ONTARIO CURLING COUNCIL
Quest for Gold –
Ontario Athlete Assistance Program 2014-2015
ATHLETE SELECTION CRITERIA
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.
How does it work?
In accordance with the
OAAP guidelines, ONTARIO CURLING COUNCIL develops sport-specific selection criteria and forms a
Selection Committee that will apply these criteria. The top-ranked athletes, based on the
criteria, will be awarded Ontario Card status in 2014-2015. This Selection Criteria has been approved by
the Board of Directors and reviewed by MTCS staff. Nominated athletes will be required to sign
and comply with an Athlete Agreement between the athlete and ONTARIO CURLING
COUNCIL. Carding status will be for one
year starting April 1, 2014 ending March 31, 2015.
For 2014-2015, the
MTCS has allocated a certain amount of OAAP Ontario Cards to each eligible
Provincial Sport / Multi-Sport Organization (PSO/MSO). ONTARIO CURLING COUNCIL
has been allotted a total of 8 Ontario cards (split evenly as 4 male and 4 female
Cards for Able-bodied curling), and 4 cards issued for Wheelchair curling
(split evenly as 2 male and 2 female cards).
ONTARIO CURLING
COUNCIL has also decided to exercise the option made available by MTCS to split
up to 30% of its carding allotment (i.e. issue ½ cards in designated
categories).
The 12 Full cards
issued to ONTARIO CURLING COUNCIL will be allocated as follows:
|
Cards
|
Male
|
Female
|
|
Full Cards (6)
|
3
|
3
|
|
Half Cards (2 Full Cards = 4 Half Cards)
|
2
|
2
|
|
Wheelchair – Full Cards (4)
|
2
|
3
|
Cards will be specifically allocated to the
following categories/disciplines:|
Category
|
Number of Cards
|
|
Training to Win 1 (age 21-29+**)
|
6 Full Cards (3 male, 3 female)
|
|
Training to Compete 2 (age 18-20)
|
4 Half Cards (2 male, 2 female)
|
|
Wheelchair Curling
|
4 Full Cards (2 male, 2 female)
|
**NOTE:
A maximum of one (1) Full Card for male and one (1) full card for
females over the age of 29 may be awarded, leaving two (2) Full Cards
for male and two (2) full cards for females in the 21-29 years old age range.
ONTARIO CURLING COUNCIL is not obligated to assign all
Ontario Cards if there are an insufficient number of athletes who have
demonstrated potential to be considered for future National Teams.
The Selection Committee, as approved by the ONTARIO CURLING COUNCIL
is comprised of the following members:
Tom Ward, Committee Chair, Technical Coordinator – Ontario
Curling Association
Dick Henderson, Technical Coordinator – Northern Ontario
Curling Association
Jennifer Ferris, Administrative Officer – Ontario Curling
Council
Wally Kemp, Member at Large – Ontario Curling Association
Colin Sinclair, Learning Facilitator – Ontario Curling
Association
Graham MacEachern, Member at Large – Ontario Curling
Association
Jan Pula, Learning Facilitator – Northern Ontario Curling
Association
Ryan LaFraniere, Learning Facilitator – Northern Ontario
Curling Association
How much funding is available?
The exact level of
funding for the 2014-2015 carding year will be determined by the MTCS after the
total number of athletes nominated for Ontario Card status has been
determined. Funding will be released
prior to March 31, 2015.
How will the ONTARIO CURLING COUNCIL Selection Committee
decide who receives funding?
The ONTARIO CURLING
COUNCIL Selection Committee will use the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport
Eligibility Criteria and the Sport Specific Selection Criteria detailed below to determine which athletes will be nominated for Ontario
Card status in 2014-2015:
A. Ministry of
Tourism, Culture and Sport Eligibility Criteria:
·
Athlete must be a Canadian citizen or
permanent resident (previously known as a Landed Immigrant).
·
Athlete must be a permanent resident of Ontario
for one year prior to his/her nomination
for carding status, (and continue to be a permanent resident throughout the
term of the agreement).
·
Athletes who have achieved Canada Card
status (carded by Sport Canada) are not eligible for Ontario Cards.
·
Athletes must be living in and continuing
to train in Ontario.
Residency Exceptions:
Exceptions to these
criteria, known as a “Residency Exception” will be considered on a case specific basis by the ONTARIO CURLING COUNCIL Selection Committee
provided that the athlete can substantiate in writing that:
(a) 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);
(b) He/She must attend a post-secondary
institution out-of-province either because the course of study is not offered
by an Ontario institution; or
(c) 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.
