BOC Eligibility

[Tatty]

I see that BOF have posted up on their website that they agree that the current rule needs to be changed and this should happen for the 2013. They give an indication of the wording which is a 3 year residency period. Sense at last, but why did this ever have to happen

[NeilC]

I can't see any residency clause.

[mharky]

No, it just says you have to have been a BOF member for 3 years. Looks like those mysterious "holidaying Swedes" who are out to steal our trophies need to plan in advance.

The rule is fair enough for the individual, but still completely unreasonable for the relays.

[madmike]

It seems like a step in the right direction to me (I would not have wanted a residency rule at the mo ).
I am pleased that the Board have been prepared to change direction and the likes of Arnold, Toni, Monika et al will be recognized as part of BOF and their vast contributions not ignored.

I do agree with Mharky that a more open approach to relay might be better given there are probably only 3 or 4 Clubs that could win the British relay. Therefore, why not let the likes of MiddxO or RMOC recruit 3 or 4 random holidaying Swedes to compete with the big boys

.

[Eric]

I do agree with Mharky that a more open approach to relay might be better given there are probably only 3 or 4 Clubs that could win the British relay. Therefore, why not let the likes of MiddxO or RMOC recruit 3 or 4 random holidaying Swedes to compete with the big boys

.

So thats the JK then?

[Arnold]

Good news.

The suggestion of 3 years BOF membership (rather than residency) came from the need to enforce the rule in an easy manner. You can easily check years of membership on the database, you can't check residency easily.

Yes it does theoretically leave open the door for organised Swedes to become BOF members in anticipation of winning BOC 2016, but the risk is rather small!

Why do you feel the rule doesn't work for Relays? I'm not sure why it should be any "softer"?

[Becks]

I thin as long as the club is a British Club, is should be eligible for the British Champs. I don't care about not being eligible to win the US Champs (as long as they let me run it), but when I contribute to my club in every other way, but am not allowed to represent them in a relay, I think that sucks a bit.

Yes, you leave it open to getting in foreigners to beef up a team, but looking at the new SOFT regulations, for example, that won't be an option for Swedes at least. British relays are small and I think everyone can benefit from more competition in that respect.

[mappingmum]

Why do you feel the rule doesn't work for Relays? I'm not sure why it should be any "softer"?

Because the relay champs is a club competition in my view. The eligibility of clubs is defined by their affiliation to BOF. Adding an additional clause on the competitors in the team is adding unnecessary complexity and making it a double tier British test. Perhaps that is the objective but I think strong competition is a good thing and encourages exceptional performance and development eg Henman/Rudeski, Boardman/Obree.

[madmike]

Why do you feel the rule doesn't work for Relays? I'm not sure why it should be any "softer"?

Because the relay champs is a club competition in my view. The eligibility of clubs is defined by their affiliation to BOF. Adding an additional clause on the competitors in the team is adding unnecessary complexity and making it a double tier British test. Perhaps that is the objective but I think strong competition is a good thing and encourages exceptional performance and development eg Henman/Rudeski, Boardman/Obree.

exactly

[EddieH]

From what I read here this is still an ill thought out rule. What happens when someone takes up the sport and becomes rapidly successful? Sorry can't have them in your team, they;ve not been members for 3 years.

Not likely to be common in the open but junior relays - very likely. Moravian juniors came second in BRC with a team of orienteersin their first year. As I understand it this rule would debar every one of them.

[roadrunner]

From what I read here this is still an ill thought out rule. What happens when someone takes up the sport and becomes rapidly successful? Sorry can't have them in your team, they;ve not been members for 3 years.

Not likely to be common in the open but junior relays - very likely. Moravian juniors came second in BRC with a team of orienteersin their first year. As I understand it this rule would debar every one of them.

Not necessarily - the suggested rule was to be a British Citizen or a BOF member for 3 years. So if they're British - no problem.

[EddieH]

OK. I did say that this was what I perceived from the commnets here.

[mharky]

It's not great for universities, who not only have some of the best relay teams, but also have many foreign exchange students in their clubs. It's a bit of a shame for them to be told they can't compete in any of their university's competitive teams because they've not belonged to BOF for 3 years.

[madmike]

It's not great for universities, who not only have some of the best relay teams, but also have many foreign exchange students in their clubs. It's a bit of a shame for them to be told they can't compete in any of their university's competitive teams because they've not belonged to BOF for 3 years.

good point Mharky - hadn't thought of that one

[graeme]

The double irony is that those foreign students are likely to be the only ones with the Uni club on their BOF card, as required by BOC relay rules.

Individual rule seems fair enough, and sensibly based on information BOF actually have.
I wonder how that happened