BC Wheelchair Sports Association -- Programs

Athlete Assistance Program for 2010

The deadline for application, including all Travel Grant Information (receipts, documentation, etc) is February 15th, 2010.

Athletes must include/ensure the following along with their application:

Completed AAP Athlete Questionnaire - Word Doc (45k)
Completed AAP PSO Application Form (Provincial Government Form) - PDF (82k)
Signed BCWSA Code of Conduct - Word Doc (487k)
Up to date BCWSA or BCWBS Membership (Includes BCWSA Membership)
Summary of Expenditures
Travel Grant Application Form & Receipts or proof of expenditures (could include credit card statements if actual receipts are no longer available) - Excel (16k) PDF (12k)

You can also refer to the AAP Handbook for further information PDF (100k)

Athlete Assistance Program Award Recipients

BCWSA Announces 2008-09 Athlete Assistance Program Award Recipients - details (32k pdf)

Athlete Assistance Program

The Athlete Assistance Program or 'AAP' is a program funded by the Provincial Government, which provides a system of recognition and financial support for BC's high performance athletes. The intent of the program is to provide funding to individual athletes "based on their demonstrated commitment to high performance sport and excellence, and their potential to compete for British Columbia and Canada".

How does it work?
Each year, the Sport and Community Development Branch of the Provincial Government allocates a certain amount of AAP funding to each Provincial Sport Organization (PSO). Along with the funding are guidelines regarding minimum funding criteria that the PSO must follow when allocating funds to the athletes. These are included on the following pages.

In addition to these guidelines, the PSO (BC Wheelchair Sports) is responsible for forming a Selection Committee that establishes criteria to further select athletes for the program. Once the athletes are selected, the funds are distributed in two installments. The second instalment is dependent upon the submission of training reports by the athlete.

How much funding is available?
The government determines the amount each organization receives on a yearly basis.

How will the committee decide who receives funding?
An application form is made available to all athletes who meet the minimum funding criteria set out by the provincial government and BC Wheelchair Sports. Along with the form there is a questionnaire that the athlete must complete and submit for review by the committee.

Each question is evaluated on a scale of 0 - 5 as to how well the athlete meets an 'ideal'. The questions are equally weighted so that for example, commitment and dedication to sport is equally as important as national ranking. Athletes may not meet the 'ideal' in each criterion, but their total points across all of the questions will rank them fairly with other athletes.

Hopefully, this system will not only identify the appropriate athletes for funding, but also give athletes goals to strive for.

For more information:
Gail Hamamoto
Phone: 604.333.3522
Email: gail@bcwheelchairsports.com