The onus is on the
athlete to demonstrate that he/she needs to be out-of-province for one of the
above reasons. The athlete must submit written documentation to the ONTARIO
CURLING COUNCIL by
no later than NOVEMBER 27, 2014 AT 12:00 PM EST clearly indicating how they
meet a residency exception(s).
Athlete’s applying for a Residency
Exception related to exception (a) above, who are training at an NSO-approved
National Training Centre MUST include a letter from the NSO outlining their
support for the athlete, the progress
the athlete is making and the athlete’s potential to make the national team
level. Additional documentation may
include, but shall not be limited to an explanation of why the athlete is
training out of province, whether or not the athlete was formally invited by
the NSO, what additional opportunities are being made available beyond those
provided in Ontario; and any other information that will illustrate that the
athlete is receiving enhanced training while still meeting all obligations of
the ONTARIO CURLING COUNCIL.
Length of time living
outside Ontario:
Athletes living outside Ontario for more
than 30 consecutive days within the ministry fiscal year 2014-2015 for athletic
or academic purposes must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the PSO/MSO
Selection Committee that appropriate training programs are in place and are
being monitored by the PSO/MSO. The onus
is on the athlete to:
1.
Provide a written plan outlining their
training and competition plans to the PSO/MSO prior to their departure from
Ontario, as part of their Residency Exception request ( November 27, 2014 at
12:00 pm EST; and
2.
Adhere to the PSO/MSO-approved competition
and training plan throughout the carding cycle.
At a minimum, this requires regular quarterly contact by the athlete
with the PSO/MSO with the Ontario Curling Council Administrative Officer; and
3.
Submit regular quarterly training logs to
the PSO/MSO to track progress against the PSO/MSO-approved competition and
training plan.
***Athletes who were formally invited to and are currently participating
in their NSO’s national team training program are exempt from this
requirement.***
Ministry criteria continued:
·
Athlete must have entered into a Sports Organization
- Athlete Agreement with his or her PSO/MSO and must be in full compliance with
the terms and conditions of that agreement;
·
Athlete must have met all terms and
conditions of any previous Quest
for Gold Sports Organization – Athlete Agreements to the satisfaction
of the PSO/MSO in order to be eligible for consideration in 2014-2015;
·
Athlete must demonstrate a commitment and
dedication to a proper training and competitive program, the goal of which is
to continue to train towards a national team position and Sport Canada carding;
·
Athlete’s coach should be minimum Level 2
NCCP certified or trained status Competition Stream or the sport’s equivalent
in the Instruction Stream, or be engaged in completing this training, as
determined by the PSO;
·
Athlete must not be under a sanction that
prohibits competition as per the Canadian Anti-Doping Policy;
·
Athlete must be attending an educational
institution full-time (i.e. elementary and secondary schools):
Ø Exceptions will be
made provided 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)
athlete);
·
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
considered;
·
If eligible, the athlete must compete, and
continue to compete solely for Ontario and/or Canada 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;
·
Athlete must not receive financial support
from any other provincial/territorial athlete assistance program. This does not include academic scholarships,
bursaries, student grants, student loans,
social assistance, disability pensions, and other forms of financial assistance
that have nothing to do with competitive sport.
·
All athletes under the age of 18 must have their parent or
legal guardian sign their OAAP application form. Cheques will be processed in
the name of the eligible athlete.
·
An athlete can only be nominated to receive Quest
for Gold funding in one sport.
Ontario athletes who have been nominated and accepted for
funding through Sport Canada’s AAP within the government of Ontario’s fiscal
year (April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015) and who continue to meet AAP and OAAP
eligibility requirements will automatically be considered for a Quest for Gold ‘Canada Card’. MTCS will contact those athletes directly at
the mailing and email addresses the athlete provided to Sport Canada. Athletes are solely responsible for ensuring that
their contact information is kept accurate and up to date at all times.
The intent of this rule is to prevent athletes whose
performance levels and rankings no longer qualify them for Sport Canada carding
from taking an Ontario Card from a future national-level athlete.
Canada Card Exception (CCE)
Exceptions may apply to this rule (known as a Canada Card Exception (CCE)) and will be
considered by the Ministry on a case-by-case basis. Exceptions may include, but may not be
limited to logistical or administrative changes (e.g. reduction in Sport Canada
carding allocation), injuries, etc.
