US Biathlon Association

ATHLETE SELECTION PROCEDURES

2023 World University Games

January 11th- 22nd 2023

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FISU Certificate of Academic Eligibility.

Overview

The following selection criteria specify how athletes qualify to represent the U.S. at the 2023 World University Games held January 11th-January 22nd in Lake Placid, NY.

Team selections are proposed by the US Biathlon High-Performance Staff and approved by the International Competition Committee (ICC) through the following process (Also, see Appendix, Section 5):

1.              US Biathlon High Performance Staff proposes team selections and justifications for any discretionary selections

2.              The ICC holds a committee meeting to discuss these proposals and to make any necessary revisions per the committee’s input

3.              At the conclusion of the committee meeting, the ICC members vote on the final proposal and team selections are deemed final only when a majority of ICC members have voted in favor.

Eligibility for WUG

To be eligible for the 2023 World University Games, athletes must meet the following:

1.   Must be at least 18 and no older than 25 years of age on December31st of the year of the event.

2.   Must have taken at least one 3-credit course towards a degree or diploma within the last year before the championships.

The standard is that the athlete must be “progressing towards a degree,” as defined by the university. Incoming freshmen and

transfers are usually eligible with a National Letter of Intent (in those sports that participate in the NLI program) and/or a Letter

of Acceptance from the university along with a deposit by the individual to the university confirming the intention to attend.

Former students who have obtained their academic degree or diploma in the calendar year preceding the event are also eligible.

3.   All student-athletes must be certified by the United States International University Sports Federation.

Different methods for qualifying for this team include:

(1)  qualifying for the senior class IBU Cup team

(2)  competitive results at the trials races to be held Dec 28 - 31 in Anchorage, Alaska

(3)  discretionary selection.

1.         Pre-Qualification for WUG

Up to three athlete(s) who qualify for this season’s senior class team competing at the IBU Cup or OECH will automatically qualify for the WUG team.  If more than three WUG eligible athletes qualify for the IBU Cup or OECH, only the three athletes with the highest points at the end of trials will pre-qualify for WUG.  Pre-qualification spots will be filled by the October IBU Trials first and then by the December IBU Cup/OECH Trials.  For example, if two WUG eligible athletes qualify for the IBU Cup via the October trials, only one spot will be available for pre-qualification via the December IBU/OECH trials. Further explanation on how to qualify for IBU Cups/OECH is detailed in the Athlete Selection Procedures for the senior class, available on the USBA website.

2.         WUG Team Trials Qualification

Trials Event Information

General: The World University Games Team Trials will take place December 28-31 in Anchorage, Alaska in conjunction with the YJWCH Team Trials.

Standardized Waxing Procedures: All athletes at the Team Trials must adhere to the US Biathlon Standardized Waxing Protocol, which is available on the US Biathlon website.

Formats:

Point lists will be calculated off of the best 2 of 3 results for each athlete using the USBA percent-back system. The point base will include only American athletes. The point base will only include athletes who are eligible to compete at the World University Games.  The point base will not include any pre-qualified athletes.

World University Games Selection Criteria

World University Games 2023 - Lake Placid, New York (January 11 – January 22, 2023) Please see eligibility requirements above.

Team size: up to 7 athletes per gender

●      Up to three athlete(s) who are selected for the senior IBU Cup/OECH teams this season will be pre-qualified.

●      If three athletes pre-qualify via the above bullet point, then the top two athletes on the WUG Points List from the Team Trials will be selected for each gender.  If two athletes pre-qualify via the senior IBU Cup, the top three athletes on the Points List will be selected for each gender. If one or fewer athlete(s) pre-qualifies for the IBU Cup, four athletes will be selected for each gender based on the points list.

●      Additional athletes may be selected up to the maximum team size by the ICC in consultation with US Biathlon staff, in accordance with the USBA Principles of Discretionary Selection.

●      The WUG team will be announced within 24 hours of the last race at Trials unless the ICC needs additional time.

●      Athletes must accept or decline their spot on the WUG Team by January 1st, 2023.

Please note- If more than six athletes are named to the World University Games team per gender, not every athlete will be guaranteed a start in every race.  However, all named athletes will get a race start.

Appendix: Policies & Rules

1. USBA Percent-Back System

An athlete’s percent-back in a race is calculated using the following formula:

Athlete’s Percent-Back = 2 – ( Athlete’s time / Average time of the top three finishers scored )

If there are only two finishers that can be scored, the average of their times shall be used as the denominator in the formula above. If only one finisher can be scored, that athlete shall receive a percent-back of 100%. In the case of pursuit races held at a trials, net times will be used to calculate percent-back scores. Net time is the finish time minus the start time.

