Discussion: 2015 JWOC Selection Criteria

The Junior Team Executive Steering Committee (JTESC) is pleased to announce the Criteria that will be used to select the 2015 JWOC Team. We would like to apologize for the late date of this announcement. The OUSA rules state that these criteria should be released at the start of a new selection period, which, for 2015, was in April 2014. Due to the busy schedules of all JTESC members, seven weeks of European travel for me and the Team, and the desire to improve upon the selection process from last year, it took the Committee this long to finalize Selection Criteria that are fair, clear, and continue to move the junior program forward.

I would like to highlight a few key changes in the 2015 Criteria...

The first most important change is the transition from a time-based scoring system to a place based scoring system. After running some tests on the results from 2014 the selected team was the same. We have chosen to go with this scoring method because we would like to emphasize head-to-head competition and reward placing over time differences. With this new scoring method the possibility of ties is more likely. As part of the Selection Criteria there is a specific process the Selections Committee will follow to break ties. Please see the Criteria for more detail.

The second significant change to the Selection Criteria is the possibility for earning bonus points based on a 3k time standard. Please see the Physical Fitness section in the Criteria for more details.

Finally we have decided to designate the 2014 North American Orienteering Championships (NAOC) races as the back-up for the JWOC Selection Races. NAOC was chosen for its competitive depth, its closeness to international competition, and the desire of JTESC to make it a priority race to all juniors interested in making the 2015 JWOC team. Should any Selection Race be voided, the Selections Committee will use the results of the corresponding NAOC race with the same scoring method as for the Selection Races. Unfortunately, if this highly unlikely situation should present itself, any athlete, who did not race in the M-20 or F 20 categories at NAOC, would be at a significant disadvantage to athletes who did compete. Again, due to the lateness of this announcement, we understand that this could be problematic for anyone who is not planning to attend NAOC. The committee felt that the likelihood of needing to use any NAOC races as back-ups is quite low. If a situation arises where the Selections Committee uses NAOC in place of a voided race, an athlete who was not in attendance may use the petition process as a means to receive a score for the voided race.

There are a few other changes. The above three are the most significant. These criteria will be posted on the OUSA website shortly and are included below. Should you be confused or have questions about the Criteria please email me at erinschirm@gmail.com.

Thank you, everybody, for your time and patience.

Sincerely,

Erin Schirm

US Junior Team Coach
and
JTESC


2015 JWOC Team Selection Criteria

The JWOC Selection Committee will choose up to six young male and six young female athletes to represent the USA at the Junior World Championships in 2015. The Selection Committee may also choose alternates to be prepared to step in should the need arise, using the same selection criteria. If a selected athlete declines to attend JWOC, then the Junior Team Coach may replace them with the next qualified junior. The Coach may also choose to leave that place on the team empty.

The Selection Criteria for the 2015 USA JWOC team are defined as follows…


Declaration of Candidacy and Eligibility
In order to be considered a candidate for 2015 JWOC Selection, a junior (born in 1995 or later) must declare his/her intent. The timeframe and procedure for declaration will be included in the Selection Races announcement.

Any Junior who declares his/her intention to be a candidate for the 2015 JWOC Team must be a U.S. citizen, and either hold a current U.S. passport that will remain valid through the 2015 JWOC competition period, or be able to obtain a valid U.S. Passport at least one month prior to the JWOC competition. He/she must also be a member of Orienteering USA in good standing, both currently and though the 2014 JWOC competition period (this might require membership renewal well in advance of expiration).


Scoring List
An ordered list of candidates, known as the Scoring List, will be generated from the candidates’ Overall Selection Scores. The Overall Selection Score will have 5 components:
1. Ranking Score - using a 20 point scale
2. Selection Event Sprint Race Score - using a 15 point scale
3. Selection Event Middle Race Score - using a 15 point scale
4. Selection Event Long Race Score - using a 15 point scale
5. Fitness Score based on 3k running time - worth 2 points if the standard is met.



Selection Period
The Selection Period started with the April 2014 West Point A-meet, and will end on April 6, 2015.


Selection Races
The three Selection Races (Sprint, Middle, and Long) will take place on one weekend during the above selection period (including the Friday before or the Monday after), as part of one overall event.

If a suitable event cannot be designated for Selection Races, JTESC will organize Selection Races exclusively for JWOC Candidates.

The dates and location(s) and other details of the Selection Races will be announced no fewer than 4 months in advance, in the Junior Team section of the Orienteering USA (OUSA) website, as well as through e-mail lists, social media and other communication methods, so as to reach as many juniors as possible.

In the event that a Selection Race course is invalidated, scoring will be based on the corresponding NAOC race. If a NAOC race is invalidated, the Selection Committee will decide whether and how to evaluate JWOC candidates for that discipline.


