What is Team GBR?

Definition:

Team GBR Lifesaving are the group of athletes selected to compete at European and World Championship competitions.

Under ILS rules, a nation can only enter one team at the World Lifesaving Championships and European Lifesaving Championships. GBR Lifesaving is managed by a partnership between SLSGB and RLSS UK.

Team GBR athletes are selected through a transparent declaration process (by submitting this form) and attendance at a Selection Trial. The results from the trial, along with declared results from eligible events, are submitted by Team GBR Managers to the SLSGB and RLSS UK Performance Directors for scrutiny and a team of athletes is agreed. 

The SLSGB and RLSS UK Performance Directors are Keith Gammon and Michele Weedy.

All correspondence for athletes who are declaring their availability and eligibility for Team GBR should be submitted in writing through this form, and any questions submitted to [email protected]. All questions will be answered to the best of our ability at the earliest opportunity. 

Who is running the trial?

The trial will be fully managed and set up by Team GBR working with Cornwall SLS and experienced club members and officials. The trial will be overseen by an independent, qualified referee and all trial competition arenas will conform to ILS regulations.

Is there another trial date?

No. There is one trial date for the GBR team selected for International competition in 2016. This team will compete in the World Lifesaving Championships, Lifesaving2016 in the Netherlands.

How do I declare my availability and eligibility for selection for Team GBR?

All athletes declaring their interest for Lifesaving2016 and eligibility for selection MUST complete this form and submit it by the closing date.

Receipt of your athlete entry tells us that you consider yourself to be eligible for selection and that you will be available to compete for Team GBR at the World Championships in September.

When is the closing date for declarations of availability and eligibility?

The closing date is Monday 30 May 2016 by 23:59. We advise you to complete your declaration including all the supporting information (eligible results from events listed on this form) as early as possible.

How will I know that my entry has been submitted and that TeamGBR has received it?

All athletes who submit an entry will receive an automatic confirmation that their entry has been submitted from Eventbrite. Once the athlete has entered, and has received confirmation of the entry from Eventbrite, please consider that you are entered into the trial, unless Team GBR contacts you to advise otherwise. If there are any major anomalies with the athlete entry we will contact you. Please ensure that you complete all questions and parts of the form. Please provide as much information as possible.

 

Can I update my registration information?

Yes, you can log into your registration form and update it until the closing date.

What are the Selection Criteria for Team GBR and who selects the team?

Athletes are selected through a transparent declaration process (started by submitting this form) and an athlete trial. GBR Team Managers and Coaches use the results from the trial, along with your declared results to select athletes. SLSGB and RLSS UK Performance Directors verify both the process and the athletes put forward for selection.

The Performance Directors are Keith Gammon (SLSGB) and Michele Weedy (RLSS UK).

You can download the eligible events list for the selection criteria from our Facebook page. 

Qualifying times for Lifesaving2016 pool events

You can find the qualifying times for the pool events for Open and Youth Teams here. 

When will I know if I have been selected to compete for Team GBR?

Team GBR will take an attendance register on both days of the trial and all athletes will be given a Trial Number to aid our recording of results. The results from the trial will be published online as soon as we are able to do this.

The athletes selected to represent Team GBR (24 athletes in total) will be announced by Friday 24 June latest. We will endeavour to do this sooner subject to receiving all the necessary information.

Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the trial?

Yes. Athletes declaring themselves available for selection must bring a copy of their current passport or if this is not available, a copy of their birth certificate to the registration at the trial. This will be used to verify date of birth and nationality.

Athletes who will be 16-years-old and over by 31/12/16 will be eligible for the Open Team.

Athletes must be at least 15-years-old by 31/12/16 and 18-years-old or under by 31/12/17 to be eligible for the Youth Team

Which events and results gained are eligible for submission as part of my declaration?

Events are listed below. There is no requirement for athletes to have participated in all the events listed, however, we advise athletes to gain the best results and times possible from a selection of events to support their application and evidence their athletic ability.

Team GBR is looking for individual athlete results. Athletes submitting any results for team events that they competed in, for example, Board Rescue, Taplin, Tube Rescue, Sprint Relay, Manikin Relay, Medley Relay etc, please state the names of your team-mates for each race so this can be verified and help us with our planning. 

Which races will I be expected to compete in at the trial?

Athletes will know their strongest events. All athletes declaring for the trial are expected to enter at least THREE disciplines, and you can enter as many as you want to. Results from the events you enter will be used to help select the team. We advise you to speak to your club coach to determine which events you are entering. Team GBR is happy to discuss the race events with club coaches.

Please select the race disciplines that you are declaring and will enter at the trial. You can edit this until the closing date, 30 May. The final declared list of athletes and events will help us to plan the final trial format.

The trial will run over two days, and all athletes who enter for selection, are expected to attend both days of the trial, and compete in the disciplines they register for.

PLEASE NOTE: if the athlete does not participate in both days of the trial, this may have a negative impact on their eligibility for selection. If the athlete does not participate in heats and finals for the race that they have registered for, this will have a negative impact on their eligibility for selection.

The trial has been carefully selected to run to imitate the conditions of an International event, where athletes selected for Team GBR will be expected to compete in the race disciplines they are chosen for, again and again, through heats, quarter, semi and finals. Stamina and fitness will be required at Lifesaving2016. We want to select the best team and the best athletes for this.

