Selection and Deselection Policy for Women's Rugby
This document sets out the selection and deselection process for inclusion in the performance programme squad for Women’s Rugby.
This does not cover selection for an individual event, team or match as that is at the professional judgment of the Lead Coach or Director for that sport.
Performance Athlete Code of Conduct statement:
I understand for selection to the squad I will need to demonstrate that I have the appropriate and necessary skills and commitment, and that my performance, fitness and lifestyle are at the required level. I understand that selectioninvolves complex judgements about the attributes of individuals and their potential contribution to a team or squad.
Selection Process To the Women’s Rugby Squad:
Selection is the responsibility of the Head Coach for the performance programme.
These criteria will be used to select athletes to the squad. Selection decisions should be fair, transparent and equitable.
Skills Required
Players within the women’s rugby performance programme are expected to be performing consistently at Premiership or at a minimum Premiership Cup level.
We expect high levels of communication, commitment and integrity from performance squad players.
Commitment
Performance squad players are expected to be at all performance squad training sessions. This will usually be 6 training sessions a week and a game. Given the structure of our season, availability for either training or fixtures across the weekend is expected. Games can be played on Friday evening, Saturday or Sunday.
Some training sessions will be during the day. For student athletes or those that work, lectures, seminars and their work commitments take priority. The expectation is that their availability is effectively communicated.
Players are expected to be on-pitch 15 minutes before the start of any given training session. Failure to do so will result in the individual not being allowed to partake in that session unless prior communication around coming from work or lectures is provided.
Where possible performance squad players are expected to be at the coached gym sessions provided by S&C coaches. However, it is important that they must prioritise lectures and seminars above this. Where there is a clash, they must communicate this with the Head of S&C (Adam Burton), either by providing advanced notice of sessions that they will consistently miss or by messaging at least half an hour before for any last minute changes of availability. Alternative early morning sessions will be provided and effectively communicated. Where possible, these should be prioritised over training individually.
When asked, players will be expected to train and/or play in non-performance squad fixtures/sessions.
Performance
On field performance will be consistently reviewed by coaches. We expect players to consistently review their own performance as well. All fixtures and training are available to view, and we expect players to review both individual and team performances.
There is no specific deselection criteria around performance. Athletes will be consistently aware of how coaches view their performance in training and fixtures and individualised feedback will be available.
Fitness
Follow strength and conditioning programmes provided by Women’s Rugby Head of S&C unless otherwise told (i.e. if told to follow S&C programme by international team etc.)
Athletes are expected to use the services available to them, from S&C to nutrition to physio support, to enable them to be in the best physical place possible to train and play.
When injured on duty away from the club, the expectation is on the player to communicate this with us as well as the physio of who they are representing.
Lifestyle
Feeding into the above, athletes are expected to conduct their lifestyle in a manner that enhances and does not detract from their ability to perform. Through being mindful around recovery and preparation athletes should be in the best place possible to perform.
Athletes are educated regularly around the importance of sleep to recovery and therefore should factor this into all lifestyle choices. Our women’s performance programme competes at the top level of the sport with a mixture of professional and non-professional players. We expect non-professional players to conduct themselves in an equally professional manner.
Attitudes and Behaviours
Women’s rugby players are expected to represent the values of Loughborough and the club at all times. Be it through media interviews, appearances on behalf of the club or their nation, or simply when conducting themselves in everyday life they must be conscious that they are representing the club as well as themselves.
Review process (e.g. termly, monthly, annually)
The performance squad is reviewed on a regular basis, usually monthly during season.
If an athlete performs below the expected level, be it through performance or commitment, they will on occassion be asked to train below the performance squad where they are expected to demonstrate the above behaviours before returning to performance squad training.
Consistently failing to meet the above standards will lead to permanent deselection. Being late to sessions and therefore not being able to train will naturally impact upon selection for that week. Consistently failing to train as part of the performance squad will lead to deselection.
Regular IDPs and feedback sessions are available with coaches that will provide athletes with an accurate reflection of where they are in the squad.
If an athlete is not happy with the selection decisions these steps may be taken:
A. Non-selection
- If an athlete is not selected, they may seek honest and constructive feedback from the Director of and/or Head Coach in the first instance.
- If the athlete believes the sport has not followed due process, they may refer their non-selection to a member of the Performance Leadership Team: Neil Greig (J.Greig@lboro.ac.uk) or Mark Jarram (M.Jarram@lboro.ac.uk).
- Information will be gathered from the Director of and/or Head Coach and the athlete. The matter will then be reviewed by members of the Performance Leadership Team who are not directly involved in the performance programme.
B. Deselection from the squad
- The Director of and/or Head Coach will inform the athlete of the reasons for deselection, based on the criteria set out for the relevant sport.
- The athlete can expect honest and constructive feedback, including what would be required for them to be considered for selection
- If the athlete believes the sport has not followed due process, they may refer their deselection to a member of the Performance Leadership Team: Neil Greig (J.Greig@lboro.ac.uk) or Mark Jarram (M.Jarram@lboro.ac.uk).
- Information will be gathered from the Director of and/or Head Coach and the athlete. The matter will then be reviewed by members of the Performance Leadership Team who are not directly involved in that performance programme.
C. Appeal
- If an athlete believes the selection or deselection process has not been followed correctly, they may appeal to the Performance Director.
- Information will be gathered from the Director of and/or Head Coach and the athlete. The appeal will be reviewed by the Performance Director and the Director of Sport.