In short not just on ranking is how I read that text, as I have said I am not suprised as she did look out of form In Melb. :

Quote:

Selection Criteria

18. Phase 1 - Commonwealth Games Squash Squad (CGSS). Athletes will be selected for the CGSS based on the September 2003 Australian national squash rankings of the top ten females and the top ten males. The initial squad will be selected as per paragraph 6.a. of this regulation.

19. Reviews of Squad During Phase 2. The composition of the CGSS will be reviewed during the period 15 September 2003 to January 2006 by the CGST selection committee as detailed in paragraph 6.b. of this regulation. The reviews will take into account the athletes current (at the time) performances and World/Australian rankings. The review process will be used to change the squad where necessary leading up to the final team selection. The squad reviews will take place as follows:

1. three months prior to each international doubles competition during the period January 2004 to January 2006;
2. when an athlete is required to withdraw due to injury or personal reasons; and
3. at anytime deemed necessary by the Chairman of the CGST selection committee.

20. Phase 3 - Commonwealth Games Squash Team (CGST). Athletes will be selected for the CGST based upon the following criteria:

1. Criteria 1. The players will be selected for the team on the basis of performances in:

1. singles competitions including events on the PSA, WISPA, WSF and Squash Australia calendars; and
2. doubles on international courts in WSF and Squash Australia sanctioned competitions and camps.

2. in making these selections the CGST selection committee shall consider the following:

1. the Australian and World Rankings which are current at the time the team is selected;
2. performances in singles competitions in the previous six months prior to the selection date;
3. the past record of players in major events and in pressure situations in international tournaments;
4. outcomes of doubles competitions/camps conducted in the 12 months prior to the selection date.
5. the outcome of any medical examination pursuant to paragraphs 14 to 17 of this regulation.

3. Criteria 2. (Determination of doubles combinations). The pair considered by the CGST selection committee to have the best prospects of winning gold in the Men's, Women's and Mixed doubles competition respectively will be selected. Other doubles combinations will be selected on the basis of achieving the best possible medal result. In making this selection, the CGST selection committee shall consider the following:

1. performances including official doubles competitions during the 12 months prior to the selection date played on international doubles courts; and
2. outcomes of performances during squad competitions during the period December 2003 to January 2006.

Back to top

Viper,

If you read the Selection Policy, which can be found on the Squash Australia website under Regulations, you will see that it is quite detailed and gives the National selectors a clear understand what criteria they are required to consider. As for the CAS Appeal, I would expect, as normal, that the court will issue a statement which will clearly define the reasons for the dismissal of the appeal.

Back to top

Thanks for the info Logic.

 

I think part the problem lies in a perceived lack of transparency, ie what were the selection criteria ? how much weight was placed on ranking and how much on form ?

 

This lack of detail is to be seen also in the appeal release, ie the release says little more than MM action was disallowed, it does not shed any further light on why ?

When little detail is offered the result will be calls of favouratism as has happened in this case, I do not think for a second it is the case but more detail is the cure.

(ps. note : if indeed details on selection criteria are available please post a link )

 

Back to top

playsquash,

There were six people on the selection committee, not five as you indicated. The regulation details who they were to be: The High Performance Manager of Squash Australia (Chairman), the National Selectors Male and Female, and the two coaches of the Commonwealth Games Team. This would mean that Dawn Moggach, Kaye Reeves, Geoff Hunt, Roger Flynn, Byron Davis, and Geoff Davenport would have comprised the selection committee. Each member having one vote, with the Chairman having a casting vote if required. All reports to date indicate that the committee was unanimous in its recommendation regarding the selection of the females in the team.

Back to top

logic...  who are the 5 selectors and how are the votes distributed between the selectors.... That will answer alot of peoples questions... 

Back to top

Dear Forum,

There is always a great deal of emotion attached to the selection of any Australian team. This is definitely relected in some of the replies on this forum. It is important to remember that national sporting bodies select teams that will hopefully achieve the best results. Results that reflect on all of us as athletes, coaches, selectors, or supporters. In this instance regarding the selection of the Australian squash team for the 2006 Commonwealth Games, according to the Squash Australia selection policy the process commenced back in late 2003. A squad was formed and from 2004 to 2006 the athletes in the squad were involved in various international competitions (mainly doubles). The selection policy clearly states the criteria, and this is what the selectors would have followed. The talk on this forum of the criteria not being clear or not being followed was obvioulsy not agreed by the national selectors, the Squash Australia Board, the Squash Australia Appeal's Committee (on which they had an independant member from another sport), and of course, finally, the three judges who sat on the CAS bench.

The talk of favouratism in the selection process by some forum members is just incredible. There were six selectors involved in the process, it would be impossible for any selector to influence five others just on the basis of favouratism. The selectors are all volunteers, those listed in the selection regualtion are all people of integrity and hold a respected standing in the squash community. None of the selectors would have any reason to select on any other basis than to pick the team that will bring home the best result. The selection made by the National selectors has been supported by the Court of Arbitration for Sport and now we as individual squash members should also get behind the unanimous decision at every level of selection and give our total support to the named team as they head off to the games.

 

Back to top

Lots of talking around the issue, but no explanation as far as I can see in the transcript.

Like I said my guess is they picked on form rather than just ranking, yes ?

