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ATHLETICS

Track & Field for blind athletes consist of two divisions of three categories T11, T12 and T13 or F11, F12 and F13. The T stands for Track while the F stands for Field events. The numbers stand for amount of vision that the athlete has. T11 or F11 means no vision or some light perception.  T12 or F12 means the ability to recognize the shape of a hand up to visual acuity of 2/60 and or a visual field of less than 5 degrees. T13 or F13 means a visual acuity of above 2/60 up to visual acuity of 6/60 and or visual field of more than 5 degrees and less than 20 degrees.

An ophthalmologist is required to complete a sight classification form for all athletes. Sight classification is done in both eyes. Classification is judged on the eye with the most vision. (i.e. one eye may have be 20/60 and the other No light perception at all in then the athlete would adhere to the 20/60 classification. Any athlete who use contact or corrective lenses must wear them for classifications, whether they intend to compete wearing them or not).

While most of the fully sighted athletes may choose to wear sun glasses T11 athletes are required to wear blacked out glasses. Guide runners are aloud to run with T11 athletes to provide them a direction (keep running straight),  a guide runner are not aloud to lead the runner or set the pace. T12 athletes have the choice of running with a guide runner while T13 must compete on their own.

In field events, the only adaptation is for High Jump where an athlete can have a towel on the bar, allowing the participant to know where the bar is. Long Jump offers a one meter jump off area before the pit to allow for a larger surface to leap from.

More information is available upon request

Ontario Blind Sports Association (OBSA)

Quest for Gold – Ontario Athlete Assistance Program 2010-2011

Athletics Athlete Selection Criteria

Quest for Gold – Ontario Athlete Assistance Program 2010-2011 (OAAP) is funded by the Government of Ontario, through the Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport (MHPS), and operated through the Sport, Recreation & Community Programs Branch.  The overarching goal of the Quest for Gold – OAAP is directly related to the Enhanced Excellence goals of the Canadian Sport Policy – to improve the performance and number of Ontario athletes performing at the national and international level; thereby contributing to the improved performance of Canada at international competitions. Specific objectives of the program are:

a)     To help athletes continue their pursuit of athletic excellence at the highest levels of national and international competition;

b)    To encourage athletes to stay in Ontario to live and train;

c)     To compensate athletes for earnings lost while training;

d)    To enable athletes to successfully pursue excellence in sport while  fulfilling their educational goals;

e)     To increase athlete access to improved high performance coaching; and

f)     To enhance training and competitive opportunities available to athletes.

The program will provide direct financial assistance to Ontario junior-aged athletes through an “Ontario Card” designation.  “Junior-aged athlete” is defined as those athletes who fall within the eligible age range for the Canada Games - 11 to 22 years of age.  A PSO/MSO with a NSO-approved Long Term Athlete Development Model (LTADM) that identifies older athletes in the “Train to Train” and “Train to Compete” categories may apply to MHPS for a variation to this 11-22 age range. A PSO/MSO may choose to allocate a maximum of 30% of it’s carding allotment to athletes older than 22 years of age who have been identified as a potential next generation national team athlete by the PSO/MSO’s selection process.

Please note that there is no specific age limit for athletes with a disability; however the athlete must be identified as having real potential to get to the national team level.

The intent of the OAAP is to provide funding to individual athletes based on their demonstrated commitment to high performance sport, allowing them to pursue athletic excellence at the highest levels of national and international competition.

How does it work?

In accordance with the OAAP guidelines, the Ontario Blind Sports Association is responsible for developing sport specific selection criteria and forming a Selection Committee that will apply the criteria to select those athletes who will be awarded Ontario Card status in 2010-2011.  The Selection Criteria are approved by the Board of Directors and reviewed by MHPS staff.  Nominated athletes will be required to sign and comply with an Athlete Agreement between the athlete and OBSA.  Carding status will be for one year starting April 1, 2010 ending March 31, 2011.

