This selection policy has been agreed upon by the USA Deaf Track & Field (USADTF) and the USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF). It provides details regarding the process by which USADTF will arrive at staff nominations. These nominations will be submitted to USADSF for consideration and for final selection as a staff on the USA Deaf Athletics roster for the Summer Deaflympics 2022 in Caxias do Sul, Brazil (hereinafter called the "Games").
1. STAFF POSITION
2. SELECTION SYSTEM
2.1 Minimum eligibility requirements for staff to be considered for selection to the roster:
2.1.1 Nationality/Passport requirements:
2.1.1.1 Staff must be a national of the United States at the time of nomination.
2.1.1.2 Staff 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-issued identity card.
2.1.2 Have the ability to work effectively with USADSF.
2.1.3 Have strong administrative, communication and organizational skills.
2.1.4 Be responsible for Team's adherence to all rules regarding discipline at the Games.
2.1.5 Fulfill all duties and requirements of the USADSF including attendance at USADSF Games related meetings.
2.1.6 Must be present at all times for the entire duration of the Games.
2.1.7 Possess high level, specific technical and tactical knowledge of the sport.
2.1.8 Have thorough knowledge and understanding of the International Sport Federation (IF) rules and regulations governing the sport.
2.1.9 Demonstrate ability to establish harmonious relationships with athletes and other Team personnel.
2.1.10 Be in good health and able to withstand the physical rigors of traveling with and working with the Team.
2.1.11 Be listed on USA Deaf Track & Field's team roster and must have successfully completed all Games Registration requirements by the stated deadline.
2.1.12 Participate in U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) training as required for position (if applicable).
2.1.13 Successfully completed the U.S. Center for SafeSport awareness training and education program.
2.1.14 Sign a USA Deaf Track & Field Code of Conduct for the current year.
2.1.15 Can not participate as an athlete.
2.2 Selection process for candidates to be considered as a staff member for the National Team:
A letter of interest, resume, three (3) letters of reference (two professional and one personal), documented evidence of fundraising projects including cash and in-kind value, and documented evidence of program development to the USADTF Summer Deaflympics Head Coach Selection Chair by 01 June 2020. USADTF will submit the selected Head Coach to the USADSF Board by 22 June 2020 for approval. Announcement of the selected Head Coach shall be made by 12 July 2020.
Upon approval of the Head Coach, he/she will proceed advertising for the Specialty Coaches. The deadline for submitting names to the USADTF Board for approval is 10 August 2020. The USADTF Board will recommend the selected Specialty Coaches to the USADSF Board by 17 August 2020. Head Coach reserves the rights to delay the dates mentioned above if necessary.
Should the Head Coach applicants turned out to be not meeting the USADTF board's expectation, the search committee may seek and/or recruit coach(es) to apply for the position at its discretion.
Three (3) members of the USADTF Summer Deaflympics Head Coach Selection Committee, appointed by the USADTF President, shall consist of the following:
A former USA Deaflympics Coach;
A former USA Deaflympics Athlete;
A USADTF Board member;
NOTE: The weight on Scoring to be used by the USADTF Summer Deaflympics Head Coach Selection Committee to assist determines the strength of each candidate. However, the committee reserves the right to weight in other factors not mentioned here.
Weight on Scoring Chart:
1) Knowledge & Coaching background of Track & Field
1 point - 1-3 years
2 points - 3-7 years
3 points - 7-10 years
4 points - 10-15 years
5 points - 15+ years
Bonus of 2 points for international experience
Comments:
2) Fundraising/Public Relations Experience (includes cash and in-kind value)
1 point - some experience
3 points - average experience
5 points - strong experience
Candidates are required to provide documented evidences of their successful fundraising efforts.
Comments:
3) Program Development/Coordinator
1 point - some experience
3 points - average experience
5 points - strong experience
Candidates are required to provide documented evidence of their program developments.
2.3 Selection Committee:
2.3.1 The USA Deaf Track & Field Selection Committee is comprised of the following members: • Daniel Fitzpatrick - Chair/Former Coach and Athlete
• Ann Rafael - Former Athlete
• Ryan Kelly - Former Athlete/At Large
2.3.2 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.
3. REMOVAL OF STAFF
3.1 Prior to entry by name to the USA Deaf Sports Federation, USA Deaf Track & Field has jurisdiction over potential nominees.
3.1.1 Voluntary withdrawal. Staff must submit a written letter to the USA Deaf Track & Field Executive Director.
3.1.2 Failure to participate in mandatory training and/or competitions.
3.1.3 Violation of USA Deaf Track & Field Code of Conduct (See file).
3.1.4 If for any reason, USA Deaf Track & Field believes that it may not be safe for athletes or other staff to have this individual on the roster between the time of appointment and the event, USA Deaf Track & Field retains the right to remove the staff.
3.2 Once staff entries have been submitted to the USA Deaf Sports Federation, the USADSF has jurisdiction over the Team rosters.
3.2.1 Voluntary withdrawal. Staff must submit a written letter to the USADSF Team Leader.
3.2.2 Failure to participate in for mandatory training and/or competitions.
3.2.3 Violation of USADSF Code of Conduct.
3.4 A staff may be removed as a nominee to the roster or from the roster for an adjudicated violations of U.S. Center for SafeSport Code and policies, as applicable.