What are my transport/parking options getting to the trial?

Athletes will need to arrange their own transport, including that for their kit/equipment to the trial. All athletes and their supporters must park in the public car park at Portreath, unless they are a member of Portreath SLSC and have permission from the club to park at the clubhouse.

What facilities will there be at the trial?

All athletes and supporters should use the public toilets in the village, and cannot use Portreath SLSC facilities (unless they are a member of the club).

We advise you to bring a pop-up tent, lots of water and snacks. Portreath SLSC will be providing some refreshments and food which you can buy from the clubhouse.

What can/can’t I bring to the event?

You can bring anything that you need to the trial. We advise you to bring several changes of clothes, lots of layers to keep warm, a pop-up tent, lots of water and snacks. Portreath SLSC will be providing some refreshments and food which you can buy from the clubhouse.

Please ensure that your equipment/kit is in good order and compliant for racing under SLSGB rules. We will undertake kit inspection on the race line.

We advise you to bring wetsuit(s) however we will declare whether wetsuits are permitted for racing at the trial, on the morning of the race day, once the ocean temperature has been checked.

All athletes need to supply their own equipment/kit for racing at the trial. We will not be providing pooled kit.

Will I be drugs tested?

Both RLSS UK and SLSGB are signed up to the WADA code. Athletes are expected to train and compete clean.

In order to ensure that you are compliant with the international regulations on drugs testing, you can look at the prohibited list here.

Where can I contact the organiser with any questions?

We aim to provide as much information as possible on this form, and any attachments we send to registered athletes. If you have a question which you can’t find the answer for on this form, please send an email to Sara Garner, Senior Team Manager, [email protected]. Sara will respond as soon as possible. Please note that Sara is a volunteer so may not be able to reply immediately.

How much is the athlete contribution for Team GBR in 2016?

We are working on the budget now, and hope to confirm the athlete contribution by Easter 2016 latest. RLSS UK and SLSGB contribute towards Team GBR. This is to reduce the Athlete contribution, however it is not 100 per cent funded. The maximum contribution in 2016 is limited to £500. 

When will the selected team be travelling to Lifesaving2016?

Current plans are that the team will travel (Youth & Senior together as ONE squad) to the Netherlands on Sunday 4 September and return on Monday 12 September.

Athletes who are selected and wish to stay in the Netherlands to compete in the World Championship InterClubs will be able to confirm this with Team GBR once selected and agreements will be signed to recognise alternative travel arrangements.  Team GBR management reserves the right to make any changes to these dates subject to any changes advised by ILS and the Organising Committee in the Netherlands.

Will there be any training camps for the selected team?

Yes. All athletes who are declaring their availability and eligibility for Team GBR, should pencil in Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 July as a training weekend. This will be held in either Devon or Cornwall.

The detail for this training weekend will be posted here as soon as it is available so that athletes and their families can make necessary plans. We ask you to hold the date, should you be selected. We expect all selected athletes to attend the training weekend unless there are extenuating circumstances (see below).

What if I can’t attend the trial?

Athletes must make every effort to take part in the trial and will only be excused from the trial by prior written agreement with Team GBR.

Athletes seeking approval for extenuating circumstances must contact the Team Manager at the earliest available opportunity. Failure to do this will automatically rule the athlete ineligible for selection.

Please note, extenuating circumstances will not be given for holidays, irrespective of when they were booked. Athletes who are ill or injured at the time of the trial will need medical evidence to support this. If you believe that you have extenuating circumstances and cannot take part in the Trial, please continue to complete this form so that you are ‘registered’ as declaring your availability and eligibility and follow this up with an email explaining your extenuating circumstances to Team GBR at [email protected]. Team GBR will write back to you, by email, to give its decision.

What if a registered athlete is ill or injured before the trial?

In the event that an athlete is ill or injured they must submit an email with a full written explanation for the circumstances with evidence of the injury or illness to Team GBR. We ask you not to withdraw your athlete declaration. The email explaining the situation should be sent to [email protected]. The athlete will receive a written response on eligibility for selection. We urge athletes to submit a written explanation for injury or illness as soon as they possibly can, when the incident occurs, to ensure fairness and transparency in the selection process.

Results from Eligible Qualifying Events (remember that qualifying events and results will be taken into consideration on your eligibility for selection):

• Europeans 2015 (National Teams) (Wales & Spain)
• Europeans 2015 (InterClub) in Wales
• SLSGB Pool events 2016 only
• SLSA Wales Pool events 2016 only
• RLSS UK Speeds 2016 only
• SLSGB Open Ocean Championships 2015 only (held at Portreath)
• SLSGB Youth Ocean Championships 2015 only (held at Exmouth)
• SLSA Wales Ocean Championships 2015 only
• Results from Recognised Events – Other International Governing Body recognised events (i.e., Aussies, New Zealand etc)
• Other RELEVANT Sport Results you would like to share

REMEMBER you must enter a minimum of three race disciplines at the trial. Select your choices (in advance) on this form.

WHEN

Saturday, 18 June 2016 at 11:00 – Sunday, 19 June 2016 at 15:00 (BST)

WHERE

Portreath Surf Life Saving Club – Portreath, England TR16 GB

Register here.