This selection policy has been agreed upon by the USA Deaf Swimming (USADS) and the USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF). It provides details regarding the process by which USADS will arrive at athlete nominations. These nominations will be submitted to USADSF for consideration and for final selection to the USA Deaf Swimming Team for the World Deaf Swimming Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina (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 World Deaf Swimming 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 - Fédération internationale de natation (FINA) - standards and/or ICSD Entry Standards for participation: See the entry standard at https://linktr.ee/deafswimmingARG?fbclid=IwAR1R-cOxBNhjYOS4-04DlW_7cincDA66XIrGcYFU14ef2rv4IfqgMsGl2Do
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: 1.1.8.1 Submit him/herself without any reservations to all doping control policies and procedures of the USADSF, ICSD, and World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) (https://www.deaflympics.com/icsd.asp?anti-doping).
1.1.8.2 Currently training on a regular basis in the 12-month period prior to the games/competition.
1.1.8.3 Commit to maintaining a consistent training regimen from the time of selection to the team departure for the 6th World Deaf Swimming Championships.
1.1.8.4 Submit qualifying times that must have been achieved after January 1, 2021, and prior to USADS submitting the final team roster to USADF.
1.1.8.5 Maintain contact with the USADS Sport Director, USA Team coaching staff, and USADS's Team Leader to keep informed about training regimens and competition results from the time of selection until the 6th World Deaf Swimming Championships.
1.1.8.6 Exhibit good sportsmanship and character as evidenced by letters of recommendation, appropriate social media presence, and prior history as a competitive athlete.
1.1.8.7 Sign and abide by USADS's Code of Conduct and any other applicable forms.
1.1.8.8 Commit to participation in a training camp(s) if made available through USADS or other entity.
1.1.8.9 Commit to fundraise and pay for all individual expenses for training camp(s) and the 6th World Deaf Swimming Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina, either through travel grants, donations, or personal funds and submit payments by the required deadlines to USADS.
1.1.8.10 Complete the USADS's Deaf National Team application packet as defined below in Section 1.3, which includes providing proof of having or in the process of obtaining a United States passport.
Note: The passport must be valid for at least 6 months past the conclusion of the 6th World Deaf Swimming Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
1.1.8.11 Agree to, at your own expense, comply with travel restrictions and requirements established by the US, Argentina, or other organizations or governments with such authority; specifically those requirements established due to the pandemic.
1.2 Tryout Events: In place of specific tryout events, prospective athletes should submit official qualifying times from one or more meets sanctioned by USA Swimming. Either long course or short course times may be submitted for consideration, with long course times given preference in the application.
1.3 Selection process for athletes to become National Team nominees:
1.3.1 Athlete Application Process
1. All athletes shall submit an application packet to USA Deaf Swimming (USADS) Team Director by January 31st, 2023 (see below for the submission procedure). Athletes are identified as those who meet the Mandatory Eligibility Requirements provision of the Selection Procedures herein and are selected by the USADS Selection Committee. These athletes selected shall register with the USADS and USADSF as a member.
2. In accordance with the registration deadline established by ICSD, those athletes eligible under ICSD and USADSF regulations and registering to compete in the USA Deaf Swimming National Team shall be verified by the USA Deaf Swimming Selection Committee prior to being nominated to the USADSF Games Preparation Chair. Once the nominations are approved by USADSF's Board of Directors, the Final Roster shall become the USADSF's Deaf National Team for the 6th World Deaf Swimming Championships. The selections shall be based upon the Selection Criteria provision herein.
Application Packet
Submit the following to Elizabeth Escobar, USADS Director, via email (Email: lizcocker@deafswim.org):
● Complete athlete application form
● Two letters of reference
● Audiogram: New prospective team members must submit an official audiogram documenting hearing loss from an audiologist (if not previously submitted) per USA Deaf Sports Federation Guidelines (Link: https://usdeafsports.org/resources/audiogram/ ).
● Apply for dual USA Deaf Swimming & USA Deaf Sports Federation membership by contacting Elizabeth Escobar at lizcocker@deafswim.org.
● DEADLINE: January 31st, 2023
The USADS Selection Committee, at their discretion, may accept applications after the stated deadlines when such application, if approved, does not result in a previously approved applicant being removed from the team roster.
Selection Criteria
The selection criteria are as determined by ICSD Technical Regulations and USA Deaf Swimming. The criteria include:
1) hearing loss of 55 dB or greater in the better ear
2) achievement of one or more minimum qualifying times for the 6 World Deaf Swimming Championships (Qualifying Times)
3) submission of character reference letters to USA Deaf Swimming
4) approval by the USA Deaf Swimming Selection Committee
Selection Process
The USA Deaf Swimming Committee shall review the resumes, qualification times, or other necessary means of qualifications and interview each chosen applicant. The interviews may be conducted in person, via videophone, or by e-mail. The Selection Committee shall make a final decision based on both the interviews and qualifications. The above qualifying times are only the minimum required qualifying times; athletes selected for the final team roster will be those who the selection committee identifies as potentially finishing in the top 8 of finals in one or more events and/or those athletes who rank in the top four Team USA times for an individual event. Therefore, the actual qualifying times for the selection of Team USA athletes for the final roster may be faster than the minimum required for the competition. Up to 26 men and 26 women may be selected for Team USA at the selection committee's discretion.
1.4 Selection Committee:
1.4.1 The USA Deaf Swimming Selection Committee is comprised of the following members: • Elizabeth Escobar - Director, US Deaf Swimming
• Rene Massengale - Assistant Director, US Deaf Swimming
• Mark Cronk - Executive Board Member, USADS Treasurer
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 Swimming has jurisdiction over potential nominees.
2.1.1 Voluntary withdrawal. Athlete must submit a written letter to the USA Deaf Swimming Executive Director.
2.1.2 Injury or illness as certified by a physician (or medical staff) approved by USA Deaf Swimming. If an athlete refuses verification of their illness or injury by a physician (or medical staff) approved by USA Deaf Swimming, 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 Swimming Code of Conduct - MISSING FILE.
2.1.5 If for any reason, USA Deaf Swimming 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 Swimming 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, FINA, USADA and/or USADSF anti-doping protocol, policies and procedures, as well as the U.S. Center for SafeSport Code and USA Deaf Swimming SafeSport policies, as applicable.
3. REPLACEMENT OF ATHLETES
3.1 Prior to entry by name to the USA Deaf Sports Federation, USA Deaf Swimming has jurisdiction over potential nominees.
3.1.1 In the event a qualified Team loses one of its athletes due to illness, injury, or "force majeure," then the USA Deaf Swimming Team Director and/or Team Leader, in consultation with the USADSF's National Team Leader, shall propose two athletes, swimming the same events as the removed athlete, for the coach to accept as a teammate or competitor within an event. The two replacement athletes shall be the highest-ranked, available athletes that meet the team qualifications. If the proposed replacement athletes are unable to compete in the requested event (due to event schedule conflicts or other reasons), the vacant berth shall be filled by the next highest-ranked athlete meeting the other qualification requirements.
If the ICSD, USADSF, or WDSC Committee requires different replacement procedures within a certain time period before the Pan American Deaf Games or Deaflympics or after the official nomination of the Final Roster to the USADSF, such procedures for replacement shall be followed.
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 Swimming 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 Swimming 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 World Deaf Swimming Championships and are included as attachments:
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/SW/criteria-athlete).
7. DATE OF NOMINATION
7.1 The Nomination of Athletes form, including replacements, will be submitted to USADSF on or before 01 Apr 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
Athletes submitting applications for the national team must be currently training and working out in preparation for the competition. Training schedules may be planned at the discretion of the athletes and/or their designated coaches or trainers. In order to be considered for the national team that is traveling to a specific competition, athletes must currently be training weekly on a regular basis in the 12-month period prior to the games/competition. In addition, qualifying times must have been achieved within the past 24 months preceding the competition. Either long course or short course times may be submitted for consideration, with long course times given preference in the application. Approved final roster athletes must participate in all training while on-site during the international competition. Approved final roster athletes must have written approval for any social media post or interview immediately before, during, and after the competition.
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 Swimming's procedures below:
Internal Grievance Procedure for Athletes
a. Any member of this organization may file a written grievance in the form of a complaint with the USADS Director pertaining to any matter within the cognizance of USA Deaf Swimming or alleging a violation of any provision of this Constitution, the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, USA Swimming Code of Conduct, or the USA Deaf Swimming Bylaws. Any such grievance must be filed within fifteen (15) days of the alleged grievance or offense.
b. Each complaint shall be signed under oath and include detailed, factual information regarding the alleged grievance or complaint.
c. Upon receipt of a complaint, the Director shall refer it to the Executive Board. Every effort will be made to resolve the complaint at this level through informal means.
The decision of the hearing panel may be appealed to USADS by written notice to the President by certified mail within fifteen (15) days from the receipt of the decision.
**Written grievances from a current member of the organization shall be submitted to: lizcocker@deafswim.org
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 FINA rules and regulations as presently known and understood. Any change in the selection procedures caused by a change in ICSD, as applicable, and/or FINA rules and regulations will be distributed to the affected athletes immediately. The selection criteria are based on the latest information available to USA Deaf Swimming. 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 Swimming, 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 USADS 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 Swimming.