General Funding Policy

Swim Nova Scotia will attempt to fund all eligible athletes. The following funding programs are designed to afford Nova Scotia swimmers an advantage when it comes to financial support in the pursuit of ‘High Performance Goals’ and to reward performance.

The award is made as an investment in the swimmer’s sporting future. When it is accepted, responsibilities are assumed by the swimmer. These responsibilities are directly related to the attainment of high-performance in swimming.

Purpose

This award identifies athletic potential in swimming as beneficial to the future of our sport in Nova Scotia, as well as, rewards swimmers who achieve significant performances at designated national championships.

Criteria

To be eligible for financial support from Swim Nova Scotia the swimmer shall be registered with a SNS club and be eligible to represent Nova Scotia. An eligible athlete must also prove to be committed to the pursuit of ‘High Performance Goals’.

In order to achieve ‘High Performance Goals’ the athlete must be committed to a year-round program which offers:

• Training frequency, volume and intensity which are in accordance with generally accepted principles of training;
• Technical development directed towards elite proficiency in strokes, starts and turns;
• Competitive experiences that challenge the swimmer’s ability to perform in extremely demanding, pressure situations, and;
• Education and personal development in all facets of High Performance training.

Swim Nova Scotia reserves the right to withhold all funding if an athlete’s training situation cannot be verified by the awarded swimmers coach of record.

Selection criteria will include that:

• The athlete must be a member of Swim Nova Scotia.
• The athlete must be a permanent resident of Nova Scotia, and if not a permanent resident, they must reside in Nova Scotia for 12 consecutive months.
• If the athlete is attending an out of province school/university or representing a swim club/centre outside Nova Scotia, he/she will not be eligible for funding while they are away. The athletes must report to Swim Nova Scotia upon their return.
• Athletes must attend all SNC nationally designated meets** for the competitive year.*
• Eligibility status for carding will expire upon receiving a National Card.

Any swimmer turning down or refusing a Nova Scotia Travel or Games Team selection is not eligible for any SNS funding in the following year, unless the absence is approved by Swim Nova Scotia.

An award recipient who does not compete at Summer Nationals or equivalent loses their NS Carding eligibility for following year. Likewise, a potential recipient (based on the Long Course performance rating who does not compete at Summer Nationals loses their NS Carding eligibility the following year.

*Extenuating circumstances will be considered by the Management Team.

**SNC designated meets for 2009-10 competitive season are:

• CIS or Eastern Canadian Championships
• 2010 Pan Pac Trials
• SNC LC Nationals (Summer)
• SWAD CAN-AM Nationals (3 in total)

Selection

• All applications shall be submitted to Swim Nova Scotia for approval by the Management Team by the athlete, with the signed approval of their Head Coach.
• Carding status will expire if the athlete no longer meets any of the above criteria.

Tiers

A CARD: Swimming/Natation Canada Sr. Nationals top eight (8) finisher in the heats.*
B CARD: Swimming/Natation Canada Sr. Nationals top sixteen (16) finisher in the heats.*
C CARD: Swimming/Natation Canada Sr. Nationals qualifier/SWAD Sr. National Qualifier.

*A top eight (8) finish in one of the following three events (50m Backstroke, 50m Breaststroke, 50m Butterfly) will provide a swimmer with B Card status. However, a top three (3) performance in the above events will provide a swimmer with A Card status.

Funding

Funding for the program will be designated by the Athlete Funding Management Team, and will be reviewed and approved by the Swim Nova Scotia Board of Directors. Funds will be distributed to the successful applicants every two months by Swim Nova Scotia: October 1, December 1, February 1, April 1, June 1, and August 1.

TIER A - $250 (per 2 month period)
TIER B - $200 (per 2 month period)
TIER C - $150 (per 2 month period)

The Swim Nova Scotia Athlete Funding program is subject to review on an annual
basis (May of each year), and is based on available funding.

Swim Nova Scotia reserves the right to withhold carding status and/or funding if an athlete’s training situation is not acceptable, can not be verified, or changes.

Athlete Funding Management Team: David Fry, Ginny Smith, Lance Cansdale, and Bette El-Hawary.