This motion was approved by PARA at the Spring 2023 Meeting.
MOTION: To cap the field sizes for each of the PARA U16 Series events at specific numbers set by the ROCs, and offer a priority registration period to the top‐ranked U16s, followed by an open registration period for all U16s.
Field Size Caps:
Each U16 Series ROC would propose a maximum field size for their respective events at the Spring Meeting. For the coming season:
∙ Tussey proposes U16 Series 1 and 2 be limited to a total of 150 athletes. In the event that weather conditions permit seng separate courses for each gender Tussey is permitted to expand the field to 175 athletes.
∙ Elk proposes U16 Series 3 and 4 be limited to a total of 200 athletes.
∙ Blue Mountain proposes the U16 finals be limited to a total of 150 athletes.
Weather permitting, each ROC is permitted to accept an additional 10 Discretionary Athletes (5 per gender) for any athletes that missed the registration window or did not race in PARA the previous season. Any discretionary requests would need to come from the Head Coach and be submitted to the U16 Age Chair. ROCs are only permitted to accept or reject all requests for Discretionary entries.
Priority Registration Process:
∙ Each U16 Series ROC shall establish a priority registration period for its events lasting [two weeks (14 days)] for PARA’s top‐ranked U16 athletes to be defined below.
∙ After the priority registration period ends, the remaining entry slots for the event shall be open to all U16 athletes on a first‐come‐first‐served basis that also lasts a minimum of [two weeks (14 days)].
∙ The ROC shall provide advance notice to all PARA Directors and Officers of the registration opening dates and times no less than [72 hours before opening]. The webmaster shall post these dates and times on the PARA website.
Priority Registration to the Top PARA Athletes
Establishing the List of Top‐Ranked U16s for Priority Registration:
The list of athletes qualified for priority registration shall be prepared by the U16 Age Chair by the Spring Meeting each year. (For this coming season it shall be submitted to the Executive Committee by June 1st and be approved by the Exec Comm no later than June 30th.)
The top‐ranked athletes are defined as:
Those athletes that earned World Cup points in any U16 Series race that season, not to exceed 30 of each gender.
Those athletes that earned World Cup points at the U14 Derby that season, not to exceed 30 of each gender