• Core Sport Timeline

• Application for New Sports (Sports not in the 2012 Games)
• Application for Returning Sports (Sports in the 2012 Games)
• Core Sport Policy (PDF of policy outlined below)

• The value of the BC Games will depend upon the quality of athletes participating, how well athletes are prepared, the education and training of coaches, the standard of officiating, and the quantity and quality of volunteers.
• The BC Games are the entry point for high performance competition.
• The competitive opportunity offered by the BC Games for each sport has been identified by the BC Games Society in conjunction with other agencies in the sport system, to generally be in the higher end of the Learning to Train or lower end of the Training to Train stage for each sport in the Games.
• The BC Games are high profile competitive opportunities for PSOs to incorporate into their Canadian Sport for Life strategies and to showcase the development of their athletes, coaches, officials, and sport leaders. 

• To encourage and promote province-wide participation in all eight zones by all sports included in the BC Games.
• To encourage and promote gender equity among participants (athletes, coaches, officials) by sports included in the BC Games.
• To provide competitive opportunities for athletes with a disability where the same level of opportunity for the same caliber of athletes is not available in other Games in BC.
• To support the provincial sport development pathway for athletes, coaches, and officials, as described in the Canadian Sport for Life (CSL) documents.
• To operate BC Summer and BC Winter Games as a quality one-time multi-sport competitive experience for all participants.
• To provide optimal opportunities to athletes, coaches, and officials for growth and development within the current capacity of the BC Games Society and its Host Communities.
• To provide the opportunity for inclusion in the BC Summer and BC Winter Games to sports that best meet the criteria for Core Sport status, while acknowledging the uniqueness of each sport.

POLICY CONTEXT 

• The BC Summer and BC Winter Games are at maximum capacity for sports and participants.  Considering the ability of communities to host and the resources needed to support the Games, the Games are as large as possible, at this time.
• It is not the intention of the Core Sport application process to either expand or reduce the number of sports or participants in the BC Games; however, the number of sports and the number of athletes allocated to each sport in the BC Summer and BC Winter Games are still at the discretion of the BC Games Society.
• Organizations applying to be included in the BC Games for the first time will have their application evaluated in comparison to the criteria (in the Core Sport application), as well as in comparison to sports in the current BC Summer or BC Winter Games who meet the requirements to be included in the next BC Games.
• Sports included in the BC Summer or BC Winter Games will be evaluated after every Games prior to their status for the next BC Games being determined.  Sports will be compared to other sports included in the Games, as well as to new sports applying for inclusion in the BC Games.
• A sport may only be represented in one BC Games (either BC Summer or BC Winter).  Two separate PSOs that govern the same sport cannot be represented in both the BC Summer and the BC Winter Games (i.e. Box Lacrosse and Field Lacrosse).  For PSOs that govern more than one sport, each sport is evaluated separately and the sports may be included in the same or different Games.

• Best meet the Athlete, Coaching, and Officials development criteria and work well within the BC Games structure to improve excellence for their sport organization and to elevate the stature of the BC Games.

• Sports that have met the Athlete, Coaching, and Officials Development criteria, have demonstrated evidence of working within the BC Games structure, and are being included in the BC Games for the first time.

• Sports that have been identified as having met the Athlete Development criteria but may not be fully meeting the requirements for Coaches or Officials' Development or that are not working well within the BC Games structure. 

CRITERIA

I - Operational

All organizations eligible to apply for Core Sport status in the BC Summer or BC Winter Games must meet the Operational Criteria detailed below: 

• Recognized Provincial Sport Organizations
  • Organizations that receive sport-system funding from the Ministry/Sport Branch through the BC Sport Agency or other designated agency(ies) (that support Performance or Participation/Performance programming).
• Provide documentation that the organization has accident and liability insurance coverage of a minimum of two million dollars ($2 million) in place for its members.
• Provide a list of current Board members.
• Provide a list of individuals that will serve as contacts for the BC Games.
• Demonstrate the ability to appoint sufficient volunteers to manage Games responsibilities in the BC Games zones.
• Agree to participate in a supplementary meeting with BC Games staff and to bring all appointed key Games volunteers (including Provincial Advisor and Zone Representatives) to this meeting prior to participation in the first Games.

