NJ YMCA 12/UNDER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP MEET
Feb 27,28- March-1, 2009
Ocean County YMCA

         Hosted by The Ocean County YMCA Swim Team

Sanctioned By:

YMCA of the USA Competitive Swimming and Diving Advisory Committee, Carole Bell, New Jersey Competitive Coordinator; Glenda Pae, Competitive V.P. of Y Fields, NJ YMCA Competitive Swimming Championship Committee.

USA Swimming Approval:

This meet will be an Approved Meet in accordance with USA Swimming Rule 202.4.  All times for registered USA-S swimmers will be entered into the SWIMS database, as long as the swimmer’s name, as entered into the meet, is exactly the same as the swimmer is registered in USA Swimming.  Mismatches will be rejected by SWIMS.  COACHES SHALL VERIFY THAT ALL SWIMMER INFORMATION COMPLIES WITH USA “SWIMS” DATABASE REQUIREMENTS; ANY MIS-MATCHED INFORMATION WILL BE RETURNED (BY SWIMS) TO THE RESPECTIVE TEAM FOR RESOLUTION.

Meet Dates:

The 2009 YMCA State Championship Meet:

This meet will be a 3 day timed finals championship style meet that will host events in the 11/12 and 10/Under age groups. Published time standards must be strictly adhered to. All events will be pre-seeded.

Meet Director:  

Jennifer Colasurdo – Ocean County YMCA

Email: jcolasurdo3@verizon.net

Meet Referee:   

Steve Sawin spsawin@aol.com

Location:

Ocean County YMCA, 1088 West Whitty Rd, Toms River, NJ 08755

Facility:

This will be a single course meet using 8 lanes for competition. There will be two vacant lanes and the remaining 2 lanes available for warm up/cool down throughout the meet. The pool is equipped with electronic timing and judging systems. All swimmers will stay on the pool deck with their team. Due to space limitations swimmers will be permitted to have only one bag on deck.  Friday evening the doors will open at 4:30 for swimmers, coaches, officials and 5:00 PM for spectators.  Saturday and Sunday morning sessions, doors will open at 7:30 AM for swimmers, coaches and officials and at 8 AM for spectators.  Saturday and Sunday afternoon sessions the doors will open 1:30 for swimmers, coaches, official and 2:00 for spectators.

CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION:

www.ocyswim.org

The Host Team, with the approval of the NJ State Championship Committee reserves the right to adjust warm-up times, sessions and start times after all entries are received and session time estimates are computed by Meet Manager to best manage the meet timeline. Coaches will be notified of all time changes and information will be posted on the OCY Swim Team website: www.ocyswim.org.

COACHES MEETINGS:

There will be coaches meetings scheduled throughout the meet with the championship meet committee or their designees.

Friday      - 5:30 pm

Saturday  - 8:45 am and 2:45 pm.

Sunday    - 8:45 am and 2:45 pm.

OFFICIALS MEETINGS:

There will be officials meets scheduled one (1) hour prior to the start of each session as follows.

Friday      - 5:15 pm

Saturday  - 8:15 am, 2:15 pm

Sunday    - 8:15 am, 2:15 pm

APPLICABLE RULES:

The Meet will be conducted under the 2009 USA Swimming Technical Rules, the NJ YMCA Swim League Constitution and the Rules that Govern YMCA Competitive Sports and all supplements thereto.

ELIGIBILITY:

Each competitor must fulfill the following conditions:

