2015 NCS ZONE TEAM APPLICATION PACKET

2015 ZONE MEET INFORMATION

NCS Southern Zone Age Group Championships will be held in Tupelo, Mississippi on Aug 4-8, 2015. For details the meet information below:

2015 SOUTHERN AGE GROUP ZONE MEET INFORMATION

KEY DATES

Please submit Zone Team Applications by: July 7, 2015

NCS Age Group Champs: July 16-19, 2015 (Greensboro Aquatic Center)

NCS Senior Champs: July 23-26, 2015 (Greensboro Aquatic Center)

Southern Zone Meet: Aug 4-8, 2015 (Tupelo Aquatic Center, Tupelo, Mississippi)

Zone Team Departure Date: Aug 3, 2015 (early afternoon flights from Charlotte and Raleigh)

Zone Team Return Date: Aug 9, 2015 (late afternoon arrivals in Charlotte and Raleigh)

ZONE TEAM TRANSPORTATION, LODGING, MEALS AND FEES

Airline reservations have been made for members of the NCS Zone Team, coaches, and chaperones. There will be a group flying out of Raleigh on Southwest Airlines and a group flying out of Charlotte on USAir. Zone Team staff will advise on individual departure locations and other details after the team is selected. Both groups will fly into Nashville where they will travel by 15 passenger vans to Tupelo (about a three hour drive). Coaches and chaperones will drive the vans.

Hotel reservations have been made at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Tupelo for the NCS Zone Team, coaches and chaperones. A hot breakfast buffet will be served daily. The hotel address is:

Hampton Inn & Suites, 1116 Carter Cove, Tupelo, MS 38804. Phone number is: 662-821-0318

Other meals are not included. Chaperones, under the direction of the team manager, will coordinate and prepare meals. Swimmers are expected to contribute toward group meals and will be able to visit a local grocery store for personal need items at least twice during the stay.

The fee for Zone Team athletes is $525 – plus roughly $30-$40 spending money per day for meals, snacks, and incidentals. Should athletes have food allergies or any condition causing difficulty eating certain types of food, you are asked to clearly communicate that on the application form.

2015 ZONE TEAM APPLICATION PROCESS

Please submit the online application and mail the check for $525 along with the required support materials (Release and Consent forms, Code of Conduct form, and Best Times report) by Tuesday, July 7, 2015. Check and support materials should be sent to: Amy Faulk, 413 Kenilworth Road, Statesville, NC 28677-3107.

2015 ZONE TEAM ONLINE APPLICATION FORM

2015 NCS ZONE TEAM RELEASE AND CONSENT FORMS

2015 NCS ZONE TEAM CODE OF CONDUCT FORM

Completed applications along with checks and support materials will be accepted until 10:00 am on Saturday, July 18 for 11-14 athletes and until 10:00 am on Saturday, July 25 for 15-18 athletes at their respective NCS Championship Meets. However, due to the complexity of the selection process, applicants are strongly urged to get the applications in by July 7 or earlier, if possible.

ZONE TEAM SELECTION POLICY

For the 2015 Southern Zone Championship, 16 athletes (8 males and 8 females) will be selected in each age group—11-12; 13-14 and 15-18—to represent North Carolina Swimming. Since no athlete can compete who has achieved USA Swimming Junior National qualifying times, the closer an athlete is to those qualifying times, the better he or she can expect to do in the competition. For details, view the selection policy below.

NCS ZONE TEAM SELECTION POLICY

QUALIFYING TIMES FOR NCS ZONE TEAM APPLICANTS

Athletes ages 11-12 and 13-14 may use any long course meters time achieved from December 1, 2014 through the end of Sundays finals (July 19, 2015) at the 2015 NCS Long Course 14 and Under Age Group Championships. All swims prior to the 14 and Under Championships must be listed in the USA Swimming SWIMS database. Swimmers can amass ZONE POINTS for each swim equal to or faster than the 2013-2016 Long Course AA time standards. Adding together the highest scoring six events produces a “Total Zone Points” score for each athlete.

Athletes ages 15-18* may use long course times achieved December 1, 2014 through the final day of the 2015 NCS Senior Championships (July 26, 2015).

*NOTE: Should an athlete age up to age 15 between the 14 & Under Long Course Age Group Championships and the Zone Meet, the athlete can use times personally swum during the qualifying period.