II - Core Sport  

A. General Criteria 

• Sports should identify within what stage the ranges/abilities and level of competition being proposed for the Games fits.
• Sports are required to provide a list of competitions within each stage of their CSL/LTAD for athletes, coaches, and officials.

• Where the sport utilizes the same facility/venue and falls under the same competition schedule as able-bodied athletes, the application for the inclusion of competition for athletes with a disability is seen as the addition of a sport category.  Therefore, the PSO that governs the able-bodied competition for the sport must make the application in partnership with the PSO for athletes with a disability.  For example, BC Athletics for Wheelchair Athletics and Swim BC for Swimmers with a Disability.
• Where the sport utilizes a different or additional venue, the organization that governs the sport for athletes with a disability will make application for inclusion in the Games.  For example, SportAbility for Boccia and BC Wheelchair Basketball Association for Wheelchair Basketball.

B. Events and Categories  

C. Venues, Equipment, and Rules  

Applying sports must include the following with their application:

• Information about the availability of venues for the sport throughout the province.
• Detailed minimum facility requirements (using a template provided by the BC Games Society). As facilities vary from community to community, sports must be prepared to hold competition in less than the ideal standard. BC Games commits to providing a facility that least meets the minimum standard.
• Information about the equipment and availability of equipment for the sport.
• A copy of the rules that govern competition for the sport and any modifications for the Games competition that are being proposed.

D. Numbers of Participants

E. Athlete Development Criteria  

• Athletes attending the BC Games are under 18 (exemptions will be considered based on the Core Sport application where it is demonstrated that the older age group meets the criteria).
• The age range for BC Games athletes should be set to allow all eligible athletes to progress from the BC Games to the next level of competition.
• Athletes must be from at least a two-year age range to ensure no skipped generations.
• Core Sports will be required to provide post-Games statistics on BC Games alumni, outlining their progression to the next level(s) of the Canadian Sport for Life (CSL) framework (LTAD).
• Core Sports must bring at least 50% of their maximum athlete allocation and 50% of their gender allocation per zone in at least 6 of 8 zones, as outlined in their technical package.
• Sports are expected to select athlete age ranges allowing for one BC Games experience only (exceptions may be considered for sports where it can be demonstrated that athletes who are attending a second BC Games have greater/advanced objectively measurable skills based on the category/event/eligibly requirements and the proposed LTAD stage for the sport in the Games).
  

F. Coaching Development Criteria 

• All BC Games head coaches must be fully certified at the equivalent of NCCP Level 2 in the sport they are coaching at the BC Games.
• Sports must demonstrate their commitment to coaching development in all zones.
• Sports must demonstrate that the BC Games are used as an opportunity to train, upgrade, and/or mentor coaches.
• Sports must demonstrate that coaches participating in the BC Games are working toward increasing their coaching competency. 
• Core Sports will be required to provide post-Games statistics on BC Games coach alumni, outlining their progression to the next level(s) of the Canadian Sport for Life (CSL) framework (LTAD).
• Sports must provide information about the coach training and certification available for their sport (i.e. NCCP or other certification levels available).
• Sports must strive to bring a proportional number of male and female coaches to their number of male and female athletes participating in the BC Games.

G. Officials Development Criteria 

• Sports must demonstrate their commitment to officials’ development in all zones.
• Sports must demonstrate that the BC Games are used as an opportunity to train, upgrade, and/or mentor officials.
• Sports must demonstrate that officials participating in the BC Games are working toward increasing their officiating competency. 
• Core Sports will be required to provide post-Games statistics on BC Games officials alumni, outlining their progression to the next level(s) of the sport’s LTAD or Provincial Classification.
• Sports must strive to bring a proportional number of male and female officials to their number of male and female athletes participating in the BC Games.

