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This document outlines the selection process and criteria for the UKTA Scotland National Team for participation in the UKTA 4 Nations Tournament and for onward selection to the ITF Scotland Team. The UKTA Scotland National Team selection should be organised with the mission to provide Black Belt students with high national ranking, European or World class potential the opportunity to train in order to compete for a place on the Scottish Team. The process should also have the capability to include those of colour belt rank the opportunity to prepare for future selection. Selection for the National Team is a great honour, and it is the intention that we develop an environment that promotes and encourages greater participation at national training and in competing at international level. In doing so we will develop a competitive situation whereby there are several candidates vying for individual and team places. It is also the responsibility of UKTA Scotland that the athletes selected to represent UKTA Scotland at these titled events are of the highest possible standard by means of a structured and monitored training and selection process. It is the intention that UKTA Scotland only accepts selected competitors who are clearly capable of a credible performance that could place them in their top field in relevant events.

The National Team will be selected by a panel comprising of the following members to ensure clear lines of communication and accountability for the designated positions.

• • National Team Manager
• • Senior Male/Female Coach
• • Junior Coach(s)

Location and Frequency
These training sessions will be carried out on a monthly basis or as close to this as possible due to National Governing Body and Associates’ existing calendar events. In order to minimise conflict and based on empirical statistics, the mandatory training sessions should be carried out on a Sunday. The National Team Manager/Coach is responsible for organising the training dates and venues in advance. This information should be communicated effectively to the UKTA members who will notify the relevant attendees. Area instructors should be utilised in this process in order to raise interest locally and promote the importance and raise the profile of training with the National “Squad”. Additional training sessions can be added dependant on training preparations and competitor readiness requirements.

At present ITF International Competitions contest the following events:

• • Individual and Team Pattern
• • Individual and Team Sparring
• • Individual and Team Power Test
• • Individual and Team Special Technique

Rules and regulations outlining the above events can be found on the relevant ITF websites.

• • All competitors must be registered ITF blackbelts 1st – 4th degree.
• • It is the responsibility of the Team Manager/Coach to structure the training sessions, based upon priority, so that all events detailed above are covered.
• • In order to maximise coaches and competitors time effectively, with respect to travel implications, training session duration should be no less than 2 hours.
• • It must be noted that all coaches and competitors must attend these sessions.
• • Waivers from some portion of this mandatory training may be issued by the National Team Manager and will not be unreasonably withheld but will most often be issued in cases of illness, injury or emergency situations.
• • A record must be kept of all competitors attending, and absentees when appropriate, the training sessions.

Competitors can only be considered eligible if they comply with the following criteria:

• • Only competitors who are registered with the ITF will be considered for selection.
• • All competitors must be ITF registered blackbelts with a current ITF certificate.
• • All competitors must be of the appropriate age for the proposed competition.

The objective of the selection process is to assemble a team of competitors who are considered to have sufficient ability to realistically finish in the top four placing at an ITF European and World Championship, with the priority of winning the most medals possible for Scotland.

Students who meet the criteria are deemed competent for entry into the selection process. The selection criteria detailed will be used to generate a list of nominations for the available places for each event. Wherever possible, selection criteria are based on purely objective measures of performance outlined below.

• • Attain minimum fitness and conditioning levels appropriate to the event requirements.
• • Be technically competent in event(s) contested and can attain minimum qualification levels pertinent to event.
• • Compete in all national competitions and those competitions deemed appropriate to the advancement and development of competition experience.
• • Achieve a top 4 placement in National UKTA Competition
• • Have the appropriate attitude towards fellow competitors and coaches.
• • Attend a minimum of 75% of all mandatory national training sessions.
• • Can confirm occupation or study leave suitable for the duration of the championships and associated travelling time.
• • Can generate sufficient individual funding to cover relevant costs.

Many elements of competitor assessment will be observed but subjective. The individual competitor assessments as well as the proposed team selection will be presented and defended by the National Team Manager who will ensure that all elements of individual and team performance have been considered thoroughly for all competitors.

A competitor nominated or named to the team may be removed from the team if:

• • He/she withdraws from the team, in writing, to the Team Manager/Coach.
• • He/she sustains an injury or illness that will keep him/her from preparing for or competing at the Championships at the level which qualified him/her for nomination.
• • He/she demonstrates improper conduct and attitude.
• • He/she cannot confirm occupational or study leave.
• • He/she cannot raise sufficient funding.

Totally accountability for national team selection and performance

• • Reports directly to UKTA Master's Council
• • Presence of experience and leadership
• • Planning of National Training Calendar
• • Organising training session plan
• • Training session oversight
• • Stand in coach when required
• • Compilation of training records
• • Develop financial team accounts
• • Organise travel and accommodation
• • All tournament entry requirements
• • Define coaches duties and expectancies
• • Compile post competition report to UKTA Scotland
• • Full knowledge of ITF tournament rules and regulations
• • The safety of all competitors and coaches

• • Reports to National Team Manager
• • Has accountability for group performance
• • Assists and recommends competitors for selection
• • Presence of experience, motivation and leadership
• • Enhance and improve standard of competitors
• • Necessary experience in planning individual and team training
• • Carry out all training and coaching activities relevant to his/her team
• • Ability to enhance competitor interaction and team cohesiveness both on and away from events.
• • Full knowledge of ITF tournament rules and regulations

The competitor can effectively demonstrate:

• • Complete knowledge of appropriate pattern diagrams and technical content.
• • Demonstrate technical attributes of Power, Rhythm, Balance and Breath Control.
• • Demonstrate physical attributes of strength, flexibility and stamina required for extended pattern performance.
• • Control emotions and perform under pressure.
• • Is self motivated to practice and is responds to coaching and advice.

The competitor can effectively demonstrate:

• • Technically competent in areas of offence
• • Technically competent in areas if defence
• • Technically competent in areas of counter attack
• • Technically competent in ring craft and movement
• • Is conditioned physically to accept the physical demands of contact sparring
• • Has sufficient strength and stamina required to compete throughout a sparring event duration
• • Has sufficient stamina to compete in a 3 x 2 minute round test
• • Can show sufficient tactical skill when faced with larger opponents
• • Is self motivated to improve fitness and technical levels
• • Indomitable spirit
• • Proven track record of ITF competition experience
• • Good sporting attitude
• • Knows ITF rules pertaining to sparring

The competitor can effectively demonstrate:

• • Technically competent in all techniques:
  • • Forefist Punch (male only)
  • • Knifehand
  • • Turning Kick (male only)
  • • Side Kick
  • • Reverse Turning Kick (male only)
• • Hand and foot tools are sufficiently conditioned for board breaking criteria expected at ITF international events.
• • Break 3 (2 for female) boards with designated hand techniques and 4 boards (2 for female) in designated foot techniques under ITF rules conditions.
• • Knows ITF rules pertaining to power test.

The competitor can effectively demonstrate:

• • Technically competent in all techniques:
  • • Overhead Kick (male only)
  • • Flying Turning Kick
  • • Flying 360° Back (male only)
  • • Jumping Reverse Turning Kick (male only)
  • • Flying long side kick
• • Achieve minimum qualification height (to be determined)
• • Knows ITF rules pertaining to special technique