STATEMENT BY SELECTION COMMITTEE

1. By virtue of section 8(c) of the WCU Constitution the Selection Committee has to "exclude from consideration for international events those who have not actively associated themselves with Welsh Chess" . This statement sets out how the Committee approaches this requirement in the wider context of selection policy.

2. Where a player is felt not to have actively associated himself with Welsh chess at the time when a particular selection is being considered he will be completely ruled out for that event. Where, on the other hand, he is deemed not to be excluded then his place in the team etc under consideration will be determined purely on chess-playing merit. In other words degrees of active association will not be used as a means of making decisions in marginal cases or in determining such matters as board order.

3. Players are expected to have shown a willingness to involve themselves in Welsh Chess in the two years prior to the Selection Committee meeting. To that extent temporary inactivity as a result, for example, of domestic or career crises will not rule a player out of consideration.

4. The standard of involvement is not absolute but may vary from player to player depending on individual circumstances but a certain minimum compliance will be expected of everyone. No hard and fast rules can be set down in establishing this minimum and each case will be decided on its merits but the following are relevant considerations:-

a) It is accepted that international appearances for Wales may well make considerable calls on an individual's time and indeed financial resources but in themselves they do not satisfy the 'active association' requirement. After all, aspirants to places in Welsh teams must be given a reasonable opportunity to play existing members.

b) Regular appearances in the Welsh Championship go a considerable way to satisfying the requirement but these appearances must normally be supplemented annually by one or more of the following:

1. i.playing regularly for an essentially Welsh team in the 4NCL;
2. ii.playing for a club in the Welsh Chess Premier League;
3. iii.participation in one or more of the half dozen or so open congresses held in Wales each year;
4. iv.playing Welsh local league chess. [1]

5. It is understood that players qualified for Wales but not resident in Wales have a particular problem and consequently are not expected to compete in Wales to the same extent as residents. Nevertheless, non-residents are under an obligation to make a special effort to maintain their ties with Welsh Chess - it would clearly be quite wrong that international teams should comprise an elite seldom playing against other Welsh chessplayers. Non-residents are finally reminded that such activities as helping in training programmes, for example by offering coaching over the internet, or assisting in the administration of Welsh chess, whilst not a substitute for playing chess in Wales, do serve to strengthen links with Welsh Chess and carry some weight in determining whether players have actively associated themselves with Welsh Chess.