Information Pack for the 2000 world championships in Tasmania, Australia.

The Competition

The 2000 worlds will be held in Tasmania from 17th to 29th April 2000. All UK squads will depart together on either the 14th or 15th April, to arrive in time for the official training at the competition pool for the 17th - 21st April. The 20th April will be the official opening ceremony and the competition will run from the 22nd - 29th April. You will therefore have to book your holiday from the 14th April to 1st or 2nd May.

It is planned that all squads will be staying in the same hotel and all squads will be provided with the same uniform/kit which we all will wear. Costs will be kept to a minimum.

BOA Personnel Involved/Responsible for Organising UK Squads.

Mens Elite Coach - Dave Simpson 01992 461020

Mens Masters Coach - Dean Beha 01494 758584

Ladies Elite Coach - At present position vacant

Ladies Masters Coach - Neil Dixon 01924 871997

UK Squads Manager - Alun Mitchell (Mitch) 01189 616022

BOA Treasurer - Keith Hadland

BOA Chairman - Keith Dunkinson 01327 340071

The people listed above are the only persons who are officially involved with organising the UK squads to go to Australia. Therefore if you have any queries or require any information, please contact your coach first. If they do not know or you feel they cannot give you the information you require then contact me on the above number. Your first point of contact will always be with your coach, secondly with myself and if you still cannot get a suitable reply contact Keith Dunkinson (BOA chairman). No other personnel apart from those listed above will have any authority with regards to the worlds.

Other people involved with the Tasmania 2000

BOA Squads Physio. - Karen Lynch

In the effort to take a further professional approach to our preparation and to maintain our game at the worlds, it is intended if feasible that a sports physiotherapist will be employed for the worlds squads, if costings are within our estimations. Her role will cover being present at most of the major squads session for advice/treatment of acute injuries, talks on stretches/warm ups/basic self treatment of simple injuries, assist/advice coaches upon request. At the worlds she would be at hand for injuries/fitness problems, take/assist squad pre game stretching/warm ups and stretching down post game and to give any advice if coaches seek it.

The physio will not be paid a salary, but her flight, accommodation and basic half board will need to be met by the squads.

Selection If we have the luxury of this, the principle of selecting the teams will be in accordance with the agreed BOA selection process. That is made by 3 persons, the team coach, squads general manager & a third person picked by the coach and approved by the BOA. If any of the selectors have a conflict of interest, i.e. going for selection themselves another person will assist the coach with selection. Selection will be based on a relevant fitness test for the game (yet to be decided on by coaches and squads manager) and by performance at squad training sessions.

You must be a member of a BOA registered team to play for the national squads.

If you initially intend to go for the masters (Ladies 32, Mens 35) but the coaches feel that you were suitable to play for the elite team, you may be asked to play for the elite team. If this is the case you will not be obliged to take that offer, but I will make every endeavour to encourage you to take that route, though at the end of the day it will be your decision and whatever you decide will be respected.

Finances It is expected that the trip will cost approx. £1500 +/-? Every effort will be made to keep the cost as low as possible. At present we have no firm costing. Your money will cover flights, accommodation, kit, squad physio (as described above). If it appears that we will be coming under our costing then an extra costing will be subsidising the cost of the non-playing support staff e.g. the non playing coaches, as I feel that it is only fair with all the time and effort they will be putting into supporting and preparing you. I will discuss this with you at a later time and seek your approval.

If anyone knows of any potential sponsors or has any good ideas for raising money, please talk to me ASAP.

As per normal the BOA will support the squads financially by paying for their competition entrance fees. Although that is not possible at this present time, it will therefore be paid from the initial deposits collected from all players. Once the BOA is able put forward these funds they will be paid back into the money taken from the players deposits.

Players at this point must make a financial commitment if they wish to be selected for the worlds. At present the BOA has no firm idea of what the commitment is for Tasmania 2000, and without that commitment the BOA cannot and are unwilling to move forward with all the hard work that is required to get you out there.

There has been a lot of speculation and rumours from some people on how the finances will be worked for Tasmania, below is how it will actually happen.

On the 6th Nov., or by the 13th Nov. at the latest £250 must be paid in as initial deposit. Also 5 post dated cheques to the value of £250 each will be given to the treasurer, one cheque will paid in per month until departure in April.

Any expense like official squad training sessions, flight deposits etc. will then be taken out of your account and paid for on your behalf by the BOA treasurer who will be handling the accounts. Before any major funds are spent from your account e.g. flight deposits you will be informed.

If at any time you have to withdraw from the squads for the worlds, your money will refunded in full except for anything that has been paid for to date, e.g. training sessions, deposit that have not been able to be reclaimed, etc.

Training Dates - dates at present have not been finalised.

Final Squad Selection - date at present has not been finalised.

Diet & Training/Fitness Info - recommendations and information on these areas will be forwarded to you ASAP.

Many thanks, if you have any questions then please call me.

Mitch.

Tel.- 0118 9616022 E-mail - mitch-uk-barbs@asmitch.freeserve.co.uk