Wisconsin Water Ski Hall of Fame Eligibility Criteria
The following criteria, originally set forth in 1999 and updated in 2021, shall guide in the selection of inductees for the Wisconsin Water Ski Hall of Fame. Final selection of inductees is made by the Hall of Fame Committee of the Wisconsin Water Ski Federation, and all selections are to be approved by 2/3 majority vote of the full board of directors.
Eligibility Criteria for Competitive Water Skiers
The Wisconsin Water Ski Hall of Fame is not intended to be a national hall of fame. Only water skiers with Wisconsin ties may qualify.
Nominees with Wisconsin ties are those who were eligible to compete in any Wisconsin state championships.
Nominees cannot be a member of the WWSF Hall of Fame Committee.
Competitors from all recognized sport disciplines are eligible for nomination.
Nominees must have competed in state, regional, and national tournaments for an extended number of years.
Nominees may still remain active as a competitor, but must have a history of meaningful impacts in state, regional, national, or international tournaments.
Nominees in this category must be over the age of 50.
The WWSF Hall of Fame Committee should consider other factors for competitive water skiers.
Major Factors:
Significant impacts in state, regional, national, or international tournaments.
Sportsmanship, character, and integrity.
Competitive record in local, state, regional, national, or international tournaments.
Minor Factors:
Service as an official, driver, scorer, safety director, administrator, or promoter of the sport of water skiing.
Competitive or supporting record in other sport disciplines.
Eligibility Criteria for Water Skiing Pioneers
This category is neither defined, nor definable, but it is intended for nominees whose contributions to the sport do not fall into the other categories. Those whose principal contributions are as water skiing officials should not be considered as pioneers. Other qualifications would be similar to those for officials or contributors, pertaining to length of service; impact at a local, state, regional, national, or world level; and age and retirement status. Individuals under consideration may have changed the trajectory of the sport or contributed to a defining moment or made substantial contributions that positively change or affect the sport.
Eligibility Criteria for Officials
It is not possible to outline specific eligibility criteria in a category as broad as that of water ski officials and support personnel. Generally, a candidate would be recognized for major contributions to the sport over a considerable number of years. Selection is not 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 shall be on achievements, not on offices held or time served.
The term official is intended to encompass a wide range of function within the sport. Primary consideration will be given to contributions to the sport as a judge, driver (non-NSSA), scorer, safety director, or corresponding officials positions in the respective sport discipline(s). Secondary consideration is given to secondary officiating positions in local, state, national, and international tournaments.
Nominees are generally not judged on a single function, but rather an accumulation of contributions in all the areas in which the person was involved. It is expected that most nominees will have contributed in several areas of officiating, even though one area may be predominant.
Mere length of service, by itself, will never qualify an individual for consideration. Length of service is more a measure of the extent of the dedication to the sport. Innovation over a period of time is the measure to be judged.
Eligibility Criteria for Contributors
Nominees in this category are defined as individuals who have made outstanding contributions to water skiing in Wisconsin in capacities other than competitor or official, despite having served in either capacity for however long.
It is not possible to lay down specific qualifications in a category as broad as that of contributor. Generally, a candidate would be recognized for major contributions to the evolution of the sport over a period of years. Selection is not based on an isolated outstanding contribution and 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 is on achievements and contributions, not so much on offices held or time served.
The term contributor is intended to emcompass a wide range of functions within the sport. Primary consideration is given to contributions to the sport as a WWSF officer, director, committee chair or member, tournament director, promoter, or other as yet undefined position. Secondary consideration is given to supporting contributions at the local, state, national, and international levels.
Nominees are generally not judged on a single function, but rather an accumulation of contributions in all the areas in which the person was involved. It is expected that most nominees will have contributed in several areas, even though one may be predominant.
Mere length of service, by itself, will never qualify an individual for consideration. Length of service is more a measure of the extent of the dedication to the sport. Innovation over a period of time is the measure to be judged.