SAPRF

INTERNATIONAL PRECISION RIFLE FEDERATION

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – 2026

TEAM SELECTION PROCESS DOCUMENT

SAPRF Team South Africa – Selection Process Ver 1.4 · Page 2 of 10 · 9 November 2024

OVERVIEW

The following document outlines both the selection policy of the SA squad, the SA national team, processes and timelines that will be followed, in order for SAPRF to fairly and transparently select athletes that are able to achieve the best possible results in international team capacities at the International Precision Rifle Federation World Championships in 2026.

It's important to remember that:

• A National Team is a representation of the National Federation, and therefore that National Federation may select, within the breadth of this selection policy, the Team to best represent them at the International Precision Rifle Federation World Championships.
• National Colours require that:
  • The National Federation, applying for colours, has correctly aligned itself with the South African Sport Shooting Confederation and required national frameworks.
  • A high enough standard must have been achieved before South African colours may be considered and awarded.
• South African National Colours are a privilege and not a right.

Given the significantly different match conditions at matches across South Africa, the standards and types of matches, the standards of the athletes competing at those matches, the ability for athletes to attend required matches, and including athlete form during the year a wholly objective based system of selecting individuals or teams is impossible. In recognizing this, this document attempts to significantly reduce the subjectivity of selection, and yet still allows for the highest standards to be met in fielding the best possible teams to represent the national Federation in achieving its aims.

In this regard the selection policy follows an objective-based policy in meeting capability milestones to determine a National Squad of available athletes. It is envisaged, that by meeting these objective requirements, that the members on the National Squad are all of a high enough standard to represent SAPRF internationally, and that a panel of National Selectors (constituted by SAPRF) will subjectively decide the final individuals selected for a National Team, based on criteria laid out herein.

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DEFINITIONS

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TIMELINE

The Selection Process will follow an ongoing participation format, where the following milestones outline the selection process:

GENERAL SELECTION PROCESS CONDITIONS

At all times throughout the Selection Process, the athlete must:

• be able and willing to undertake any training and competition programs recommended by the Selectors after consultation with the athlete, unless a written exemption has been granted by the ExCo or the Selectors, in response to a timely written request from the athlete for an exemption;
• satisfy any additional preconditions advised in writing to the athlete by ExCo prior to or at the time of selection for the National Team;
• notify ExCo that they are not suffering any physical or mental impairment that may prevent them from competing at the IPRF World Championships 2026 to the highest possible standard.

Note: In order to claim Selection Points, a competitor MUST be a full member of SAPRF.

ATHLETE ELIGIBILITY

For any athlete to be eligible for selection to compete at the IPRF World Championships the athlete will be required to fulfil and maintain the following until after the Championships have concluded:

• be a paid-up Member of SAPRF in good standing;
• be a South African Citizen;
• reside within the Province to which they are affiliated;
• reside within South Africa;
  • exceptions may be granted to athletes who are South African citizens that reside in other countries, on the condition that they have participated in the SAPRF Centrefire Championship match in 2025.
• be a member of a SAPRF recognized club to which they are affiliated;
• complete the 'Eligibility to Compete' forms and such forms must have been received by the ExCo.

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NATIONAL SQUAD QUALIFICATION

Eligible Athletes will have to meet the following requirements to progress to the National Squad.

Athletes will, in the Qualifying Period be required to have:

• Complete a minimum of 4 National/International 2-day matches
  • 1 of which MUST be the SAPRF Championship match in 2025
  • 1 match must fall within 3 months of the closing date of the Qualifying Period
• Only 1 in province 2 day national match to count
• A maximum of 3 out of province national matches could count
• SA Champs is mandatory and in addition to the 2 day nationals listed above, regardless of which province the SA Championship match is hosted in
• Only IPRF & PRS sanctioned international matches may count

Note regarding Federation and Protea colours

• SAPRF Federation colours will be awarded to those athletes that represent SAPRF at the IPRF World Championships 2026.
• SAPRF will provide motivation to SASSCo for Protea Colours for all athletes that represent SAPRF at the IPRF World Championships 2026.
• The awarding of Protea Colours is the remit of SASCOC, and their decision to award any such colours is final.
• There is no guarantee that SASCOC will award Protea colours to all/any athletes that achieve qualification requirements.