In 2010-2011, the MHPS allocated a certain amount of OAAP Ontario Cards to each eligible Provincial Sport / Multi-Sport Organization (PSO/MSO). OBSA has been allotted a total of 6 Ontario cards (split evenly as 3 Male and 3 Female Cards).

The Selection Committee, which has been approved by the PSO/MSO Board of Directors is comprised of the following members:

Shirley Shelby, Board President OBSA

John Howe, Sport Technical Chair OBSA

Nick Rollings, Athletics Chair OBSA

How much funding is available?

The exact level of funding for the 2010-2011 carding year will be determined by the Ministry after the total number of athletes nominated for Ontario Card status has been determined.  Funding will be released prior to March 31, 2011.

How will the Ontario Blind Sports Association Selection Committee decide who receives funding?

The OBSA Selection Committee will use both the Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport Eligibility Criteria and the Sport Specific Selection Criteria detailed below to determine which athletes will be nominated for Ontario Card status in 2010-2011:

Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport Eligibility Criteria:

All athletes must meet the Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport’s minimum athlete eligibility criteria:

·         Athletes who have achieved Canada Card status are not eligible for Ontario Cards.

·         Athlete must be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant.

·         Athlete must be a permanent resident of Ontario for one year prior to his/her nomination for carding status.

·         Athletes must be living in and continuing to train in Ontario. Exceptions may be made on a case specific basis by the PSO/MSO Selection Committee providing that the athlete can substantiate in writing at the time of application/nomination for carding status that:

o    He/She cannot receive the required level of training in Ontario and is out of the province temporarily during the year (i.e. due to lack of facilities, coaching, competitions);

o    He/She must attend a post-secondary institution out-of-province because the course of study is not offered by an Ontario institution;

o    It is more financially feasible to attend a post-secondary institution out-of-province, or other extenuating circumstances that require the athlete to be out of the province;

The onus is on the athlete to demonstrate that he/she needs to be out of province.  This information must be received by the Ontario Blind Sports Association Selection Committee by no later than December 13, 2010 in order to be considered. 

·         Athlete must be a member in good standing with PSO/MSO and NSO where applicable;

·         Athlete must have entered into a Sports Organization - Athlete Agreement with his or her PSO/MSO and must be in full compliance with the terms and conditions of that agreement;

·         Athlete must have met all terms and conditions of any previous Quest for Gold Sports Organization – Athlete Agreements to the satisfaction of the PSO/MSO in order to be eligible for consideration in 2010/2011;

·         Athlete must demonstrate a commitment and dedication to a proper training and competitive program;

·         Athlete must be instructed by a coach who has been trained and certified in the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) Level 2 or equivalent;

·         Athlete must not be under a sanction that prohibits competition as per the Canadian Anti-Doping Policy;

• Athlete must be attending an educational institution full-time (i.e. elementary and secondary schools):
  • Exceptions will be made provided that the athlete can substantiate that his/her training will not allow for full-time attendance or if an athlete requires special needs that preclude full or part-time attendance (e.g. Athlete with a disability (AWAD) athlete);
• Athletes who have completed their area of study at the secondary level (i.e. high school) and who continue to train towards participation in major national or international competitions will also be considered;
• If eligible, the athlete must compete, and continue to compete solely for Ontario and/or Canada for one year from the date of the Minister’s letter informing the athlete of acceptance into OAAP program, at Canada Games and other national competitions involving provincial team competitions;
• Athlete must not receive financial support from any other provincial/territorial athlete assistance program.  This does not include academic scholarships, bursaries, student grants, student loans, social assistance, disability pensions, and other forms of financial assistance that have nothing to do with competitive sport.
• Eligibility will be limited to Ontario junior-aged athletes, ages 11-22 (“junior-aged” refers to chronological age, not a sport’s specific age category - only exception is for PSO/MSOs using 30% of Ontario Card allotment for athletes older than 22 years of age who have been identified as a potential next generation national team athlete by the PSO/MSO’s selection process.