Selection Event Scores
Each JWOC candidate will be assigned a score based on their finish position, amongst all JWOC candidates, within each Selection Race. The scores will be assigned as follows, for each place in each race:
1. 15 points
2. 12 points
3. 9 points
4. 7 points
5. 5 points
6. 4 points
7. 3 points
8. 2 points
9. 1 point
Competitors who finish in 10th place or below, or do not finish the race, will receive 0 points as their score.


JWOC Rankings
The 2014 JWOC Rankings will be calculated as they were in 2014; that is, the same way as the OUSA 12-month Rolling Rankings for the F-20 and/or M-20 categories, but including some additional races. The Rankings will include all OUSA sanctioned races within the Selection Period. They will also include the following events if they occur prior to the end of the Selection Period: Interscholastic Championships Varsity races (ISVF, ISVM), and the Intercollegiate Varsity races (ICVF, ICVM), and the North American Orienteering Championships (NAOC). In addition, the JWOC Rankings will include Canada Cup (national events) F/W17-20 and M17-20 races in which at least one US junior competes.

The JWOC Ranking points for each JWOC-eligible orienteer will be calculated as the average of his/her four (4) best individual JWOC Rankings race scores — similar to the way that OUSA Rolling Rankings points are calculated. However, unlike the OUSA rankings, a JWOC-eligible orienteer with fewer than four ranked races will have a valid JWOC Ranking Score, but it will be equal to the total of his/her individual race scores divided by four (4).

Selection Races will not be included in the calculation of the JWOC Ranking Score. However, NAOC races will be included in the calculation of the JWOC Ranking Score, even in the event that they are used as substitute Selection Races due to invalidation of the original Selection Races.


JWOC Ranking Score
The JWOC Ranking Score will be calculated using a 20 point scale in the following way based on the individual placement described in the 2015 JWOC Rankings:
1. 20 points
2. 16 points
3. 12 points
4. 10 points
5. 8 points
6. 6 points
7. 4 points
8. 3 points
9. 2 points
10. 1 point

Physical Fitness Score
Men and Women who meet or exceed the following 3k speed time standards will gain an extra 2 points. The time trial must be witnessed by the US Junior Team Coach, or by a person designated by the Coach who agrees to be an observer prior to the time trial. Official race results may also be accepted, but must be approved by the Coach. The time trial must happen within the last two-months of the Selection Period those dates in 2015 being 2/1/15 through 4/6/15.

3km
Women 12:45
Men 10:15


Summary
Each candidate’s Overall Selection Score will be calculated as the sum of:
1. JWOC Ranking converted to points using a 20/16/12/10/8/6/4/3/2/1 scale
2. Sprint Selection Race converted to points using a 15/12/9/7/5/4/3/2/1 scale
3. Middle Selection Race converted to points using a 15/12/9/7/5/4/3/2/1 scale
4. Long Selection Race converted to points using a 15/12/9/7/5/4/3/2/1 scale
5. Physical Fitness in the last 2 months of the Selection Period: 0 or 2 points depending on the athlete’s ability to run faster than the threshold time in the 3k.

Example: At the Selection Races, Sarah came in 2nd, 3rd and 5th in Sprint, Middle and Long, respectively. Her JWOC ranking is 3rd. Her scores, therefore, are 12, 9, 5 and 12. In addition, because she ran a 3km trial in 12 minutes, she has a fitness score of 2. Her total score is therefore 38. If this puts her 4th overall, and the Selection Committee decides to send at least 4 female athletes to JWOC, she will be on the team.
Breaking Ties
In the case of a tie between two or more athletes, the Selections Committee will use the methods listed below, in the order listed, to settle the tie. If the first method does not resolve the tie, due to lack of data or a continued tie, the Selections Committee will continue down the list until one of the methods is able to resolve the tie and an athlete is (athletes are) selected to the JWOC 2015 Team.

Examples of this could be: 1) One or more athletes are absent from the 2014 NAOC, 2) NAOC results are tied, or 3) one or more athlete’s have no ranked races from the 2015 JWOC ranking period.


1. Head to head competition in Sprint, Middle, and Long 2014 NAOC Races
A list in descending order will be generated from each race (S,M,L) at 2014 NAOC using only declared JWOC Candidates. Scores will be assigned using the same scale used for the Selection Race scoring, as specified above. The three scores will be added together for the tied athletes. The athlete(s) with the higher total score(s) will be selected to the 2015 JWOC team.

2. JWOC rankings
The Selections Committee will use the 2015 JWOC Rankings, calculated as described above, and the athlete(s) with the higher ranking point(s) will be selected to the 2015 JWOC Team.

3. 3k personal best times from the last two months of the Selection Period
The Selections Committee will use the descending order list from fastest to slowest 3k times submitted by Athletes for the 2015 JWOC selection process. The athlete(s) with the faster time(s) will be selected to the 2015 JWOC Team. In a case where an athlete has not submitted a 3k time, the Selections Committee will choose the Athlete(s) who have submitted 3k times.


