Team Leader Selection
Supporting our international athletes in competition situations
2017-2020
(Excludes USOC controlled events)

Lorene Halford
National Teams Manager
Office Phone: (719) 866-2254
Cell Phone: (719) 337-8895
FAX: (719) 866-4741
Email: lorene.halford@usaweightlifting.org

USA Weightlifting
Business Hours:
Monday through Friday
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (MST)

Address:
USA Weightlifting, Inc.
One Olympic Plaza
Colorado Springs, CO 80909

Website: http://www.usaweightlifting.org
Email: usaw@usaweightlifting.org

Purpose
The purpose of the Team Leader is to provide skilled support to the athletes and coaches on the team so that they can execute their performance that they need to. The role of the Team Leader is to remove obstacles from that performance.

Philosophy on USA Weightlifting’s Team Leader Selection:
USA Weightlifting requires that it’s Team Leaders be selected on basis that makes them competent for the job in hand.

Step 1 - Minimum Qualifications
To be considered to be a Team Leader, you must meet the following minimum requirements:

You must have a valid United States of America Passport
A Team Leader must possess a USA passport with an expiration date of a minimum of 6 months after the competition, or the entry requirement of the host nation, whichever is the greater.
Background Check & SafeSport
The Team Leader must have a valid USA Weightlifting background check (clear) and have a current SafeSport certification on file.
Other Requirements
The Team Leader must be a current member of USA Weightlifting in good standing, with no violations of the Code of Ethics/Conduct and/or International Team Code of Conduct in the last 4 years.

Step 2 - Express Interest in being a Team Leader

Express interest in serving as a Team Leader by sending your Weightlifting resume, including any previous international experience as coach, athlete and/or team leader by emailing usaw@usaweightlifting.org.

Step 3 - Complete the USA Weightlifting Team Leader Education Program
USA Weightlifting will provide an experienced Team Leader from its membership to train new Team Leaders or those interested in being a Team Leader in what the role entails.

Step 4 - Allocation to a Team
Team Leaders will be allocated to teams by the Associate Executive Director, Sport in consultation with the Technical Director and CEO on an event-by-event basis.

The following factors will be considered:
- Previous Experience Leading Teams
- Previous Experience Leading Teams of that Age Group.
- Professional background (for example, High School Teacher).
- Speaking the language of the nation concerned.
- Gender mix of staff (for teams including a Junior age or below athlete)
- Coach ranking & level.
- Activity in Weightlifting (attending the qualification competitions)
- Knowledge of the athletes and coaches concerned.
- Feedback from delegation members from previous assignments.
- Location

Step 5 - Working with USA Weightlifting in Preparation for the Competition.
The Team Leader will work with USA Weightlifting to prepare for the competition, speaking with each assigned coach, personal coach and athlete ahead of competition to understand their needs on the ground.

The Team Leader will work with USA Weightlifting to understand and assist in decisions taken regarding competition logistics (e.g. Air Travel).

Step 6 - Competition
The Team Leader will execute the role during Competition per the Team Leader Description in Appendix A.

The Team Leader will oversee that all delegation members abide by the USA Weightlifting international team code of conduct.

Step 7 - Post Competition
The Team Leader will prepare an AAR (After Action Report) for USA Weightlifting after the event, to include what went well and what improvements can be made for future competitions.

Delegation members will complete their own AAR including their review of the Team Leader.

USAW TEAM MANAGER & INTERNATIONAL TEAM MANAGER DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES GUIDELINES AND CHECKLIST

Upon appointment, coordinate with USAW National Office regarding travel arrangements, ticketing, visas, passports, immunizations, accommodations and participation costs, equipment issue and outfitting of all team members. Request list of addresses and phone numbers of all team members.

BEFORE DEPARTURE

Contact team members and team coaches. In an email, remind them of passport, visas, etc.
Ensure everyone has full competition and travel information and competition schedule. Be sure you have schedule for congresses, technical conference, etc.
Ensure you have weightlifting addresses and phone contacts for overseas country to be visited.
Determine if you need to take USA flag and national anthem recording.
Inform athletes and coaches to carry on lifting fear for competition and warm-ups due to possible lost luggage.
Get addresses and phone numbers of US Consulates and/or Embassies in destination cities.
Ensure you have major credit card for emergencies.

Research destination country, re: geography, customs, currency, temperatures, altitude, etc. Embassies and Consulates in USA can be useful as are public libraries and major airlines. Get maps of cities and the country.
Get some currency of the country you are traveling to for emergencies on arrival/Get travelers checks as well.

Brief team members on specific problems you identify regarding country to be visited and advise members on useful, vital items to take with them, e.g. toilet paper (Cuba, Romania), instant coffee (all Eastern Bloc countries), etc.

Ensure that you have agendas for appropriate meetings at event and any other appropriate paperwork.
Decide and inform team members of any travel uniform policy you and coaches may decide upon.
Brief team members not to check-in at USA international departure airport until your arrival.
Inform athletes and coaches to bring bottled water and any non-perishable foods they might need.
Check with Medical Committee and/or accompanying medical officer as to appropriate medication to have available on the trip, e.g. malaria tablets, etc. Be sure a team physician is named in advance.

INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURE AIRPORT IN USA

Check with athletes and coaches to assure all tickets, passports and paperwork are available. For Juniors, collect all passports, visas and air tickets -- make a list of all passport numbers. Retain passports.
Supervise check-in, luggage check-in, seating; pay departure taxes if required.
If necessary, re-issue tickets and passports, but re-collect after immigration passport control.
Have USAW pins available for reward and goodwill.
Have athletes and coaches fill out any paperwork not previously dealt with (Code of Conduct, insurance forms, etc.)

ON THE AIRCRAFT

Discuss with coach or coaches and individuals, training requirements, i.e. number of workout days, which days they wish to train, bodyweights.
Discuss with individuals rooming options or elaborate rooming policy decided between manager and coaches.
Ensure team members do not dehydrate on long flights.

Distribute per diem and get individuals to sign for it. May be best to do this at departure airport where there exchanging depending upon situation.
Distribute passports before destination arrival if they are in your possession.
Supervise baggage claim and handle any problems there.
Supervise passport control and customs clearance.
Coordinate with organizing committee reception for personnel and baggage transportation, or arrange taxis, etc. to hotel accommodations.
At hotel, arrange accreditation, room groups, pay accommodations and board and participation fees. Keep receipts. Take list of room numbers and occupants. Arrange safe deposit for passports, tickets and money.

ON ARRIVAL

Supervise room move in and settle any problems.
Coordinate, in collaboration with coach and team training officer for team training times.
Find and inform team of location of scale, sauna, training hall, competition venue.
Ascertain transport schedule to training site and competition site, and inform team of details for training and competition.
Coordinate meals and rest after travel.
Coordinate with chaperone, if needed, as to their role and responsibilities.
Coordinate with coaches as to starting categories and best results for technical meeting.
Participate in technical meeting and lot draw. Get copy of start list and groups and any other relevant information. Be sure you get credentials for warm-up area at technical meeting or weigh-in.
Call team meeting to disseminate information from technical meeting, etc. Use this meeting to stress team discipline and consideration for each other, re: noise, cooperation, etc. Stress team concept and group support for lifter on competition day. Lay down ground rules. Team coaches and medics have input in this meeting so that team sees a unified staff policy.

GENERAL ITEMS

Coordinate with staff how personal coaches, if any, will be best utilized. Make it clear the role of the personal coach as a support to Team USA.
Set-up morning meeting with coaches and doctor while at the championship to discuss problem, set schedules, etc.
Ascertain availability and access to telephone, telex, fax-, etc., to transfer results on a regular basis to National Office.
Ascertain cultural program and find out team interest to participate.
Attend and represent USA at congress, official receptions, etc.
Ascertain USA participation in opening and/or closing ceremony and arrange appropriate personnel.
Contact local USA Consulate or Embassy.
Arrange for boxed lunches or meals, if appropriate, for competition days.
Arrange for wake-up call for lifters and staff for morning weigh-ins at appropriate time.
Re-confirm air tickets for return trip. Make seat reservations for train, if necessary.

COMPETITION DAYS

Assist coaches with weigh-ins and have passports available.
Arrange availability of food and drinks following weigh-in.
Assist coaches with organization of training sessions for other team members while competition is going on.
Assist coaches at competition with warm-up room information, counting attempts, tactical consultation, etc.
Ensure USA competitors are available and appropriately dressed for medal ceremonies even if selected for doping control.
Ensure competitors are accompanied to doping control and that paperwork is correctly completed and witnessed. Retain the receipt.
Accompany or arrange for accompaniment of competitors to press conference if USA required.
Ascertain transport arrangements for competitors and accompanying personnel coming from Doping Control and/or Press Conference.
Check results for accurate standing and points.
Arrange for collection of daily results and complete results at end of competition.
Arrange for collection of National Anthem and US flag if necessary.
Arrange transport for any closing function.
Ensure team is appropriately dressed for function.
Attend and represent at function and make appropriate presentations and acclamations to Organizing Committee, etc.
Arrange airport transportation.
Ensure all team (if morning departure) has appropriate wakeup call and are assembled at appropriate time and place.
Ensure all rooms are clean and no items left behind. Ensure that all room bills are cleared by athletes.
Repeat check-in procedure at airport.
Repeat baggage, custom and passport control at USA arrival point.
Ensure team members know their domestic connections.
Forward report and any appropriate record claims to National Office. Forward receipts, etc. and other paperwork also.

CLOSING

• Arrange for collection of daily results and complete results at end of competition.
• Arrange for collection of National Anthem and US flag if necessary.
• Arrange transport for any closing function.
• Ensure team is appropriately dressed for function.
• Attend and represent at function and make appropriate presentations and acclamations to Organizing Committee, etc.
• Arrange airport transportation.
• Ensure all team (if morning departure) has appropriate wake¬up call and are assembled at appropriate time and place.
• Ensure all rooms are clean and no items left behind. Ensure that all room bills are cleared by athletes.
• Repeat check-in procedure at airport.
• Repeat baggage, custom and passport control at USA arrival point.
• Ensure team members know their domestic connections.
• Forward report and any appropriate record claims to National Office. Forward receipts, etc. and other paperwork also.