2017 LONG COURSE ZONE APPLICATION INFORMATION Application Deadline: 9:00 PM Saturday, July 22, 2017 You must submit an application to be considered for the team! The Eastern Zone Long Course Championship Meet is held at the end of the Long Course season for the top swimmers from each of LSC’s in the Eastern Zone. This summer, the meet will be held August 9 – 12, 2017 at the Collegiate School Aquatics Center in Richmond, VA. In order to attend the Zone Meet, a swimmer must meet the qualifying time standards as well as meet participation requirements set forth by Allegheny Mountain Swimming (see below). The online application can be found on the AMS Zone Team Web Site.

TEAM SELECTION To be considered for the 2017 Long Course Zone Team, swimmers must meet all of the following qualifications: 1) Submit a Long Course 2017 On-Line Zone Application by the deadline. 2) Achieve at least one (1) LC Qualifying Time(s) during the qualifying period from an observed, approved or sanctioned USA Swimming competition. 3) Swim in a minimum two (2) AMS Sanctioned meets and 12 individual events during the 2017 Long Course Season. Any swimmer who has submitted an application and has met all the qualifications will be guaranteed a spot on the team. In some instances, if no swimmers have achieved the qualifying time for a particular event, the top two (2) swimmers from the AMS Top-10 list for that event may be selected for the team. •

Those swimmers meeting all of the qualifications by the application deadline will be asked to commit or decline by Thursday, July 20, 2017.

•

Those swimmers meeting all of the qualifications during the Junior Olympics Meet will be asked to commit or decline by the end of Finals on Sunday. Please come to the meet prepared to make a decision before you leave!!!

•

The team will be finalized by the end of Finals on Sunday during Junior Olympics.

This is an All-Star Team from Allegheny Mountain Swimming and we treat it as such. Athletes are committed to traveling on the busses to and from the meet as one unit. We bring all athletes back to finals, except for 10 and under swimmers, to cheer on our night swims. Whether you swim one (1) event or six (6) events, by accepting placement on the team, you are agreeing to be available for the entire trip. Once the meet is over you may have a release form signed to be excused from the bus trip home. This is a USA Swimming meet, so all Codes of Conduct and Sportsmanship are to be followed. Any actions not in the best interest of the team shall result in being removed from participation in the competition.

TRIP INFORMATION Travel:

The entire team (swimmers, coaches & chaperones) will travel by bus to Virginia on Tuesday, August 8th and return very late Saturday, August 12th. The busses will depart from three locations in the South/West (Bridgeville), East (Monroeville) and North (Cranberry). Times and locations will be announced closer to the trip. Parents will be responsible for their own transportation. Swimmers wishing to travel home from the meet with their parents may complete a Travel Release form and have it approved by the head coach and team manager by 5:00 PM Friday August 11th. Swimmers will be released to their parents after the meet is over (after the Saturday afternoon session for 10 & under swimmers, after Saturday Finals for 11 & over swimmers).

Hotel:

AMS has reserved a blocks of rooms at the Courtyard/Residence Inn – Richmond Downtown. Every swimmer, coach and chaperone is guaranteed a room in our block. 10 & under swimmers will stay with their parents. A room will be reserved for the family in the swimmer’s name and guaranteed by AMS. Once the hotel reservations are confirmed, you will be given further instructions. The cost of the hotel is not included in the price of the trip. 11 & Older swimmers will stay together in team rooms, typically 4 swimmers per room. Roommate requests will not be taken accepted. Hotel rooms for 11 & older swimmers are included in the total cost of the trip. Extra Rooms - After all swimmers, coaches and chaperones are accounted for, any extra rooms in our block will be available to the families on a first come-first served basis with preference given to those staying all four nights.

Meals

All meals are included with the price of the trip with the following exceptions. • •

10 & under parents are responsible for their child’s dinners on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. 10 & under swimmers will not be attending Finals on those nights, and will be in the care of their parents. Pizza will be provided Saturday only for swimmers riding the bus home.

PARENT MEETING & TEAM PRACTICE A Zone Team practice and Parents’ meeting will be held at a date/time and location TBA. All forms and fees are due at that time. If you are unable to make this meeting, you must make arrangements to turn in your fees and paperwork.