 

Back to top

for those who wanted melissa in the team - bad news..

her appeal has been dismissed unamimously by C.A.S. check the details here.

there is also another another interesting report on the latest tournament concerning two of the protagonists. report here

Back to top

Quote :

"It doesn't matter how it will effect her relationship with the other girls.  Melissa Martin is a full time squash player       this is her job!!!!! I could imagine a dream for many years has been to make the commonwealth games team as a player!!!!!  by all her results alot of sacrificing,  traveling overseas which costs money..... "

That would apply to the other girls equally would it not  ?

 

Back to top

I must confess I saw her play a few matches in Melb and she did seem to be very out of form, maybe the selectors have picked the others girls because they are in better form right now, rankings aside ?

Back to top

Kasey Brown defeats Martin in the Charles Butcher Memorial Tournament at the weekend.
Wish I had gone to watch the match. It would have built up a lot of pressure for Melissa too.
Well it looks like the girls are firing.
So far no further news on the appeal.

Back to top

 

It doesn't matter how it will effect her relationship with the other girls.  Melissa Martin is a full time squash player       this is her job!!!!! I could imagine a dream for many years has been to make the commonwealth games team as a player!!!!!  by all her results alot of sacrificing,  traveling overseas which costs money..... 

Her world and national ranking is better in singles    she had better results in the world doubles in 2006.   Im sure when the team was selected Dianne and Kasey would've been suprised about getting in the team above her.    Kasey Brown and Dianne Desira have funding by the ais and vis to travel and get their world and national ranking as high as possible (There ranking isnt as high as Melissa).  Melissa has done it on her own.   Im sure her dream and goal has been taken away from her     the selectors have been blind, very biased one sided i have looked at the results there's no other way of looking at it.  It's very disappointing and i hope she gets in.  goodluck Melissa!!! Keep chasing your dream.   The Commonwealth Games is huge for squash players... keep fighting   you should be in. 

Back to top

Either way what will this do to the relationship with MM and the other girls ?

Back to top

 

Good Luck Melissa i hope you make the Commonwealth team.  Im not sure how the selectors have come to their decision... i 've looked at the results and it cleary makes you in the team.  You're ranked 31 in the world     with Kasey Brown 39 and Dianne Desira 41.  You won against Kasey and Dianne in the world doubles Championship this year...   Jeepers who are these selectors they cleary  have something against you or have forgotten to look at results and picked by favourites.

Alot of people believe you should be in GOOD LUCK.   Results are fact!!!     The selectors must have been blind   the day they picked the team...   Your aricle in the paper looked great...   keep your chin up    ... Hope to hear your in!!! 

      Aussie squash players!!!!

 

 

 

Back to top

Melissa Martin's appeal delayed.

Back to top

furthermore to appeals over selection. here is a quote from a document on the australian sports commission's website

"One of the major effects of utilising CAS for resolving disputes over selection has been an exponential increase in athletes bringing disputes before CAS. The explanation for this is largely explained by athletes’ perception of sporting bodies and an unwillingness to bring a dispute before a body that controls a particular sport.

2. Even when matters are protracted, CAS still presents a cost-effective and confidential alternative to traditional litigation in a forum without conflict over jurisdiction"

the full text of the document here

I am interested in what made you come to your conclusion Digby - let us know!

Back to top

hi Digby

i don't know what anyone's form has been like but if they were playing favourites, cameron white would definitely have been chosen. he was byron's davis's  partner in the world title win  and is one of roger flynn's proteges and when talking to roger recently, he left me in no doubt that he has heaps of respect for cameron. (roger and byron are two of the three male selectors)

he would  have been in the team had he deserved it!

Back to top

I think squash in Australia needs to have good hard look at themselves.  Three players appealing against non selection is not good. I beleive the other two arent taking it to the court of arbitration becuase of the cost involved.  The criteria wasnt clear enough and it looks like the selectors have chosen favourites.  Melissa is a great doubles player and deserves to be in the team, along with Cameron White who was the 2004 World Doubles Champion.

Back to top

she would not have been selected for the singles, only the doubles -that is what they would have based their selection on.

view the critieria here

Back to top

Well, singles rankings are done on performance with the colation of results/points over an extended period.  The rankings I have listed above may not be right up to the minute, and may not have included the Melbourne results either. 

• Rankings are published to assist Tournament Organisers throughout the world  seed for tournament draws.
• For a specific selection there would be other criteria I guess, eg
• attend a training camp
• play in round robin events over several days
• and if there are doubles matches involved mix and match pairs to get good combinations

Being a selector is not a fun job.

Back to top

Ranking would not be the only criteria though would it ?

I saw her play quite a few matches in Melb and she looked very out of form.

The other two girls looked a lot stronger than MM.

Back to top

Viper - sorry my pasting the table in of the rankings did not work well so I have done it again and with the link to the rankings.
I think the selectors would cover their butt, however, here are the singles rankings, but obviously that was not enough for them to make their decision, and of course if doubles are involved too, that is another dimension not reflected in the singles rankings as follows:-
1. Rachael Grinham
2. Natalie Grinham
3. Amelia Pittock
4. Melissa Martin
5. Kasey Brown
6. Dianne Desira
The singles rankings do show an anomoly in the selector's choice - so we will just wait and see the result of the appeal.

Back to top