Team Selection Policy for Non-Target Events

ABF Team Selection Policy for Non-Target Events

Table of Contents

Purpose
Scope
Definitions
Policy Statement
Responsibilities
Procedures
Review Cycle

1. Purpose

This policy defines the process for selecting Australian teams for international bridge events not designated as “Target Events” by the Australian Bridge Federation (ABF). It aims to provide a transparent, equitable selection method while prioritising development opportunities and international exposure for elite players.

2. Scope

This policy applies only to events that the ABF decides to support but that have not been designated as Target Events in the ABF’s annual calendar. It applies to all team categories: Open, Women’s, Mixed, Seniors’, Youth, and Men’s.

3. Definitions

Target Events: International tournaments for which selection is determined via official ABF Playoffs.
Non-Target Events: International tournaments not on the ABF’s annual list of Target Events but which the ABF supports by sending representative teams.
PQP: Playoff Qualifying Points, used for ranking partnerships.
Augmentation: The process of adding players to incomplete teams to meet competition requirements.
Regular Playing Partnership: A pair that has competed together in recent official ABF events.
Right of Refusal: Priority selection offer extended to a player/team before others may be considered.
Selection Trials: Pairs- or teams-based competitions held by the ABF to select national representatives.

4. Policy Statement

Target events are set by the ABF annually.

From time to time, the ABF receives invitations to send teams to tournaments such as the APBF or the Asia Cup, which have not been designated as target events. The format of these events may be Open, Men’s, Youth, Seniors’, Women’s or Mixed team events.

If the ABF chooses to support the event to which we have been invited, then this policy defines the method of team selection for these secondary events. Since secondary events provide an opportunity for increased international competitive experience, priority will be given to Open, Youth and Mixed over Women, Men or Seniors’.

Selection for Target events will continue to be managed via the Playoff processes, and is not affected by this policy.

Eligibility

All players selected must be eligible to play for Australia as per the ABF’s Eligibility to represent Australia Policy.

General Selection Protocol:

For all event categories a winning team from the most recent target event held either in the current year or the previous calendar year will automatically be offered first right of refusal for the appropriate category in the non-target event on offer.

Selection Protocol (Years where Pairs-based selection trials are held):

For events where Pairs-based Selection Trials were used for the most recent Selection Cycle, the following prioritisations will apply:

Open Team invitations:
1. The first three placed pairs from the Open Selection Trials will be offered the right to form a team;
2. Should one or more of the first three placed pairs decline, places will be offered to pairs in sequential rank order from the pool of players who qualified for stage two (if a two-stage selection process was held). If a one-stage selection event was held, places will be offered to pairs in sequential order down to the 10^th placed pair. If only two pairs accept the invitation, then ABF augmentation rules will apply if a team of three pairs is required.
Mixed Team invitations:
1. As per the Open Team except that the Mixed Selection Trials will be used;
Youth Team invitations:
1. As per the Open Team except that the Youth Selection Trials will be used;
Women Team invitations:
1. As per the Open Team except that the Women’s Selection Trials will be used;
Seniors’ Team invitations:
1. As per the Open Team except that the Seniors’ Selection Trials will be used;

Selection Protocol (Years where Teams-based selection trials are held):

For events where Teams-based Selection Trials were used for the most recent Selection Trials, the following will apply:

Priority for selection will be given to players who are intending to play in their regular playing partnerships.

Where four out of six players of an Australian team indicate availability, augmentation is permissible under the prioritisation criteria outlined in the policy below.

In the event that a team chooses to decline the offer, and selection has reverted to offering the opportunity to a team made up of pairs from different sources, where more pairs apply than places are available; they will be ranked either via their PQPs or via their team’s finishing position in the most the recent Playoff (as specified below).

