Petanque

New Zealand

International Representation

International Representation - Selection Process

As a result of meetings of the National Council (November 2006) and the Executive (January 2007) PNZ has finalised the process of determining teams to represent New Zealand in international competitions for 2007 and 2008 onwards. After 2009 the process will be reviewed.

 

1. World Championships 2007

For 2007 only the winner of the National Triples Championship will be invited to represent New Zealand at the World Champs.

 

In practical terms, the outcome is not expected to be too different from the more specific system to be implemented for 2008 and 2009. Teams wishing to go to the world champs will enter the National Triples; past results show that the teams generally regarded as the 'top' teams make it through to the last 8. One-off chance elements such as inclement weather levelling or negating skill differentials, or teams having an 'off-day', are present in both systems.

 

For 2007, the invitation to the World Championships will be on the following terms and conditions:

  • Team members must be permanent New Zealand residents (as defined by the immigration laws of New Zealand) and members of a petanque club affiliated to Petanque New Zealand.

  • Fourth player:

    • The Team can choose a fourth player from any team finishing within the semifinals (i.e. top four) of the 2007 National Triples Championships.

    • The Team must confirm the fourth player to PNZ by no later than Monday 2 April, 2007

  • The Team will provide a written fundraising and training plan to PNZ by Monday 16 April 2007.

  • Funding deposits required

    • A deposit of $1,000 per player will be paid to PNZ no later than Monday 16 April 2007 (including the fourth player if applicable)

    • A second deposit of $1,500 per player will be paid to PNZ no later than Monday 9 July 2007

  • PNZ will advertise for and appoint a Team Manager. The appointment will be made by Monday 30 April 2007, and advised to the Team directly before being posted on the PNZ web site.

  • In the event that a player withdraws, the Team can select a replacement player. A replacement player must be chosen from a team finishing within the semi finals of the 2007 National Triples Championship, and advised to PNZ as soon as practicable.

  • If the winning Team withdraws, the invitation will be made to the second-placed team from the 2007 National Triples Championship.

  • If the second-placed team does not wish to take up the invitation, the invitation will be made to the third-placed team from the 2007 National Triples Championship.

  • If the third-placed team does not wish to take up the invitation, the invitation will be made to the fourth-placed team from the 2007 National Triples Championship.

  • If the fourth-placed team does not wish to take up the invitation, no team will be sent.

Failure by the winning Team to comply with any of the requirements of this invitation will disqualify the Team, and the invitation will be transferred to the second-placed team from the 2007 National Triples Championship.

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2. Singapore 2007

This year the date of the Singapore International has been changed. It is now 15 - 16 September, the week before the World Petanque Championships in Thailand (19 - 22 September). Also, only one team has been invited (previously two teams).

 

Petanque NZ sees this as an opportunity for the New Zealand team going to the World Championships to use the Singapore tournament as a warm-up.  The timing of the world champs means that up till now, NZ teams have gone to the event with little in the way of serious competition since the National Triples championships in March/April. This has been regarded as something of a disadvantage, compared to European-based teams who have many events to use to build-up to the Worlds.

 

The invitation to the Singapore International will therefore be offered first to the team competing at the World Championships.

 

If the World Champs team does not wish to go to the Singapore event, a team will be selected via the following process:

  • Players to form Triples Teams and apply to go to the event. Criteria will be that

    • Each member of the team must have finished in the top 16 in at least one of the 4 preceding national championships. i.e. 2007 National Triples, 2006 National Singles, Doubles, or Triples.

    • Plus the usual criteria applying to eligibility for international representation  - PNZ member, NZ resident, funding ability.

  • If more than one team applies, a qualifying tournament will be held, with the winner gaining the right to compete in Singapore. The exact format of this tournament will depend on the number of teams.

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3. Selection process 2008 onwards

As previously advised, the Executive has further discussed the selection process for 2008 onwards. In light of the relatively small number of people applying for international representation through the current selection-based process, the limited number of events involved, and the time and resources required, it has been decided that at this stage of PNZ’s development the selection-based process is not required.

 

Instead, a self-selected, team-based system will be used, with qualifying tournaments to determine international representative teams on an event-by-event basis.

 

Players will form their own teams to enter the relevant qualifying tournament. The format of the tournament will depend on the nature of the event being selected for, and the number of applicants.

 

Eligibility criteria will be as for Singapore 2007 above i.e.

  • Each team member must have finished in the top 16 in at least one of the 4 preceding National Championships.

  • PNZ member

  • New Zealand resident*

  • Compliance with tournament criteria, if any (e.g. age, gender).

*Those members considering future World Championship representation should note that it is possible that the FIPJP may tighten their eligibility criteria, to require citizenship status (i.e. NZ passport), rather than just residency.

 

PNZ believes that this process is fair, transparent, and equitable.  It is open to all who have achieved to a specified, measurable level, with clear and unambiguous outcomes. It also gives our National Championships the status and importance they deserve, and is consistent with a number of the proposals put forward by Clubs and members for consideration by PNZ at its meeting last November. 

 

For tournaments such as the Trans Tasman Challenge, Oceania and Asian Championships that are not solely triples-based, (i.e. also include games of doubles, mixed doubles), there is still an issue about how to decide on the non-triples combinations. PNZ believes that the players themselves can do this, with the help of a PNZ-appointed facilitator to co-ordinate ideas and discussions.

 

For 2008, all tournaments that PNZ decides to send teams to will be subject to this process.  These may include:

  • World Championships

  • Trans Tasman Challenge

  • Singapore International

  • Women’s World Championships

  • Oceania Championships

  • Asian Championships.

Seniors:

For Senior competitions (i.e. the Trans Tasman Challenge) the current selection process will remain. Selection will be based on consistent performances in a number of nominated tournaments. The National Senior Doubles Championship will be the key tournament for determining final selections. However a strong performance in the other National Championships will also be taken into account.

 

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