Athlete Criteria Policy

 

The application window for 2023 and Deaf Worlds is CLOSED

Watch for our 2024 announcement

 

Contact [email protected] if you need additional information

 

6th World Deaf Swimming Championships
Buenos Aires, Argentina, 13-19 August 2023

 

For additional information contact us at [email protected]

General Application Process

  1. All athletes shall submit an application packet to USA Deaf Swimming (USADS)  Team Director by January 31, 2023 (see below for submission procedure).  Athletes are identified as those who meet the Mandatory Eligibility Requirements provision of the Selection Procedures herein and are selected by the USADS Selection Committee. These athletes selected shall register with the USADS and USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF) as a member.
  2. Following the registration deadline established by ICSD, those athletes eligible under ICSD and USADSF regulations and registering to compete in the USA Deaf Swimming National Team shall be verified by the USA Deaf Swimming Selection Committee before being nominated to the USADSF Games Preparation Chair.  Once USADSF’s Board approves the nominations of Directors, the Final Roster shall become the USADSF’s Deaf National Team for the 6th World Deaf Swimming Championships.  The selections shall be based upon the Selection Criteria provision herein.

Mandatory Eligibility Requirements

  1. Possess United States citizenship.
  2. Possess a valid identity card (e.g., driver’s license, SSN card).
  3. Possess a valid passport that expires no earlier than 6 months following end of competition.
  4. Be a member of the USADSF in good standing.
  5. Have a hearing loss of at least 55 dB (3-tone frequency average at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hertz, ISO 1964 Standard) in the better-unaided ear, as documented on a recent audiologist-certified audiogram. Review the audiogram policy.
  6. Submit themself without reservations to all doping control policies and procedures of the USADSF, ICSD, and World AntiDoping Agency (WADA).
  7. Be currently training regularly in the 12 months before the competition.
  8. Commit to maintaining a consistent training regimen from selection to the team departure for competition.
  9. Submit qualifying times that must have been achieved after August 13, 2021 and before USADS submits the final team roster to USADF.
  10. Maintain contact with the USADS Sports Director, USA Team coaching staff, and USADS’s Team Leader to keep informed about training regimens and competition results from selection until the competition.
  11. Exhibit good sportsmanship and character as evidenced by letters of recommendation, appropriate social media presence, and prior history as a competitive athlete. 
  12. Sign and abide by USADS’s Code of Conduct and other applicable forms.
  13. Commit to participation in a training camp(s) if made available through USADS or another entity.
  14. Commit to fundraising to cover expenses of participation in the 6th World Deaf Swimming Championships at Buenas Aries, Argentina.
  15. Complete the USADS’s Deaf National Team application packet.
  16. At your own expense, agree to comply with travel restrictions and requirements established by the US, Argentina, or other organizations or governments with such authority, specifically, those requirements designated due to the pandemic.

Application Packet

Submit the following to [email protected]: 

The USADS Selection Board will convene after January 31, 2023 and select team members from qualified applciatant.  The team will be announced prior to April 1, 2023.

Selection Criteria

The selection criteria are determined by ICSD Technical Regulations and USA Deaf Swimming. The requirements include 1) hearing loss of 55 dB or greater in the better ear, 2) achievement of one or more minimum qualifying times for the 6th World Deaf Swimming Championships (Qualifying Times), 3) submission of character reference letters to USA Deaf Swimming, and 4) approval by the USA Deaf Swimming Selection Committee. 

Selection Process

The USA Deaf Swimming Committee shall review the resumes, qualification times, or other necessary means of qualifications and interview each chosen applicant.  The interviews may be done in-person, via videophone, or by e-mail and the Selection Committee shall decide based on the discussions and qualifications. The above qualifying times are only the minimum required qualifying times; athletes selected for the team will be those the selection committee identifies as potentially finishing in the top 8 of finals in one or more events. Therefore, the qualifying times for selecting Team USA athletes may be faster than the minimum required for the competition. The USADS Selection Committee may, at their discretion, accept applications after the stated deadline when such application, if approved, does not result in a previously approved applicant being removed from the team roster.

Selection Committee

USA Deaf Swimming Selection Committee is composed of the following voting positions.  These individuals include:

  • Rene Massengale, Director, USA Deaf Swimming

  • Elizabeth Cocker, Travel Leader, USA Deaf Swimming

  • Mark Cronk, Board Member, USA Deaf Swimming

  • Head Coach, USA Deaf Swimming, 6th World Deaf Swimming Championship