This selection policy has been agreed upon by the USA Deaf Orienteering (USADO) and the USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF). It provides details regarding the process by which USADO will arrive at staff nominations. These nominations will be submitted to USADSF for consideration and for final selection as a staff on the USA Deaf Orienteering roster for the Summer Deaflympics 2022 in Caxias do Sul, Brazil (hereinafter called the "Games").
1. STAFF POSITION
2. SELECTION SYSTEM
2.1 Minimum eligibility requirements for staff to be considered for selection to the roster:
2.1.1 Nationality/Passport requirements:
2.1.1.1 Staff must be a national of the United States at the time of nomination.
2.1.1.2 Staff 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-issued identity card.
2.1.2 Have the ability to work effectively with USADSF.
2.1.3 Have strong administrative, communication and organizational skills.
2.1.4 Be responsible for Team's adherence to all rules regarding discipline at the Games.
2.1.5 Fulfill all duties and requirements of the USADSF including attendance at USADSF Games related meetings.
2.1.6 Must be present at all times for the entire duration of the Games.
2.1.7 Possess high level, specific technical and tactical knowledge of the sport.
2.1.8 Have thorough knowledge and understanding of the International Sport Federation (IF) rules and regulations governing the sport.
2.1.9 Demonstrate ability to establish harmonious relationships with athletes and other Team personnel.
2.1.10 Be in good health and able to withstand the physical rigors of traveling with and working with the Team.
2.1.11 Be listed on USA Deaf Orienteering's team roster and must have successfully completed all Games Registration requirements by the stated deadline.
2.1.12 Participate in U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) training as required for position (if applicable).
2.1.13 Successfully completed the U.S. Center for SafeSport awareness training and education program.
2.1.14 Sign a USA Deaf Orienteering Code of Conduct for the current year.
2.1.15 Can not participate as an athlete.
2.2 Selection process for candidates to be considered as a staff member for the National Team:
Interested candidates shall e-mail a resume and cover letter to the USA Deaf Orienteering Ad-Hoc National Sports Organization Representative at usadeafo@gmail.com by August 1, 2021. The selection committee will screen and review candidates and make a decision.
2.3 Selection Committee:
2.3.1 The USA Deaf Orienteering Selection Committee is comprised of the following members: • Tracy Acuff - Former USA Deaf Orienteering Deaflympian
• Thomas Withrow - Former USA Deaf Track and Field Deaflympian/Head Coach
2.3.2 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.
3. REMOVAL OF STAFF
3.1 Prior to entry by name to the USA Deaf Sports Federation, USA Deaf Orienteering has jurisdiction over potential nominees.
3.1.1 Voluntary withdrawal. Staff must submit a written letter to the USA Deaf Orienteering Executive Director.
3.1.2 Failure to participate in mandatory training and/or competitions.
3.1.3 Violation of USA Deaf Orienteering Code of Conduct (See file).
3.1.4 If for any reason, USA Deaf Orienteering believes that it may not be safe for athletes or other staff to have this individual on the roster between the time of appointment and the event, USA Deaf Orienteering retains the right to remove the staff.
3.2 Once staff entries have been submitted to the USA Deaf Sports Federation, the USADSF has jurisdiction over the Team rosters.
3.2.1 Voluntary withdrawal. Staff must submit a written letter to the USADSF Team Leader.
3.2.2 Failure to participate in for mandatory training and/or competitions.
3.2.3 Violation of USADSF Code of Conduct.
3.4 A staff may be removed as a nominee to the roster or from the roster for an adjudicated violations of U.S. Center for SafeSport Code and policies, as applicable.
4. REPLACEMENT OF STAFF
4.1 Prior to entry by name to the USA Deaf Sports Federation, USA Deaf Orienteering has jurisdiction over potential nominees.
4.1.1 In the event that the nominated staff member is unable to perform the duties of the position(s) for injury, illness, Code of Conduct violation or any other unforeseen circumstances that would result in the need to replace him/her, the replacement candidate must meet all of the applicable criteria listed in section 1 above.
4.2 Once staff entries have been submitted to the USA Deaf Sports Federation, the USADSF has jurisdiction over the entries. The staff will be replaced at the discretion of the USADSF.
If the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD), USADSF or Games Organizing Committee (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.
5. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
5.1 USA Deaf Orienteering will retain the approved Selection Procedures and all supporting documents, forms, and all data from the selection process for six months past the date of the Closing Ceremony of the Games.
6. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
6.1 In addition to the USADSF Code of Conduct, the following documents are required to be signed by the staff as a condition for nomination to the Summer Deaflympics 2022 and are included as attachments:
7. PUBLICITY/DISTRIBUTION OF PROCEDURES
7.1 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.
7.2 Information shall be published:
7.2.1 on the USADSF website (http://www.usdeafsports.org/sports/OR/criteria-staff).
8. DATE OF NOMINATION
8.1 The selection of staff form will be submitted to USADSF on or before 31 Aug 2021.
8.2 The newly appointed staff will be announced publicly only after USADSF approves the selection.
9. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES
9.1 All staff have a right to obtain due process. Refer to USA Deaf Orienteering's procedures below: USA Deaf Orienteering is a small ad-hoc organization and does not have the resources for this process. Contact USA Deaf Sports Federation for any grievances. Please refer to section 11 below.
9.2 If the selection criteria and the grievance procedures were not followed properly, see STAFF GRIEVANCES AND COMPLAINTS.
10. INTERNATIONAL DISCLAIMER
10.1 These procedures are based on ICSD, as applicable, and/or IOF rules and regulations as presently known and understood. Any change in the selection procedures caused by a change in ICSD, as applicable, and/or IOF rules and regulations will be distributed to the affected staff immediately. The selection criteria are based on the latest information available to USA Deaf Orienteering. 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.
11. STAFF GRIEVANCES AND COMPLAINTS
11.1 If a staff has questions regarding their opportunity to apply that are not answered by USA Deaf Orienteering, they may contact the USADSF Executive Director, Jameson Crane at crane@usdeafsports.org. If the Executive Director does not respond within 3 business days, the complaint may then contact the USADSF President, Danny Lacey at lacey@usdeafsports.org.
12. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
12.1 This document certifies that USADO 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 Staff Selection Procedures represents the method approved by USA Deaf Orienteering.