Residency Exemption for Military Families:  The one-year Ontario residency requirement is waived for any Ontario Card or Canada Card applicant who is a spouse or dependant of a: Regular Force member of the Canadian Forces; or Reservist currently deployed by the Canadian Forces into active service and who takes up residence in Ontario during the fiscal year.   This means that eligible military family members now qualify for OAAP funding immediately upon becoming residents of Ontario.  Please see the 2010-2011 Quest for Gold Athlete Handbook for details of this exemption, including a list of documents needed to verify eligibility for this waiver of the one-year Ontario residency requirement.

Important Notes:

• To be deemed a potential next generation national team athlete, the athlete must be age-eligible to compete on the national team in the year following receipt of Ontario Card funding.

·         All athletes under the age of 18 must have their parent or legal guardian sign their OAAP application form. Cheques will be processed in the name of the eligible athlete.

·         Athletes who are attending any foreign post-secondary educational institution (including NCAA    institutions) and are receiving an athletic scholarship in any sport are not eligible to receive OAAP support.

·         An athlete that received Sport Canada Carding during any part of MHPS’s fiscal year April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010 and/or any part of fiscal year April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011 and is no longer in receipt of Sport Canada Athlete Assistance shall not be eligible to receive Quest for Gold funding during fiscal year 2010-2011 (April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011.) The intent of this rule is to prevent athletes whose performance levels and rankings no longer qualify them for Sport Canada carding from taking an Ontario Card from a future national-level athlete.  However, exceptions may apply and will be considered by the Ministry on a case-by-case basis.  Exceptions may include, but may not be limited to logistical or administrative changes (ex. reduction in Sport Canada carding allocation), injuries, etc. 

·         An athlete can only be nominated to receive Quest for Gold funding in one sport.

·         The onus is entirely on the athlete to determine the impact of accepting OAAP funding on current or future NCAA eligibility and to decide whether or not to accept OAAP funding. The athlete will be required to acknowledge this onus and responsibility when signing the OAAP Ontario Card application form and agreeing to the related terms and conditions of the program.  Athletes are strongly encouraged to contact the NCAA Eligibility Center to determine the impact of Quest for Gold - OAAP funding on current or future eligibility for a NCAA scholarship or on eligibility to compete in a non-scholarship NCAA sport.

National Collegiate Athletic Association              www.ncaa.org

NCAA Eligibility Center mailing address:

NCAA Eligibility Center
P.O. Box 7136
Indianapolis, IN 46207
  
Customer service hours - 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday.
 Toll-free phone number (U.S. callers) - Customer service line – 877-262-1492
 Phone number (international callers)  - Customer service line – 317-223-0700
                                                                Fax number - 317-968-5100

·     In the event of a conflict or inconsistency between the MHPS eligibility requirements detailed in the MHPS binder provided to PSO/MSOs and duplicated in the Athlete Handbook provided to each nominated athlete and the eligibility requirements listed in the PSO/MSO Athlete Selection Criteria Document prepared by the PSO/MSO, the MHPS Binder/Athlete Handbook shall prevail.

Sport Specific Athlete Selection Criteria:

The following sport specific athlete selection criteria will be utilized in the identification, ranking and selection of athletes for Ontario Cards:

1: All athletes must meet the Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport’s minimum athlete eligibility criteria.

2: Athlete must train with a recognized OA track club

3:--  Have training monitored by his or her coach

4: Must attend regional and Ontario Paralympic Championship on a yearly basis

5: Attend National Training Camp and National Paralympic Games on a yearly basis

6:  Athlete must be a member in good standing with OBSA, CBSA and Paralympics Canada.

7: Athlete must have competed provincially for a period of not less than one year before being considered for assistance.

8: Must meet eighty percent for senior athletes, seventy percent for junior athletes of world record in his/her eye sight category to qualify for funding.

9: Performance must be made in OA-sanctioned or OA-approved competitions and all pertinent information must be available and provided (wind readings etc.).                                     