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SA SQUAD SELECTION

• Open: 8-10 squad positions
• Factory: 6 squad positions
• Limited: 6 squad positions
• Ladies Open: 6 squad positions
• Junior Open: 6 squad positions
• Senior Open: 6 squad positions

Total number of athletes for the SA Squad, if enough shooters qualify, will be limited to 40.

SA TEAM SELECTION

(Selected from, but not limited to the SA Squad)

• Open team: 4 - 6 positions
• Factory team: 3 - 4 positions
• Limited team: 3 - 4 positions
• Ladies Open team: 3 - 4 positions
• Junior Open team: 3 - 4 positions
• Senior Open team: 3 - 4 positions

Note: Divisions and or positions per division may change as per IPRF directives.

Total number of athletes for the SA Team, if enough shooters qualify, will be limited to IPRF match requirements/limitations.

NATIONAL TEAM FITNESS

From the end of the Qualification Period until the 2026 IPRF World Championships, the National Team may be required to:

• take part in matches as determined by the Selectors and ExCo.
• compete to the satisfaction of the Selectors at National Matches in order that the Selectors can be satisfied with the fitness of the Athletes.

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SELECTORS

A selector shall be nominated to a Selection Panel by the SAPRF ExCo. The chairman of the Selection Panel will be elected from within the committee by majority.

The selectors will be responsible for managing the selection process. Until such time as the Selection Panel is formed, the ExCo committee will manage the selection process.

SELECTORS EVALUATION PROCESS

In evaluating the performances of Athletes, the Selectors may take into account, and have the discretion to place a greater emphasis on one or more of the following, or other factors not listed below that are relevant in the opinion of the selectors, in considering athletes for selection:

• The Selectors shall consider performances of athletes at International Matches during the Qualification Period. The Selectors may consider performance at Provincial Matches, closer to the end of the Qualification Period, to evaluate an athlete's current form.
• The Selectors may, in their sole discretion, place greater emphasis on results achieved at Nominated and/or Mandatory Competitions, where a higher number of athletes have entered creating a more competitive and stressed environment.
• The Selectors will review all the SA Squad athletes and select, at their discretion, the most appropriate athletes for the SA Team positions as per the Selection Process.
• Athletes should only be selected to the Division that they have qualified, however exceptions may be considered if it is in the sole discretion of the selection panel, and only the selection panel, that there are grounds to select an athlete from a division in which they have not qualified, to participate in another division, with the sole purpose of strengthen that division and increasing the opportunity of that division obtaining a possible podium finish.
• Where there are insufficient athletes to meet the requirements of a SA Team, the Selectors may, at their discretion, select up to 2 athletes to compete as Individuals.
• Placings in any head-to-head performances will be considered but will not automatically position one Athlete above another for selection.
• Competition-based factors will be taken into consideration when assessing each Athletes performance, These include, but are not restricted to:
  • The performance of the Athletes in relation to the quality and number of competitors;
  • The technical features of the various qualifying matches;
  • The general conditions under which the performance is achieved, such as the weather, wind and other performance influencing factors;
  • The suitability of the Athlete, taking into account the objective of the team and individual competition and the type of Athlete required to achieve the best possible Team results in the expected conditions.
• The selectors may consider placing a higher emphasis/waiting on shooters points/positions achieved at matches where that athlete has competed against more shooters in the same division. i.e. matches where only 1 or 2 entries in a particular division are available, that match should carry a lower rating of importance versus matches where a larger number of shooters are available for competition.
• The ability and experience of the Athlete to compete successfully at high level national competition. Consideration will be given to:
  • The ability, or potential ability, of the Athlete to perform under the stress and pressure of a National Championship;
  • The ability of the Athlete to prepare themselves to peak condition for a major campaign / competition;
  • The ability of the Athlete to contribute towards an effective Team environment;
  • The demonstrated ability of the Athlete that they are a suitable representative.

