UPDATED JUNIOR SELECTION POINTS
In the spring of 2011, Squash Canada conducted a Long Term Player Development (LTPD) Competitions Review as well as a High Performance Review which brought together some of the country’s top current and past players; leading squash coaches and sport administrators to discuss Squash Canada’s strategic direction and the current competition and performance structures.
UPDATED JUNIOR SELECTION POINTS
In the spring of 2011, Squash Canada conducted a Long Term Player Development (LTPD) Competitions Review as well as a High Performance Review which brought together some of the country’s top current and past players; leading squash coaches and sport administrators to discuss Squash Canada’s strategic direction and the current competition and performance structures.
Through this process, Squash Canada contracted world-renowned high performance experts who both facilitated the discussion and made recommendations to the organization. The recommendations from both the Competitions and Performance Reviews indicated that the current junior national team selection process had a few shortcomings including:
1. Not enough Head-to-Head results between squad members
2. Not enough meaningful interaction between players across the country
3. Not all the best players were named to a squad, making them eligible for team selection
4. The selection process was ambiguous and was not clear for all the eligible players
5. The best players did not play in the same events or in the same categories
From the discussion(s) and recommendations from the expert group, Squash Canada is unveiling a new national team selection process for junior aged players beginning with the 2012 – 2013 squash season (commencing September 2012). The new process is based on excellence and will do the following to improve the competition structure of the country:
o Creates a more transparent process for national team selection which selects players based on excellence in competitions
o Provides a flexible process where players may choose to participate in events based on their schedule; it is more flexible for junior eligible US and Canadian based collegiate players
o Inclusive process which does not name members to a squad; players have a chance to participate in the process and qualify for a selection trial
o Allows for more level appropriate competition
o Increases the potential for ‘Head-to-Head’ interaction among prospective team members
o Utilizes a more efficient measure for talent identification
o Aligns competitive structure more effectively and within the principles of LTAD
Please view the full Junior Selection Process Document, and discuss with your coach!