10: Performance must be in events normally conducted at the IAAF Outdoor World Championship

11: Hand times may not be used for qualifying performance in races of 400m or less in distance

12: Must submit to drug testing. Must pass drug testing

13: Athlete must not be under sanction that prohibits competition as per the Canadian Anti-Doping Policy

14: Athlete must demonstrate a commitment and dedication to a proper training program.  This program will be monitored by the athlete’s coach.

15:- If eligible, the athlete must compete for Ontario during the carding year at all competition as scheduled by the Provincial Track & Field Coordinator and the Provincial Coaching Staff.

16: The athlete will attend all provincial Training Camps as required by Provincial Coaches.

17: Must meet International Blind Sports Association (IBSA) vision requirements. Athletes must have less than ten percent useful vision with corrective lenses

18: Must undergo an eye examination by a licensed ophthalmologist every 2 years

19: Junior/development athletes are under 20 years old (next generation)

20: Senior athletes are age 20 and up.

- If eligible, the athlete must compete, and continue to compete for Ontario and Canada for one year from the date of the Minister’s letter informing the athlete of acceptance into OAAP program, at Canada Games and other national competitions involving provincial team competitions.

              - Athletes who have achieved Sport Canada Card status are not eligible for Ontario Cards.

       - Athlete must abide by the OBSA Code of Conduct.

       - The Ministry recognizes that junior/developmental level athletes in Paralympic sports are generally older than those in able bodied sports.  This being said, the age guidelines for Ontario Cards for athletes with a disability are different from able bodied athletes.  In 2010/2011 no specific age limit will be enforced however OBSA must demonstrate that the athlete being nominated has been identified as having real potential to get to the national team level.

Applicants need to apply to the selection committee by December 13, 2010 at 5pm

Performance Related Eligibility

OBSA has been awarded 6 Ontario cards for the sport of Track & Field, which must be split gender equal (3 male, 3 female).

OBSA will select six (6) Ontario athletes who are ranked highest in the national non-carded and provincial level competitive streams.

Athletes will be selected based on their performance at Provincial camps and competitions.  Athletes must make the minimum of the provincial standard.

In the event of a tie, athlete’s absolute world ranking in ANY event will be utilized to break the tie.  If the tie is not broken by the world ranking, the athlete’s relationship to the world record as expressed by percentage will be utilized to break the tie. Should this not achieve a clear decision, the selection committee will take into consideration the athletes secondary events as they relate to the points chart and world ranking. The selection panel will include the Provincial coaches, Sport Technical Chair and Provincial Track & Field Coordinator.

The Ministry recognizes that Junior/Developmental athletes in Paralympic Sports are generally older than able bodied athletes.  The selection committeewill select six (6) Ontario athletes who are ranked highest in the national non-carded and provincial level competitive streams.

Failure by the athlete to meet one or more of the above criteria may result in the loss of the athlete’s funding. The Provincial Track & Field coordinator, Provincial Coach and OBSA Sport Technical Chairman would be involved in the decision making process.

Failure to Meet Selection Criteria for Health-related Reasons

Athletes who, for strictly health-related reasons, have not achieved the standards required for nomination of carded status may be considered for nomination under the following conditions:

·         The athlete has fulfilled all reasonable training and rehabilitation requirements aimed at a speedy return to full high-performance training and competition during the period of his or her injury, illness or pregnancy and, despite making every reasonable effort to attain the applicable carding standards during the year in which the injury, illness or pregnancy occurred, has failed to do so, in the view of the PSO/MSO, for reasons strictly related to the injury, illness or pregnancy.

• The OBSA, based on its technical judgement and that of a PSO/MSO team physician or equivalent, indicates in writing the expectation that the athlete will achieve at least the minimum standards required for carding during the upcoming carding period.
• The athlete has demonstrated and continues to demonstrate his or her long-term commitment to high-performance training and competition goals, as well as his or her intention to pursue full high-performance training and competition throughout the carding period for which he or she wishes to be renewed despite not having met the carding criteria.

