sports

Volleyball - Athlete Selection Criteria

Okinawa and Tomigusuku 2024

This selection policy has been agreed upon by the USA Deaf Volleyball (USADV) and the USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF). It provides details regarding the process by which USADV will arrive at athlete nominations. These nominations will be submitted to USADSF for consideration and for final selection to the USA Deaf Volleyball Team for the 5th World Deaf Volleyball Championships in Okinawa and Tomigusuku, Japan (hereinafter called the "Games").

1. SELECTION SYSTEM

1.1 Minimum eligibility requirements for athletes to be considered for selection to the Team:

1.1.1 Nationality/Passport requirements:

1.1.1.1 Athlete must be a national of the United States at the time of nomination.

1.1.1.2 Athlete must hold a valid U.S. passport that will not expire for six months after the conclusion of the Games and 6 months prior to the Games. Except for USA-hosted Games, the staff must possess a valid government-issue identity card.

1.1.2 Have a hearing loss of at least 55db (3-tone frequency average at 500, 1000 and 2000 Hertz, ISO 1964 Standard) in the better unaided ear, as documented on a recent audiologist-certified audiogram. See audiogram regulations at http://www.deaflympics.com/pdf/AudiogramRegulations.pdf

1.1.3 Minimum International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) standards for participation:

1.1.3.1 Any competitor in the 5th World Deaf Volleyball Championships must be a national of the country of the National Deaf Sports Federation (NDSF) which is entering such competitor.

1.1.3.2 For additional information regarding an athlete who is a national of two or more countries, has changed their nationality or acquired a new nationality, refer to the ICSD Regulations at http://deaflympics.com/icsd/icsd-athlete-nationality-policy

1.1.4 Minimum International Sports Federation - Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) - standards and/or ICSD Entry Standards for participation:

Not Applicable

1.1.5 Commit to participation in mandatory training and competitions.

1.1.6 Complete the USA Deaf Sports Federation National Team application packet.

1.1.7 Can not participate as a team official - coach, trainer, medic, etc.

1.1.8 Other requirements:

1. Be at least 14 years of age or a junior in high school at time of evaluation. (See Technical Regulations - Volleyball, http://www.deaflympics.com/sports/VO/regulations)
2. Commit to fundraising to cover expenses for training camp(s) and competitive events.

1.2 Tryout Events:

Men and Women National Teams tryouts will be held on July 21-23 at the University of North Carolina - Asheville in Asheville, North Carolina. This will be the only official tryout event. In event an interested player is unable to attend the tryouts, the player should reach out to the relevant Head Coach and Indoor National Teams Director and request for an evaluation. Athlete videos must be sent to both the Head Coach and the Indoor National Teams Director via email before December 1, 2023. The evaluations will be done by the selection committee via video. Individual tryouts may be available depending on location and availability of selection committee, but should be considered as last resort.

1.3 Selection process for athletes to become National Team nominees:

1.3.1

National/Development Team Member shall:
1. Be selected by either of the following:
a. National Tryouts
b. Video (between 8-10 minutes - match based on volleyball skills/movement) or
c. Individual recruiting tryouts

2. Show proficiency in volleyball in order to warrant participation at an international level, generally considered as an A-rated USA Volleyball Indoor level player.

3. Adhere to continuous physical workout regimens supporting the physical demands of consecutive match play as well as participation in individual practice, club, college, or other organized volleyball competitions.

4. Attend mandatory practices and/or competitions during National/Development Volleyball Teams participation through the 2025 Summer Deaflympics.
5. Maintain contact with the coaching staff and keep the staff informed about training regimens and other pertinent information from time of selection until the 2025 Summer Deaflympics.

6. Submit himself/herself without any hesitation and reservation to all doping control policies and procedures of USADSF, International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). (https://deaflympics.com/icsd/anti-doping).

7. Exhibit good sportsmanship and character.

8. Be recognized as a member of the National Team Pool (maximum 15) and the Development Team Pool (maximum 12) until final selection by Head Coach prior to submittal of the top 14 athletes to USADSF by the deadlines set by USADSF

1.4 Selection Committee:

1.4.1 The USA Deaf Volleyball Selection Committee is comprised of the following members:

• John Macko - Men's Head Coach
• Amber Haver - Women's Head Coach
• Lynn Ray Boren - Executive Director
• Cory Behm - Indoor National Teams Director

1.4.2 Any member of the selection committee that has a possible conflict of interest must disclose it. If such conflict exists, the selection committee member must recuse themselves from the committee discussions and voting. Further, the committee member shall not otherwise influence other members of the committee in the selection process.