1. A swimmer must be a member in good standing of his/her YMCA for 30 days prior to competing for that YMCA in a meet.  The swimmer must be a member in good standing of his/her YMCA for 90 days prior to representing that YMCA state championship meet. (Rules That Govern, Rule II Sec.1a)
2. An athlete must achieve the minimum qualifying time standard for each State Championship Meet event in which he/she enters.  Coaches must be prepared to show proof of this achievement at meet registration if requested by meet committee.
3. In order for an athlete to be eligible to compete in the YMCA State Championship meet, he/she must have competed in three closed inter-association YMCA meets since September 1 of the current season
4. The swimmer must be an amateur and may represent a team other than their YMCA or school team during the current season but before their eligibility period commences (90 days prior to the state competition).
5. Any time achieved at an inter-association meet, or YMCA championship meet in which the swimmer competed under their YMCA name is acceptable.  USA Swimming times and high school times are also accepted.
6. Participation is determined by the swimmer’s age as of December 1, 2008. A swimmer may participate in one age group only. There is no swimming up in age group events. Each swimmer is limited to seven (7) individual events; a swimmer can enter a maximum of one (1) relay per day and a maximum of three (3) individual events per day.   Other than entry qualifying times, there are no restrictions on the number of entries per team in individual events, as long as each entrant meets eligibility and time requirements.
7. Each YMCA Association may enter a maximum of two relay teams in each relay event.  If entering two relay teams, one must be designated “A” and one designated “B”.  Only the “A” relay team will be eligible for scoring. Coaches should make every effort to identify the most likely swimmers and enter those swimmers names in the relay events.  All relay cards are due 30 minutes prior to the start of each session. 
8. The 2006-2007 edition of “A Manual on Principles and Rules Governing Competitive Physical Activities in the YMCA”, the 2006/2007 Edition of the NJ YMCA State Championship Guide, and the 2007 Edition of the YMCA Mid-Atlantic Group Competitive Swimming and Diving Championships Rules Supplement (where applicable) will be used to measure eligibility.
9. It shall be the responsibility of the coach and CEO/Executive Director of each YMCA to assure that their swimmers meet these eligibility requirements.

The Championship Meet Committee:

The Committee will be composed of the Meet Referee (Head Official), Meet Director, NJ Competitive Coordinator and the North Jersey YMCA Swim League and South Jersey YMCA Swim League Executive League Coordinators or their designees.

The Competitive Coordinator and/or the Meet Committee may challenge entry times and/or may ask for verification of any seed time. ALL SEED TIMES MUST BE PROVABLE. Failure to provide such proof when requested will be subject to investigation and possible disqualification by the Championship Meet Committee or the Competitive Coordinator. The NJ YMCA Championship Committee reserves the right to require proof of time prior to entry into the 2009 NJ YMCA State Championships from those teams whose swimmers at the 2008 NJ YMCA State Championship exceeded the 2008 qualifying times for 20% or more of their individual and relay swims.

Warm-up Procedure:

There will be three (3) twenty-five (25) minute warm-up sessions using all 12 lanes of the OCY pool.  Warm-up/down lanes will be continuously available during the meet. Warm up assignments will be emailed to all coaches one (1) week prior to the meet and will also be posted on the OCY Swim Team web site. Due to safety consideration, feet first entry will be required and swimmers must enter the pool from the starting end. Lanes that are shared will have the last five minutes of warm up designated as sprints.

Pool Deck Access:

Only swimmers, certified coaches, certified officials, timers, and authorized meet operations personnel may enter the deck area. Swimmers, coaches and officials will enter the facility at the designated entry and exit points. Swimmers, coaches and Officials will enter through the rear entrance of the pool.  Spectators will enter through the double doors in the front of the pool.
 

Coaches and Officials:

Only pre-registered coaches and officials will be permitted access to the pool deck. Coaches must show their YMCA Coaches Deck Pass to gain access to the deck and pick up their Meet Packet.  Coaches must display their YMCA Deck Pass at all times while on the deck.  There will be a limit of three (3) coaches per team per session. Officials who have been invited by the Meet Referee to work this meet must check in upon entrance (back door of pool).  Officials who are not listed on the pre-registered/invited list will not be allowed entry to the pool deck.

Timers:

Timers from each team must check in. Upon checking in, timing credentials will be provided to remain on the deck.  Depending on the number of entries per team per session, the host team will send each team their timing and lane assignments prior to the meet. Teams are required to fulfill their designated timing assignment or risk disqualification of their swimmers.  The meet will not start until all timers have reported to their lane.  Teams may opt to switch timers throughout each session, but may not opt to vacate their timing assignment prior to the completion of the session. Timing assignments will also be posted on the OCY Swim Team website the week prior to the meet: www.ocyswim.org.

Swimmer Check-in:

Swimmers should check in with their coach immediately upon arrival. Check in sheets for the swimmers will be enclosed in the coaches’ packet that is distributed at each session requiring check in. Swimmers will be scratched for the day’s events if they have not been checked in one half hour after warm ups have started. Coaches and swimmers are responsible for ensuring that the swimmers get to the starting block in time for their respective events.