III - Evaluation 

• Sports that best meet the criteria (i.e. bring more athletes in more zones) are more likely to be included in the BC Games.
• Organizations applying to be included in the BC Games for the first time will have their application evaluated in comparison to the criteria (in the Core Sport application), as well as in comparison to sports in the current BC Summer or BC Winter Games who meet the requirements to be included in the next BC Games.
• Sports included in the BC Summer or BC Winter Games will be evaluated after every Games prior to their status for the next BC Games being determined.  Returning sports will be compared to other sports included in the Games, as well as to new sports applying for inclusion.
• Organizations that best meet the criteria for Core Sport status will be given preference for inclusion in the BC Summer or BC Winter Games.
• Part of the evaluation of returning sports will be to assess the correlation between the sport’s LTAD/CSL and the BC Games.  For example, if the BC Games are in the stage prior to athletes going to the Western Canada Summer Games (or the Canada Games), the assessment will include reviewing the percent of athletes at the previous Western Canada Summer Games (or Canada Games) that are BC Games alumni.
• Athlete Development criteria will be evaluated as noted below:

  Competition	Who is Evaluated (MOU signed with)	Requirement 1		Requirement 2
  Able-bodied Competition Only	PSO for able-bodied sport	Must bring at least 50% of the maximum athlete allocation per zone	AND	Must bring athletes from at least 6 of the 8 BC Games zones
  Sport with able-bodied and disabled competition in shared venue or using the same schedule	PSO for able-bodied sport	Athlete numbers for all events (able-bodied and disabled) added together and sport must bring at least 50% of maximum allocation per zone. The numbers in each sport category will be looked at to ensure viable competition exists.	AND	Must bring athletes from at least 6 of the 8 BC Games zones
  Sport with competition only for athletes with a disability - Individual Sports (separate venue)	PSO for sport for athletes with a disability	Must bring athletes from at least 4 of the 8 BC Games zones	OR	Must bring at least 50% of the total number athletes allocation for the sport
  Sport with competition only for athletes with a disability – Team Sports	PSO for sport for athletes with a disability	For inclusion as a new sport in the Games, the sport must show the ability to bring at least 4 teams; ideally from at least 4 different zones, Consideration will be given to new sports that can bring 4 teams from less than 4 different zones; however, once in the Games, sports that bring teams from 4 or more zones will be evaluated higher than those that do not. The number of zones may impact future inclusion in the Games.	AND	Must bring enough athletes per team to ensure a viable and safe competition, generally less than 50% of the maximum number of athletes per team would not satisfy this requirement.

• Evaluation of sports is completed within two months of the Games.
• Sport Committee approves the Sport Package based on staff recommendations on status of returning and new sports.
• Provincial Sport Organizations will be notified in writing as to their disposition in the Core Sport Program.
• Provincial Sport Organizations will have an opportunity to appeal the decision of the BC Games Society as approved by the Sport Committee.  A request for appeal must be received in the BC Games office by the deadline.
• Appeals Committee determines if there are grounds for an appeal and if so, dates for the hearing are set.
• Appeals hearing will be completed by the Appeals Committee.
• Recommendations from the Appeals Committee are presented to the Board.    The decision of the Board is final.
• Provincial Sport Organizations making an Appeal will be notified of the outcome of this process.
• BC Games Society announces the Sport Package.

BACKGROUND

The BC Games Society Core/Optional Sport Program was first established in May 1994, when each sport organization was given the opportunity to demonstrate how the BC Games fit into their sport development plans.  Sports that chose to use the BC Summer or BC Winter Games as an integral part of their athlete, coach, and officials’ development models were deemed to be Core Sports.  Sports using the BC Games in at least one, but not all three, of these areas were considered Optional Sports. 

In January 2000, the BC Games Society Board of Directors, in consultation with the other partners in sport, reviewed the Core/Optional Sport Program. The result was an updated Core/Optional Sport policy.  In 2002, all sports wanting to be included in the 2004 BC Summer or BC Winter Games were required to complete an application.  The applications were reviewed in November 2002 for inclusion as Core or Optional sports for the 2004 BC Games.

In 2006 and 2007, the policy was reviewed with input from the sport system and was updated.  Optional Sport status for inclusion in the Games is no longer part of the policy.  Sports are either Core Sports and included in the BC Summer or BC Winter Games or they are Probationary Sports and are conditionally included in the Games. 

In the fall of 2007 the Core Sport policy was once again reviewed in light of the Canadian Sport for Life (CSL) framework.  This initiative was funded by 2010 Legacies Now and involved a series of conference calls and meetings of the Sport Committee and staff, including one with CSL experts providing input and suggestions.

After a review in 2009 updates were made to the sections relating to competition for athletes with a disability.  These were discussed with sport system representatives with the respective expertise and experience.