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IBA Selection Policy

Philosophy

The objective of the IBA Selection Policy is to ensure the best possible squads, teams and players are selected to achieve maximum success when representing Ireland. (Note: Northern Ireland for Commonwealth Games Events).

Selectors

  • The IBA Council shall appoint, at its sole discretion, a panel of six selectors on the basis of previous national or international experience or involvement in IBA competitions.
  • The Team Manager, by virtue of that position, is automatically an additional  selector.
  • Where any of the selectors becomes ill or is unable to meet his responsibilities under this policy, the IBA Council may appoint a replacement selector.

Selection Criteria for International Teams / International Events /Panels

Selection criteria for International Teams/ International Events / Panels will be based on the following

  • Current and previous national and international performances in events and over such periods as determined by the selectors;
  • Demonstrated and/or potential ability to play in a set position, and ability to adapt to the format of play and environmental conditions for the next benchmark event;
  • The player’s current level of skill and physical fitness;
  • Consistency in standards of behaviour conducive to supporting the goals of the team and overall objectives of the IBA;
  • Demonstrated and/or potential ability and attitude to work with the Team Manager, team officials and other players;
  • Any current or potential injury or condition which will impair, inhibit or prevent the player’s performance to the requisite level;
  • Any other factor considered relevant at the sole discretion of the selectors;
  • This Policy shall be available to all members of the IBA through the IBA
    website. The IBA shall have no general responsibility to give notice of this policy to individual members

Player selection procedure

It should be noted that no particular selection criterion shall be weighted more or less significantly.

  • The selectors shall select such panels, teams or individual players as may be required from time to time.
  • The selectors shall have total discretion in selection.
  • A decision of the selectors is required to be based on the selection criteria.
  • The decision of the selectors shall be final.
  • Selectors will try where possible to give feedback to non-selected players, but reasons are not required to be given for any selection decision.
  • The selectors may from time to time in their discretion select a player who does not meet the criteria at a particular point in time. This may occur in circumstances such as but not limited to illness.

Players have no right to make submissions or representations to, or appear before, the selectors unless expressly requested by the selectors.

Notification of Selection

  • Notification will be made by the IBA Honorary Secretary on the IBA Website.
  • Subject to any constraints imposed upon the IBA by third parties, players selected by the selectors shall be notified of their selection and/or non-selection as soon as practicable.

Player Removal from Panels / Teams

  • Any player who breaches the IBA Code of Conduct
  • Any player who by reason of illness or injury is unable to perform to the required standard in the opinion of the selectors (after having received advice from a medical practitioner);
  • Any selected player may be removed from a national team or squad by the selectors in consultation with the Team Manager as the circumstances may require. This includes where the player has failed to sustain his performance and/or attitude to a satisfactory level, provided that the required performance levels had first been discussed with the player, and the player has been given the opportunity to attain those performance levels.

Appeals

An aggrieved player may appeal, against a failure of the selectors to comply with the procedures set down in this policy. Any appeal will proceed in accordance with this clause.

Procedure for appeal

  • Any appeal against a decision of the selectors must be made within 7 days of any public announcement and in writing or e-mail to the IBA Honorary Secretary.
  • The application must state the procedural grounds for appeal; and the reasons or circumstances supporting the alleged grounds of appeal;
  • Nothing in this policy prevents the withdrawal of an appeal at any time in writing.
  • On receipt of an appeal in accordance with this policy, the IBA Honorary Secretary must immediately request that a Selection Review Panel (Panel) be formed from the IBA Council.
  • Once the Selection Review Panel is formed, the IBA Honorary Secretary must immediately forward the appeal documents to the Selection Review Panel.

Selection Review Panel

  • The Panel shall be constituted by any three persons available to hear the appeal who are appointed by the IBA Honorary Secretary after consultation with the IBA Council.
  • The Panel will be chaired by someone not directly interested in the matter under consideration.

Functions of the Panel

  • The Panel has no power of selection or re-selection.
  • The Panel may review the matter set out in the appeal and may (if appropriate) refer the matter back to the Selectors for consideration.

Procedures for the Panel

  • On receipt of the appeal papers, the chair of the Panel shall immediately notify the other Panel members of the appeal, by electronic or other means, and shall forward copies of the relevant appeal papers to the other Panel members as a matter of urgency.
  • The Panel shall, as soon as practical, investigate and consider the matter and shall within 7 days of receiving such notice, determine whether:
    • The matter should be dismissed, because in its determination, the matter is trifling in nature or has no merit; or
    • The appeal warrants further review and determination in accordance with this policy.

If the Panel determines the matter warrants further review it shall as soon as practicable, having regard to the timing of selection and proximity of relevant events, serve a notice in writing on the aggrieved player stating that the aggrieved player may address the Panel at a meeting to be held as soon as practicable, being not earlier than four days from the date of the notice, stating the date, place and time of that meeting; and informing the aggrieved player that he may do any one or more of the following:

  • Attend that meeting or
  • Give the Panel, no later than 24 hours before the time of that meeting, a further written statement setting out relevant information surrounding the appeal.

The Panel may conduct a meeting and following consideration of all relevant and available information make a finding. A decision of the Panel will be by a majority decision. The Panel shall notify the IBA Honorary Secretary of its finding as soon as practicable.

If the Panel considers the grounds alleged by the aggrieved player to be satisfied, it shall recommend that the selectors again consider the selection of the relevant
squad, team or player. The Selectors shall comply with any direction of the Panel in this regard. Any further selection decision of the selectors under the direction of the Panel shall be final, and no other further appeal shall be available to the aggrieved player in respect of that selection.

Appeal from the Panel

Any Appeal from a decision of the Panel will be outside of the remit of the IBA. The sole grounds of any appeal against the decision of the Panel are:

  • There has been a breach of the rules of national justice by the Panel or;
  • That the decision of the Panel is otherwise wrong in law.
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