Team BC Selection Process

Halifax 2020 North American Indigenous Games

The Team BC Selection Process was developed by the Team BC Work Group of the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (ISPARC) and reflects the commitment to provide Indigenous youth of BC with the opportunity to compete at the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG). This document is an updated version of the 2014 NAIG and 2017 NAIG Team BC Selection Processes. The processes presented in this document were developed as a result of the input provided by participants of the Regional Engagement Workshops conducted by ISPARC in 2010, the technical expertise and guidance of the Provincial Indigenous Sport Committees, and the experiences gained through the 2014 NAIG and 2017 NAIG.

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Team BC Selection Process Halifax 2020 North American Indigenous Games

Table of Contents Introduction to Team BC ............................................................................................. 3

Role of the Team BC Work Group ........................................................................................3 Team BC Overview..............................................................................................................3 Key Selection Processes and Roles ......................................................................................3

BC Indigenous Provincial Championships & Athlete Development Camps .................... 4 Role of Provincial Sport Committees ...................................................................................4 Role of Regional Committees ..............................................................................................4 Provincial Championships Process .......................................................................................5 Provincial Camp Process .....................................................................................................6

Alternative Selection Processes ................................................................................... 7 Alternatives to Provincial Championships or Camps as the Selection Format ........................7

Minimum Requirements for Coaches .......................................................................... 7

Community Host Application and Selection Process .................................................... 8 Provincial Championships or Camps Host Application and Selection Process ........................8

Appreciation ............................................................................................................... 8

Regional Maps ............................................................................................................ 9 Northwest .................................................................................................................................... 9 Northeast ................................................................................................................................... 10 Interior ....................................................................................................................................... 11 Fraser ......................................................................................................................................... 12 Vancouver Coastal ..................................................................................................................... 13 Vancouver Island........................................................................................................................ 14

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Introduction to Team BC Role of the Team BC Work Group In preparation for the 2014 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG), the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (ISPARC, formerly the Partners Council) established the Team BC Work Group, composed of sport leaders from First Nations, Métis Chartered Communities, and Friendship Centres across all six regions of the province, to lead the design and coordination of the Team BC Selection Process. The Work Group originally developed the processes described within this document through the input gathered at the 2010 series of Regional Engagement Workshops conducted by ISPARC and refined and reaffirmed after the conclusion of the 2014 and 2017 Games. This selection process has been developed with the following three principal requirements:

1. Maximize opportunities for athlete participation; 2. Complete the selections through an open, transparent and fair process; and 3. Deliver the plan within the limited timelines, financial and human resources.

Team BC Overview Team BC will consist of approximately 520 athletes and coaches and will feature competition for youth in the following 13 sports (see 2020 NAIG Technical Package for details on age eligibility by sport):

1. 3-D Archery 2. Athletics 3. Badminton 4. Basketball 5. Canoe/Kayak 6. Golf

7. Box Lacrosse 8. Rifle Shooting 9. Soccer 10. Softball 11. Swimming 12. Volleyball 13. Wrestling

For reasons including capacity, participation levels, and team size limitations, Team BC will not participate in the following 2020 NAIG sports: Baseball, Beach Volleyball, Rugby 7’s

Key Selection Processes and Roles In collaboration with the respective Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs), the Team BC Selection Process will be delivered via the oversight of 13 separately functioning Provincial Indigenous Sport Committees with the support of the 6 Regional Committees. The roles and responsibilities of the Provincial Sport Committees and Regional Committees are outlined in more detail in the sections to follow. The primary talent identification and/or selection processes for Team BC for NAIG will consist of the following components:

1) BC Indigenous Provincial Championships & Athlete Development Camps 2) Alternative Selection Processes

These processes and the roles of the Provincial Sport Committees and Regional Committees are described below.

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BC Indigenous Provincial Championships & Athlete Development Camps The BC Indigenous Provincial Championships and Athlete Development Camps event series have been strategically established to support the effort to develop a comprehensive Indigenous Team BC program, resulting in increased participation and better prepared athletes and coaches for the events such as the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) and other elite competitions. The year prior to NAIG, the BC Indigenous Provincial Championships & Athlete Camps serve as a primary component of the talent Identification and/or selection processes for athletes to represent Team BC at NAIG. ISPARC and its Provincial Sport Committees maintain oversight of the Provincial Championships and Development Camps. Role of Provincial Sport Committees The Team BC Work Group has established Provincial Sport Committees for each of the 13 priority sports. The Committees are composed of a broad representation of volunteer sport leaders from across the province who possess strong technical knowledge and/or experience in the respective sport. Additionally, representatives appointed from each of the respective Provincial Sport Organizations are included on the Committees. The Provincial Sport Committees assist the Team BC Work Group with the oversight of the selection process for their respective sport. The roles and responsibilities of the Provincial Sport Committees are as follows:

1. Provide input and guidance to the Team BC selection process specific to the Committee’s respective sport;

2. Oversee the facilitation and implementation of Provincial Championships or Athlete Development Camp.

3. Play strong role in implementing communications and promotion plan of the Championships or Camps and the Team BC selection process;

4. Oversee and support the coordination of the selection and preparation of athletes and coaches for their respective sport; and

5. A committee must provide the Regional Committees with at least 120 days’ notice in advance of the hosting of a provincial event to allow sufficient time for regions to conduct their regional selection process (if applicable).