2. REMOVAL OF ATHLETES

2.1 Prior to entry by name to USA Deaf Sports Federation, USA Deaf Volleyball has jurisdiction over potential nominees.

2.1.1 Voluntary withdrawal. Athlete must submit a written letter to the USA Deaf Volleyball Executive Director.

2.1.2 Injury or illness as certified by a physician (or medical staff) approved by USA Deaf Volleyball. If an athlete refuses verification of their illness or injury by a physician (or medical staff) approved by USA Deaf Volleyball, their injury will be assumed to be disabling and they may be removed.

2.1.3 Failure to participate in mandatory training and/or competitions.

2.1.4 Violation of USA Deaf Volleyball Code of Conduct - MISSING FILE.

2.1.5 If for any reason, USA Deaf Volleyball believes that it may not be safe for athletes or other coaches to have this individual on the team between the time of appointment and the event, USA Deaf Volleyball retains the right to remove the athlete.

2.2 Once athlete entries have been submitted to the USA Deaf Sports Federation, the USADSF has jurisdiction over the Team rosters.

2.2.1 Voluntary withdrawal. Athlete must submit a written letter to the USADSF Team Leader.

2.2.2 Injury or illness as certified by a physician (or medical staff) approved by USADSF. If an athlete refuses verification of their illness or injury by a physician (or medical staff) approved by USADSF, their injury will be assumed to be disabling and they may be removed.

2.2.3 Failure to participate in mandatory training and/or competitions.

2.2.4 Violation of USADSF Code of Conduct.

2.3 An athlete may be removed as a nominee to the Team or from the Team for an adjudicated violation of ICSD, WADA, FIVB, USADA and/or USADSF anti-doping protocol, policies and procedures, as well as the U.S. Center for SafeSport Code and USA Deaf Volleyball SafeSport policies, as applicable.

3. REPLACEMENT OF ATHLETES

3.1 Prior to entry by name to the USA Deaf Sports Federation, USA Deaf Volleyball has jurisdiction over potential nominees.

3.1.1 In the event a qualified Team loses one of its athletes due to illness, injury or "force majeure" then USADVB Indoor National Teams Director, in consultation with the USADSF's National Team Leader, shall propose two athletes, playing the same position as the removed athlete, for the other team member to accept as a teammate. Two replacement athletes shall be the highest ranked athletes from non-qualified teams. If the non-injured athlete does not accept to play with one of two alternatives proposed, that athlete shall forfeit the right to compete as a member of the Team. The then-vacant berth shall be filled by the next highest ranked athlete meeting the other qualification requirements.

3.2 Once athlete entries have been submitted to USA Deaf Sports Federation, the USADSF has jurisdiction over the Team.

3.2.1 In the event a qualified Team loses one of its athletes due to illness, injury or "force majeure" then the USA Deaf Volleyball Team Leader, in consultation with the USADSF Executive Director, shall propose a replacement athlete. The replacement athlete shall be the most qualified candidate that meets the aforementioned criteria.

If the ICSD, USADSF or Games Organizing Committee (hereinafter "GOC") requires different replacement procedures within a certain time period before the Games or after official nomination of the Final Roster to the USADSF, such procedures for replacement shall be followed.

4. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

4.1 USA Deaf Volleyball will retain the approved Selection Procedures and all supporting documents, including scouting or evaluation forms, and all data from the selection process for six months past the date of the Closing Ceremony of the Games.

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

5.1 In addition to the USADSF Code of Conduct, the following documents are required to be signed by an athlete as a condition for nomination to the 5th World Deaf Volleyball Championships and are included as attachments:

Not Available.

6. PUBLICITY/DISTRIBUTION OF PROCEDURES

6.1 The USADSF approved Selection Procedures (complete and unaltered) will be posted/published within ten (10) days of approval by the USA Deaf Sports Federation Board of Directors.

6.2 Information shall be published:

6.2.1 on the USADSF website (http://www.usdeafsports.org/sports/VO/criteria-athlete).

