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2023 WBSC U23 MEN’S SOFTBALL WORLD CUP
NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION PROCESS

SECTION 1 – PURPOSE

The 2023 U23 Men’s National Team program will compete in the 2023 WBSC U23 Men’s Softball World Cup. The purpose of this document is to set out the process that will be used by Softball Canada to select athletes to the 2023 WBSC U23 Men’s World Cup team, scheduled to compete from April 15-23, 2023 in Parana, Argentina.

Note: The eligibility birth years for this event is 1998 or later due to the postponement of the U23 World Cup that was originally supposed to take place in 2021.

This selection process has two objectives:

1. Select the best possible Team for the 2023 WBSC U23 Men’s World Cup. While some objective criteria will be used to select the Team, it is also recognized that there is a significant subjective element. Subjective elements include such factors as previous and current performance, experience, positional requirements, leadership and team cohesion.
2. Select the National Team with the intended outcome of achieving podium success.

SECTION 2 – ELIGIBILITY

An athlete is eligible for selection to the National Team so long as they:

a) are in good standing with Softball Canada by not being subject to any disciplinary sanctions;
b) are a Canadian citizen;
c) hold a Canadian passport that does not expire before October 31, 2023 or are in the process of renewing their Canadian passport to ensure it does not expire before October 31, 2023; andà
d) Be in compliance with all relevant World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) requirements for eligibility.
e) Are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (as per Canadian, and countries that the team is travelling to, definitions) and therefore able to travel and train/compete with the team in events both in Canada and internationally. Accommodations will be considered based on applicable law/regulations and rationale.

Individuals who meet 2 (a), above, but who do not have the documentation in 2 (b and c) are still eligible to be selected to the National Team if they demonstrate to Softball Canada that they are actively pursuing citizenship and would have the ability to achieve the required eligibility by the related roster submission deadline.

Once selected to the National Team, all athletes will be expected to be training in preparation to play for the U23 Men’s National Team.

SECTION 3 – AUTHORITY FOR SELECTION

Softball Canada’s Board of Directors has delegated authority for all decision making under this policy to the U23 Men’s National Team Head Coach.

The Head Coach has final authority for all selection decisions, including selecting athletes to the Athlete Pool, adding additional athletes to the Athlete Pool, selecting the National Team from the Athlete Pool, removing athletes from the Athlete Pool or from a National Team, and selecting replacement athletes to a National Team where applicable. In making selection decisions, the Head Coach will consult with the Manager - Operations, and with the coaching staff, defined for the purposes of this document to include assistant coaches, scouts and evaluators as designated by Softball Canada. 

SECTION 4 – ATHLETE SELECTION PROCESS

NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION

A series of provincial identification camps were held in July-August 2021 and the coaching staff scouted numerous events throughout the 2021 and 2022 seasons, while also holding development/evaluation camps in 2022. Given the timing of the upcoming World Cup, the Head Coach will consult with his Assistant Coaches and the Manager – Operations to determine the final roster based on their observations over the last two seasons.

Athletes will be selected to the National Team with the goal of putting together the best possible team for this event. Factors that will be considered in this selection include physical and technical aspects of the game, as well as team dynamics.

These factors, which will be assigned weight by the Head Coach, as he or she deems appropriate for the decision-making process, include:

• Previous and current performance
• Experience
• Positional requirements (primary and backup)
• Present and projected development and/or improvement
• Leadership/Contribution to team chemistry
• Availability for competition and training

It is understood that in making selections to create the best possible Team, it is possible that the best individual athletes may not be selected. It is at the discretion of the Head Coach to name an athlete to a National Team even though that athlete may not have participated in selection camps or other National Team events.

The timelines that will be followed in selecting athletes for the 2023 WBSC U23 Men’s Softball World Cup Team are as follows. Note that specific events, dates, and times may be subject to change.

• On or before January 12, 2023 - The Head Coach will select up to 11 core athletes that will be named to the team that will participate in the WBSC U23 Men’s Softball World Cup April 15-23 in Parana, Argentina
• Players may be selected to the team in stages, before that date, at the discretion of the Head Coach.
• On or before March 1, 2023 – The remaining players will be selected to the team to form a 16 athlete roster.

Alternates may be added to the Team to replace an athlete removed from the team pursuant to section 5. The addition of alternates to the team is at the sole discretion of the Head Coach and will be in keeping with the philosophy of fielding the best possible team. 

In addition to the above schedule, athletes are expected to follow the prescribed training regime, and be available to meet with national team staff at agreed upon times and locations throughout the year.

UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES/CHANGES TO THE DOCUMENT

If unforeseen circumstances arise which do not allow for this selection process or the above timelines to be implemented as outlined in this document, Softball Canada reserves the right to identify an alternate process or alternate timelines. Should this occur, all athletes in the Selection process will be notified of these changes in a timely manner.

SECTION 5 – REMOVAL FROM A CAMP OR FROM THE TEAM

Upon selection to the Athlete Pool or Team, an athlete must:

a) Sign a Team member agreement
b) Provide Softball Canada with all required documents (passport information etc.)
c) Participate in Team events, activities, and meetings, as directed by the Head Coach or his/her designate
d) Ensure they wear proper equipment and clothing
e) Obey all rules established by the Head Coach and/or Softball Canada
f) Assist Softball Canada in public relations and fundraising projects where required
g) Comply with off-season daily training environment training requirements as identified by the Head Coach
h) Not be under suspension or any other sanction by any recognized body for any doping or doping-related offence.
i) Be available for sample collection at any time and have provided up-to-date whereabouts information on a regular basis as directed by Softball Canada, WBSC and/or the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) pursuant to the Canadian Policy.

An athlete may be removed from the Athlete Pool or from a National Team where the athlete:

a) Is unable to meet performance expectations.
b) Is unable to perform due to injury, illness or for other medical reason as determined by Softball Canada’s medical staff.
c) Is unable to commit to National Team Program activities and events (note that an athlete may obtain an exemption from the Head Coach and Softball Canada).
d) Violates team rules and/or Softball Canada’s policies and procedures.
e) Exhibits conduct that is detrimental to the image of the National Team program.
f) Breaches the Athlete Agreement.
g) Voluntarily withdraws from the National Team.
h) Is removed by a Softball Canada Discipline and/or Appeal panel; or
i) Fraudulently misrepresents themselves

SECTION 6 – SUBSTITUTION OF ALTERNATES

Where necessary and appropriate, an athlete removed from a Team may be replaced by an alternate selected by the Head Coach.

SECTION 7 – APPEALS

Softball Canada 2023 WBSC U23 Men’s World Cup team selections may be appealed in accordance with the procedures set out in the Softball Canada Appeals policy. This process may be bypassed with the consent of all parties and referred directly to the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC).