WE MUST UNDERSTAND DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF SPORTS MANGEMENT

1. Athlete Selection Policies
And Criteria

2. Athlete Selection Policies
And Criteria
• Athletes expect certainty & consistency in the selection process.
• Need to know what is required of them to gain selection.

3. Athlete Selection Policies
And Criteria
To achieve certainty & consistency;
• develop concise and clear policies, procedures and criteria
• clearly communicate these policies
• ensure consideration and counseling of those not selected
• seek the input of experts

4. Athlete Selection Policies
And Criteria
What is a Selection Policy ?
• establishing basis for selection
• athlete’s rights in relation to decisions
• written and distributed

5. NATURAL JUSTICE
Rules of Natural Justice
• athletes must clearly know the standards and criteria that have
to be met
• must be given the opportunity to appeal
• Appeals Tribunal must make a decision without bias

6. TRANSPARENCY
• Defined as the means by which athletes understand the
selection process, and are satisfied that the process will be
followed in every instance.
• It is crucial that athletes have no doubt as to what is required of
them to be selected.

7. NATURAL JUSTICE
AND TRANSPARENCY
To achieve transparency and natural justice,
the process must not :
• hide matters from athletes
• change rules midstream
• apply inappropriate criteria
• do anything beyond the scope of the printed Selection Policy
• do anything outside the reasonable expectations of the
athlete

8. TIMING
• Athletes must be given sufficient time to comply with the
selection criteria.

9. SELECTION POLICY
What to include in a Policy ?
• how the process will work
• who is responsible for selection
• who to contact about issues
• the events and dates to which the Selection Criteria applies
• the criteria and how they will be applied
• appeal rights and processes

10. SELECTION CRITERIA
• A sporting organisation should own and develop its Selection
Criteria.
• Criteria should reflect all the qualities of an athlete who will
ultimately represent the sport.

11. SPORTS LAW
Selectors are required to:
• follow criteria as laid down
• communicate criteria and make sure they are understood
• act honestly, fairly and without bias
• ensure athletes are kept informed throughout the process

12. SPORTS LAW
Selectors are required to: cont’d.
• follow the sport’s internal guidelines or rules
• ignore extraneous or irrelevant information or considerations

13. SUBJECTIVE vs OBJECTIVE CRITERIA
• Generally speaking, subjectivity is more relevant to team
sports and objectivity for individual sports.
• A sport must determine its selection criteria according to the
factors it believes are most appropriate.
• In cases where objective benchmarks are appropriate, they
should be clearly stated and strictly followed.

14. SAMPLE CRITERIA
• Athletes will be nominated for selection based on:
• (a) demonstrated ability to;
• Contribute to the appropriate balance of athletes across
the various specialist playing positions, and
• Achieve desired playing strategies;

15. SAMPLE CRITERIA
• (b) demonstrated possession of or potential for improvement in
the following attributes - mental strength, decision making
ability, physique and aerobic / anaerobic capacity, speed and
ball skills;
• (c) performances in international and national competitions
from…;
• (d) demonstrated ability to work with coaching staff, team
officials and other players;

16. SAMPLE CRITERIA
• (e) demonstrated positive attitude and commitment regarding
national representation;
• (f) a level of skill and physical fitness that is suitable for the
athlete to perform at the requisite level;
• (g) absence of any injury or illness which will or has the potential
to impair, inhibit or prevent the athlete from performing at the
requisite level;
• (h) compliance with International Federation’s Eligibility
Guidelines.

17. SELECTORS
The process of selecting selectors is as
important as selecting athletes.
• odd number preferred;
• history in the sport;
• understand the culture of the sport;
• willing to be accountable for their actions & prepared to make &
justify tough decisions;
• should be respected within the sport.

18. IMPLEMENTING THE SELECTION
POLICY
Education and Communication
• will reduce likelihood of problems arising
• consideration should also be given to coaches, managers and
family members

19. IMPLEMENTING THE SELECTION
POLICY
Notification of Selection
• selectors should decide how decisions are to be communicated
• media should only be informed after all athletes have been
advised

20. IMPLEMENTING THE SELECTION
POLICY
Feedback to non-selected athletes
• can benefit the athlete and the sport
• athletes will know that they were seriously considered
• forces selectors to give proper consideration to the process
• could be supported with counselling
• reinforces knowledge of criteria and how selection was made

21. HANDLING THE MEDIA
Media Releases
• effective way of distributing information
• should be brief and must be accurate
• spokesperson should be identified
Press Conferences
• opportunity for journalists to gather extra information
• should be preceded by a media release

22. COUNSELLING
• Athletes may feel a great sense of loss and grief at not being
selected
• may consider use of counsellors or sport psychologists to
debrief unsuccessful athletes

23. REVIEW OR APPEALS
PROCESS
Appeals Tribunal
• An appeals tribunal should be established for every major
selection
• is not an opportunity to diminish responsibility of selectors
• not an automatic second opportunity to gain selection

24. REVIEW OR APPEALS
PROCESS
Appeals Tribunal - cont.
• tribunal should be established well before selections are made
• athletes should be notified of the tribunal and of the appeals
process
• acts as a review of the “correctness” of the process

25. REVIEW OR APPEALS
PROCESS
Appeals Tribunal Procedure
• members appointed well in advance
• an appropriate mix of legal and sport specific knowledge
• not involved in the original decision
• generally independent of the sport
• tribunal does not act as a substitute for the original selection
panel

26. REVIEW OR APPEALS
PROCESS
Appeals Tribunal Procedure – cont’d.
• role is to decide if appropriate process has been applied
• if not, the matter should be referred back to the selectors
• if necessary, the sport may decide on the tribunal making the
final decision

27. REVIEW OR APPEALS
PROCESS
Appeals Tribunal Procedure – cont’d.
• ready to operate immediately post selection announcement
• time restrictions - appeals lodged within 48 hours

28. REVIEW OR APPEALS
PROCESS
Affected Person
• with an upheld appeal, others are affected
• affected persons should be given the opportunity to be heard at
the appeal

29. REVIEW OR APPEALS
PROCESS
Costs of Appeals
• athletes may be made to pay a fee and/or lodge a bond
• unmeritorious or frivolous appeals may see the bond being
forfeited
• forfeiture of a bond must be preceded with advice of the
condition to the athlete

30. IN SUMMARY
• Athletes need to know what is required of them
• Clear
• Communicated - Written and Distributed
• Criteria - Reflect required qualities and performances of athlete
• Provide feedback and counselling if required
• Provide avenue for appeals

31. Thank you