2. USBA Principles of Discretionary Selection

The purpose of a discretionary choice is to ensure selection of the most competitive team. Creating watertight, finite criteria for discretionary choices is impossible, since by their very nature they are meant to account for the unanticipated circumstances, which inevitably elude the principles of objective criteria. Based on the context of the situation, the ICC will select the athlete(s) that has the best chance of producing the best result based on the following factors. Note: This list is not in any order of priority:

1.     History of performance in a specific competition type (e.g., Relay or Individual) over the current and previous two competitive seasons

2.     Recent improvements in results or performance parameters such as ski speed and shooting performance (both in training and competition)

3.     Recent positive trend of competition results or performance parameters, such as ski speed and shooting, indicating a potential for Olympic success.  This includes indication of medal potential in future Olympic or World Championship competition that would be materially enhanced by selection to the Team.

4.     Performance/participation in the qualification process effected by illness or injury as confirmed by USBA

5.     Ability to effectively contribute to a relay

If an athlete declines or is unable to attend the competition(s) for which (s)he has qualified, the ICC will rely upon the above Principles of Discretionary Selection to fill the spot. The ICC also reserves the right to not fill the vacated spot.

3. Contingency Procedures for Trials Events

In the event that weather conditions or other issues prevent a trials series or other races listed herein from being held at the planned time and place, the ICC reserves the right to change the location, date, and/or format of the trials series. In the event that one or more events are canceled, cannot be held, or are in the view of the ICC held under grossly unfair conditions and not rescheduled by the ICC, the following contingencies may be applied by the ICC:

1)             If more than three races are used in the selection process the following may be applied by the ICC:

a)  If four races are held the best three of four will be scored

b)  If three races are held the best two of three will be scored.

2)             If only two or fewer races of a three-race series are held and at least two athletes are being selected the following may be used:

a)  If one race of a three-race series is canceled or in the view of the ICC held under grossly unfair conditions and not rescheduled, the winners of each of the races held shall be named to the team and any additional athletes may be named discretionarily by the ICC using the USBA Principles of Discretionary Selection.

b)  If one or no races are held the ICC reserves the right to name the team by discretion and/or to create a new trials process for team selection.

3)             If only one athlete is being selected from a three-race series and one or more of the races are canceled or in the view of the ICC held under grossly unfair conditions and not rescheduled by the ICC, the ICC may name the athlete at its discretion using the USBA Principles of Discretionary Selection.

4. Funding and Self-Pay Policy

Athletes will be required to pay for their own travel to and from the event and may be required to pay an additional fee for shared team expenses.  All costs of this trip will be made final by the Team Trials.

5. USBA International Competition Committee (ICC)

Quoted from US Biathlon By-Laws; Sept. 2010:

Section 9. International Competition Committee

a)             With approval by the Board of Directors, the International Competition Committee shall consist of five (5) members, selected as follows:

i)        one (1) individual who shall be appointed from the Board of Directors and will serve as Chair;

ii)       one (1) individual who meets the definition of “athlete representative” set forth in USOC By-law Section 8.8.2 selected by the three (3) athlete representatives on the USBA Board of Directors; iii) three (3) individuals appointed by the Chair, one each from among the Group “B” membership category, the Group “E” membership category, and the USBA Coaching Staff.

b)             The International Competition Committee shall meet as required, in person or by telephone conference for specific issues, and shall be responsible for providing recommendations to the Board of Directors for approval of:

i)        team selection criteria for domestic and international events and activities, to include all levels of international participation;

ii)       confirmation of team selection criteria outcomes;

iii) proposals on issues of USBA National Team selections and levels of individual support as provided by USBA budgetary actions;

iv)  guidance concerning potential disciplinary actions for noncompliance

of team directives and/or violations of USBA Athlete

Code of Conduct; and

v)   formulating the developmental and competitive strategies designed to meet the goals of the USBA High Performance Plan.

ICC Members are:

Chair: Jay T. Kearney

USOPC Athletes’ Advisory Council Athlete Rep: Kelly Kjorlien

USBA Director of High Performance: Lowell Bailey

National Guard Biathlon Coach: Drew Gelinas

USBA Director of Athlete Development: Tim Burke