4. REPLACEMENT OF STAFF
4.1 Prior to entry by name to the USA Deaf Sports Federation, USA Deaf Track & Field has jurisdiction over potential nominees.
4.1.1 In the event that the Nominated Games Staff member is unable to perform the duties of the position(s) for injury, illness, Code of Conduct violation orang other unforeseen circumstances that would result in the need to replace him/her, the replacement candidate must meet all of the applicable criteria listed in the criteria, responsibilities and requirements of said position(s).
4.2 Once staff entries have been submitted to the USA Deaf Sports Federation, the USADSF has jurisdiction over the entries. The staff will be replaced at the discretion of the USADSF.
If the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD), USADSF or Games Organizing Committee (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.
5. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
5.1 USA Deaf Track & Field will retain the approved Selection Procedures and all supporting documents, forms, and all data from the selection process for six months past the date of the Closing Ceremony of the Games.
6. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
6.1 In addition to the USADSF Code of Conduct, the following documents are required to be signed by the staff as a condition for nomination to the Summer Deaflympics 2022 and are included as attachments:
7. PUBLICITY/DISTRIBUTION OF PROCEDURES
7.1 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.
7.2 Information shall be published:
7.2.1 on the USADSF website (http://www.usdeafsports.org/sports/AT/criteria-staff).
7.2.2 Also distributed through, but not limited to, email, affiliated Athletics organizations (USA Deaf Track & Field and USADSF), and USADSF approved Deaf-related publications. Such information shall include a reference to the entire Selection Procedure herein:
8. DATE OF NOMINATION
8.1 The selection of staff form will be submitted to USADSF on or before 22 Jun 2020.
8.2 The newly appointed staff will be announced publicly only after USADSF approves the selection.
9. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES
9.1 All staff have a right to obtain due process. Refer to USA Deaf Track & Field's procedures below: Internal Grievance Procedure
(a) - Any member of this Association may file a written grievance in the form of a complaint with the Secretary, within fifteen (15) days, pertaining to any matter within the cognizance of this Association and/or alleging a violation of any provision of these by-laws or Operating Regulations. At the time of filing, a copy of the compliant shall be sent to the President.
(b) - Each complaint shall be signed under oath and shall allege with particularity the nature of the grievance and/or each claimed violation by reference to specific sections thereof, stating in concise factual allegations shall be set forth in numbered paragraphs, each paragraph containing a single factual allegation.
(c) - Upon receipt of a complaint, the Secretary shall refer it to the Standing Committee for the sport involved or in the case of more general grievances or complaints, to the Executive Board. Every effort will be made to resolve the complaint at this level through informal means.
(d) - In the event that the member filing a compliant is not satisfied with the resolution of the matter by informal methods, he/she may request a hearing, whereupon the President shall, within fifteen (15) days, appoint a panel, consisting of three (3) members of the Executive Board, none of whom shall have in interest in the subject matter of the complaint to hear evidence, making findings of fact, and adjudicate the issues raised. At least 20 percent (20%) of the Executive Board members appointed shall be active athletes. The appointment shall include the designation of one (1) of the selectees as the chairperson.
(e) - Fair notice and an opportunity for a hearing shall be accorded to any amateur athlete, coach, trainer, manager, administrator, or official before this Association declares such individual ineligible to participate in any amateur athletic competition.
(f) - At any hearing conducted pursuant to paragraph (d) of the Article, all interested parties shall have the right to counsel, to present evidence in support or in opposition to the complaint, to cross-examine witnesses, and to present such factual or legal claims as will support their positions. A summarized record of the proceedings shall be made by the hearing panel. The rules of evidence shall not be strictly enforced; instead, rules of evidence that are generally accepted in administrative proceedings shall be applicable. The hearing panel shall expeditiously conduct the hearing and report its findings of fact and conclusions in writing to the Association and all interested parties.
(g) - The decision of the hearing panel may be appealed to the Association by written notice to the President by certified mail within fifteen (15) days from the receipt of the decision.
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9.2 If the selection criteria and the grievance procedures were not followed properly, see STAFF GRIEVANCES AND COMPLAINTS.
10. INTERNATIONAL DISCLAIMER
10.1 These procedures are based on ICSD, as applicable, and/or WA rules and regulations as presently known and understood. Any change in the selection procedures caused by a change in ICSD, as applicable, and/or WA rules and regulations will be distributed to the affected staff immediately. The selection criteria are based on the latest information available to USA Deaf Track & Field. 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.
11. STAFF GRIEVANCES AND COMPLAINTS
11.1 If a staff has questions regarding their opportunity to apply that are not answered by USA Deaf Track & Field, they may contact the USADSF Executive Director, Jameson Crane at crane@usdeafsports.org. If the Executive Director does not respond within 3 business days, the complaint may then contact the USADSF President, Danny Lacey at lacey@usdeafsports.org.
12. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
12.1 This document certifies that USADTF 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 Staff Selection Procedures represents the method approved by USA Deaf Track & Field.