FORMS As part of the on-line application you will find the following forms: Medical Release, Liability Release, Photo/Video Release, and Participation Agreement. In addition, swimmers are required to submit a Travel Team Code of Conduct, and copies of the front & back of their medical card. Swimmers will not be permitted to board the busses until these forms are received. Any swimmer who will not be traveling to or from the meet with the rest of the team must complete a Travel Release Form and have it signed/approved by the Head Zone Coach and Zone Team Manager.

TEAM GEAR (Please see Zone Team Gear Ordering Information for more information) Standard Items (shirts, shorts, etc.). The cost of these items is included in the price of the trip. If you wish to order extra standard items, you must do so for an additional cost. Optional Items (not included in the price of the trip): Team Suits, Warm Ups and Backpacks will be available for purchase through B & R Pools (www.bandrpools.com and select B & R Teams and 2017 Long Course Zone Team). The purchase of a team suit is not mandatory, however if you do not purchase the team suit, you should plan to compete in a solid black suit.

VOLUNTEERS All participating families are expected to volunteer in some capacity. We urge you to please be generous with your time. It takes the work of many people to make this a successful trip for our swimmers. Their safety and comfort is our top priority. The more people we have helping, the lighter the load is for each of us. Any assistance you can offer will be greatly appreciated. Ways you can help: • • • •

Parent Meeting: Help with the collection of forms and fees and distribution of team gear. Chaperones: Travel with the team; monitor on deck, patrol halls of the hotel at night; other responsibilities as needed. Timers: Lane timers at the meet Officials: Officiate at the meet.

TRIP COST A fee is assessed for the trip that includes food, bus travel, standard team gear, and accommodations for swimmers 11 and older. Parents of swimmers 10 and under are also responsible for room fees at the AMS negotiated rates. Additional optional team gear will be available for purchase through the B & R Pools AMS Zone Team Portal (see separate instructions). WHAT’S INCLUDED? GROUP

COST

BUS

HOTEL

Tue B

11 & Over

$575

x

10 & Under

$400

x

x

MEALS Thu

Wed

Fri

Sat

L

D

B

L

D

B

L

D

B

L

D

B

L

D*

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

*

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

*

*pizza will be provided for swimmers riding the bus home Saturday night Team Gear (Included in price): Shirt, Shorts, Caps, etc. (TBD) Optional Gear (Not Included in price): Team Suit, Warm-Up Jacket & Pant, Team Backpack 10 & Under Swimmers (must stay with parent): Hotel room is not included in price 11 & Over Swimmers (stay in AMS Rooms): Hotel room is Included in price

ACCOMODATIONS Courtyard Marriott Richmond Downtown AMS Block Rate $120/night + tax 1320 East Cary St. Richmond, VA 23219 Phone number: 804.754.0007

Residence Inn Marriott Richmond Downtown AMS Block Rate $120/night + tax 14 West 14th St. Richmond, VA 23219 Phone number: 804.225.5550

Note: Rooms cannot be reserved in the AMS Block at this time. Once the team is selected and confirmed, you will be given further instructions. 10 & under swimmers staying with their families are guaranteed one room in the AMS block. 11 & over swimmer accommodations are handled by AMS. 11 & over parents will have the option to reserve a room in the AMS block (first come-first served) after all swimmer accommodations are finalized. Rooms may be reserved outside of the AMS block at any time by contacting the hotel.

If your child is interested in going to Zones and is currently listed on the AM Top 10 list, we encourage you to complete the application on the AMS website. There is no penalty for applying for the Team. If you do not submit an application, you will not be considered for the Team – No Exceptions!!! Your application must be submitted by 9:00 PM on Saturday, July 22, 2017. Team selection will be finalized immediately following Sunday Finals at Junior Olympics. If you are chosen for the trip, it is imperative that you confirm (or decline) immediately as we have very little time to submit entries and finalize travel arrangements. We ask that all correspondence and questions be directed to either the Trip Coordinator or Head Coach via email. Good luck and we hope to see you in Richmond! ZONE TEAM COORDINATOR Laura Hartman [email protected] (412) 200-2571

ZONE TEAM HEAD COACH Jeff Gavin [email protected] (724) 316-9265