CHAPTER
IX POLICY FOR SELECTION AND
DE-SELECTION
Statement:
·
“Selection
forms… one of the most visible expressions of the way in which a sport conducts
its affairs; because of the wide reaching effects on athletes’ careers and the
confidence in the system, and because of the associated legal
implications”.
The Role of
·
This
policy document has been produced in accordance to the guidelines and
underlying principles of the policy criteria adopted by UK Sport and endorsed
by the British Equestrian Federation, which establishes a broad framework to
ensure parity between sports, whilst allowing the National Governing Body to
detail it to be bespoke to their particular sport. UK Sport holds the responsibility for the
corporate governance of sport in the
·
The
purpose of this policy document is to establish a fair, transparent and robust
framework to cover all aspects of the governance and management of selection
and de-selection for any specified “event”- whether training, competition, or
trial. Any decision should be based on
clear, objective, sport-specific criteria, and communicated in an open and
timely manner.
Purpose
·
The
clear objective of the selection process is to select the best team, or individual,
for any event in an impartial and non-discriminatory manner. Within this process of selection it is
incumbent on BEV Ltd. to make sound and justifiable decisions that are fair,
robust and open to scrutiny.
·
This
policy document sets out the minimum, consistent, standards for everyone
involved in the selection process. BEV
Ltd. intends to be fair to all its members and comply with its legal
requirements. Developing a selection
policy based on the principles of human rights protects the interests of all
parties involved, and enables the period before major events to be dedicated to
preparation for those events and not distracting disputes. This policy should
build trust between all parties.
It is the role
of the BEV Ltd. management committee to identify and outline those events;
training sessions, awards schemes, competition or demonstration (of national
importance) or other event for which the selection policy covers.
The co-ordinating
role in this process is the job of a National Co-ordinator whose remit
encompasses aspects of setting up training sessions, establishing a programme
of visiting foreign trainers, effective communicating between competitors and
the selection panel/committee, officiating as a member of any selection panel
and attending all selection events.
Selection events will be identified annually, in advance-
or at the earliest possible opportunity, and communicated and circulated to
the membership in a timely and open manner; via the Newsletter, the Web site
and by written communication to all affiliated groups.
For each event
to which the selection process is applied a clearly written, understandable
selection policy and processes will be agreed, which state the selection
criteria, eligibility, timescale of selection events and activities as well as
the selection process, including the process of grievance and appeals.
The application
of the selection process will be the responsibility of a selection panel, which will apply the
selection criteria in a non-discriminatory and impartial way that adheres
strictly to the current rules. Avoidance
of conflict of interest or bias is paramount.
The National Co-ordinator must be included in the panel. A system will be set up to consider any
objections by the membership to any person elected to the panel. The BEV LTD. management committee will
appoint the panel.
The criteria will
be distributed in enough time to
allow full understanding and challenge.
Decisions made by a selection panel will be clearly noted and minuted with a justification and explanation of
the decisions made. All decisions will be ratified by a full quorum of the management committee of BEV Ltd.
A system will be developed that allows for prompt communication of selection
decisions-selection and de-selection.
Provision will be made for changes,
updates or amendments of the policy.
However these must be agreed by the membership, and communicated using
an appropriate medium in sufficient time for action.
An appeals and
grievance process will be in place to deal with all ethical issues relating
to selection. Systems and policy
developed will contribute to the development
of competitive sport as well as encouraging
participation by all interested.
While there are overarching principles common to
every selection issue, attention will be paid to the specific purpose of the
policy.
·
Selection
for training event.
·
Selection
to a national award scheme.
·
Selection
for demonstration of national importance-eg “All the
Queens Horses”.
·
Selection
for national squad places/national team places.
·
Selection
for inclusion in Lottery or similar Funding Programmes…
·
Selection
for National level competition (outside GB), CVI*, CVI**.
·
Selection
for Championships-European Vaulting Championships and World Vaulting
Championships.
·
Selection
for World Equestrian Games.
The Selection Panel
·
In
individual sports fair selection is achieved by basing selection strictly on
performance in competition.
·
In
team sports it is achieved by requiring coaches/National Coach and other
selectors to publish clear statements of the basis for selection.
·
Where
appropriate, there will be a selection panel consisting of a minimum of three
people established to ensure equality and consistent application of the policy.
