Section 2: Eligibility for AAP Support

To be nominated by Sport Canada for AAP funding, NSOs must meet certain minimum requirements; similarly, athletes must meet various minimum requirements before their NSO can nominate them for AAP support at a given level. This section provides a detailed description of these requirements.

2.1 Main Principles of Eligibility for AAP Support

AAP support is subject to three main principles, as follows:

  • Except where otherwise indicated in the policies in this handbook, AAP financial support is usually limited to athletes in sports whose high-performance programs are financially supported by Sport Canada as a result of the implementation of the Sport Funding and Accountability Framework (SFAF).
  • Normally, in Olympic/Paralympic sports supported by Sport Canada, only events that are on the program of the upcoming Olympic/Paralympic Games are eligible for AAP support.
  • Sport Canada reserves the right to cancel or reduce the amount of AAP funding if Parliament changes the funding levels.

2.2 Minimum Eligibility Requirements for NSOs

Normally, sports must be funded through SFAF
  • Normally, the NSO’s high-performance program must be funded by Sport Canada through SFAF.
  • The sport must have a sanctioned World Championship, World Cup or equivalent championship that is held at least every other year.
  • The NSO must have a clearly articulated national team program with appropriate training and competitive opportunities (both domestic and international) for each of the proposed carded athletes.
  • The NSO’s national team program must be based on year‑round training principles that include significant daily training activities.
  • The NSO must ensure that athletes who may be eligible for nomination for the AAP have an individualized annual training program based on year-round training principles that include significant daily training activities. See Annex B for recommended training volumes for carded athletes.
  • The NSO must formally monitor and evaluate athletes’ training and competitive programs. The NSO must designate a national coach or a person with equivalent qualifications and status (e.g., High Performance Director) to perform these tasks.
  • The NSO must formally monitor and evaluate athletes’ training and competitive programs. The NSO must designate a national coach or a person with equivalent qualifications and status (e.g., High Performance Director) to perform these tasks.
  • The NSO must conduct a formal process for selecting athletes for national teams. Selection rules and procedures must be published and made known to all concerned, along with procedures for appealing decisions. These procedures must include access to independent arbitration through the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC).
  • The NSO must have in place an Athlete/NSO Agreement that is consistent with Section 7 of this document. The agreement is to be signed by all carded athletes.

2.3 Minimum Eligibility Requirements for Athletes

  • The athlete’s NSO must meet the minimum requirements listed in Section 2.2
  • AAP support is subject to athletes’ availability to represent Canada in major international competitions, including World Championships, Olympic Games and Paralympic Games; participation in preparatory and annual training programs; and adherence to their respective Athlete/National Sport Organization (NSO) Agreement.
  • The athlete must be a CANADIAN CITIZEN or PERMANENT RESIDENT OF CANADA at the beginning of the carding cycle for which the athlete is being nominated, and the athlete shall have been resident in Canada (student status, refugee status, work visa, or permanent resident) for a minimum period of one year before being considered for AAP support. The athlete would normally be expected to have participated in NSO-sanctioned programs during that time period.
  • Under the eligibility requirements of the sport’s International Federation (IF) as it pertains to citizenship or residency status, the athlete must be eligible to represent Canada at major international events, including World Championships, at the beginning of the carding cycle for which the athlete is being nominated.
  • Athletes must meet the carding criteria as a member of a Canadian team and represent Canada at international events or in a domestic event or events sanctioned by the NSO for such purposes.
  • For athletes in Olympic or Paralympic sports who have been a permanent resident of Canada for three years, continued eligibility to receive AAP support is contingent on the athlete becoming eligible to represent Canada at the Olympic or Paralympic Games.
  • The following athletes are not eligible to be nominated for AAP support:
    • An athlete who is currently under sanction or who has previously been sanctioned by CCES, an International Federation, a Major Games Organization, the World Anti-Doping Agency or any other anti-doping organization for two years or more of sport ineligibility for an anti-doping rule violation and who has not, in the case of pre-2004 violations, been reinstated is permanently ineligible for AAP support.
    • Athletes who commit and are sanctioned for an anti-doping rule violation for a period of less than two years of sport ineligibility are ineligible for AAP support during the period of sport ineligibility and are ineligible to be nominated for AAP support during this time.

Note: It is recommended that NSOs include the above information with their carding criteria.

Athletes in non-Olympic/Paralympic events that are under consideration for inclusion in the official program of future Olympic/Paralympic Games may be considered for carding under the Olympic/Paralympic sport criteria following confirmation by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) or International Paralympic Committee (IPC) that the sport/event has been added to the program of the next Olympic/Paralympic Games.

2.4 Other Eligibility Considerations

What About Athletes Living Outside Canada?

Athletes living outside Canada are not normally eligible for AAP support. Any exceptions to this requirement must be approved by Sport Canada. Athletes leaving Canada should be fully aware that any exceptions will be made only through special submissions by the NSO concerned. Athletes living outside Canada for athletic or academic purposes must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of Sport Canada, that appropriate training programs are in place and are being monitored by the NSO.

Athletes who have been living full-time outside Canada for more than two successive years normally will not be considered eligible for AAP benefits. However, if these athletes are competing within the Canadian sport system and representing Canada at international competitions as a member of the NSO National Team, carding may be considered.

What About Athletes Attending Foreign Post-Secondary Educational Institutions?

Athletes who are attending any foreign post-secondary educational institution (including NCAA institutions) and are receiving an athletic scholarship in any sport are not eligible to receive AAP support in the months in which they are attending the foreign post-secondary educational institution. These athletes may be nominated by the NSO for AAP support during the months they are involved in National Team training and competition activities and not attending the foreign post-secondary institution.

What if Athletes Are Under 18?

All athletes under the age of 18 must have their parent or legal guardian sign their AAP application form.

What if Non-carded Athletes Are Named to Olympic/Paralympic Teams?

Athletes who are not carded but who are selected as members of the Canadian Olympic or Paralympic teams by the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) or Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) will be carded by Sport Canada for a period of four months, starting four months before the beginning of the Olympic/Paralympic Games.

Athletes’ funding may be approved before the COC/CPC names its Olympic/Paralympic Teams if the following requirements are met:

  • The NSO demonstrates that the athlete has met all the requirements for participation in the upcoming Olympic/Paralympic Games including: 1) IF eligibility criteria; 2) COC/CPC eligibility criteria; and 3) NSO team selection criteria.
  • The NSO confirms in writing that the athlete will be nominated for Olympic Team selection.
  • The COC/CPC confirms in writing that, if nominated, the athlete meets all criteria for team selection and would, barring unforeseen circumstances, be named to the Olympic/Paralympic Team.

What About Athletes in Sports Not Funded by Sport Canada?

As a general rule, AAP financial aid is limited to athletes in sports whose high-performance programs are funded by Sport Canada under the Sport Funding and Accountability Framework (SFAF). Exceptions may only be made if all of the following conditions are met:

  • The athlete meets the international criteria for Senior Cards at World Championships or Olympic/Paralympic Games
  • The athlete meets all other eligibility criteria for athletes (see Section 2.3).
  • The athlete’s NSO meets all AAP NSO eligibility requirements (see Section 2.2).

What About Olympic Sports Where There Is No Women’s Event in the Games?

Women in Olympic sports where there is no comparable event for women in the Games will be eligible for carding if all of the following conditions are met:

  • There are no physiologically comparable events on the Olympic program that the woman athlete is eligible for.
  • The woman athlete meets the international criteria for Senior Cards.
  • The athlete’s sport meets all AAP NSO eligibility requirements (see Section 2.2).

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