Selection Arrangements for WOC 2007 and
Bushrangers teams 2007

Background

The following selection procedures for WOC 2007 and the Bushrangers team have been agreed to by the High Performance Management Group.  They reflect input from Australian and overseas-based elite athletes; coaches, experience from past selection processes (including WOC 2006) and general selection guidelines published by the Australian Sports Commission.  They also reflect Orienteering Australia’s rules. Note that these selection arrangements are predicated on the basis that certain changes will be made to Orienteering Australia’s operational manual in December 2006. 

There are some important differences between last years and this year’s selection criteria.

Please read this document carefully it provides detailed advice on how to get selected in the respective teams.

Selection Panel

The selection panel for the first Bushrangers team in February will be existing Senior Selection Panel - Paul Liggins (Chair), Karen Staudte and Geoff Lawford.

A proposal will be presented at the OA Confernce to change the structure and compostion of the Senior Selection Panel. In the event that this proposal is adopted the selection panel for both WOC 2007 and the second Bushrangers team will comprise:

Head Coach - Grant Bluett 
WOC Mens Coach - Brett Weihart 
WOC Womens Coach - Sue Key 
Bushrangers Coach - Tom Quayle 
Chair – Paul Liggins

If the proposal is not adopted the senior selection panel will remain as Paul Liggins, Karen Staudte and Geoff Lawford.

Team size and composition

WOC 2007

As in previous years the WOC team will consist of at least four men and four women. Additional team members will be selected based upon the potential to meet the international benchmark performance of a top 16 result, up to a maximum of six men and six women. The minimum expectation is that all selected athletes will reach the final in the races in which they compete. The team will be announced shortly after the second set of selection trials in May.

Given Australia’s limited resources to support a large team and the possibility of injury or change in form, it is desirable that athletes can perform at the international level in more than one discipline. However, specialization in a single discipline (and particularly in the sprint discipline) will be supported where the athlete has outstanding ability in that discipline.

At the same time, given the rigours of the WOC week, only exceptional athletes will be considered for selection to run all four disciplines (sprint, middle, long and relay). 

The selectors may name some or all of the participants for each discipline of WOC when the team is named, with the exception of the relay. However, participants in each individual event, and the relay, will not be confirmed until 2 weeks before the start of WOC.  This decision will be made by the WOC Mens and WOC Womens Coach, and following endorsement from the Chair of the Senior Selection Panel.
The decisions regarding participant’s races will take into account runner’s preferences, form, fitness, and injury and illness status of the runners at the time.

Each team member will run at least one discipline, subject to them not suffering from significant illness or injury or substantial loss of form.

The order of the relay team will be decided by the WOC Mens and WOC Womens coaches respectively.

BUSHRANGERS 2007

The size of the team is nominated by the visiting country.

Selection Criteria – WOC 2007

Team selection in 2007 will be based on two criteria:

(i) the primary (ie most important) criteria: results in the selection trials; and
(ii) the secondary criteria: 
•	past international performance, particularly at WOC
•	current Australian performance
•	previous Australian performance

Selection will be evidence-based. It will analyse event results to determine who is likely to achieve the best results at the WOC. The strongest cases for selection will be those that meet both of the above criteria. 

Those athletes that do not have past international results that prove they are capable of benchmark performances will need to rely on results at the trials to demonstrate that they are better prospects at WOC 2007 than those who have performed well at WOC in previous years, or at least better than other athletes competing for inclusion in the team. 

While the primary selection criteria will remain pre-eminent, selection for the sprint discipline and the relay will focus slightly more on past performance than the long and middle races, as ability in these disciplines is best assessed across a number of races and it is impractical to organise sufficient specific trials.  

The selection panel also wishes to make clear that sprint contenders do not need to demonstrate a high standard in ‘traditional’ forest orienteering.

When two athletes have very similar performance, based on the criteria above, selection will have regard to potential for future development, including factors such as age, experience and running speed.

Selection Criteria – Bushrangers 2007

There will be no formal selection trials for the Bushrangers team.

Selection will be made by the selection panel, having regard to the current Australian ranking list and the following factors:

•	the primary purpose of the Bushrangers team, which is to provide exposure to international competition and be a ‘stepping stone’ for athletes with high potential to reach future WOC teams
•	all past and present WOC team members will be eligible for selection, however under normal circumstances ‘established’ WOC runners with significant international experience will not be selected for the Bushrangers team
•	all JWOC team members will be eligible for selection, however they will not normally be selected unless the selection panel believes an athlete is a strong candidate for the WOC team in the near future
•	other (for example, older) athletes with strong rankings, but who in the opinion of the Senior Selection Panel are unlikely to reach future WOC teams, will be considered for selection only where the team size is large or where the number of developing athletes with high potential is low.

