The U.S. Standing Team Selection Committee (Kris Beecroft, Vladimir Gusiatnikov, Kristin Hall, and Patrick Nuss) is pleased to announce the selection of the following orienteers for the 2012 U.S. Orienteering Team (Foot-O):
A - Men: Jordan Laughlin (USMAOC), Ross Smith (CSU), Sergei Zhyk (HVO)
A - Women: Alison Crocker (CSU), Samantha Saeger (NEOC)
B - Men: Eric Bone (COC), Wyatt Riley (DVOA), Ken Walker Jr. (CSU)
B - Women: Hannah Burgess (USMAOC), Alex Jospe (CSU)
C - Men: Keith Andersen (USMAOC), Eddie Bergeron (SVO), Boris Granovskiy (CSU), Clem McGrath(DVOA), Nikolay Nachev (COC),
C - Women: Pavlina Brautigam (WCOC), Alison Campbell (DVOA), Cristina Luis (DVOA), Angelica Riley (DVOA), Anna Shafer-Skelton (SLOC), Sandra Zurcher (RMOC, OLG Bern)
Selection is based on A-meet M/F21 performances during the preceding year with preference given to championship events, the Team Trials, and rankings. In the case of potential members living abroad, the committee considers their known competition results and training regimens. It is from this list -- which is sub-divided into A, B, and C -- that orienteers are eligible to represent Orienteering USA in IOF-sanctioned elite events.
The criteria for placement on the A, B and C lists are:
"A" list: Those who, if we were naming a squad now for a major international competition, would almost certainly be included.
"B" list: Those from whom you could reasonably expect the rest of the major international squad to come.
"C" list: Those who lack fitness due to injury, experience, or consistency to regularly challenge those on the "A" or "B" lists, although they can and do on any given day.
If someone is not on that list - could they make the WOC team to go to Swiss this year?
Say some unknown shows up and demolishes everyone at the Team Trials - would they go to WOC?
So... the point of it is? To state the obvious?
Because there is more in life than just WOC.
As far as I can tell, most (English-speaking) countries would call this kind of selection a 'squad' but the US for some reason best known to itself calls it a 'team.'
I like 'squad'. We should start using squad. I have no idea why we don't already, but it's probably for the same reason that we have our own use for the word 'biscuit'.
I dunno. Standing team is good. It distinguishes you from TrailO participants, I think.
I like squad and agree with c.hill whats the point? why name a standing team and then a WOC team? If it is supposed to be a "squad" then I think honestly it should be called one. as this "team" doesn't mean 100% your going to race for the USA.
From
the OUSA website section on the senior team, concerning the standing team:
It is from this list -- which is sub-divided into A, B, and C -- that orienteers are eligible to represent Orienteering USA in IOF-sanctioned elite events.
That is, you must be on the standing team to race at IOF-sanctioned elite events, like World Cup events.
So A runners get first call on if they want to race a World Cup and C runners get last preference?
(Assuming that the US aren't going to hold selection races for a World Cup race)
Indeed some of the rationale is to not to have to hold a selection race for WCup.
This is very similar to the uk approach:
http://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/page/athlete...
I think it's a good idea to have a squad like this (languages nuances aside). Nothing guarantees selection but it is a good indicator. Also possibly used to gauge funding levels and such like, another important part of a national squad.
If it is going to be renamed a squad, I definitely should be considered. I perform much better on squads than on teams and I have no doubt I would make the US Standing Squad - A. I am tempted to start a new thread to discuss this name change... and don't dare me, 'cause I'll do it.
Theoretically this ought to be considered an honor as well?
Or at least a useful designation when applying for sponsorship (especially if not going to WOC that year). "Member of US Orienteering team since X year" is better than "likely to qualify for WOC."