It is the sole responsibility of the athlete to contact Ontario
Curling Council Selection Committee prior to November 27, 2014 at 12:00 pm EST.
to request a CCE. The athlete must
submit, in writing, an explanation of why they have not been, or do not expect
to be re-carded by their NSO. The
submission must include a statement from the NSO confirming that the athlete
still has potential to return to the NSO’s carding program in the future.
Ontario Curling Council will then contact
MTCS in writing prior to the submission of the Athlete Nomination Form to seek
individual Canada Card Exceptions. Ontario
Curling Council is not responsible for seeking a CCE for any athlete unless
requested to do so by the athlete as detailed above.
National College Athletic Association (NCAA):
Effective August 1, 2013, the NCAA
has revised their policies related to an athlete receiving funding from a
government program (new language is bolded):
By-law 12.1.2.4.9 Exception for
Training Expenses:
An individual (prospective or enrolled student-athlete) may receive
actual and necessary expenses [including grants, but not prize money, whereby
the recipient has qualified for the grant based on his or her performance in a
specific event(s)] to cover developmental training, coaching, facility usage,
equipment, apparel, supplies, comprehensive health insurance, travel, room and
board without jeopardizing the individual's eligibility for intercollegiate
athletics, provided such expenses are approved and provided directly by the
U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC),
the appropriate national governing body in the sport (or, for international
student-athletes, the equivalent organization of that nation) or a
governmental entity.
The effective date for this piece of
legislation as it relates to prospective student-athletes who have not started
college will apply differently than it will
for current
student-athletes:
Current student-athletes:
The effective date for current
student-athletes is August 1, 2013, meaning they cannot accept funds from a
governmental entity until after August 1, 2013.
Prospective student-athletes: Individuals enrolling full time at a
collegiate institution on or after August 1, 2013 are currently being certified
under the new rule. In other words, a prospective student-athlete who has
accepted these funds from a governmental entity or who will accept these funds
prior to the August 1 date from a governmental entity will get the benefit of
the new rule (e.g. will not be required to return the funds).
Any athlete considering an
application to an NCAA institution is strongly encouraged to contact the NCAA
Eligibility Center if they have any additional questions.
The onus is entirely
on the athlete to determine the impact of accepting OAAP funding on current or
future NCAA eligibility and to decide whether or not to accept OAAP funding.
The athlete will be required to acknowledge this onus and responsibility when signing
the OAAP Ontario Card application form and agreeing to the related terms and
conditions of the program. Athletes are
strongly encouraged to contact the NCAA Eligibility Center to determine the
impact of Quest for Gold - OAAP funding on current or future eligibility for a NCAA
scholarship or on eligibility to compete in a non-scholarship NCAA sport.
NCAA Eligibility Center
P.O. Box 7136, Indianapolis, IN 46207
Toll-free phone number (U.S. callers) - Customer
service line – 877-262-1492
Phone number (international callers) - Customer service line – 317-223-0700
Fax
number - 317-968-5100
B. ONTARIO CURLING
COUNCIL Athlete
Selection Criteria:
The
Athlete shall:
· Be a member in good standing with either the Ontario Curling Association (OCA) or the Northern Ontario Curling Association (NOCA)
·
Athlete
must be actively competing and training in the 2014-2015 Curling Season
·
Athlete
must be actively working with a Certified Coach – Competition Coach or Level 2
Certified Curling Coach
·
Athlete
should have an Annual Training Plan and an Annual Fitness Plan
·
Athlete
must fall into one of three categories:
o Training to Compete 2 – Age 18-20 years old as of December
31, 2013
o Training to Win 1 – Age 21+ years old as of December 31, 2013
o Wheelchair Curling – No age restrictions
·
Positions on the team are
equally important – skip, vice, second, lead will all be considered equal
·
Athletes
must complete appropriate application form and points will be granted for each
category and at each level of competition.
·
Each application will be given
specific points (as noted on each question) and then totalled to arrive at that
curler's score. The top scores in each category will be nominated for cards as
outlined above.
·
Details of scoring procedures
can be found on application form(s).
·
Mixed results may not be
included except in the case of Wheelchair curling where all competitions are
mixed.
