness or pregnancy will continue to receive 100% of the OAAP financial support to which they would otherwise be entitled, provided the following conditions are met:
a.        The athlete undertakes in writing to train or rehabilitate or both 1) under the supervision of FSO for the period of time for which the athlete is unable to fulfill the training and competition commitments that are part of the normal FSO - Athlete Agreement and 2) at a level that minimizes risk to the athlete's personal health and ensures optimal return to full training and competition at the earliest possible date.
b.       The athlete signifies in writing his or her intention to return to full high- performance training and competition at the earliest date possible following the illness, injury or pregnancy.
·          In the case of injured or ill athletes, a positive prognosis for the athlete's return to training and competition in the sport within 8 to 12 months is required from an FSO approved physician or equivalent.
·          If the athlete fails to meet Selection Criteria for health-related reasons at the end of an Ontario carding cycle during which an athlete has, for strictly health-related reasons, not achieved the standards required for nomination of carded status, he or she may be considered for nomination for the upcoming carding period under the following conditions, provided the FSO has a policy to priorize a card injured, ill or pregnant athletes that is clear, consistent and not arbitrary (this policy must be transparent and accessible). Please see Freestyle Skiing Ontario’s Selection Criteria document for the “Event and Quest for Gold Injury Clause.” Follow this link: http://www.ontariofreestyle.com/ranking.html  
·          The athlete has fulfilled all reasonable training and rehabilitation requirements aimed at a speedy return to full high-performance training and competition during the period of his or her injury, illness or pregnancy and, despite making every reasonable effort to attain the applicable carding standards during the year in which the injury, illness or pregnancy occurred, has failed to do so, in the view of the FSO, for reasons strictly related to the injury, illness or pregnancy.
·          FSO, based on its technical judgement and that of a FSO team physician or equivalent, indicates in writing the expectation that the athlete will achieve at least the minimum standards required for carding during the upcoming carding period.
·          The athlete has demonstrated and continues to demonstrate his or her long-term commitment to high-performance training and competition goals, as well as his or her intention to pursue full high-performance training and competition throughout the carding period for which he or she wishes to be renewed despite not having met the carding criteria.
·          Voluntary withdrawal from carded-athlete training and competition for health-related reasons an athlete may want, for reasons related to injury, illness or pregnancy, to voluntarily withdraw temporarily or permanently from normal carded-athlete training and competition requirements. In these circumstances FSO must notify the Sport and Recreation Branch, of the Ministry of Health Promotion, so that the athlete can be removed from the Ontario Carded list.
 
9)      Application Process: Qualified athletes will complete the following by October 23rd 2008 prior to receiving funding;
·          Complete the official application process for the Ministry of Health Promotions athlete application: http://www.questforgold.ca/athletes/Default.aspx  
·          Read, sign and fax or mail the FSO-Athlete OAAP agreement to Jane Curtis at the FSO office:
Jane Curtis, Executive Director
Freestyle Skiing Ontario
Box 437
Collingwood, On L9Y 3Z7
Office: 705.444.0239
Fax: 705-444-5116
    
 
Residency Exceptions:
Any athlete living/training outside of Ontario is required to submit written documentation to the Freestyle Skiing Ontario Selection Committee clearly identifying how they meet the following residency exceptions, identified in the Ministry of Health Promotion’s General Eligibility Criteria:
·         Athletes must be living and continuing to train in Ontario. Exceptions will be made on a case specific basis providing that the athlete can substantiate that:
o        He/She cannot receive the required level of training in Ontario and is out of the province temporarily during the year (i.e. due to lack of facilities, coaching, competitions);
o        He/She must attend a post-secondary institution out-of-province because the course of study is not available to him/her in Ontario;
o        It is more financially feasible to attend a post-secondary institution out-of-province, or other extenuating circumstances that require the athlete to be out of the province.
This information must be received by the Selection Committee by no later than September 22nd 2008 in order to be considered.
 
Residency Exemption for Military Families: The one-year Ontario residency requirement is waived for any Ontario Card or Canada Card applicant who is a spouse or dependant of a: Regular Force member of the Canadian Forces; or Reservist currently deployed by the Canadian Forces into active service.   This means that eligible military family members now qualify for OAAP funding immediately upon becoming residents of Ontario. Please see the 2008-2009 Quest for Gold Athlete Handbook for details of this exemption, including a list of documents needed to verify eligibility for this waiver of the one-year Ontario residency requirement.
 
