RESPONSES TO TECH PLANNING QUESTIONNAIRE AT 1997 LC AGE GROUPS

9 teams responded:   ARAC; BEAR; BRS; NES; NCY; RHSL; WAC; WRAT; UAC
                                                                (The Tech Planning Chair left AGs after Sunday AM to travel to Nationals - this probably contributed to low return.)

    THE FIRST SIX QUESTIONS APPLIED TO SHORT COURSE AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS

1. How long (exclusive of warm-up) should AM trials last?                                      2.5 Hrs - 1;   3 Hrs - 3;   3.5 Hrs - 2;   4 Hrs - 3

2. How many prelim heats should there be in each event?                                             5 Hts - 4;  6 Hts - 3;  8 Hts - 1;  No Ans - 1 

3. How long should the 11 & over Finals last?                                                                          2 Hrs - 5;   2.5 Hrs - 3;  3.5 Hrs - 1

4. How long should the 10 & under Timed Finals last?                                                                 2.5 Hrs - 1;  3 Hrs - 7;  4 Hrs - 1

5. The 10 & under meet has often included rest breaks to assure 15 minutes between the start of successive events.  Would your prefer to continue the rest breaks or add extra heats at the 10 & under session to provide 15 minutes between the start of events?                                                                                                                        BREAKS  4   EXTRA HEATS  3    NA  2

6. Please record the times you would like to see warm-up and competition begin at AGs

 
Session Warm-up  Competition 
Thursday 1 pm - 1;  4 - 1;  5 - 3;  6 - 1;  No Ans - 3 2pm - 1;  5:15 - 1;  6 - 3;  7 - 1;  No Ans - 3 
AM Trials 7am - 5;  7:30 - 2;  8 - 2 8am - 1;  8:15 - 3;  8:30 - 2;  9 - 3 
10 & U 7am - 1; 12:30 - 2;  1 pm - 5  No Ans - 1  8am - 1;  1:30 - 2;  2 - 4;  2:15 - 1;  No Ans - 1 
Finals 4pm - 1;  5 - 4;  5:15 - 1;  5:30 - 1;  6 - 2  5pm - 1;  6 - 4;  6:15 - 1;  6:30 - 1;  7 - 2 

7. Swimmers may qualify for LC AG champs using SCY, SCM, or LCM times.  Should we do the same for SC AGs?
                                                                                                                                                                          YES  5     NO  4

8. Program Development has discussed entry procedures for distance events at AGs.  Please rank the following options from 1 (most preferred) to 4 (least preferred).  Use each rank only once.

A. Publish an automatic standard, guarantee that all swimmers who achieve the time will swim, AND allow consideration entries to fill out a set number of limited heats per event.                                  1st choice -  4   2nd choice - 3   3rd choice - 2   4th choice - 0

B. Publish an automatic standard and guarantee that all swimmers who achieve the time will swim.
                                                                                                       1st choice -  4   2nd choice - 2   3rd choice - 1   4th choice - 2

C. Publish a minimum consideration time standard, but limit the events to a certain number of heats with no automatic qualification.
                                                                                                       1st choice -  0   2nd choice - 4   3rd choice - 5   4th choice - 0

D. Limit the events to a certain number of heats with no minimum standard set.
                                                                                                       1st choice -  1   2nd choice - 0   3rd choice - 1   4th choice - 7
 

9. Some coaches are concerned that limiting the 400/500 Free and 400 IM events to fewer heats (4) than the 50, 100, & 200 events (5 or 6) discourages swimmers and coaches from pursuing middle distance training with 11/12 & 13/14 year olds.  Should standards for the 400/500 Free & 400 IM events at AGs be based on the same place as standards for shorter events or should they be tougher to reduce heats?                                                                       Based on Same Places   6      Based on a Higher (tougher) Place   3

10.  If Tech Planning Committee met only four times a year with an agenda published in advance, would you be willing to attend a 7:00 or 7:30 PM meeting during the work week?                                                                                                      YES  8   NO 1

11. What other times would you propose that Tech Planning meet?                                                        1) At meets  2) Off season

12. Please list 3 to 5 agenda items you think that Tech Planning should address this next year.
             Improving publicity for all swimmers and for USS events in CT
             Finding ways to promote sport and recruit talented athletes to swimming
             Recruiting and retaining young swimmers (10 & under age group seems to be getting smaller)
             Education of parents, swimmers, and coaches
             Problem of early meet entry deadlines - esp for improving age group swimmers
             Run shorter meets that swimmers find fun
             Length of LC Age Group Championship meet - should meet be divided?
             Shortening length of AG Championship Finals - swimmers getting out too late at night
             Reformatting LC AG Champs to avoid 11/12 events occurring back to back
             Both LC Silver Championships should be indoors with automatic timing
             Limiting Sr Championship to Ct swimmers
             Communicating with the CIAC to improve swimming in CT at HS level