*NOTE: The age group of a swimmer is determined by his/her age on the first day of the Southern Zone Championship Meet (Aug 4, 2015). Whatever age group the athlete is in on that day is their age group for the entire meet.

ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

All athletes applying must complete the online Zone Team Application form, other required forms, and a check for $525 by the deadlines previously listed.

Eligibility: All NCS registered year-round athletes with at least two “AAA” times are eligible to apply for the team. Please note that any athlete who has achieved the current USA Swimming Long Course Junior National qualifying time standard (does not include the bonus cut) in any long course event prior to the Aug 3, 2015 meet entry deadline is ineligible to compete in the 2015 Southern Zone Championship meet.

Payment: The cost of transportation, lodging, team outfitting, chaperone expenses and meet entry fees will cost each athlete $525. A check for $525 payable to “North Carolina Swimming” must be submitted with all applications. In the event that a swimmer is not selected to the team, the $525 check will be returned or shredded at the Team Manager’s discretion. If a swimmer is selected to the team and then chooses not to attend, the $525 check will be forfeited if an alternate for the spot cannot be secured. NOTE: Food for athletes is not covered by this fee.

Zone Team Application Form: Please complete the online Zone Team Application form on the previous page. All of the requested information is important for communication, reporting, and ordering apparel.

Code of Conduct Form: Each NCS athlete attending the meet must sign the Zone Code of Conduct form. There is a link the form on the previous page.

Medical Release/Swimmer Consent/Media Release/Athlete Medical History: Each NCS athlete attending the meet must complete these forms. There is a link to the form on the previous page.

Best Times Report: To assist in Zone Team selection and in assigning swimmers to relay and individual events, it is important that swimmers get their club coach to submit a Team Manager Best Times printout of current 2015 long course times in all events with the application material.

2015 ZONE TEAM COACHING STAFF

John Fedena (SwimMAC) Head Coach jfedena@swimmaccarolina.org

Amy Faulk (NOMAD) Manager nomadcoachamy@gmail.com

JP Merchant (WOW)

Alex Black (GYW)

Connor Griffin (GCY)

Jeremy Gregory (ATOM)

Jonathan Watson (MOR)

CHAPERONE INFORMATI0N

Chaperones: Our plan is to have up to four chaperones, in addition to our coaching staff, accompany the Zone Team. The chaperones for all age groups will be notified immediately after the respective championship meets. If you are interested in being a chaperone, please check that box on the swimmer application or contact Amy Faulk at nomadcoachamy@gmail.com. Chaperones must be registered members of USA Swimming. If you are not currently a member and are interested in being a chaperone, contact Amy on how to register with USA Swimming.

Chaperones work most of the time while on this trip and are involved with meal planning, transportation, overseeing the athletes at all times, seeing to their needs, and working at the swim meet as timers. Officials chosen as chaperones may or may not be allowed to work at the meet, but, if so, must be prepared to fulfill chaperone duties, as well. There will be a complete list of chaperone duties emailed to all chaperone applicants. The selection of good chaperones has had an enormous impact on the Zone Team in previous years. Please come ready to provide positive support throughout the week. Team Manager, Amy Faulk, will direct the activities of all chaperones.

Chaperone financial responsibilities:

Chaperones pay for their own food
Chaperone hotel and transportation expenses are covered by NC Swimming.
Chaperones will assist the coaching staff in collecting meal money from athletes and purchasing/preparing meals.

Other Chaperone responsibilities:

Chaperones help keep swimmers fed, hydrated, and organized. The team will have up to four adult chaperones to assist the coaching staff in managing the team during the competition at the pool as well as away from the pool.
Chaperones must understand that they are there to assist all Zone Team swimmers, not just their child.
Chaperones may be asked to help do laundry, drive a van, fill up water bottles, sit in team areas to hold spots during warm-ups, organize food runs, clean up food area, check hotel rooms at check-out time, keep up with any medical needs ….the regular 24/7 chaperoning job.

Correspondence:

The NCS Zone Team manager welcomes correspondence from any potential volunteer chaperones wishing to make this a special trip for NC Swimmers. Please e-mail Amy Faulk any time between now and the departure if you are interested in serving a chaperone.