·
Eligible events/rankings must
fall between May 1, 2012-December 7, 2014
·
If nominated for an Ontario
Card, Athlete must sign the Ontario Curling Council’s Athlete agreement
·
All rankings (except CTRS and
OJCT) will be posted on the Ontario Curling Council’s website
May 1, 2012 – December 7, 2014
|
Description of Point
Allocation
|
Points
|
||||
|
Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS) as of May 1, 2014
·
The
OCC will recognize competitive events and dates registered through the CTRS
system
|
CTRS ÷ 4 = point value
|
||||
|
OCA: A or B winner
of zone
|
1
|
||||
|
OCA: A or B winner
of Regions/Challenge Round
|
2
|
||||
|
NOCA Qualify for Provincial Championships
|
3
|
||||
|
OCA or NOCA – Win Provincial Championship
|
4
|
||||
|
Silver or Bronze at Canadian Championships
|
4
|
||||
|
Win Gold at Canadian Championships
|
5
|
||||
|
Medallist at World Championship
|
6
|
||||
|
Winner of a City or Area League/Competition (Year long, end
of season result)
|
2
|
||||
|
Competed with a University or College Team
|
1
|
||||
|
Ontario College Provincial Finalist (2nd, 3rd
& 4th)
|
3
|
||||
|
Ontario College Provincial Winner
|
4
|
||||
|
Canadian College Championship Silver or Bronze Winner
|
4
|
||||
|
Canadian College Championship Gold Winner
|
5
|
||||
|
Ontario University Provincial Finalist (Silver, Bronze, 4th)
|
3
|
||||
|
Ontario University Provincial Winner (Gold)
|
4
|
||||
|
Canadian University Championship Silver or Bronze Winner
|
4
|
||||
|
Canadian University Championship Gold Winner
|
5
|
||||
|
World University Championship Gold Winner
|
6
|
||||
|
Junior Rankings – Select the highest of the following:
|
See chart
|
||||
|
Canada Winter Games – Medallist – Gold, Silver, Bronze
|
5
|
||||
|
U18 Optimist International Curling Team
|
1
|
||||
|
U18 Optimist International Gold Medal winner
|
2
|
||||
|
OFSSA Regional Winner
|
1
|
||||
|
OFSSA Semi-Finalist – Silver, Bronze or 4th
Place
|
2
|
||||
|
OFSSA Provincial Champion (Gold)
|
3
|
||||
|
Gore OCA Provincial Winner
|
2
|
||||
|
Wheelchair Curling Ranking System
|
See Chart
|
||||
|
Skill Awards – Wheelchair Only
Bronze Bar Challenge– 1 point, Silver Medallion Challenge –
2 points, Gold Star Challenge – 3 points
|
1-3
|
||||
|
Ontario Winter Games – Wheelchair Only
Gold, Silver, Bronze Medallist
|
4
|
Alternates:
Ontario Curling Council 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,
provided that:
- Alternate is
substituted within 2014-2015 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).
·
If there is a tie in the final
score between 2 athletes, the selection committee will break the tie by
comparing the total number of points gained and added together from five
categories, namely
1.
National
Coaching Certification Program Training (any discipline) – no time restriction
i.e. Training may be counted if outside of the May 1,
2012 – December 7, 2014 time period
2.
Camp
Experience (See application form for applicable camps)
3.
Camp
Instruction (See application form for applicable camps)
4.
Scholarships/Awards
(ex. ”For the Love of Curling” scholarships)
5.
Volunteer
work in the sport - The points awarded will not count towards the curlers final
point count but will be used to break any ties should they occur.
The
Ontario Curling Council has no criteria for ranking an athlete who is unable to
meet these requirements as detailed above due to illness, injury or pregnancy.
To Apply:
All required
information must be submitted no later than December 10, 2014 at 12:00 pm EST.
Applications
may be mailed, couriered, faxed or emailed.
Submit to:
Tom
Ward,
Quest
for Gold Athlete Assistance Program, Ontario Curling Council
1400
Bayly Street, Office Mall 2, Unit 2B, Pickering, Ontario L1W 3R2
Phone: (905)-831-3699
Fax: (905)-831-1083
An email will be sent by noon
on December 10, 2014 confirming receipt.
It is the athlete’s responsibility to contact the Ontario Curling
Council if this email is not received to be certain that the application has
been successfully received by the deadline date.
Applications that are
sent directly to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport rather than to Ontario
Curling Council will not be considered valid or to have been received by the Ontario
Curling Council deadline.
The Ontario Curling
Council – Athlete Agreement will only come into
effect if an athlete is selected and accepts carding status through the OAAP
program. Athletes who fail to return a
signed Athlete Agreement by the deadline date will not be carded. The Athlete
Agreement, requiring athletes to train and compete on behalf of Ontario, shall
be in effect for one year from the date of the Ministry’s Approval Letter to
the athlete. An athlete who chooses to
withdraw prematurely, or violates the Athlete Agreement, will be required to
return the Quest for Gold funds, as detailed in the Athlete Handbook.