7. DATE OF NOMINATION

7.1 The Nomination of Athletes form, including replacements, will be submitted to USADSF on or before 01 Jan 2024.

7.2 The list of athletes on the Team are to be announced publicly only after USADSF approves the rosters.

8. MANDATORY TRAINING AND/OR COMPETITIONS

For the training regiment, USADVB is prepared to host at least two mandatory training camps per year and expect to send a team to compete at the USAV's US Open National Tournament. Exact dates and locations of these training will occur at the discretion of the athletes and/or their designated coaches or trainers. Approved final roster athletes must participate in all training while on-site during the international competition.

9. ANTI-DOPING REQUIREMENTS

9.1 Athletes must adhere to all ICSD, WADA, IF, USADA and USADSF anti­-doping protocols, policies and procedures, as applicable. This includes participation in Out-of-Competition Testing as required by the ICSD, WADA, IF, USADA and USADSF Rules, as applicable.

10. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES

10.1 All athletes have a right to obtain due process. Refer to USA Deaf Volleyball's procedures below:

USA Deaf Volleyball recognizes its responsibility to listen to client (athletes/staff), applicant, and other stakeholder suggestions, complaints or grievances, and attempt to resolve any such concerns. A grievance/complaint is defined as an expression of verbal or written dissatisfaction that can include, but is not limited to, services, manner of treatment, outcomes or experiences.
Clients (athletes or staff), applicants, and other stakeholders have the right to file a grievance. Individuals filing grievances are treated with dignity, understanding, and respect. In no case will a grievance result in any reprisal. Clients will not be denied service because of a grievance. Grievances will be given prompt and careful attention and, when indicated, grievances will result in corrective action. USA Deaf Volleyball Team Director are charged with the responsibility of providing assistance and services within the full intent of making efforts to resolve conflicts.
The following is the procedure by which clients and representatives of USA Deaf Volleyball shall attempt to discuss and resolve grievances:
1. Individuals are to discuss grievances that they may have with the staff with whom they are in contact. If a grievance cannot be resolved by the staff, the staff shall inform the individual of the grievance procedure and inform the USA Deaf Volleyball Team Director of the unresolved grievance.
2. If the complainant(s) wishes to pursue the grievance procedure, they must inform the staff member and USA Deaf Volleyball Team Director of that intent in writing along with a description of the complaint. Such intent will be communicated by the appropriate personnel to the Team Director.
3. Within ten working days, the complainant, staff member, and director will discuss the grievance and attempt resolution.
4. In the event the grievance is not satisfactorily resolved at this point, the complainant may elect to submit the grievance to the appropriate USA Deaf Volleyball Team Director. The Team Director reviews the case and responds within ten working days.
5. If the complainant remains unsatisfied with the resolution, they may appeal the matter to the USA Deaf Sports Federation. See '10.2' below. All written grievances, USA Deaf Volleyball's response to them, and a summary of the action taken on each complaint, will be filed.

10.2 If the selection criteria and the grievance procedures were not followed properly, see ATHLETE GRIEVANCES AND COMPLAINTS.

11. INTERNATIONAL DISCLAIMER

11.1 These procedures are based on ICSD, as applicable, and/or FIVB rules and regulations as presently known and understood. Any change in the selection procedures caused by a change in ICSD, as applicable, and/or FIVB rules and regulations will be distributed to the affected athletes immediately. The selection criteria are based on the latest information available to USA Deaf Volleyball. However, the selections are always subject to unforeseen, intervening circumstances, and realistically may not have accounted for every possible contingency.

If any force of nature, or force majeure, should cause the altercation or cancellation of any of the selection events listed in this document, these selection procedures will be revised, pursuant to their resubmission to the USADSF.

12. ATHLETE GRIEVANCES AND COMPLAINTS

12.1 If an athlete has questions regarding their opportunity to compete that are not answered by USA Deaf Volleyball, they may contact the USADSF Executive Director, Jeffrey Mansfield at mansfield@usdeafsports.org. If the Executive Director does not respond within 3 business days, the complaint may then contact the USADSF President, .

13. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

13.1 This document certifies that USADV individuals on the Selection Committee understand the standards/criteria set by ICSD, IF, and/or USADSF and have incorporated those standards/criteria into the Selection Procedures. These individuals certify that the information provided herein regarding Athlete Selection Procedures represents the method approved by USA Deaf Volleyball.

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