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This is the first time PNZ has asked the wider membership for input. Previously, only members on the players selection list or on a development squad received feedback forms. -Tom van Bodegraven.

Selection Process Feedback Form

Dear Member,

The current PNZ selection process has been evolving over the past three years and as part of this evolution we are keen to receive feedback from our members about selection and how the process can be improved. Following the feedback in 2004 changes were made to the selection process. The feedback form can be completed by any member, whether involved in the selection process or not.

Post or email the completed form to the PNZ Secretary by 25th July 2006.

Postal: The Secretary, Petanque New Zealand, PO Box 31127, Lower Hutt.

1 Did you put your name down for selection 2006?

(Yes/No)

2 Was the amount of communication you received from the selector/s about the process:

(About right / too little / too much)

3 How easy was the selection process to understand?

(About right / difficult / confusing)

4 What areas of the process do you think could be made easier?

5 Do you feel the selection process is fair?

(Yes/No)

If you answered no, please list how you think this could be improved

This text appeared on the PNZ website on 20/06/06:

Here is an earlier PNZ announcement (taken from PNZ website on 12/06/06):

Does this mean that our selectors are sending a second team after all, only because "some" of the originally selected players (June 5th) are now (June 20th) able to go due to a "change in circumstances"?

Does this mean that the selectors could not find suitable replacements amongst the players that had made themselves available? Does this mean we nearly didn't send a second team and thereby have deprived good players of an opportunity of gaining valuable international experience?

It is not a good look to see Michael Rocks selected whilst Liz Rocks is on the panel. It is not a good look for Murray Porter to put his name forward to be selected and be on the panel at the same time.

How are the selectors selected? Who selects the selectors? Who applied to be a selector? What are the credentials one needs to be considered as a selector?.

6 Do you think there should be criteria for entry into selection?

(Yes/No)

If yes, then please specify what you think these criteria should be?

7 Where do you think the process should focus to achieve a consistently performing team?

A team should be able to show consistent good results in the major tournaments. Brazil assembled a WC soccer team of soccer stars selected from the various clubs throughout Brazil. They played one warm-up game - the rest is history.

8 What attributes do you think a successful team should have?

A team should be able to show consistent good results in the major tournaments. If they do this they have all the well known desirable attributes.

9 Petanque is a team sport. What personal attributes should be considered by selectors when selecting a team?

Same as 8

10 What was your experience of the selection process this year?

NA

11 If you were a selector, what would you do differently?

I would explain the process used to select the Second Singapore Team. See point 5.

I would campaign to go back to what we used to do. Hold a national championship with the winner representing New Zealand in the World Pétanque Championships. This would make selectors surplus to requirement, and do away with unclear and awkward selection procedures.

We would get teams that enjoy training and playing with each other (team dynamics), and would minimise petty jealousies. It would almost completely do away with geographical logistics allowing more time for intensive coaching and training. What I propose here is not new, we have done it this way in the past. It is a common practice in other parts of the world (see also this page).

12 Do you think there should be performance measures for selectors?

(yes /no)

If you answered yes, please list the performance measures you think could be used

13 Are you putting your name down for selection in 2007?

(Yes/No)

If you answered no, please specify why

14 Any other comments you have that might be useful feedback for the selection process.

Already, five people have expressed that they have strong misgivings about the way our selection process is handled. The absurdity of the banal selection requirements, and the sense of a self serving dishonesty within the selection processes.

Below is some sample text taken from this page. -Tom.

".... Rightly or wrongly I have the impression now that it is all decided by this little cozy band of people where you have to belong to, and who therefore like to keep the thing the way they are. I also know I’m not alone thinking that, and that by itself should be enough to seriously reconsider the current selection policy if it wants to be believable._With the winner of the national triples there was at least a clear and honest system leaving no room for discussion. To prevent slipping more down the path of banana republic policies we should look at something similar. Have the team selection decided by one or (preferably) more national tournaments (or competition)._Easy enough, the overall winner goes to the worlds, second to Singapore etc. This way the number of teams with a real chance will be back to two or three and the rest of us can perhaps enjoy a tournament again without having to worry about whether our appearance, attitude and behaviour are in accordance with the current selection policy."

"....Given the small size of the player base and the ad hoc application of the selection policies - I'd like to see the tournament selection process reinstated, until such time where the game has grown to sufficient level...."

"....What I can't understand is why a womens team is going to Singapore anyway. It is an Open tournament with no womens' division. This means they'll be competing against internation mens' teams on the whole...."

"....(including breaches of PNZ’s Constitution and/or Code of Behaviour ) by a player may be taken into account by the Selection Panel; Neatness in appearance) are so blatantly subjective that any player can be selected or left out (What is unacceptable behavior, Graeme’s wet rag, anonymous complaining about another club on this site, always claiming the point is yours even when it obviously isn’t?)...."

".... I would add that PNZ needs to come clean on what the hell happened with the process for the selection of this team to avoid a similar selection debacle in future...."

Taken from: http://petanque.pbwiki.com/NatSelection

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NB. In point 7, I changed "Argentina" to "Brazil" - my mistake. It does not change the essence of my point. -Tom van Bodegraven.