LSBA Team Selection Policy

LSBA Team Selection Policy and Application of Policy

1 – LSBA Competitive Aims

Leicestershire Schools Badminton Association (LSBA) selects teams to represent the County in competing for junior Badminton honours. In so doing, Leicestershire players are given opportunities to test themselves against the best in the Country, and to develop their badminton skills.

Throughout the season players who fail to maintain the required standard in any of the disciplines will be excluded from the squad and training sessions. Likewise, players who show improvement in these disciplines will also have the opportunity to attend, or re-attend for assessment.

Players cannot assume that, if they have been members of a squad for one age group, they will automatically become members of the next group the following year.

When players of different age groups are of the same ability (e.g., U16 & U17), then the player from the older age group will be given preference.

2 – LSBA Policy of Transparency

The LSBA wants to give opportunities to all County standard children to represent Leicestershire at the highest level.

Wherever there are potential selections that could be contentious, the Team Managers Junior County Captain and Coaches will anticipate challenge and make transparent the reasons for their choice to the Committee before the team is published.

As at school and at other organisations selecting teams, there will always be occasion when some children and parents will be disappointed when there is disagreement with the team selected.

“Player’s representing another County before playing for Leicestershire needs to be ratified by the committee”.

3 – LSBA Player Eligibility

Junior players are eligible to represent Leicestershire if they:
Were born in Leicestershire.
or attend a school in Leicestershire.
or Live in Leicestershire
and also, be a current junior member of Badminton England

4 – LSBA Team Selection Criteria

Teams will be selected according to an assessment using the following criteria:

4.1 – Player Availability

The player has to be available to play and committed to represent Leicestershire.

4.2 Player Form

The Team Managers Junior County Captain and Coaches reach an opinion of relative player form from assessing all of the below:

Badminton England grading and ranking.
Previous results, including head-to-head games with other County players, and performance in recent matches.
Consultation with relevant Assistant Managers and Club, PC, and County coaches
Consultation with Team Managers of other age groups in the County.

4.3 – Positivity of Player Attitude

A positive attitude will be an important part of selection and covers support for team spirit; commitment to the Leicestershire team reputation; availability for Shires matches; enthusiasm, the will to win, respect for the opposition, and good sporting behaviour, on and off court. Where a players attitude, conduct or behaviour falls below that expected (see players code of conduct) it could result in their de-selection from a team.

4.4 – Player Development

The Team Manager/s Junior County Captain and Coaches decides who of those are available to play would benefit from the experience of playing and shares the selections around the age group squad in turn (wherever possible).

Friendly matches are encouraged and arranged wherever possible so as to expose as many children as possible to county representation.

5 – Selection for National Team Events

Leicestershire County’s objective is to win: to be the best County in the Country at badminton and should select the strongest team available.

The Team Manager, Junior County Captain and Coaches will select the team, applying the criteria below:

Player Availability.
Player Form.
Performance at Training Sessions.
Player Attitude.

5.2 – Selection for League Standard Events

Leicestershire County’s objective is to win. The team should be picked taking into account the strength of opposition, as long as it does not jeopardise the aim of qualifying for the Finals and Play-Offs.

The Team Manager, Junior County Captain and Coaches select the team according to:

Player Availability.
Player Form.
Player Attitude.
Player Development.
Performance at training sessions.

5.3 – Selection for Friendly Standard Events

Leicestershire County’s objective is to be competitive and to give as many fringe players as possible the opportunity to play.
The Team Manager, Junior County Captain and Coaches select the team according to:

Player Availability.
Player Attitude.
Player Development.
Player Form.

N.B Please note that in all of the above instances the following will apply:

If two players under consideration have an equal ability and if each player is from a different age group, the player of same age group as the event will be selected.

Important Note: The LSBA recognises and applauds the efforts of all children in the squad, particularly those who have contributed through the season but are not selected for an event.

5.4 – LSBA Ranking of Events

The LSBA has given events and fixtures the following rankings: –

Event/Fixture	Ranking
ICT – U18	National Team Event
Rio – U18	National Team Event
Shires League Finals	National Team Event
Team Events (All other)	League (second teams if entered – Friendly)
Shires League	League
Friendly	Friendly

6 – County Colours

Leicestershire awards County Colours in the form of a ‘sewn on’ badge relevant to the age group. To be entitled to Colours a player must represent Leicestershire in at least three representative County Matches (for the U12, U14, U16, U18 age groups only) in the current season (this does not include friendly matches).

These awards will be presented to players at the end of the season. A player can only receive county colours for the age group they qualify for once.

7 – Complaints and Standards

Parents should recognise that there may be circumstances where they feel, in their opinion, a complaint should be made. In the first instant, minor complaints or issues should be addressed via the Parent Representative to the Coach/Manager on the ground. Under no circumstances must a Coach/ Manager or official be approached during an event or in front of players and/or other parents; Officials of LSBA must not be verbally abused in any way at events. Standards of conduct apply to both Players and Parents and complaints should be dealt with in a professional manner at all times. Should any matter not be resolved by the Officials on the ground, then at this stage a formal letter should be written as detailed below.

If no Parent Representative has been appointed, then please direct your complaint to the Coach/Manager in the first instance.

7.1 – Issues of a general, minor nature which may affect a squad as a whole should be addressed via the Parent Representative who may raise the issue with the LSBA Committee.

7.2 – Formal complaints should be made in writing and forwarded via the LSBA Secretary. Formal complaints are dealt with in accordance with guidelines laid down by BADMINTON England. Most complaints can be dealt with by LSBA; however, complaints of a serious nature may be dealt with by BADMINTON England under their disciplinary procedures. This may incur costs should the complaint be unfounded. Information is on the following web site. http://www.badmintonengland.co.uk

7.3 – Parents and players should recognise that in badminton the order of loyalty of play is: – Country-County-Tournament-Club-School. Of course, Education may take priority over Sport; however, there may be times where there is a conflict with other sporting groups and organisations. County Matches and Team events are considered of very high importance and should be given highest priority. It is an honour to be asked to represent your County and turning down an invitation must be for very good reason. Older players may be asked to represent Senior County. Should a clash occur, priority is always given to your Junior Squad unless agreed by your Squad Coach/Manager in liaison with Senior County. This is partly in the interest of the development of a child and in accordance with BADMINTON England’s Long Term Athlete Development. Playing senior badminton too soon may have a detrimental effect in some cases and parents are advised to liaise with Coaches before undertaking such events. In most cases a mutually agreeable solution can be found.