This selection policy has been agreed upon by the USA Deaf Basketball (USADB) and the USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF). It provides details regarding the process by which USADB will arrive at athlete nominations. These nominations will be submitted to USADSF for consideration and for final selection to the USA Deaf Basketball Team for the 2023 World Deaf Basketball Championships in Heraklion, Greece (hereinafter called the "Games").
1. SELECTION SYSTEM
1.1 Minimum eligibility requirements for athletes to be considered for selection to the Team:
1.1.1 Nationality/Passport requirements:
1.1.1.1 Athlete must be a national of the United States at the time of nomination.
1.1.1.2 Athlete 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-issue identity card.
1.1.2 Have a hearing loss of at least 55db (3-tone frequency average at 500, 1000 and 2000 Hertz, ISO 1964 Standard) in the better unaided ear, as documented on a recent audiologist-certified audiogram. See audiogram regulations at http://www.deaflympics.com/pdf/AudiogramRegulations.pdf
1.1.3 Minimum International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) standards for participation:
1.1.3.1 Any competitor in the 2023 World Deaf Basketball Championships must be a national of the country of the National Deaf Sports Federation (NDSF) which is entering such competitor.
1.1.3.2 For additional information regarding an athlete who is a national of two or more countries, has changed their nationality or acquired a new nationality, refer to the ICSD Regulations at http://deaflympics.com/icsd/icsd-athlete-nationality-policy
1.1.4 Minimum International Sports Federation - Federation Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) - standards and/or ICSD Entry Standards for participation: See the entry standard at n/a
1.1.5 Commit to participation in mandatory training and competitions.
1.1.6 Complete the USA Deaf Sports Federation National Team application packet.
1.1.7 Can not participate as a team official - coach, trainer, medic, etc.
1.1.8 Other requirements: Attached in emails attachments of dialogues.
1.2 Tryout Events: 2.1 Tryouts will be held live in person for eligible invited prospects at a date and location. To Be Determined. (Email/Flyer/Letter documentations)
1.3 Selection process for athletes to become National Team nominees:
1.3.1 1.3.1 Prospect must be a national/citizen of the United States at the time of application.
1.3.2 Prospect 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.
1.3.3 Have a hearing loss of at least 55db (3-tone frequency average at 500, 1000 and 2000 Hertz, ISO 1964 Standard) in the better unaided ear, as documented on a recent, within 2 years, audiologist-certified audiogram. See audiogram regulations at http://www.deaflympics.com/pdf/AudiogramRegulations.pdf
1.3.4 Meet the minimum requirements of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) standards for participation:
1.3.5 Any competitor in the 2022 DIBF Basketball World Championship must be a current national of the country they are representing under their respective National Deaf Sports Federation (NDSF).
1.3.6 For additional information regarding a prospect who is a national of two or more countries, has changed their nationality or acquired a new nationality, refer to the ICSD Regulations at http://deaflympics.com/icsd/icsd-athlete-nationality-policy
1.3.7 Minimum International Sports Federation - Federation Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) - standards and/or ICSD Entry Standards for participation:
1.3.8 Commit to participation in mandatory training, competitions, meetings, events and fundraising.
1.3.9 Submit completed USA Deaf Sports Federation National Team application packet. (OMS)
1.3.10 Will not participate as a team official during the Games - coach, trainer, medic, etc.
1.4 Selection Committee:
1.4.1 The USA Deaf Basketball Selection Committee is comprised of the following members: • Jimmy Newsome - Coach/Director
• Touria Oahid-Boren - Coach/Director
• Jeremias Valencia - Assistant Coach
• Kristen Feldman - Assistant Coach
1.4.2 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.
2. REMOVAL OF ATHLETES
2.1 Prior to entry by name to USA Deaf Sports Federation, USA Deaf Basketball has jurisdiction over potential nominees.
2.1.1 Voluntary withdrawal. Athlete must submit a written letter to the USA Deaf Basketball Executive Director.
2.1.2 Injury or illness as certified by a physician (or medical staff) approved by USA Deaf Basketball. If an athlete refuses verification of their illness or injury by a physician (or medical staff) approved by USA Deaf Basketball, their injury will be assumed to be disabling and they may be removed.
