INTERNATIONAL HALL OF FAME RULES

Updates agreed by IWWF Executive Board – Chapala Mexico - November 2015

SELECTION COMMITTEE

  1. The International Hall of Fame Selection Committee shall consist of nine members.
  2. Each of three current Confederations shall select three members of the International Hall of Fame Selection Committee. Should the number of Confederations change, the number of Selectors will be reconsidered by the IWWF Executive Board. Their terms of office shall be for six years and shall be staggered so that one member will be selected from each Confederation every two years. Members of the International Hall of Fame Selection Committee may be re-elected to the committee for a second six-year term but may not be elected for a third term unless he/she is off the committee for at least two years.
  3. The method of selection of members of the International Hall of Fame Selection Committee shall be determined by each Confederation. Vacancies occurring during the term of any member of the International Hall of Fame Selection Committee shall be filled by the Confederation involved for the balance of the unexpired term.
  4. Members of the International Hall of Fame Selection Committee must have at least ten years experience in our sport at international level.
  5. In addition to the appointment of nine Selectors, the Executive Board of the IWWF shall nominate, for a two-year term, one additional member of the International Hall of Fame Selection Committee as the Chairman of the Committee or it may nominate a person not a member of the Committee as Chairman. The Chairman’s position is a non-voting one when it comes to the selection process.
  6. There shall be no limitation on the number of two-year terms a Chairman may serve.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

  1. Elections for the International Hall of Fame shall be every two years with induction of new members to coincide with the week of the World Waterski Tournament Championships on a day to be agreed.
  2. Approximately one year prior to these World Championships, members of IWWF Federations are invited to submit candidate details for consideration. While many may propose candidates from their own Confederation area, they are also free to nominate candidates from any Confederation’s area and from any Discipline. Each candidate’s nomination must only be made using the dedicated online Nomination Form, completing all the appropriate sections as accurately as possible. The Nomination must also receive the approval of the Federation of the country involved before being considered. On completion and with the Federation approval, this Form automatically goes to the Chairman of the International Hall of Fame Selection Committee. Additional appropriate documentation of the candidate’s eligibility and conformance with the selection criteria may also be submitted.
  3. The Chairman of the International Hall of Fame Selection Committee shall forward copies of the nominating Forms to the members of the International Hall of Fame Selection Committee along with any comments of his own, requesting each committee member to comment on the nominees and the dossiers / files as appropriate. These comments shall be assembled in a revised or expanded dossier by the Chairman, circulated to the Selection Committee and then a vote taken on the candidates by the nine Selectors.
  4. To be elected to the International Hall of Fame a candidate must receive at least six votes from the Selection Committee. No more than SEVEN candidates may be elected in any one biennial election. If more than SEVEN candidates receive the necessary votes in any election, the SEVEN candidates with the highest votes will be elected, with a revote on ties, if necessary.
  5. All deliberations of the International Hall of Fame Selection Committee shall be secret so as to permit a free exchange of comments among Committee members only and to avoid embarrassment to anybody concerned. At the conclusion of the voting process, the Chairman of the International Hall of Fame Selection Committee shall forward the names of those elected to the International Hall of Fame to the President of the IWWF. The names of unsuccessful candidates and the votes for either successful or unsuccessful candidates shall not be disclosed and be released only to the International Hall of Fame Selection Committee.
  6. The Chairman will advise the Executive Board of the IWWF on the manner in which the names of those elected to the International Hall of Fame will be announced and the method of recognizing these individuals at the award ceremony during the subsequent World Waterski Championships week.
  7. Each successful candidate on travelling to the International Hall of Fame Ceremony will be awarded a sum of US$750 (seven hundred and fifty), as a contribution towards their attendance costs.

GENERAL SELECTION CRITERIA

  1. There are three categories for Induction : –
    a. ATHLETES: From all Disciplines
    b. PIONEERS: From all Disciplines
    c. OFFICIALS: From all Disciplines
  2. No member of the International Hall of Fame Selection Committee shall be eligible for election during his term on the Committee.
  3. The Executive Board may award the Order of Merit to an individual(s) who has made a significant contribution to our sport which does not generally fall within the guidelines for the three categories above.

ELIGIBILITY FOR ATHLETES

  1. A competitor must have competed in at least two World Championships at Open or equivalent Level in the discipline from which selected. Competition in Junior or Senior World Championships is not to be counted for this purpose.
  2. A competitor must have been retired for a period of at least two World Championships at Open or equivalent level at the time of consideration for election to be eligible. The competitor may, however, continue to be active in Senior or other divisions or disciplines or as an official or may be otherwise involved in the sport.
  3. The Committee will consider the following factors in voting: –

a. Major Factors
i. Open or equivalent competition achievements in World Championships and other major International tournaments including the World Cup, Multi-Sport and Olympic Games
ii. World records set where appropriate
iii. Sportsmanship, character and integrity
b. Minor Factors
i. Competitive record in World Junior or Senior Championships, Confederation and National Championships
ii. National records set where appropriate
iii. Service as a judge, driver, administrator or in the promotion of the sport
iv. Competitive record in other competitive disciplines

ELIGIBILITY FOR PIONEERS

  1. This category is neither defined nor definable but is intended for individuals whose major contributions to the International aspect of our sport do not fall into the other categories.

ELIGIBILITY FOR OFFICIALS

  1. General Qualifications. It is not possible to lay down specific qualifications in a category as broad as that of officials. Generally, a candidate would be recognized for major contributions to the sport over a considerable period of years. Election would not be based on an isolated outstanding contribution. At the same time, mere length of service, however dedicated and generous, that cannot be said to have contributed significantly to the progress of the sport in one or more areas, is not sufficient. The emphasis will be on achievements, not on offices held or time served.
  2. Type of Service. The term ‘official’ is intended to encompass a wide range of functions within the sport. Primary consideration should be given to contributions to the sport as an International judge, driver, scorer, IWWF officer, Executive Board member, or IWWF Council or Committee membership. Secondary consideration should be given to contributions in Confederation or National offices, tournament chairman of major tournaments, tournament announcer at major tournaments and writer or promoter. With respect to all of these functions the emphasis will be on contributions of worldwide significance – not just at Confederation or National level. Candidates are not generally to be judged on a single function, but rather on an accumulation of contributions in all the areas in which he/she was involved. It is expected that most of those inducted will have contributed in several areas, even though one may predominate.
  3. Length of Service. Generally it is expected that 15 years of service to the sport at National, Confederation or World-wide levels would be required as a minimum for consideration. Exceptions may be required in extraordinary circumstances. Mere length of service, by itself, does not qualify an individual for consideration. Length of service is more a measure of the extent of the individual’s dedication to the sport.
  4. Retirement. Retirement from active involvement in the sport is neither a requirement for nomination nor is it to be encouraged. Generally we do not want to recognize a candidate when there is still a great deal more he/she may contribute to the sport. At the same time we must not wait for the candidate’s death or senility to recognize significant contributions to the sport. Generally a minimum age at induction of 50 would be required unless the candidate was clearly retired prior to that time.
  5. Conclusion. The selection of those inducted in the category of ‘official’ requires the Committee to exercise the greatest possible degree of judgement in both the selection of the candidates and the timing of their election.