The Primary WOC 2007 Criteria - Selection Trials

The Australian selection trials for 2007 will be:

•	all four races of Easter 2007; and
•	specific selection trials to be held in Victoria in May

Overseas selection races will be scheduled by the selection panel for athletes who choose not to return for the Australian selection trials.  These will be identified by the Head Coach prior to 1 February 2007, but see the comments below about use of overseas selection trial results. To give everyone a fair and open chance for selection, all Australian-based athletes shall compete in the Australian selection trials and overseas based athletes are strongly encouraged to do so. Absence at selection trials will be normally be taken as an indication that the athlete is uncompetitive relative to others at the time. Anyone who is unable to compete in one of the sets of selection trials (e.g. through injury, illness or absence overseas) will be required to obtain the approval of the Chair of the Senior Selection Panel. This approval shall be obtained in advance, unless it arises from injury/illness which occurs during a selection trial. If the absence is due to injury or illness a medical certificate shall be provided.

There are no absolute measures of performance (ie times and records) so relative performance compared to other athletes vying for selection will be crucial to the selection process. Selection trials provide the best way of comparing everyone’s performance to each other in as objective a way as is possible. They also provide the most recent guide to form. Within practical constraints of timing and venue, the trials provide a situation of pressure to perform on the day, a feature of WOC.

Within the constraints of team size, outstanding performance in individual selection races will be rewarded with selection, in recognition that athletes who can achieve outstanding results are more likely to be able to achieve benchmark performances at WOC. 

In accordance with the Orienteering Australia operational manual, the selection panel will take account of any exceptional circumstances affecting the performance of candidates in the selection trials.  However the onus is on the candidate to advise the Chair of Selectors in writing of these exceptional circumstances.  Given that some selection races will be run on areas previously used, the selection panel is also required to take into account competitors’ training or competition experience in these areas.

Overseas based athletes who are unable to return to Australia for the selection trials, will need to attend overseas selection trials as nominated by the Senior Selection Panel. Athletes will need to achieve results at the overseas trials that are clearly superior to those achieved by their Australian-based competitors. In essence, if you are at the margins of selection you are strongly encouraged to return for the Australian selection trials to demonstrate your position relative to your peers. This is the same principle that has been used in previous years. It is also essential to consult with the Chair of the Senior Selection Panel over your plans to ensure there is no ambiguity over our expectations.

The Secondary WOC 2007 Criteria – Past Performance

For the purposes of the second selection criteria, past performance includes results in the following events in order of reducing importance:

Past International Performance

•	World Championships;
•	World Games, Nordic Championships and World Cup races;
•	Other major international races such Jukola, Tio Mila, JWOC, Oringen, Park World Tour and major elite series and sprint races.
•	NZ test results, Asia-Pacific Championships and other regional international championships;
•	other World Ranking Events 

Current Australian Performance

•	results in 2007 NOL races
•	results in 2006 Australian long distance and sprint championships

Past Australian Performance

•	the Australian Championships for each discipline;
•	other Australian ranking scheme events with an event weighting of 1.0 or more.

Past performance includes both high levels of performance and performance that that has been below expectations.

No consideration will be given to Ultimax Stingers 5 days, training camp races, OY events, Badge events, and other lesser races and their equivalents overseas.

Athletes are reminded that in accordance with the Orienteering Australia operational manual, priority will be given to selecting a team which can be expected to behave in a harmonious and responsible manner.  Past unacceptable behaviour by an orienteer will be taken into account by the selection panel.

Nomination Process

WOC Team

All athletes who wish to be considered for selection in the Australian team for WOC 2007 will be required to submit a nomination form to the Chair of Selectors by 30 March 2007. Forms will be available on the High Performance web page in early 2007.

Importantly, nominations for the WOC and Bushrangers teams will only be accepted from athletes who have committed towards running and submitting results to the Head Coach of three 5km time trials between 1 November 2006 and the WOC selection trials, including one race before the end of December 2006. Failure to complete these races may jeopardise selection.

It is important that all athletes who wish to be considered for selection in national teams and squads inform the Chair of Selectors of their current contact details. Overseas athletes should also keep selectors informed of any pertinent results that do not receive international publicity.

All athletes shall ensure they conform with the OA operational manual with regard to anti-doping provisions and the maintenance of up to date contact details with ASADA. Failure to meet such obligations may result in an athlete’s nomination for selection being refused.

Bushrangers

Athletes who wish to be considered for the first Bushrangers competition (3-6 February 2007 ) should advise Paul Liggins (paul.liggins@au.pwc.com) before 22 November 2006. The team will be selected shortly thereafter.

Nomination arrangements for the second Bushrangers competition (7-15 July 2007 at the Western Plains carnival) will be advised.

Preselection for WOC 2007

Upon application from the athlete, the Selection Panel may at any time pre-select one or more athletes.  This will only be done in circumstances where the athlete has:

•	outstanding previous international performances, and
•	a suitable level of general fitness