2.1.3 Failure to participate in mandatory training and/or competitions.
2.1.4 Violation of USA Deaf Basketball Code of Conduct - MISSING FILE.
2.1.5 If for any reason, USA Deaf Basketball believes that it may not be safe for athletes or other coaches to have this individual on the team between the time of appointment and the event, USA Deaf Basketball retains the right to remove the athlete.
2.2 Once athlete entries have been submitted to the USA Deaf Sports Federation, the USADSF has jurisdiction over the Team rosters.
2.2.1 Voluntary withdrawal. Athlete must submit a written letter to the USADSF Team Leader.
2.2.2 Injury or illness as certified by a physician (or medical staff) approved by USADSF. If an athlete refuses verification of their illness or injury by a physician (or medical staff) approved by USADSF, their injury will be assumed to be disabling and they may be removed.
2.2.3 Failure to participate in mandatory training and/or competitions.
2.2.4 Violation of USADSF Code of Conduct.
2.3 An athlete may be removed as a nominee to the Team or from the Team for an adjudicated violation of ICSD, WADA, FIBA, USADA and/or USADSF anti-doping protocol, policies and procedures, as well as the U.S. Center for SafeSport Code and USA Deaf Basketball SafeSport policies, as applicable.
3. REPLACEMENT OF ATHLETES
3.1 Prior to entry by name to the USA Deaf Sports Federation, USA Deaf Basketball has jurisdiction over potential nominees.
3.1.1 USA Deaf Basketball has sole jurisdiction over the removal/replacement/reinstatement of prospects and team members as deemed necessary.
3.1.2 Voluntary withdrawal by a prospect must be submitted by a written email or letter or video to USA Deaf Basketball Executive Director, Office Operations and Head Coaches.
3.1.3 If an athlete refuses verification of their illness or injury by a physician (or medical staff) approved by USA Deaf Basketball, their injury will be assumed to be disabling and they may be removed.
3.1.4 Failure to participate in mandatory training, competitions, meetings, fundraising, public relations and events can result in removal from the team.
3.1.5 Failure to demonstrate satisfactory fundraising progress according to established guidelines may result in removal from the team.
3.1.6 Violation of USA Deaf Basketball Code of Conduct (See file), can result in disciplinary action.
3.1.7 If for any reason, USA Deaf Basketball believes a particular prospect does not represent the best interest of the organization, USA Deaf Basketball retains the right to remove the prospect from further participation.
3.1.8 Removal/Replacement/Reinstatement of a prospect will be determined on an individual basis at the discretion of the Selection Committee, including the respective Head Coach.
3.1.9 A prospect may be removed as a nominee to the Team or from the Team for an adjudicated violation of ICSD, WADA, FIBA, USADA and/or USADSF anti-doping protocol, policies and procedures, as well as the U.S. Center for SafeSport Code and USA Deaf Basketball SafeSport policies, as applicable.
3.2 Once athlete entries have been submitted to USA Deaf Sports Federation, the USADSF has jurisdiction over the Team.
3.2.1 In the event a qualified Team loses one of its athletes due to illness, injury or "force majeure" then the USA Deaf Basketball Team Leader, in consultation with the USADSF Executive Director, shall propose a replacement athlete. The replacement athlete shall be the most qualified candidate that meets the aforementioned criteria.
If the ICSD, USADSF or Games Organizing Committee (hereinafter "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.
4. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
4.1 USA Deaf Basketball will retain the approved Selection Procedures and all supporting documents, including scouting or evaluation forms, and all data from the selection process for six months past the date of the Closing Ceremony of the Games.
5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
5.1 In addition to the USADSF Code of Conduct, the following documents are required to be signed by an athlete as a condition for nomination to the 2023 World Deaf Basketball Championships and are included as attachments: Not Available.
