I feel that I need to clarify something- again. No matter what system you propose- and no matter how you do the selection- you will ALWAYS have skatefans on your tail. Fans of the skater who got cut off the team, and felt like she should be on, will raise a stink. Nonfans who disagree with the analysis of the Committee will raise a stink. I mean, look how much hullabaloo was created over the results of the past two Nationals- and we're talking about the JUDGING here. Not the selection process!
I assume that the point of this thread, the reason it was started in the first place, was to inspire a discussion/debate on how much of a factor Nationals should be in the decision-making process for the US World Team. We all know how it is. But just because they do it a certain way doesn't mean it's the optimal way, or that it should be "their way or the highway". Many posters agree with the decision to let Nationals be the Oly Trials or World Team Trials, and that's fine. I think if USFS is going to do that, at least in non-Oly years they should make that clear in the rules. The issue is that they claim they factor in other events, when it doesn't seem like it's the case. So the point I (and Joe, and maybe a couple others) have been making is how to use those other competitions to clear any confusion over whether the top 2 at Nationals is comprised of our strongest team. Some may not even care about "strongest team" and may just say, "send the top 2 or 3 no matter what" which, again, is fine. My point is, if we want three spots back, with our current depth in ladies, depending on the night, the TOP 2 may not translate to the BEST 2 when you factor in results from the past year. The debate is whether we want the TOP 2 or the BEST 2 at worlds. YMMV. Many times they'll be one and the same. But what about the moments they are not?
I assume that the point of this thread, the reason it was started in the first place, was to inspire a discussion/debate on how much of a factor Nationals should be in the decision-making process for the US World Team. We all know how it is. But just because they do it a certain way doesn't mean it's the optimal way, or that it should be "their way or the highway". Many posters agree with the decision to let Nationals be the Oly Trials or World Team Trials, and that's fine. I think if USFS is going to do that, at least in non-Oly years they should make that clear in the rules. The issue is that they claim they factor in other events, when it doesn't seem like it's the case. So the point I (and Joe, and maybe a couple others) have been making is how to use those other competitions to clear any confusion over whether the top 2 at Nationals is comprised of our strongest team. Some may not even care about "strongest team" and may just say, "send the top 2 or 3 no matter what" which, again, is fine. My point is, if we want three spots back, with our current depth in ladies, depending on the night, the TOP 2 may not translate to the BEST 2 when you factor in results from the past year. The debate is whether we want the TOP 2 or the BEST 2 at worlds. YMMV. Many times they'll be one and the same. But what about the moments they are not?
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