Role of Regional Committees I·SPARC has established 6 Regions across the province and formed Regional Committees representing each of the First Nations, Métis Chartered Communities, and Friendship Centres within their region. The regional boundaries are based on the Provincial Health Authorities boundaries and include the following regions (see attached Regional Maps):

1. Northwest 2. Northeast 3. Interior 4. Fraser 5. Vancouver Coastal

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6. Vancouver Island For those sports that have strong participation numbers across the province and whose Sport Committee calls for a Regional selection process leading into the Provincial Championships or Camp, the 6 Regional Committees will be called upon to facilitate the Regional selection process. The Regional selection processes are to be held in advance of the Provincial Championships or Camp in order to identify the regional athletes and coaches eligible to advance to the Provincial level event. Further details regarding regional processes are provided below within the sections pertaining specifically to Provincial Championships and specifically to Athlete Development Camps. Provincial Championships Process For select sports, a BC Indigenous Provincial Championships will be used by the Provincial Sport Committees to identify or select athletes/teams who may represent Team BC at the North American Indigenous Games. Provincial Championships will follow a uniform process, which will generally consist of the following elements:

1. Championships to be sanctioned by Provincial Sport Organization where possible;

2. The competition format is to be based on the Sport Technical Package developed for the 2020 NAIG (i.e., eligibility, age categories, competition rules and regulations, etc.);

3. For team sports, no more than 2 teams per division may be entered per region in a Championship;

4. For team sports, the winning team (athletes plus coaches) of the Provincial Championship will be automatically awarded right to represent Team BC for their sport/age division/gender and earn designation as ‘Team BC’.

a. The winning team will have the opportunity to add additional players (who competed at the Championships) as Team BC alternates and/or to fill their roster.

5. For individual sports, athletes finishing in first place are NOT automatically guaranteed a spot on Team BC or Team BC Development Squads. While their performance at the Championships will weigh heavily in the selection process, athlete selection criteria may also include other contributing factors including conduct, attitude, commitment to training, recent performance results, and other criteria determined by the team coaches and/or selection committee.

6. For individual sports, the Committee may opt for coaches to select athletes from the Championships to form a Team BC Development Squad whereby Development Squad athletes will continue training and preparing for NAIG as part of a Team BC NAIG shortlist with final roster selections determined at a Team BC training camp.

Should a Regional selection process be required to qualify for participation in the Provincial Championships, the 6 Regional Committees will be called upon to facilitate the Regional selection process. Regional Committees will use the following points for direction as they develop their selection processes.

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To ensure consistency and clarity across all regions, Regional Committees will use the following points for direction as they develop their selection processes:

1. Regional Committees may utilize any selection process they wish for the sport, provided that the process established by the Committee remains open to eligible Indigenous athletes and coaches, and is fair, transparent, and well communicated/promoted in advance of the event.

a. In accordance with the above, the Regional Committee must also advise the Provincial Sport Committee of their specific selection process plan prior to initiating their Selection processes.

2. It is recommended that Regional Committees establish their own internal sport

committees composed of individuals that possess strong sport technical knowledge. The regional sport committee would guide the regional sport selection process. Regional Committees with limited capacity may seek guidance and recommendations from the Provincial Sport Committee regarding selection process options.

3. Regional Committees may enter no more than two (2) teams per division in a Provincial

Championship (Team Sport).

4. Any coach selected to a Regional team must have minimum NCCP Competition Stream – Development Context (Trained) or equivalent Coaching certification for their sport. It is also required that the coach also have completed the Aboriginal Coaching Module course, Respect in Sport, Making Headway in Sport, and Making Ethical Decisions. Coaches who have not completed these certifications must complete prior to participation in NAIG, with a deadline of May 1, 2020. [Please refer to the “Minimum requirements for Coaches” on page 7 for more details.]

5. If a Regional Committee does not have sufficient numbers of athletes and coaches to

establish a full team to compete at the Provincial Championships, they may canvass the other Regions for athletes and/or coaches and/or combine regional efforts/teams following approval by the respective Provincial Sport Committee. Alternatively, those athletes/coaches can go to other regions to compete (note: Regional Committees are required to share information with each other regarding the availability of athletes/coaches); and

6. Regional Committees will inform athletes/coaches that they may participate with a region other than the one where they reside. In all cases, athletes/coaches must commit to one region (i.e., they cannot try out for 2 regions).

