Introduction to the
Short Course Zone Team
Guide for Coaches, Parents and Athletes
At the conclusion of each short course season (October through March), Connecticut Swimming (CSI) sends a "zone team" to the Eastern Zone "All-Star" meet. This team is comprised of 2 athletes per age group event and mirrors the events held at CSI's Short Course Age Group Championship Meet. This spring's All Star meet will be held in Buffalo, NY, April 3-5, 2008.
Definitions: USA Swimming is the National Governing Body for the sport of swimming and is headquartered at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. Connecticut Swimming (CSI) is the local governing body for competitive swimming in the state of Connecticut. CSI is one of 59 Local Swimming Committees (LSC) of USA Swimming and a member of the Eastern Zone. The Eastern Zone is one of 4 zones within USA Swimming and is comprised of the following LSCs: Adirondack Swimming, Allegheny Mountain Swimming, Connecticut Swimming, New England Swimming, Maine Swimming, Maryland Swimming, Metro Swimming, Middle Atlantic Swimming, New Jersey Swimming, Niagara Swimming, Potomac Valley Swimming and Virginia Swimming. The Age Group Championship meet is held at the conclusion of each short course and each long course season and is conducted by CSI. The athletes swim in their age groups (10/U, 11/12, 13/14 and 15/18) hence the name "Age Group" Championship.
The Short Course Eastern Zone All-Star Championship is a 3 day meet and is conducted annually before the first Sunday in April. The zone team travels as a team (by bus) with coaches, managers and parent chaperones. This meet is run by the LSC that is awarded the meet by competitive bid. It is run entirely by volunteers. Each LSC may enter 2 athletes per individual event. CSI fields a team from athletes achieving the top 2 times statewide from September 1 through the Age Group Championship meet. If a selected swimmer is unable to participate, the swimmer with the next fastest time is selected. In order to be selected for the zone team, the athlete must apply for the zone team at the Age Group Championship meet. The Zone Team table is located in the classroom off of the Wesleyan University Athletic Center lobby. We encourage any athlete, including disability athletes, interested in becoming a part of the team to go to the zone table and speak with the zone coordinators about the application process and selection criteria.
The Zone Team is managed entirely by volunteer parents. Since 2005, our zone coordinators have been Christine Hayes and Randy LaRocca. The zone team coaches are selected for each zone team by the Age Group Committee and are paid expenses and a stipend. This year's head coach is Marci Berlinski. The coaches and zone coordinators travel with the athletes to the zone meet, along with parent chaperones. Chaperone and coordinator expenses are covered by CSI. Parent volunteers are indispensable to the zone team and we are grateful for their volunteer efforts. Without the parents we would not have a zone team.
Outlined below are some of the eligibility requirements and selection criteria for the short course zone team. Complete information will be available at the zone table at Age Group Championships and will be posted on this site at a future date.
Eligibility Requirements:
must be currently registered Connecticut member of USA Swimming
must compete in 4 regularly scheduled CSI sanctioned meets during the current short course season. This includes any CSI championship meet prior to team selection. (Approved and observed meets do not qualify.)
Limitations are in place for athletes that have qualified or have participated in USA Swimming Nationals, Junior Nationals, US Opens, Olympic Trials.
Full eligibility requirements will be available at the zone table.
Selection Criteria:
Times must be achieved in a USA Swimming sanctioned meet held after September 1, 2007 through the Age Group Championship meet.
Times must meet minimum 2008 Short Course “AA” National Age Group Time Standards.
Cannot be achieved from any split or time trial.
Complete selection criteria will be available at the zone table.
Additional Resources:
Zone Team Page (will be updated as information becomes available)
Questions?
Please feel free to contact Nan Cooper at
office@ctswim.org.
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