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Selection Policy

Introduction
This policy covers all teams selected by England Squash & Racketball for all WSF and ESF team events, as well as the England team selections for the Commonwealth Games. The current list of Championships for which the policy will be applied is attached at Appendix 1. This list is subject to regular review.

Background
Representing your country is the highest honour that can be bestowed on a sportsman or sportswoman. Any player who aspires to represent England, is expected to demonstrate the highest standards of professionalism, both on and off-court. This includes demonstrable commitment to ESR, the programme, appropriate behaviour to coaching staff, team-mates, colleagues and opponents.
Membership of the Performance Programme is not a precondition for selection for England. However, selection of any player is conditional upon them having formally agreed to abide by the ESR ‘Performance Player Code of Conduct’ (attached for information at Appendix 2). During the selection process, attention will always be given to a player’s adherence to the Code.

Juniors
It is the policy of England Squash & Racketball that the principal objective with regards to Performance is consistently to be the world’s best at senior level. This has implications for elite junior squash in that this necessarily requires that success at junior level is to some degree developmental i.e. part of the process that will help to deliver the primary (senior) objective. To that end in the selection of junior national teams, while teams will always be selected to perform as well as possible, consideration will always be given to the longer term objective, where appropriate.

Selection
Teams will be selected by a committee (see below). The committee will consider the following criteria when selecting a team:

Nature and Type of Event
This will include:
* the format of the event
* the expectations of England’s performance in the event
* the size of the team and squad
* the number of matches to be played
* likely opponents at any given stage
* the scoring method to be used
* whether to be played on glass or conventional courts

Consideration in this category will be given to the required profile for the England team to be selected, including issues of the age and experience of the players to be selected. This may mean that, when in the opinion of the Selection Committee the overall performance and prospects of an England team is unlikely to be adversely affected, a lower ranked or less experienced player may be selected over someone more experienced and higher ranked.

Rankings
* PSA and WISPA rankings will be taken into account, in conjunction with:

Current Form
* An assessment will be made of the recent performances of players under consideration. It is possible that a player’s ranking is not a true reflection of their current playing standard and more recent performances will also be taken into account.
* Consideration will also be given to the manner of victories and defeats – for example, if a player concedes defeat too easily or fails to apply themselves in defeating a much lower ranked opponent.

Results
A player’s results in the following events in the twelve months preceding selection will carry most weight:

Seniors
* Men – PSA World Series
* Women – WISPA Gold Series
* Both – British Open, National Championships
* Both – performances in England teams

Juniors
* Performances in England teams
* British Junior Open
* British Junior Closed
* British u23 Closed
* English Junior Closed
* ESR Grand Prix
* European Super Series Events
* BSPA Events
* Senior National Championships
* Inter County Championships

Selection of National Teams – Procedure
Selection of teams will be carried out by the Selection Committee. The standing members of the committee are:
* Chairman – Paul Millman
* Head of Coaching & Performance – Keir Worth
* National Coach – Chris Robertson
* Assistant National Coach England – David Campion

Each meeting will consider either or both of selection from long lists for events and long listing for future events. In each case, recommendations are made by the coaching staff, supported by a summary profile of each player for consideration. Each summary will include rankings, assessment of current form and any other information that may be of assistance to the committee. The coach responsible for coordinating this process will also attend and present to the meeting.

The agenda will identify the events for which teams are to be selected and will comprise:
* Selection of teams
* Long listing for future events
* Other competent business

Conflict of Interest
In line with England Squash & Racketball’s policy on Conflict of Interest, all committee members will be asked to declare any interest which they believe may conflict with any part of their participation in decisions. Where such conflict is declared, the Chairman shall decide the approach to be taken. It is customary, for example, that where a member has a family relationship with a player under consideration, that member will have no part in the recommendations from coaches, compilation of player summary or of any discussion concerning the merits of that player.
Consideration of Players
Each player shall be considered in turn and strengths and weaknesses discussed fully and the team selected or long list developed accordingly.
It is the intention that the decisions of the selection committee shall be unanimous. In the event of dispute the Chairman shall lead the process of reconciliation and shall have a casting vote where required.

Final Selection
Once a long list of players has been agreed, the decision will be taken as to the process for final selection. It may be that a formal meeting is not required, in which case a conference call will be arranged and the final selections made. This would be the case for example where a number of players stand out for the remainder on the list or a player or players are no longer available through illness or injury.

After selection, all the players concerned will be contacted by the Head of Coaching & Performance, National Coach, Assistant National Coach or High Performance Coach responsible for the upcoming event.

Appeals
The procedure for appeals is contained in the Selection Review Procedure.

Appendix 1 – Championships for which the selection policy will be used:

Seniors – Women
World Team Championships – bi-annual
World Cup – bi-annual
European Team Championships – annual
Commonwealth Games – 4 yearly
World Games – 4 yearly
European Individual Championships – annual

Seniors – Men
World Team Championships – bi-annual
World Cup – bi-annual
European Team Championships – annual
Commonwealth Games – every 4 years
World Games – every 4 years
European Individual Championships – annual

Juniors – Girls
World Championships – Team and Individual – bi-annual
European Championships U19 – Individual – annual

Juniors – Boys
World Championships – Team and Individual – bi-annual
European Championships U19 – Individual – annual

Juniors – Mixed
European Championships U19 – Team – annual
European Championships U17 – Team – annual
European Championships U15 – Team – annual
5 Nations Championship u13 – Team – annual
5 Nations Championship u15 – Team – annual

Appendix 2 – ESR Performance Player Code of Conduct

A player will recognise that their behaviour will reflect upon ESR and the sport. Accordingly, a player will agree to conduct themselves in a proper manner at all times while participating in ESR sanctioned activity, in addition to activities sanctioned by ESF, WSF, PSA and WISPA. Furthermore, a player will:

(a) make a positive commitment to supporting and achieving the aims and objectives of the ESR Coaching & Performance Department – including being an active, participating and contributing member of ESR sanctioned activity (e.g. tournaments and squads)

(b) accept and abide by all the policies and procedures currently adopted in relation to membership of ESR and the Performance Programme

© conduct themselves, at all times when training, competing or on duty as a member of the England Team, or an English contingent at an international event, in a correct and proper manner that does not bring ESR, the sport, any commercial partner or themselves into disrepute

(d) project a favourable and positive image of the sport and ESR by adopting high standards of behaviour and appropriate dress standards when playing, training or carrying out duties in relation to ESR

(e) behave reasonably and in a manner that shows proper respect for all ESR staff, officials and fellow players when training or competing and also when residing in a multi-sport environment (such as in the Village at the Commonwealth Games)

(f) keep ESR fully informed of any change of circumstances (such as injury or illness) that may affect their ability to train or compete to the highest standards

(g) keep ESR informed of any changes to their personal circumstances, such as any change of permanent residential address and, in respect of periods when they are outside the country training or competing, any temporary overseas address