·
BEV
Ltd. Chairman, or his/her representative will fully
brief the panel of their roles and responsibilities.
·
Panel
will be free from conflict of interest or bias as far as possible.
·
Every
effort will be made to ensure the composition of the panel is representative of
the membership.
·
All
issues of selection will be referred to the panel that will report directly to
the BEV Ltd. management committee.
·
Decisions,
notes and minutes of the panel will be recorded and accessible to appropriate
members of the BEV Ltd. management committee.
·
All
decisions of the selection panel will be ratified by a full quorum of the BEV
Ltd. management committee.
·
A
travelling and non-travelling reserve will also be selected.
·
Selected
horses for WEG must undertake a mandatory vet check with an agreed Vet, the
results of which will be presented to the selection panel/BEV Ltd. management
committee for ratification of selection. For all other competitions it is the
owner/ horse trainer’s responsibility to report any change in the competitive/health/soundness
status of a selected /reserve horse directly to the selection panel/BEV Ltd.
management committee immediately.
·
As
this is a horse sport and a vaulter forms a close
partnership with the horse, selection will be made with reference to the horse/reserve
horse. Should either the
selected/reserve horse be withdrawn for any reason then the selection panel
will make every effort to find a suitable replacement. Foreign horses are acceptable where a vaulter/team has a proven performance on the horse.
·
The
selection panel will be chosen from appropriate and suitably qualified
candidates and has to be accountable.
Member’s names and specific roles should be publicly announced.
·
A
separate appeals panel to consider grievance or appeals will be appointed.
·
Appeals
that cannot be resolved by the BEV Ltd. appeals panel will be submitted to the
BEF Appeals Panel. The Chairman of BEV
Ltd., or his representative, will ratify any written documentation relating to
an appeal that is submitted by the BEV LTD. appeals panel to the BEF.
·
The
appeals panel will be fully appraised and supportive of the grievance and
appeals procedure.
Roles and responsibilities
of the selection panel and the competitor
·
A
written agreement between the BEV Ltd., selectors and the athletes will be in
place, outlining the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved, and
the levels of commitment required. This
will include any stipulation/agreements required by the BEF. Mention will be made of the requirement of
the competitor to familiarise themselves with the relevant national rules
pertaining to their particular level of competition, good conduct and the FEI
Rules relating to banned/prohibited substances.
·
A
written agreement will be made between the BEV Ltd. and the owners, trainers
and lungers of all horses stipulating compliance with
the current BEV Ltd. rules relating to welfare of horses and also knowledge of,
and compliance to, the relevant FEI Veterinary restrictions relating to horse
welfare and prohibited substances. The
agreement will include requirement to notify the selection panel/BEV Ltd.
management committee immediately of any change in the
competitive/health/soundness status of any horse put up for/accepted for
selection that may be considered to affect the horse’s selection status.
·
Vaulters
will make available performance records as required- log book of competitive
performance/relevant training programme as requested in order to demonstrate
progress in line with set objectives.
·
BEV
Ltd. will declare in a timely, effective and transparent manner those selection
events/training programmes specifically listed within the criteria for
selection for a specific event. If an
event is declared for selection purposes all nominated candidates should have
equal opportunity of attendance, with consideration of personal
circumstances-school/university/work commitments being reasonably taken into
account. If a selection event is an international event, where limits are
placed on the number of entries per nation, then all vaulters put forward for
selection must have equal opportunity to attend the event.
Appeals and Grievances
Appeals process:
· An opportunity for appeal will be provided.
· There should be only two grounds for
appeal:
(a) That selection was not made according to due
process or agreed criteria
(b) That there was unreasonable bias or
conflict of interest in one or more of the
selectors.
· Upon appeal an appeals board will be
formed, with different members from the
selection panel, to review the appeal. Should the board fail to reach a decision
then the matter will be referred to the BEF to be considered by an appeals
panel
of a minimum of three, selected one from each of three other disciplines.
Costs will follow the guidelines recommended
by the FEI
Decisions: the appeal board can:
· Uphold the appeal, which may result in the
re-instatement of the competitor, or,
· Reject the appeal.
Full, written justification must be provided.
Debriefing of Athletes
A framework will be agreed so that
competitors are informed in an appropriate
manner of their de-selection.
Criteria for
selection.
For each event a specific criteria will be
agreed and published by BEV annua