6. PUBLICITY/DISTRIBUTION OF PROCEDURES
6.1 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.
6.2 Information shall be published:
6.2.1 on the USADSF website (http://www.usdeafsports.org/sports/BK/criteria-athlete).
6.2.2 Also distributed through, but not limited to, email, affiliated Basketball organizations (USA Deaf Basketball and USADSF), and USADSF approved Deaf-related publications. Such information shall include a reference to the entire Selection Procedure herein:
7. DATE OF NOMINATION
7.1 The Nomination of Athletes form, including replacements, will be submitted to USADSF on or before 03 Feb 2023.
7.2 The list of athletes on the Team are to be announced publicly only after USADSF approves the rosters.
8. MANDATORY TRAINING AND/OR COMPETITIONS
8.1 National Team members are expected to attend and fully participate in all team practices, games, meetings and events unless prior arrangements have been made with the Head Coach.
9. ANTI-DOPING REQUIREMENTS
9.1 Athletes must adhere to all ICSD, WADA, IF, USADA and USADSF anti-doping protocols, policies and procedures, as applicable. This includes participation in Out-of-Competition Testing as required by the ICSD, WADA, IF, USADA and USADSF Rules, as applicable.
10. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES
10.1 All athletes have a right to obtain due process. Refer to USA Deaf Basketball's procedures below:
10.1.1 Filing. Any member of this organization may file a written grievance with the Program Director pertaining to any matter within the cognizance of USA Deaf Basketball or alleging a violation of any provision of this Constitution, and/or the USA Deaf Basketball Bylaws.
10.1.2 Requirements of a Grievance. Any grievance shall be signed under oath and shall allege with particularity the nature of the grievance and each claimed violation of the aforementioned documents by reference to specific sections thereof, stating in concise language how, when, and where the alleged violation occurred. The factual allegations shall be set forth in numbered paragraphs, each paragraph containing a single factual allegation.
10.1.3 Referral. Upon receipt of a grievance, the Women and Men's Program Directors shall refer it to the Assistant Executive Director, in the case of more generalized grievances, to the Executive Director. In the case of a grievance referred to the Assistant Executive Director, he/she shall make an effort to resolve the grievance himself/herself, through informal means.
10.1.4 Hearing. If the grievance is referred to the Executive Board or, in the event that the member filing a grievance is not satisfied with the resolution of the matter reached by informal methods, the member shall be entitled to be heard before the Board at its next scheduled meeting. The Board's determination of the matter shall be final.
10.1.5 Suspension and Expulsion: Any individual member recognized by the USA Deaf Basketball who violates any of the provisions of these bylaws, or any operation policy of this USA Deaf Basketball approved by the Board, be suspended by the Board until the next meeting of the USA Deaf Basketball, to which meeting said action of suspension shall be reported by the Office Operations. At such a meeting, the suspension may be removed, by a two-thirds vote of the board members to this USA Deaf Basketball, may be expelled, by a two-thirds vote of the board.
10.2 If the selection criteria and the grievance procedures were not followed properly, see ATHLETE GRIEVANCES AND COMPLAINTS.
11. INTERNATIONAL DISCLAIMER
11.1 These procedures are based on ICSD, as applicable, and/or FIBA rules and regulations as presently known and understood. Any change in the selection procedures caused by a change in ICSD, as applicable, and/or FIBA rules and regulations will be distributed to the affected athletes immediately. The selection criteria are based on the latest information available to USA Deaf Basketball. 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.
12. ATHLETE GRIEVANCES AND COMPLAINTS
12.1 If an athlete has questions regarding their opportunity to compete that are not answered by USA Deaf Basketball, they may contact the USADSF Executive Director, . If the Executive Director does not respond within 3 business days, the complaint may then contact the USADSF President, Jeffrey Mansfield at mansfield@usdeafsports.org.
13. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
13.1 This document certifies that USADB 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 Athlete Selection Procedures represents the method approved by USA Deaf Basketball.