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Team Selection Policy for Non-Target Events

ABF Team Selection Policy for Non-Target Events

Target events are set by the ABF annually

From time to time, the ABF receives invitations to send teams to other events throughout the world such as the NEC Cup and the Yeh Bros Invitational, which have not been designated as target events. The format of the events may be Open, Youth, Seniors, Women or Mixed teams’ events.

If the ABF chooses to support the event to which we have been invited, then this policy defines the method of team selection for these secondary events. Since secondary events provide an opportunity for increased international competition experience, generally priority will be given to Open, Youth and Women over Seniors.

Selection for Target events will continue to be managed via the Playoff/PQP process, and is not affected by this policy.

Eligibility

All players selected must be eligible to play for Australia as per the ABF’s Eligibility to represent Australia Policy.

General Selection Protocol:

For all event categories a winning team from the most recent target event held either in the current year or the previous calendar year in the non-target event category will automatically be offered first right of refusal for the appropriate category in the non-target event on offer.

Selection Protocol (Years where Pairs based selection trials are held):

For events where Pairs based Selection Trials were used for the most recent Selection Trials, the following prioritisation methodology will be adopted for:

  1. Open Team invitations:
    1. The first three placed pairs from the Open Selection Trials will be offered the right to form a team
    2. Should one or more of the first three placed pairs decline, places will be offered to pairs in sequential order from the pool of players who qualified for stage two if a two-stage selection process is held. If a one stage selection event is held places will be offered to pairs in sequential order up to the 10th placed pair. If only two pairs accept the invitation, then ABF augmentation rules will apply if a team of three pairs is required;
  2. Women Team invitations:
    1. As per the Open Team except that the Women’s Selection Trials will be used;
  3. Seniors Team invitations:
    1. As per the Open Team except that the Seniors’ Selection Trials will be used;

Selection Protocol (Years where Teams based selection trials are held):

For events where Teams based Selection Trials were used for the most recent Selection Trials, the following prioritisation methodology will be adopted:

Priority for selection will be given to players who are intending to play in their regular playing partnerships.

Where four out of six players of an Australian team indicate availability, augmentation is permissible under the prioritisation criteria outlined in the policy below.

In the event that a team chooses to decline the offer, and selection has reverted to offering the opportunity to a team made up of pairs from different events, where more pairs apply than places are available, PQP points will be used for ranking. (In all cases where PQP points are used, PQP totals will be calculated on the same basis as for the most recent Playoffs.)