Open Team invitations:
1. The winning team from the Open Playoffs – the current Australian Open Team – will be offered first right of refusal to accept the invitation. If two out of the three pairs from the team accept the invitation, then ABF augmentation rules will apply if a team of three pairs is required;
2. The runner-up team from the Open Playoffs will be offered second right of refusal. If two out of the three pairs from the team accept the invitation, then ABF augmentation rules will apply if a team of three pairs is required;
3. A team made up of pairs from the first to fourth placed teams in the Open Playoff. If more than three pairs express interest then the pairs will be ranked by the sum of their (Open) PQPs;
4. The highest ranked team from the most recent National Open Teams (Canberra) in which all players are eligible for selection for the Open Team. If two out of the three pairs from the team accept the invitation, then ABF augmentation rules will apply if a team of three pairs is required;
5. A team made up of pairs which contested the Open Playoffs. If more than three pairs express interest then pairs will be ranked by the sum of their PQPs, calculated on the same basis as when that pair entered the Playoff.
Women’s Team invitations:
1. The winning team from the Women’s Playoffs – the current Australian Women’s Team – will be offered first right of refusal. If two out of the three pairs from the team accept the invitation, then ABF augmentation rules will apply if a team of three pairs is required;
2. The runner-up team from the Women’s Playoffs will be offered second right of refusal. If two out of the three pairs from the team accept the invitation, then ABF augmentation rules will apply if a team of three pairs is required;
3. A team made up of pairs from the first to fourth placed teams in the Women’s Playoff. If more than three pairs express interest then pairs will be ranked by reference to their team’s finishing position in the Playoff (with the two losing Semi-finalists being ranked by reference to their finishing position in the qualifying Swiss/Round-Robin).
4. A team made up of pairs who contested the Women’s Selection event. If more than three pairs express interest then each pair will be ranked by reference to their team’s finishing position in the qualifying Swiss/Round-Robin.
Seniors’ Team invitations:
1. The winning team from the Seniors’ Playoffs – the current Australian Senior’s Team – will be offered first right of refusal to accept the invitation;
2. The runner-up team from the Seniors’ Playoffs will be offered second right of refusal to accept the invitation;
3. A team made up of pairs from the first to fourth placed teams in the Seniors’ Playoff. If more than three pairs express interest then pairs will be ranked by the sum of their (Open) PQPs;
4. A team made up of pairs who contested the Seniors’ Selection event, and who are playing in their regular partnerships. If more than three pairs express interest then they will be ranked by the sum of their (Open) PQPs.
Mixed Team invitations:
1. The winning team from the Mixed Team Playoffs – the current Australian Mixed Team – will be offered first right of refusal to accept the invitation;
2. The runner-up team from the Mixed Playoffs will be offered second right of refusal to accept the invitation;
3. A team made up of pairs from the first to fourth placed teams in the Mixed Playoff. If more than three pairs express interest then pairs will be ranked by the sum of their (Mixed) PQPs;
4. A team made up of pairs who contested the Mixed playoffs who are playing in their regular partnerships. If more than three pairs express interest they will be ranked by the sum of their (Mixed) PQPs.

Youth Team invitations:
1. Each invitation will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
2. A call for nominations will be made on the ABF website and by email to all eligible players from the most recent Youth Selection Butler. Priority will be given to established youth partnerships and Australian representatives in the given year, and any PQPs accrued by nominated pairs will be taken into consideration. Consideration will also be given to the results from National events in the preceding 12 months.
3. A selection panel headed by the Chair of the Tournament Committee and comprising the National Youth Co-ordinator, and the current Australian Youth Non-Playing Captain(s) will then make a recommendation to the ABF Board.
Men’s Team invitations:

Subject to meeting the eligibility requirements of the event:

