Subject: High Performance Program update Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:31:01 -0600 From: "CCSAM (Karin)" CC: Sandra Kirby Happy New Year High Performance athletes, coaches and parents! It has been a long while since you have heard from me and I would like to thank you all for your patience and understanding. I know that many of you are anxiously waiting to hear the "how", "when" and "who" in regards to Westerns and Nationals team selection. As well, we promised that the 2008-09 Score Card thresholds would be adjusted and they have been. The updated 2008-09 score card will be uploaded to our website but it is attached here for your convenience. We feel these adjustments will more accurately reflect our goal of a HP system that is challenging yet realistic (attainable). Below is a statement from High Performance Committee Chair, Sandra Kirby, reviewing the changes that have been made to our High Performance program and how we will proceed with team selections now and in the future. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ As you all know, as a result of a public, well attended consultation, the High Performance Committee has now completed the fine tuning of the revised High Performance program and Athlete Score Card for the high performance athletes of CCSAM. There are some principles and values that you will see reflected here. 1. First, the emphasis is on performance - that is, on race and test results. The better an athlete does, measured by finish time, in relation to other athletes in their respective races, the more points they will accumulate. 2. Second, it is always a challenge for an athlete to come up with the performance they need on a specific day, yet it is also the hallmark of a successful athlete to be able to do so. Hence, there is little "wiggle room" in the requirements. CCSAM has worked hard to standardize the testing/measurement (CCSAM High Performance Program Athlete Testing Policy), to be clear on requirements, information and supports for athletes. 3. Third, we believe that the principle of equity is important and hence, CCSAM is committed to ensuring that both female and male athletes, in their specific competitive categories, are recognized for their performances. We also anticipate that athletes will take some time to develop as skiers and hence, the multi-year approach is reflected in the 2-year nature of the High Performance Score Card. 4. Fourth, the High Performance Score Card also allows the High Performance Committee to place athletes' performances along a continuum. In general, the CCSAM will be using the thresholds on the High Performance Score Card to determine the amount of financial support to be provided to athletes (as resources last). Team Selection: The High Performance manual currently makes some definitive statements regarding team selection - i.e. the minimum team size of 6 athletes, who will be automatically selected to each the Westerns and Nationals teams in 2009 and what races have been determined to be "selection" races for these team trips. What has not, until now, been defined is how the High Performance Committee (HPC) will proceed with selecting team athletes. High Performance Teams: It is important to remember that CCSAM does not field a provincial cross country ski team. What we have is a High Performance program, a group of athletes registered in this program and a pre-determined number of CCSAM-sponsored team trips to major races (usually 2 trips per season). Thus, the High Performance Committee of CCSAM must select athletes on an annual basis to represent CCSAM and the High Performance program at these major races (usually the Western or Eastern Championships and the National Championships). It is also important to remember that the CCSAM High Performance program has undergone some major changes in the past 12 months and that at this time it is still very much a work in progress. Hence, the HPC has developed the following method by which athletes will be selected for team trips. Beginning in the 2008-09 season, the HPC will annually name a Traveling Team and a Selection Team. Read on for details... * The Traveling Team will consist of 6 athletes. These individuals will be the core athletes of the High Performance program. * Each year the Traveling Team will be named after the Mid-Season (MS) score card deadline. * Identification will be based on performance results as recorded on the MS score card (note: some team spots may be filled by automatic qualification). * The Traveling Team will represent CCSAM at the National Championships in the current competitive season and at the early season race in the following competitive season (determined by the HPC annually, usually the Western or Eastern Canadian Championships). In most years, CCSAM has been able to send a team of more than 6 athletes to both scheduled team trips. To this end, a High Performance Selection Team will be named as an expansion of the Traveling Team. * All athletes on the Selection Team will represent CCSAM at the early season race (note: for 2009 it is the Westerns Championships). * For this season only, the Selection Team will be named based upon performance results as recorded on the 2008-09 score card and submitted to CCSAM by midnight, February 8th, 2009, * Starting in 2009-10 the HPC will use the performance results recorded on the End of Season (EOS) score card to determine the Selection Team. N.B.: The decisions of the HPC are final and not subject to appeal. Sandra Kirby High Performance Committee Chair s.kirby@uwinnipeg.ca ------------------------------------------------------------------------ To recap: * Starting now, the HPC will annually name a 6 person "Traveling Team" - these athletes will compete at Nationals in the current season and also at the early season race in the following year. The traveling team will be named each year (including this year) after the MS score card submission. * The "Selection Team" is an expanded selection of athletes (that includes the traveling team). This team will compete at the early season race (this year it is Westerns). For this year only the Selection Team will be named after a Feb. 8th score card submission. In the future this team will be named after the EOS score card. In other words, the 2010 (Easterns or Westerns) team will be named in the spring of 2009. Points versus Performance: the two faces of the Score Card We are embarking on a mission to select team athletes well in advance of team trips so that athlete and coach may prepare a training/competition plan accordingly. However, it is up to the athlete to maintain fitness and race readiness in order to maintain their status in the system. The score card will continue to be the method by which the amount of funding afforded to each registered athlete is distributed. You'll recall there is a cap on the total number of athletes for whom the program can provide financial support (the top 20 scores). The score card thresholds (gold, silver, bronze) will continue to dictate the amount of financial support to each athlete and at what times of the season support is given. This financial aspect of the score card is where points matter. The score card is also the most accurate tool the HPC has to objectively evaluate the performance results of each athlete. To this end the score card will be used to assist the HPC in making team selection decisions. Regardless of points, if the athlete's score card indicates that performance is declining that athlete risks losing their spot on the Selection Team (if applicable). Likewise, an athlete whose score card shows marked increase in performance may be added to the Selection Team roster. I hope this helps to clarify the principles and values of CCSAM's High Performance Program. We want the athlete's to listen to themselves and listen to their coaches, follow their training and competition plan, work when they need to, rest when they need to and let everything else happen as it will. As always, your questions and comments are welcome and appreciated. Best Regards, Karin McSherry, Executive Director Cross Country Ski Association of Manitoba 200 Main St. Winnipeg, MB R3C 4M2 P: (204) 925-5639 F: (204) 231-0297 email: ccsam@shawcable.com website: www.ccski.mb.ca