Provincial Camp Process For select sports, a BC Indigenous Provincial Athlete Camp may be used by the Provincial Sport Committees as a selection camp to identify athletes who may represent Team BC at the Halifax 2020 North American Indigenous Games. Provincial Athlete Camps will generally consist of the following:

1. Camp to be sanctioned by Provincial Sport Organization and led by certified coach(es), preferably by established Team BC NAIG coaching staff where possible;

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3. The camp format, selection criteria and processes to be determined by the Provincial Sport Committee; process established by the Committee must be open to eligible Indigenous athletes and coaches, and must be fair, transparent, and well communicated/promoted in advance of the event.If participation levels and resources allow, two or more Provincial camps may be delivered in strategic locations (e.g. Southern BC camp and Northern BC camp).

4. Committee may opt to select athletes from the Provincial Camp process to form a Team BC Development Squad whereby Development Squad athletes will continue training and preparing for NAIG as part of a Team BC NAIG shortlist with final roster selections determined at a Team BC training camp

Alternative Selection Processes Alternatives to Provincial Championships or Camps as the Selection Format Low-participation sports may benefit from an alternate approach to a Provincial Championship or Camp format, as outlined above. In the circumstance where the Provincial Sport Committee deems there to be insufficient participation levels to warrant a selection process solely through a Provincial Championship or Camp, the Committee will recommend an alternative selection process to the Team BC Work Group for approval. The alternative process must be open to all eligible Indigenous athletes and coaches, and is fair, transparent, and well communicated/promoted in advance of the event.

Minimum Requirements for Coaches In order to be eligible to serve as a Team BC coach for 2020 NAIG, coaches will be required to have minimum coaching certification requirements as per 2020 NAIG Governing Rules. If coaches of Regional teams competing in a Provincial Championships do not possess the required minimum certification, they must be working towards earning their certification at the next available opportunity prior to NAIG (must be completed by May 1, 2020).

The NAIG Council has adopted National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) certification standards for all Canadian coaching staff as outlined in the NAIG Sport Technical Package (STP). The minimum requirements consist generally of coaches certified under the NCCP Competition Stream, Development Context. The STP outlines the specific NCCP training certification requirements for coach positions within each sport; all coaches must be fully trained to the level outlined by sport, age category and position. All coaches must also have trained status in the Aboriginal Coaching Module (ACM). It is mandatory that coaches also complete training in Making Ethical Decisions, the Respect in Sport Activity Leader Program, and Making Headway in Sport.

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Community Host Application and Selection Process Provincial Championships or Camps Host Application and Selection Process First Nations, Métis Chartered Communities and Friendship Centres will be invited to host a BC Indigenous Provincial Championship or Athlete Development Camp through a Host Application Process. The Team BC Work Group will conduct a Host Application Process for communities or Friendship Centres to apply for the opportunity to host a Provincial Championship. (Please refer to the BC Indigenous Provincial Championships & Athlete Development Camps – Host Application Process and Form for details). The Provincial Sport Committees or the Team BC Work Group will select the Host Communities/Friendship Centres based on experience and preparedness (i.e., successful applicant will have the necessary level of resources – human and financial, available facilities, a strong volunteer base, past hosting experience, etc). The Host Selection process will also consider the importance of having Provincial events delivered across the province and in areas/regions where that particular sport has a strong history and presence. Any proceeds from these events (determined after host operating costs have been paid for) will be applied towards Team BC travel and related costs.

Appreciation I·SPARC wishes to express its appreciation to the Team BC Work Group and the 6 Regional Committees for their help and contribution toward developing the Team BC selection process. I·SPARC also wishes to thank all the communities, families, and especially the youth athletes for their hard work, dedication, and personal commitment to Indigenous Sport and to Team BC. Team BC Work Group and Past Regional Committee Leads Anne Keith, Interior Region Bonnie Antoine, Métis (Interior Region) Corinne McKay, Northwest Region Carla George, Vancouver Coastal Region Garrett Elliott, Vancouver Island Region Judy Joseph-Black Ken Edzerza, Northeast Region Kerry Marion, Métis (Fraser Region) Rick Brant, ISPARC Lara Mussell Savage, ISPARC Stacy McNeil, Fraser Region Michelle Webster, Interior Region

2019-20 Regional Committee Leads Ken Edzerza, Northeast Region Dewayne Robinson, Northwest Region Courtenay Gibson, Vancouver Coastal Region Cheryl Charlie, Fraser Region Bruce Baptiste, Interior Region Wally Samuel, Vancouver Island Region Mildred Price, Vancouver Island Region

Regional Maps

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