  1. Open Team invitations:
    1. The winning team from the Open Playoffs – the current Australian Open Team – will be offered first right of refusal to accept the invitation. If two out of the three pairs from the team accept the invitation, then ABF augmentation rules will apply if a team of three pairs is required;
    2. The runner-up team from the Open Playoffs will be offered second right of refusal to accept the If two out of the three pairs from the team accept the invitation, then ABF augmentation rules will apply if a team of three pairs is required;
    3. A team made up of pairs from the first to fourth placed teams in the Open Playoff. If more than three pairs express interest then pairs will be ranked by the sum of the partners’ PQPs;
    4. The highest ranked team from the most recent National Open Teams (Canberra) in which all players are eligible for selection for the Open Team. If two out of the three pairs from the team accept the invitation, then ABF augmentation rules will apply if a team of three pairs is required;
    5. A team made up of pairs which contested the Open Playoffs. If more than three pairs express interest then pairs will be ranked by the sum of the partners’ PQPs, calculated on the same basis as when that pair entered the Playoff.
  2. Women Team invitations:
    1. The winning team from the Women’s Playoffs – the current Australian Women’s Team – will be offered first right of refusal to accept the invitation; If two out of the three pairs from the team accept the invitation, then ABF augmentation rules will apply if a team of three pairs is required;
    2. The runner-up team from the Women’s Playoffs will be offered second right of refusal to accept the invitation; If two out of the three pairs from the team accept the invitation, then ABF augmentation rules will apply if a team of three pairs is required;
    3. A team made up of pairs from the first to fourth placed teams in the Women’s Playoff. If more than three pairs express interest then pairs will be ranked by the sum of the partners’ Women’s PQPs;
    4. The highest ranked team from the most recent National Women’s Teams Championship (Canberra) in which all players are eligible for selection to the Australian Women’s Team;
    5. A team made up of pairs who contested the Women’s Playoff. If more than three pairs express interest then pairs will be ranked by the sum of the partners’ Women’s PQPs.
  3. Seniors’ Team invitations:
    1. The winning team from the Seniors’ Playoffs – the current Australian Senior’s Team – will be offered first right of refusal to accept the invitation;
    2. The runner-up team from the Seniors’ Playoffs will be offered second right of refusal to accept the invitation;
    3. A team made up of pairs from the first to fourth placed teams in the Seniors’ Playoff. If more than three pairs express interest then pairs will be ranked by the sum of the partners’ Senior PQPs;
    4. The highest ranked team from the most recent National Seniors Teams Championship (Canberra) in which all players are eligible for selection to the Australian Senior team;
    5. A team made up of pairs who contested the Seniors’ playoffs, and who are playing in their regular partnerships. If more than three pairs express interest then pairs will be ranked by the sum of the partners’ Senior PQPs.
  4. Mixed Team invitations:
    1. The winning team from the Mixed Team Playoffs – the current Australian Mixed Team – will be offered first right of refusal to accept the invitation;
    2. The runner-up team from the Mixed Playoffs will be offered second right of refusal to accept the invitation;
    3. A team made up of pairs from the first to fourth placed teams in the Mixed Playoff. If more than three pairs express interest then pairs will be ranked by the sum of the partners’ PQP1 levels with priority given to established, successful male/female partnerships;
  1. Youth Team invitations:
    1. Each invitation will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
    2. A call for nominations will be made on the ABF website and by email to all eligible players from the most recent Youth Selection Butler. Priority will be given to established youth partnerships and Australian representatives in the given year, and any PQPs accrued by nominated pairs will be taken into consideration. Consideration will also be given to the results from Youth week and National events.
    3. Selection will be recommended to the ABF Management Committee by a panel headed by the Chair of the Tournament Committee and comprising the National Youth Co-ordinator, the Chair of the International Player Committee, and the current Australian Youth Non-Playing Captain(s).
  2. Men’s Team invitations:

    Subject to meeting the eligibility requirements of the event:

    1. The winning team from the Open Playoffs – the current Australian Open Team – will be offered first right of refusal to accept the invitation. If two out of the three pairs from the team accept the invitation, then ABF augmentation rules will apply if a team of three pairs is required;
    2. The runner-up team from the Open Playoffs will be offered second right of refusal to accept the If two out of the three pairs from the team accept the invitation, then ABF augmentation rules will apply if a team of three pairs is required;
    3. A team made up of pairs from the first to fourth placed teams in the Open Playoff. If more than three pairs express interest then pairs will be ranked by the sum of the partners’ PQPs;
    4. The highest ranked team from the most recent National Open Teams (Canberra) in which all players are eligible for selection for the Men’s Team. If two out of the three pairs from the team accept the invitation, then ABF augmentation rules will apply if a team of three pairs is required;
    5. A team made up of pairs which contested the Open Playoffs. If more than three pairs express interest then pairs will be ranked by the sum of the partners’ PQPs, calculated on the same basis as when that pair entered the Playoff.
  1. Super-mixed nominations
    1. A call for nominations will be made on the ABF website.
    2. Nominating Pairs will be ranked according to PQP1 levels of players, with priority given to established, successful all male and all female partnerships.
  1. Team Size & Composition

Given the duration of competitions, and low subsidies likely to be available, the ABF will endorse four or six person teams for non-target event competitions.

Addition of a non-playing Captain is optional, and will, in all likelihood, not be funded by the ABF.

  1. Subsidies

The ABF will pay entry fees for approved teams. Other funding will be determined on a case by case basis but is likely to be minimal.

The ABF will however endeavour to secure subsidies for its representatives through contact with the tournament organisers.

  1. Use of Terms suggesting contestants in an event represent Australia or the ABF

No player or players shall use any term, team name etc, that suggests that he or they represent Australia or the ABF without the approval of the ABF. Failure to obtain approval will be treated as a disciplinary matter by the ABF.

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1 Open PQP’s will be used for Male Players, and Women’s PQP’s derived under the PQP Transfer Policy will be used for female players.

March, 2019