British Columbia Blind Sports and Recreation Association

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BCBSRA – BC Athlete Assistance Program 2007-2008

BC Blind Sports is accepting applications for support from the BC Athlete Assistance Program (BC AAP).

Available support is awarded to those athletes who best meet the established Criteria for the following eligible sports. These sports are currently supported by BC Blind Sports and Recreation Association for purposes of the BC AAP program.

Athletics
Swimming
Goalball
Tandem Cycling
Judo
5- Aside Soccer

BC Blind Sports has an established BC AAP Committee that is responsible for final selection of BC AAP funding. Decisions by the committee are subject to appeal to an independent BC AAP appeal committee. To download the application form (.pdf), click here.

Minimum Criteria for selection:

The BC Athlete Assistance Program (BC AAP) is an athlete-centred program of financial assistance funded by the Province of British Columbia and administered by the Sport and Recreation Branch of the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts. The program seeks to recognize high performance athletes who are participating in programs offered through a provincial sport organization or post secondary institution and competing in recognized national or international competitions to relieve some of the pressures associated with training and competition needs

*BC Athlete Assistance Program for Athletes with a Disability

The Intent of the BC Athlete Assistance Program is to provide support to those athletes who have been selected to represent their province while endeavoring for future selection on a national team

Athlete Eligibility:

Training, Competition, and Performance

Athletes must be involved in programs and competitions that are within the Long Term Athlete Development stages of “Training to Compete and/or Training to Win”. Copies are available at the BC Blind Sports office. Funding support is based on the stages or level that the athletes are currently competing. Athletes must meet sport specific criteria as established and identified by the BCAAP committee.

Citizenship and Residency

To be eligible for BC AAP funding, an athlete must be a Canadian citizen or be of landed immigrant status, and a resident of British Columbia for at least one year prior to his/her date of nomination.

Use of Banned Substances and Methods

BC’s Policy on Sport and Physical Activity clearly outlines the “ethical pursuit of excellence” – which includes competing without the use of banned substances – as one of its pillars of support to sport. The Province of British Columbia strongly opposes the use of prohibited substances and methods as they are contrary to the ethics of sport and may be harmful to the health of athletes.

Since we look to our elite athletes to set the standards for all who aspire to be at the top level of competition, athletes who are suspended by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport and/or their respective International Sport Federation for an anti-doping rule violation will be declared permanently ineligible for BC Athlete Assistance Funding.

Coaching

Athletes must be regularly coached by a Level 3 NCCP Coach or have qualifications recognized by BC Blind Sports if there is not an NCCP level currently established for the chosen sport and disability.

Professional / Semi-Professional Status:

Athletes who receive or who have received funding in excess of normal living costs through exercising their skills as a professional or semi-professional athlete within the same sport as the one for which they wish to receive BC AAP funding, will not be eligible for BC AAP funding. The responsibility is on the athlete to prove that this eligibility requirement is met.

Commitment to the PSO/NSO:

Athletes receiving financial assistance from the Province of British Columbia must be available for provincial team selection and if selected, commit to train, travel with and represent BC in applicable competitions.

Funding Levels:

A minimum of 500.00 to a maximum of 3500.00 will be awarded to individuals selected by the BC Blind Sports BC AAP committee. Funding levels to be determined by BCBSRA AAP committee based on athlete performance level and sport requirements.

Sport Criteria:

Athletes in individual sports -Athletics, Swimming, Judo, and Tandem Cycling-must have participated in a minimum of two events within the 2006- 2008 time period in competitions sanctioned by BC Blind Sports. Performance must be in events eligible for IPC events, Paralympic or IBSA World Youth (Junior) or Senior Championships and subject to selection by relevant NSO or MSO.
Athletes must be under the direction of a level 3 (NCCP) coach or similarly qualified coach recognized by BC Blind Sports where there is no current NCCP program for the disability and sport.

Athletes in Goalball and 5-a-side Soccer must be affiliated with a recognized training group under the direction and sanction of BC Blind Sports and its members. Priority is given to National Team selection pool, provincial team members (Junior and Senior), and individuals identified by Provincial Team selection committee as provincial team pool members. Athletes must have participated in minimum of two provincial level competitions or identified and ( BC Blind Sports or CBSA) supported training camps.

Sport Guides such as Tandem Cycling Pilots, Swim Tappers and Guide Runners are eligible if certified by BC Blind Sports and are training with their Blind/Visually Impaired Athlete on a verifiable ongoing basis.

General Criteria:

All Blind/VI athletes must be eligible for selection to BC Blind Sport Provincial Junior or Senior Teams.
All Blind/VI athletes must be eligible for sight classification.

All applicants must be members in good standing of the BC Blind Sport and Recreation Association.

Appeal Process:

Appeals must be submitted in writing within 14 days of publication and athlete notification of BCAAP awards nomination.
Appeals to be submitted to BC Blind Sports AAP Appeal Committee with written documentation supporting appeal of award amount or eligibility for support.

Important Dates: 2007-2008 BCAAP

2008:
February 18 BC AAP applications available
February 25 Deadline for BC AAP applications to be submitted to BCBSRA office (330-5050 Joyce Street, Vancouver, V5R 6B2)
March 7 Selection of BC AAP Recipients announced
March 21 Deadline for appeals
March 28 Final release of BC AAP Funds to Recipients

To download the application form (.pdf), click here.

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