Connecticut Swimming, Inc.

Age Group Meeting Minutes – December 2, 1999

Present: Ken Block, Steve Dore, Mark Hart, Ben Wallace, Clark Cooper

2000 SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS – Ken mailed each committee member a copy of last years meet announcement to review and discuss any changes needed. The following areas were discussed.

1. Correct all dates to correspond to the year 2000.
2. Parking should be emphasized that school is still in session and that other events are planned for the weekend, parents and volunteers should allow for additional time. If not in meet announcement, should go out in coaches packet.
3. Under rules, "Coaches will be required to display USA card and deck pass". Eliminate all the other language since the USA card displays all certifications.
4. Scratches. The statement regarding swimmers to notify the Clerk of Course within 30 minutes after the announcement that he may not intend to compete and confirms his final intentions within 30 minutes following his last individual event. A swimmer who may be seeded 20^th or further down may think that they will not be able to qualify for finals and have to wait until later in the morning until the earlier swimmer declares after his last event. We were going to check to see if this is an USA rule or CSI rule maybe a subject for technical planning. We also discussed a phone hotline that coaches or swimmers could call if they had left the pool in the morning.
5. Time Trials. Instead of saying "at the discretion of the Meet Manager, sufficient time exists between the conclusion of...." change to "30 minutes exists between the conclusion of afternoon... This way the minute manager does not have to commit because a swimmer may have dropped an individual event to swim a time trial. If the time trial does not take place, the ownership becomes the meet managers problem to solve, not the coaches and child. This 30 minute statement takes the guess work out. Also, time trials only on Friday and Saturday, time permitting. Sunday always runs over due to the distance events.
6. Brooks Ensor, during a phone interview, requested changing the 100 butterfly due to the fact that the 400 medley relay is right after that. Brooks would like that event moved earlier in the day. Also, reviewing the fines for entries for Age Groups. With more and more volunteers entering children into the meet, mistakes will be made. Will discuss at next program development meeting.

ZONES: The committee reviewed the format for the zone team regarding travel arrangements both as a team and as individual family transportation. The group had mixed reaction with some favoring the team concept but also realized that situations arise that may inhibit a child from participating as one group. The selection of the coaches was discussed with the group agreeing that not one individual should select the coaches but a committee consisting of a combination of zone/age group. Ben is going to ask Nan to publish a note regarding a zone committee and ask for coaches interested in serving on the committee and also who may be interested in coaching the winter zone group.

The selection of swimmers to participate at zones was discussed. Ken expressed that some individuals would like to see Age Group Championship the selection process for the winter zones. There was mixed feelings from the committee which was referred to the Zone committee. The pre-selection process Ben would like to change and eliminate the four meet rule. If a child earns a time, that time should quality regardless of how many meets the child participates in.

CAMPS: Ken discussed briefly the new levels of swim camps as presented at the San Diego Conference. Ken will contact John on beginning a calendar for a least two camps for 2001. Ken outlined a proposal from Tim Quill regarding zone camps, selection process, etc.