Alternates:
Freestyle Skiing Ontario will also nominate alternates to those athletes nominated for Ontario Card status. Alternates will be those athletes who are ranked directly behind those athletes nominated for the allotment of Ontario Cards in a particular category/discipline. The names of alternates will be published along with the names of nominated athletes. If an athlete drops out or is removed from the OAAP an alternate will be substituted into that athlete’s position, provide that:
§         Alternate is substituted within 2008-2009 fiscal year
§         An alternate is available from the same category/discipline/card level (Full/Half)
§         Funding for athlete being substituted is still available within fiscal year (e.g. full funding for card has not already been paid out to athlete no longer in program)
 
Contact Address and Deadline
All information must be submitted no later than September 22nd, 2008 and must be sent to:
Jane Curtis – Executive Director -Freestyle Skiing Ontario
Box 437
Collingwood, On L9Y 3Z7
Office: 705.444.0239
Fax: 705-444-5116
 
Or
Julie Steggall – Technical Director of Freestyle Skiing Ontario
Phone: 613-882-3906
Email: jsteggall@rogers.com
Freestyle Skiing Ontario will publish or make known the athletes nominated for Ontario Card status by no later than October 13, 2008.
 
Appeals
Athletes who have not been nominated and who wish to appeal this decision can do so by filing an appeal in writing only with the Quest for Gold Ontario Athlete Assistance Program Appeals Committee.  Appeals will be dealt with by an Appeals Committee comprised of representatives from the sport community and chosen by the Ministry.
Appeals must be submitted through regular post, registered mail, in person or by courier and on the form provided. Appeals that are delivered personally or by courier shall be deemed to be received on the date of delivery. Appeals that are delivered by regular post or registered mail shall be deemed to be received three days after the date of mailing. Appeals submitted by e-mail or fax will not be accepted.  
Note: Any/all information provided to the Appeals Committee may be shared with the athlete’s PSO by the Appeals Committee.
 
Grounds for appeals will be limited strictly to:
  • Whether or not the PSO/MSO has completed the selection process in accordance with their own published selection criteria and related procedures;
  • Whether or not the selection criteria developed and applied by the PSO/MSO were fair, objective, transparent and free from discrimination or conflict of interest. 
After hearing an appeal the Appeals Committee will have the authority to:
·        Direct the PSO/MSO to redo the selection process using the correct criteria/process and submit new list of nominated athletes;
·        Deny the appeal;
·        Allow the appeal and nominate the appellant for carding status. 
 
 
 
 
 
The deadline for athletes to submit appeals to the Appeals Committee is
Cycle One: October 27, 2008.
 
Appeals must be completed on the template below and will be directed to:
Quest for Gold Ontario Athlete Assistance Program Appeals Committee
c/o Sport and Recreation Branch
Ministry of Health Promotion,
18th floor, 393 University Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M7A 2S1
 
 


2008/2009 Quest for Gold – Ontario Athlete Assistance Program
- Appeal Template –
The date for athletes to submit appeals to the Appeals Committee is October 27, 2008 for Cycle 1 and February 2, 2009 for Cycle 2. Appeals will only be accepted on the MHP-provided template, in writing through regular post, registered mail, courier or delivered in person. Please refer to the appeals section of the Guidelines prior to completing this form.
Full Name: 
Address:                                                                                              City:
Postal Code:                                      Phone:                                     Email:
Sport / PSO:         
Reason for Appeal (Check one only):
Whether or not the PSO/MSO has completed the selection process in accordance with their own published selection criteria and related procedures;
Whether or not the selection criteria developed and applied by the PSO/MSO were fair, objective, transparent and free from discrimination or conflict of interest. 
Provide a two-line summary of the reason for the appeal: 
 
 
In the space below (continue on to next page as needed), provide a detailed account of the situation to allow the Appeals Committee to understand the basis of the appeal (please submit additional pages/supporting documentation if necessary): 
 
 
 
 
 


 

Print Name Appellant                      Signature of Appellant                                Date
 
Any/all information provided to the Appeals Committee may be shared with the athlete’s PSO by the Appeals Committee.