1. The winning team from the Open Playoffs – the current Australian Open Team – will be offered first right of refusal. If two out of the three pairs from the team are eligible and accept the invitation, then ABF augmentation rules will apply if a team of three pairs is required;
2. The runner-up team from the Open Playoffs will be offered second right of refusal. If two out of the three pairs from the team are eligible and accept the invitation, then ABF augmentation rules will apply if a team of three pairs is required;
3. A team made up of pairs from the first to fourth placed teams in the Open Playoff. If more than three pairs express interest then pairs will be ranked by the sum of their (Open) PQPs;
4. The highest ranked team from the most recent National Open Teams (SFoB) in which all players are eligible for selection for the Men’s Team. If only two out of the three pairs from the team are eligible and accept the invitation, then ABF augmentation rules will apply if a team of three pairs is required;
5. A team made up of pairs which contested the Open Playoffs. If more than three pairs express interest then pairs will be ranked by the sum of their (Open) PQPs, calculated on the same basis as when each pair entered the Playoff.

Super-mixed nominations

Note: Super-mixed is a category sometimes used in Asia where a team consists of both men’s and women’s pairs playing together, typically in combinations like 1 women’s pair and 2 men’s pairs, or 2 women’s pairs and 1 men’s pair, often for a total of 4, 5, or 6 players.

1. A call for nominations will be made on the ABF website.
2. Nominating Pairs will be ranked according to their finishing positions in the relevant selection event¹, with priority given to established, successful all male and all female partnerships.

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¹ The most recent Open Playoff for the Male Partnerships, and the most recent Women’s Playoff for the Female Partnerships.

Team Size & Composition

Given the duration of competitions, and the low subsidies likely to be available, the ABF will endorse four or six-person teams for non-target event competitions.

Addition of a non-playing Captain is optional, and will, in all likelihood, not be funded by the ABF.

Subsidies

The ABF will pay entry fees for approved teams. Other funding will be determined on a case-by-case basis but is likely to be minimal.

Use of Terms suggesting contestants in an event represent Australia or the ABF

No player or players shall use any term, team name etc, that suggests that he or they represent Australia or the ABF without the approval of the ABF. Failure to obtain approval will be treated as a disciplinary matter by the ABF.

5. Responsibilities

ABF Board

Approves participation in non-target international events.
Reviews and ratifies final selections.
Enforces compliance with national representation naming rules and applies disciplinary actions as required.

ABF Tournament Committee

Oversees the consistent application of this policy.
Convenes and manages selection panels (e.g., for Youth and Super-Mixed teams).
Makes recommendations to the ABF Board for team selection where necessary.

Selection Panels

Apply criteria as defined in the policy for specific categories (Youth, Super-Mixed).
Provide formal recommendations to the Tournament Committee.

Players

Must comply with eligibility criteria.
Must not use terms implying official representation of Australia or the ABF without prior approval.

6. Procedures

6.1 Eligibility

All players must meet the criteria outlined in the Eligibility to Represent Australia Policy.

6.2 General Protocol

Winners of the most recent equivalent Target Event have first right of refusal to attend a non-target event in that category.
Priority for selection among events: Open, Youth, and Mixed take precedence over Women’s and Seniors’.

6.3 Selection Based on Trials Format

Depending on whether the most recent selection trials were pairs-based or teams-based, different protocols apply.
Each category follows a structured priority list — detailed in the Policy Statement — which includes:

First right of refusal for recent winners or runners-up.
Use of PQPs and team rankings to resolve multiple nominations.
Guidelines for augmentation when only part of a qualifying team accepts.

6.4 Team Size & Composition

Teams may be four or six players.
A non-playing captain (NPC) is optional but generally unfunded.
Augmentation is permitted following ABF rules.

6.5 Funding and Subsidies

The ABF will pay entry fees for approved teams.

Other funding is minimal and considered on a case-by-case basis.

6.6 Naming Conventions

Players must not use any name, phrase, or identifier implying official ABF or Australian representation without explicit written approval.

Breaches are subject to disciplinary action.

7. Review Cycle

This policy is to be reviewed every two years or earlier if significant changes are made to the international competition calendar or ABF selection processes. Review is initiated by the ABF Tournament Committee in consultation with the Board.

1 February, 2026

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