Selection Criteria for Athletes Unable to Meet Selection Standards due to the Health Issues

a)   Results from same events from previous competitive season

b)   2009Team Canada Non-Carded Athletes

c)   2009Team Canada Development Squad Non-Carded Players

d)   Results from 2009-10 Quest For Gold Coach Evaluations  

Alternates:  Ontario Blind Sports Association will also nominate alternates to those athletes nominated for Ontario Card status.  Alternates will be those athletes who are ranked directly behind those athletes nominated for the allotment of Ontario Cards in a particular category/discipline.  The names of alternates will be published along with the names of nominated athletes.  If an athlete drops out or is removed from the OAAP an alternate will be substituted into that athlete’s position, provided that:

§  Alternate is substituted within 2010-2011 fiscal year;

§  An alternate is available from the same category/discipline/card level (Full/Half);

§  Funding for athlete being substituted is still available within fiscal year (e.g. full funding for card has not already been paid out to athlete no longer in program).

To Apply:

All required information must be submitted to:

Katie Miller

katie@blindsports.on.ca

3 Concorde Gate Toronto, ON M3C 3N7

416-426-7244, 416-426-7361 (fax)

no later than December 13, 2010. The Sports Organization – Athlete Agreement will only come into effect if an athlete is selected and accepts carding status through the OAAP program.

Ontario Blind Sports Association will publish or make known the athletes nominated for Ontario Card status by no later than January 14, 2011.

Appeals  

Appeals will be allowed from athletes who have not been nominated by a PSO/MSO for Ontario Card status.  Appeals will only be accepted directly from athletes (or from their parent/guardian for athletes under 18 years of age).  Appeals will be dealt with by an Appeals Committee comprised of representatives from the sport community and chosen by the Ministry.

Grounds for appeals will be limited strictly to issues related to:

A) Whether or not the PSO/MSO has completed the selection process in accordance with their own published selection criteria and related procedures;

B) Whether or not the selection criteria applied by the PSO/MSO were fair, objective, transparent and free from discrimination or conflict of interest. 

After hearing an appeal the Appeals Committee will have the authority to:

1.     Direct the PSO/MSO to redo the selection process using the correct criteria/process and submit a new list of nominated athletes;

2.     Deny the appeal; or

3.     Allow the appeal and nominate the appellant for carding status. 

Appeals will only be accepted on the MHPS-provided template (typed or hand-printed, no hand-written entries) through regular post, registered mail, courier or delivered in person.   

Appeals must be received by MHPS by 5 p.m. on the deadline day as posted below.  Appeals that are delivered personally or by courier shall be deemed to be received on the date of delivery.    Appeals submitted by e-mail or fax will not be accepted.  The Appeals Committee will discuss all appeals at once, after PSO/MSOs publish their list of nominated athletes.  Appeals received in advance of the PSO/MSO announcing nominees will not be reviewed until after the Appeals deadline.

The deadline for athletes to submit appeals to the Appeals Committee is

Cycle Two:  January 26, 2011.

Appeals must be completed on the template below and will be directed to:

Quest for Gold Ontario Athlete Assistance Program Appeals Committee

c/o Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport

777 Bay Street, Suite 702

Toronto, Ontario  M7A 1S5

2010/2011 Quest for Gold – Ontario Athlete Assistance Program
 Appeal Template

Full Name: 

Address:                                                                                              City:

Postal Code:                                       Phone:                                     Email:

Sport / PSO:          

Reason for Appeal (Check one only):  

Whether or not the PSO/MSO has completed the selection process in accordance with their own published selection criteria and related procedures;

Whether or not the selection criteria applied by the PSO/MSO were fair, objective, transparent and free from discrimination or conflict of interest. 

Provide a two-line summary of the reason for the appeal:  

In the space below (continue on to next page as needed), provide a detailed account of the situation to allow the Appeals Committee to understand the basis of the appeal (please submit additional pages/supporting documentation if necessary): 

Print Name of Appellant                      Signature of Appellant                                     Date