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• Consistency of performance and the likelihood of a suitable performance to contribute towards the SA team score may be considered (if applicable).

APPEALS

Appeals concerning the non-selection of an Athlete for a Squad, Team and/or Individual positions will be heard by a SAPRF Appeal Committee in accordance with the SAPRF constitution and Judicial Code.

There will be one level of appeal only with the sole grounds for an Appeal being that the Selection Policy process was not properly followed and/or implemented.

Only Athletes may appeal their non-selection.

An Athlete must lodge their notice of intention to appeal in writing with SAPRF within 3 working days from the date of the announcement of the National Squad or any subsequent Squad processes, and such notice must state the specific reason of appeal.

An appeal fee of R5,000.00 (Five Thousand Rands) shall be lodged by the athlete in favour of SAPRF. Such fee shall be refunded to the athlete should their appeal be upheld.

SUBSTITUTION / REPLACEMENT OF ATHLETES

Following selection of the SA Squad, or SA Team positions, the Selectors may, at their sole discretion substitute or replace athletes if:

• in the opinion of the Selectors, in consultation with the National ExCo, there has been a loss of form or fitness by an Athlete. The loss of form must be assessed to be likely to be sustained and affect performance at the IPRF World Championships; or
• an Athlete contravenes their Athlete Agreement, or SAPRF Rules and Regulations, or SAPRF Code of Conduct, or SAPRF Constitution, or SAPRF Social Media Policy, or any other published SAPRF rule, regulation, code or agreement; or
• an Athlete voluntarily removes themselves,

then that Athlete may be replaced, by another Athlete selected from the SA Squad by the Selectors.

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EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES

In exceptional circumstances, and only with regards to the SA Squad requirements, the Selectors may, having received a written request, provide written advice to an athlete that the Selectors will waive:

• The requirement to achieve the SA Squad requirements. Exceptional circumstances may include, but are not limited to situations where, in the opinion of the Selectors:
  • a reliable and consistent Athlete would meet the team objective of the SA Team and provide an effective balance within the Team;
• The requirement to complete sufficient IPRF International finishes. Exceptional circumstances may include, but are not limited to situations:
  • where an athlete is entered into an IPRF International match and unable to attend due to acceptable extenuating circumstances;
  • involving the cancellation or postponement of an IPRF International match.

POWER TO AMEND

This policy can be amended at any time by SAPRF if SAPRF is of the opinion that such an amendment is necessary as a result of any change in the National or International guidelines, to give effect to the policy following discovery of a drafting error or oversight or for any other reason determined to be in the best interests of SAPRF by SAPRF.

SAPRF shall not be responsible or liable in any way to anyone as a result of any such amendment.

Any variation, amendments or clarifications to this policy will only be valid when published to the www.precisionrifle.co.za/documents/6 web page.

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NATIONAL TEAM ELIGIBILITY FORM

I would like to be considered for the SAPRF National Team.

1. In the event of my being selected, I will ensure that I will be able to attend the 2026 IPRF World Championships.
2. In the event of ill health of myself, or any other circumstance that might prevent me from attending the Championships, I undertake to inform ExCo immediately.
3. I will make myself available to attend any training, team building and/or competitions to be held prior to the Championship.
4. I agree to actively participate in a manner which reflects true sportsmanship and help build team spirit.
5. I am aware of the financial implications of attending the championships and I am in a position to finance my attendance of this championship.
6. In the event of my obtaining National Colours, I agree to wear these colours proudly and always put the needs of my Nation and my Team ahead of my own.
7. I agree to purchase any required attire.
8. I accept that the decision of the selectors is final and that no further discussions will be entered into.
9. I agree to abide by the decisions made by the Team Manager.

Please complete and send to exco@precisionrifle.co.za.