Athletes who have not
been nominated for an Ontario Card by the Ontario Curing Council Selection
Committee or who have been nominated for a ‘Half Card’ versus a ‘Full
Card’, where applicable will
be allowed to appeal that decision by filing a “Notice of Appeal” with MTCS.
Appeals will be heard by an Appeals Committee comprised of representatives from
the sport community, selected by the MTCS.
Grounds for appeals
will be limited strictly to issues related to:
A) Whether or not the Selection Committee has
completed the selection process in accordance with its
own published selection criteria and
related procedures;
B) Whether or not the Selection Committee
applied the selection criteria in a manner that was free from
bias, discrimination and/or conflict of
interest.
Issues related to the specific content or selection
requirements contained in the Ontario Curling Council Selection Criteria are
not grounds for an appeal and should therefore be discussed directly with the
leadership of Ontario Curling Council.
Please note that before
an athlete can file a Notice of Appeal, he or she must first ask Ontario
Curling Council for reasons explaining why he or she was not nominated for an
Ontario Card.
If the athlete is not
satisfied with the Ontario Curling Council response, the athlete may submit a Notice of Appeal, found below. A Notice of Appeal will only be accepted from
the athlete or their parent/guardian on the MTCS-provided template (typed or
hand-printed, no hand-written entries) through email, regular post, registered
mail, courier or delivered in person.
One appeal cannot be written on behalf of multiple athletes. The Notice of Appeal must be received by MTCS
by noon on the deadline day. Appeals
that are delivered personally or by courier shall be deemed to be received on
the date of delivery.
Once MTCS has received
the Notice of Appeal, it will share it with Ontario Curling Council, who will
then submit a “Response” with MTCS
by a specified deadline. The Response
will outline why Ontario Curling Council believes that the Selection
Committee’s decision not to nominate the athlete should be upheld by the
Appeals Committee. MTCS will share the Ontario
Curling Council Response with the athlete.
If, after receiving the
Ontario Curling Council Response, the athlete believes that Ontario Curling
Council has raised new or additional reasons to justify the Selection
Committee’s decision not to nominate the athlete for an Ontario Card, then the
athlete will have an opportunity to file a “Reply” with MTCS, responding to these additional reasons. The Reply must be limited to these additional
reasons and cannot be used to make submissions already raised in the Notice of
Appeal, or that the athlete neglected to include in the Notice of Appeal. The Reply will only be accepted on the
MTCS-provided template.
- Direct Ontario
Curling Council to redo the selection process using the correct
criteria/process and submit a new list of nominated athletes;
- Deny the appeal;
or
- Allow the appeal
and nominate the appellant for carding status.
An athlete who has had
his or her appeal denied is not permitted to submit a second appeal to the
Appeals Committee on the same or different grounds.
The
deadline for athletes to submit an “Athlete’s
Notice of Appeal” to the Appeals Committee is January 26, 2015
Appeals
must be completed on the Notice of Appeal template below and will be directed
to:
Quest for Gold Appeals Committee
c/o
Sport, Recreation and Community Programs Division
Ministry
of Tourism, Culture and Sport
Suite
2302, 777 Bay Street
Toronto,
Ontario M7A 1S5
2014-2015 Quest for Gold – Ontario Athlete Assistance Program
Athlete’s Notice of Appeal Template
The deadline for an athlete to submit an appeal
to the Appeals Committee is 12 noon on November 24, 2014 for Cycle 1 or 12 noon
on January 26, 2015 for Cycle 2. Appeals will only be accepted on the
MTCS-provided Notice of Appeal template. Please refer to the appeals section of
your PSO/MSO’s Athlete Selection Criteria document prior to completing this
form.
Return form to:
Quest for
Gold
Appeals Committee
c/o Ministry of
Tourism, Culture and Sport
Sport,
Recreation and Community Programs Division
777 Bay Street, Suite
2302, Toronto ON M7A 1S5
Fax:
416-314-7458 Email:
Scott.Cooper@ontario.ca
Full Name
Address
City
Postal Code
Phone Email
Sport / PSO
Reason
for Appeal (Check all that apply):
Whether or not the PSO/MSO has completed the
selection process in accordance with its own published selection criteria and
related procedures;
Whether
or not the PSO/MSO applied the section criteria in a manner that was free from
bias, discrimination and/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 the reasons
communicated to you by your PSO/MSO as to why you were not nominated for an
Ontario Card. (Note: If your PSO/MSO did
not provide you with any reasons, please make a request to your PSO/MSO to see
these reasons before completing this Appeal Template.)
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