4. Selections Committee Decision
This Method will be used only in cases where the first three methods have failed to settle the tie. The Selections Committee will settle the tie using their best judgment to determine who of the tied athletes is best prepared physically, mentally and has the experience to compete at JWOC 2015.


Petitions
Any Junior who wishes to be considered for the 2015 JWOC Team, but has to miss any or all of the Selection Races, performs poorly in any of the Selection Races, has fewer than four ranked races, and/or otherwise feels that their Overall Selection Score does not reflect their qualifications, may submit a petition to the Selections Committee. The petition must be submitted by the junior herself or himself, and should address the following points.

1. The circumstances of the situation, with as much detail as possible.
2. Evidence of training and race results that demonstrate the junior is capable and comparable to juniors on the Scoring List, and/or other juniors above them on the Scoring List.

Petitions must be submitted no later than 2 hours after the conclusion of the third Selection Race. The Selections Committee will review all petitions and insert petitioners into the Scoring List of candidates as they see fit. Because the Selection Criteria are built around head-to-head racing at the Selection Races, the Selection Committee should not move petitioners ahead of others on the team unless the Committee has evidence that they are clearly head and shoulders above those other candidates. While the Committee will not be held to the following examples, for illustration, clear differences might include a 12-point difference in national rankings, or an 80% win rate in at least 6 national head-to-head competitions. While petitions may be accepted in truly exceptional cases, candidates should generally assume that they will not make the team unless they attend the Selection Races.


Selections Committee
As per OUSA rules, the Selections Committee shall be composed of the US Junior Team Coach, the US Junior Team Administrator (JTA) or designee, and the OUSA Vice President in Charge of Competition (VPComp) or designee. All members of the Selections Committee shall be members of Orienteering USA. If the JTA or VPComp is unable to fulfill her/his duties as a Selections Committee member, he/she may designate a replacement aka “designee”.

Selections Committee members shall be familiar with and abide by the OUSA Conflict of Interest Policy ([http://!/]http://www.us.orienteering.org/sites/def...). If the a Committee member has an unavoidable conflict of interest -- eg, family relationship with one or more candidates -- he/she must recuse herself/himself from discussion of and voting on any candidates involved in the conflict. If he/she has four or more such conflicts, he/she should consider resigning from the Committee, and designating a replacement, as per above.

I think it's great that the junior team selection includes a 3k time. But I'm wondering - why is the female threshold so much softer than the male one? It's generally accepted (source 1, 2, 3) that over all distances women are ~11% slower than men. So if you have a cut-off time of 10:15 for the men, the women's time ought to be 11:22, not 12:45. Or if we want the 12:45 cut-off for girls, then the boys cut-off ought to be 11:30. Are the 3k cut-off times drastically different because we are applying the formula to the athletes we have, rather than those we want? This is fine, because you can't be too picky in American orienteering, but is maybe worth an explanation.

Hey Alex,
Thanks for the comment. Your right the 3k time is significantly easier for the girls because as you describe the the situation of the girls in the US is different than the boys. Basically I looked at the field of boys and girls that we have in the US and came up with relative times. The idea is that the athletes start achieving these times and ideally each year the standard gets a little harder until it gets to a place that is relative to what some of the better international teams are expecting of their athletes. In the case of the girls there is a large disparity where some girls have the ability to run low 11min 3k's and some are significantly slower than the standard.

As a coach when thinking about selecting the girls, and looking at the level of competition at JWOC the current Junior program goals are having all 6 girls in the top 100. In the girls field this is achievable with some basic fitness and most importantly a clean run. So the 3k standard for the girls is really focusing on getting the 5th, 6th, 7th an 8th runners at the selection races faster to potentially help the team meet the goal of top 100 but puts more focus on the navigation and having to run cleanly.

In the case of the Faster Girls they will continue to be pushed by their personal goals and coaching.

In the case of the Guys the goals are the same get 6 in the top 100 at JWOC. However the competition for the Men is currently a little deeper than on the female side and it takes a certain degree of physical fitness and clean navigation to achieve top 100 goals. So while the guys will be pushed by the coaching to improve their navigation in the selection process meeting the physical fitness standard may be the difference in making the team or not. Hope this helps.

Thanks Erin! That makes sense, and you're right that the men and women's fields are different with regard to their depth. Hopefully both standards will encourage a greater focus on physicality for our juniors! (Without losing any of the much-needed focus on navigation, of course :)

Well I might make the women's US JWOC team based on my 3km time, but not my gender, nationality, age or navigational abilities. This is so exclusionist!

Perhaps the thread's originator could edit the name to U.S. JWOC Team selection....