Discussion: Changes in the Junior Team Rules

In response to the need to expand the volunteer base associated with fund raising for and organizing training camps for the junior team, an Executive Steering Committee has been organized for the Junior Team. Included, below, are the proposed rules for the Junior Team. Note that there is nothing under the “Senior Team” because there are no proposed changes to the rules for the Senior Team.
The changes that are being proposed are associated with the formation and responsibilities of the Junior Team Executive Steering Committee. These include:
1) The actual set-up of the committee.
2) The responsibilities associated with naming the “Junior Team” which is made up of juniors running Orange Courses and higher (a much larger group than the JWOC team).
3) Working with the training of juniors on a national basis.
4) The selection of the JWOC team that will be based on rankings. The selection committee will have discretion over the team size and exact criteria for being on the team although these criteria should be announced approximately a year in advance of the actual selection of the team.
These proposed changes in the Junior Team rules will be on the upcoming agenda and it is hoped that they can be approved at that time.
Peter Goodwin
VP Competition

D. US FOOT ORIENTEERING TEAMS D.1 Senior Team



D.2 Junior Team
The US Junior Team is a designated group which exists to recognize and support promising competitors younger than 20 years of age and to promote and encourage the highest possible competitive standards among US junior orienteers.

D.2.1 The leadership of the team is:
a) The Junior Team Executive Steering Committee (JTESC), who make recommendations on Team policy including Team Administrator, Team Coach, and JWOC team Selection Criteria. The JTESC will also be responsible for the financial support and preparation of the Junior Training Camps around the nation and the JWOC team. They will also implement these policies with the help of the Junior Team Community. The JTESC will be appointed by the USOF Vice President in charge of competition and those wishing to serve should contact him or her.
b) The Team Administrator, who is the administrative and overall head of the Team. The Team Administrator will be an automatic member of the JTESC.
c) The Team Coach, who is in charge of Team training and development. The team coach will be an automatic member of the JTESC.
d) Any additional subordinate personnel may be appointed by the JTESC or Team Administrator.

D.2.2 The Team Administrator and Team Coach will be appointed each calendar year by the USOF VP in charge of competition or designate and will take into consideration the recommendations of the JTESC for appointing those positions.

D.2.3 Each year a three person committee composed of the Team Coach, the Team Administrator or designate, and the USOF VP in charge of competition or designate will select the members of the Junior Team. The selection is based on:
a) Competitive Results and National Rankings
b) Dedication to the sport of Orienteering.
c) Demonstrating a sporting attitude.
d) Nomination by Regional or Local USOF members.
e) Attendance at training camps for juniors.

D.2.4 Team members must be members of USOF and run at the Orange level or higher.
The Team Coach may add or remove team members at any time

D.2.5 US Junior Team Selection Rules for the JWOC: The makeup of the US Team to the Junior World Orienteering Championships (JWOC Team) will be determined by a selection committee using an objective scoring method as detailed below. When the scoring criteria are made, they will be disseminated to prospective JWOC members through Junior Team email lists, and other communication methods so as to reach as many juniors as possible. This message will also include information on how petitions are to be submitted. The criteria for team selection will be published at least a year in advance of the cut-off date for choosing the team.

a) Selections Committee: The selections will be made by a 3-person committee composed of the Junior Team Coach, Junior Team Administrator or designate, and USOF VP in charge of competition or designate and must be USOF members.
b) Scoring: The team selection committee will use a scoring method based primarily on 12-month rankings. The scoring method must generate an ordered list of candidates, hereafter called the scoring list although extenuating circumstances can be taken into consideration. These extenuating circumstances may include illness, time spent studying abroad, etc. The actual number of members will be determined by analysis of the ranking scores of the juniors and a minimum ranking score may be used.
c) Rankings: The primary rankings used for selections will be the M-20 and F-20 classes. M-21+ and F-21+ or Classes outside of the standard USOF structure (e.g. Intercollegiate or Interscholastic Varsity) may also be included in the scoring method at the discretion of the selections committee. Generally, only candidates with at least four days of ranking credit and a minimum ranking score set by the ESC will be considered. Candidates who wish to be considered on the basis of fewer days or a lower ranking score must petition for an exception as described below.
d) Cutoff date: As part of the scoring method announcement, the selection committee will announce a cutoff date. The rankings generated for selections will be based on A-meets held between one year prior to the cutoff date and the cutoff date. The cutoff date should take into consideration major events involving prospective members of the Junior Team and the logistics of juniors planning travel arrangements.
e) Number of Team Members: The maximum JWOC team size will be the maximum allowed by the IOF, (currently 6 men and 6 women). If few juniors meet the minimum score, the team may be reduced in size.
f) Eligibility: The selections committee has the responsibility of determining who is eligible for the JWOC Team, based on citizenship and age requirements, and who is eligible to submit petitions, based on JWOC Team eligibility and championship results.
g) Petitions: Candidates who do not meet all the minimum requirements set forth above but still want to be considered for the team must submit a petition to the selections committee requesting consideration for an exception. Petitions must be submitted by the petitioner or their parent or legal guardian, and may not be submitted on behalf of other people.
i) Grievance Process: The evaluation of petitions and the circumstances described therein will be the sole decision of the selections committee. In cases where malfeasance or corruption on the part of the selections committee is alleged, a grievance may be filed with the USOF Grievance Committee, which may call for a new selections committee to be convened. In such a case the new selections committee members will be appointed by the USOF Executive Committee.

From a proofreader's perspective:

D.2. states "The US Junior Team is a designated group which exists to recognize and support promising competitors younger than 20 years of age" but JWOC team selection (D.2.5.c) mentions using the M-20 and F-20 rankings.

Those competitors are up to 20 years old, so perhaps the phrasing in D.2. should be "younger than 21 years of age".

Also, shouldn't we be calling the organization "Orienteering USA" instead of USOF? ;-) (I know, the current edition of the Rules still says USOF.)

Should have been "20 years of age and younger"

I don't think running an Orange (intermediate-level) course should make someone eligible to be considered for a national Team, expanded/broad as the term may be. I won't go deep into analogies here; draw your own.

It doesn't. I think the intent is to have the general term, "Junior Team" (D.2.), be what used to be called the Junior Development Team.

Eligibility for the JWOC team is more restrictive (D.2.5.), and based more on rankings, esp. M-20 and F-20.

JanetT is correct.

JWOC selection, though, is almost exclusively based on M-20 and F-20 rankings. Exceptions can be made by petitioning. Also, the final M/F-20 rankings used for selection usually include HS Varsity M & F races from the US Interscholastic Champs, although those races are not included in the regular M/F-20 rankings.