Scratch Procedures and penalties:

Preliminaries and Timed Finals

Scratches need to be handed in at the computer podium on deck. No scratches will be accepted at the coaches meeting. Scratch sheets must be turned in 45 minutes before the start of the session. Scratches should be indicated as described below using the Team/Session rosters that will be provided in the Coaches Packet.

Scratch Sheet Instructions:

1. Swimmers that are swimming will have a single line through their name.
2. Swimmers that are being scratched from the session will have their name circled and  “SCR” will be written next to the circle
3. Swimmers scratching from individual events will have a single line through their name, the event number circled and  “SCR” will be written next to the circle

All entries not scratched will become official entries.  Any swimmer not scratched using this procedure, who does not swim an event will be considered a “no show” and shall be disqualified from their next event in that session, including entry as a member of a relay team.

All sessions will be pre-seeded: 

This meet will be seeded in accordance with USA-S Technical Rules (Rule 102.5), and for the benefit of both the swimmers and the spectators, the Meet has been pre-seeded.  The program will be official unless, depending upon the volume of scratches; the Meet Committee will decide whether or not to re-seed an event.  In either case, lane timers and officials and coaches will be issued heat sheets indicating open lanes.  If the Meet Committee decides that it is necessary to re-seed an event, all timers, officials and coaches will be issued heat sheets showing the re-seeded heat and lane assignments and heat sheets will be posted throughout the deck and in the spectator area indicating the re-seeded event.

The host team and/or Meet Committee reserve the right to change the pool or sessions if necessary for the best operation of the meet. Any changes to the meet format will be post on our web site (www.ocyswim.org) and sent via email to all teams at least one week in advance.

Protests:

Protests of judgment call of officials can only be ruled on by the Meet Referee.  All other protests must be made in writing by the team's coach within 30 minutes of the swim in question and all such protests will be adjudicated by the Meet Committee

Swimwear:

The 2009 12/under YMCA State Championship will be following the USA swimming rule for swimwear that is going in place on MAY 15, 2009. 

102.9 Swimwear           

A)   Swimsuits worn for all 12 & under age group defined  competition shall not cover the neck, extend past the shoulder, nor past the knee.

B)   Swimsuits worn for competition must be non-transparent and conform and conform to the current concept of the appropriate

C)   The Referee shall have the authority to bar offenders from the competition until they comply with the rule.

Distance Events:

Positive check in will also be required for swimmers in the 500 freestyle events. This event may be reseeded based on the number of scratches.

.

• Swimmers entered in the 500 will be responsible for providing their own counters.

Spectators: 

The Ocean County YMCA has a large amount of deck space for coaches and swimmers. 

The spectator area, raised above the pool deck has seating capacity for approximately 500 spectators. Under no circumstance will spectators be allowed on deck.  Spectators and swimmers will not be allowed to save seats in the spectator area and may not bring in chairs or coolers.  Host team volunteers will assist spectators with seating and will monitor the spectator area.  Spectators are expected to cooperate with security requests.

Misconduct: 

Statement from YMCA of the USA – “Any misconduct or misbehavior of their participants in any Group event shall forfeit the right of that Association to be represented in the sport the following year.”

Admssion and Programs:

Admission: $5.00 (No admission on Friday night)

Program:  $10.00 for entire meet.

Results will be posted on the OCY website following each day’s events:  www.ocyswim.org

Inclement Weather:

            In case of severe weather conditions or other emergency situations, which force cancellation of any portion of this meet – no refunds will be made on any entry fees. 

            The Meet Committee will make all decisions concerning meet cancellation after consulting with the Ocean County YMCA.  The decision of the Meet Committee is final.

Entry Deadline:

Entries must be received by mail or email no later than 10:00 pm February 16, 2009. No changes will be accepted after this date.

Swimmers achieving a YMCA State time at the YMCA Silvers Meet will be able to enter in that event.  A representative from OCY will be at the 12/under sessions to accept entries.  OCY will provide entry forms to all the team participating at Silvers.  The $6.00 per event will also be due.

Entry Fees: