Dec. 26, 2009 

The Jr Team Selection program is nearing an end. Since the completion of the of the Jr Finals at Muncie this summer, the Jr flyers have been accumulating contest flight time to fulfill:

1)      the 75-minute qualification time requirement, and

2)       the two contests flown after the finals requirement. 

An error in Jr Team Letter #3 was been pointed out.  Newsletter 3# stated, “Note the Jr Finals / NATs scores do not count toward the qualification time”.  This wording had been used in previous Jr Team Selection Programs but was dropped for the 2010 program and the two contests after the Jr Finals requirement was added. I apologize to any family and flyers that may have made un-needed long trips due to my error.

The Jr Team Selection committee has been asked if an AMA sanctioned Record Trials is the same as a contest. The answer is yes. An AMA sanctioned  Record Trial  is the same as an AMA sanctioned contest in order to accumulate the Jr qualification time and to count as a post Jr Finals contest.  While it is preferred for Jrs to fly in competition to refine their skills, we recognize that not all Jrs have access to many contests.  We have made the same ruling in previous years and will make this clarification in the 2012 Jr Team Selection program. The qualification time period and the two contests after the Jr Finals period end at the conclusion of the 2009 King Orange contest.

Repeating an important message from the last Jr Newsletter, it is important for those who are interested and did not make the 75% of the winning time to submit an application for the open F1P and open F1B spots.  Jr flyers that did not fly at the Jr Finals may also apply. It is recommended that they fly as many contests as possible and submit the strongest contest records as possible.  At the time of this writing, no applications have been received.

The JrTSC will also maintain the authority to place late entrants in open* Junior Team positions, but is not obligated to fill an open team position. Application for an open* team position must be submitted in writing or email to the JrTSC chairman by Jan 15, 2010**. The Jr must enter (per Section 1.0) and provide contest performance information as an attachment to Form A. If more than one application is received, the JrTSC will use the following criteria to make a selection: the provided contest performance information; other contest performance information; verbal and written references from other free flight flyers; the number of future JrTSPs for which the applicant is eligible. The applicant must fulfill the Qualification requirement per Section 3.1. (75 minutes)

* The released JrTS program states “uncontested” and will be corrected at the next revision.

** The released JrTS program states April 30, 2009 which is incorrect and will be corrected at the next revision.

The remainder of the team selection process is described in the Jr Team Selection program which can be found on the NFFS web site.

Jr Team Selection Subcommittee

George Batiuk

Jim Parker

Paul Crowley