2017 U.S. Masters Swimming Summer National Championship

Sanctioned by the Minnesota LMSC for USMS Inc.  Sanction Number 307-S002

Dates

Competition days August 2-6, 2017
Pool open for warm-up August 1 from 3pm-7pm

Location

Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center
University of Minnesota
1910 University Ave. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-626-1352

Meet Director

Tom Moore
tom.moore.mn@gmail.com
626-676-8006

Krisie Melsen
kmmelsen@yahoo.com
612-325-9009

USMS National Office

events@usmastersswimming.org
1-800-550-SWIM (7946)

Facilities

The Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center is located in the heart of the University of Minnesota. The Center has hosted numerous Championship meets including the 2016 U.S. Open Championships, the 2016 Junior National Championships, the Arena Pro Series (every year since 2008), and the 2014 NCAA Women's Swimming & Diving Championships to name just a few. The competition pool is 50-meters x 25 yards with eight 9-foot wide lanes and Spectrum Xcellerator starting platforms equipped with wedges and backstroke ledges. The pool is 7 feet deep at either end and 7.5 feet deep in the center. The warm-up pool is 25 yards x 20 yards for six warm-up lanes and is located directly adjacent to the competition pool with a clear view of the scoreboard. Raised, permanent seating on both sides of the pool accommodates 1,300 spectators.

The length of the competition course is compliant and on file with USMS in accordance with articles 105.1.7 and 106.2.1, but as a bulkhead course is subject to length confirmation.

Eligibility

Participants must be registered Masters swimmers and at least 18 years of age as of August 1, 2017. Swimmers turning 18 after the meet entry deadline and by August 1, 2017, must enter the meet by the meet entry deadline and register for USMS either before or on August 1, 2017.

If a swimmer wishes to affiliate with a Masters club, the club and swimmer must both be registered with the same Local Masters Swimming Committee (LMSC). If there are questions about affiliation, the swimmer will be entered with the affiliation “UC.” (See Paper Entries). International entries must include a copy of the swimmer’s Masters swimming registration card and fees in U.S. dollars.

Age Groups

Age for the meet is determined as of December 31, 2017, except for 18-year-olds, who must be 18 by August 1, 2017. Age groups for individual events: 18–24, 25–29, 30–34, 35–39 … (five-year increments as high as necessary). Relay events: 72–99, 100–119, 120–159, 160–199, 200–239, 240–279, 280–319, 320–359, 360–399 … (40-year increments as high as necessary). The aggregate age of the four relay team members shall determine the age group.

Registration

Prior to warm-ups or competition, all participants must register at the meet by signing an emergency card, safety information statement and liability release. Registration will be held at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center on August 1, 2017, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and on all other days from 6:30 a.m. through the end of competition.

Seeding

Men’s heats will precede women’s heats for each event, except that men’s and women’s heats may be seeded together for the 800 and 1500 freestyles. The 1500 and 800 freestyles will be seeded slowest to fastest by entry time, regardless of age. The 400 free and 400 IM may be seeded slowest to fastest by entry time, regardless of age. The 200-meter events may be deck seeded and may be seeded by entry time, regardless of age, for each gender, if the timeline is too long. All 50 and 100 events will be preseeded by age group, with the oldest age groups first, slowest to fastest within each group. All seeding decisions will be announced at usms.org by July 13, 2017.

UPDATE (7/13/17): the 200s will be deck seeded, with the oldest groups first, slowest to fastest within each age group, men and women separate.

Event Check-In

Coaches or teammates may check in online or in person for those swimmers whose travel plans do not permit check-in by the deadlines. Failure to check in will result in the swimmer being scratched from the event and the swimmer will not be permitted to swim that event at another time.

Check-In Deadlines

Positive check-in is required during the week of the event for the 400 IM and 400, 800 and 1500 freestyles.

Update (7/14/17): the Championship Committee has decided to deck seed all 200s. Check-in will be required for all events 200 and longer.  

Date	Event	In-Person Check-in *	Online Check-in
Wednesday, August 2	1500 freestyle **	Tues. 3-7 p.m.–Weds. by 7 a.m.	Mon. 7 a.m.–Weds. by 7 a.m.
Thursday, August 3	800 freestyle ** 400 IM	Tues. 3-7 p.m.–Thurs. by 7 a.m.	Mon. 7 a.m.–Thurs. by 7 a.m.
Friday, August 4	400 freestyle (Men) 200 butterfly 200 breaststroke	Tues. 3-7 p.m.–Fri. by 7 a.m.	Mon. 7 a.m.–Fri. by 7 a.m.
Saturday, August 5	400 freestyle (Women) 200 backstroke	Tues. 3-7 p.m.–Sat. by 7 a.m.	Mon. 7 a.m.–Sat. by 7 a.m.
Sunday, August 6	200 freestyle 200 IM	Tues. 3-7 p.m.–Sun. by 7 a.m.	Mon. 7 a.m.–Sun. by 7 a.m.

* All times are Central Daylight Time. Check-in deadlines will be 7 a.m. on the day the event is swum.

** You may enter either the 800 freestyle or the 1500 freestyle, but not both. Swimmers entering the 1500 must meet the NQT.

Meet Start Times
The competition will start at 8 a.m. every day unless it is determined that the timeline will go too late into the day; then competition may start as early as 7:30 a.m. on any day. Meet start times will be announced at usms.org by July 17, 2017. Warm-ups in the competition pool will be shortened if necessary to accommodate an earlier start time.

Warm-up Times

The competition pool will be open for warm-up on Tuesday August 1, 2017, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. On competition days, the competition pool will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:50 a.m. and the warm-up pools will be available from 7:30 a.m. until the conclusion of the final event each day. The competition pool will also be open for warm-up for 30 minutes following the last heat of the 800 Freestyle, Men’s 400 Freestyle and Women’s 400 Freestyle on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, respectively. The competition pool will be open for at least 30 minutes following the last event each day. On Wednesday the competition pool will remain open until 5 p.m. or 30 minutes following the last heat of the 1500, whichever  is later.

Warm-up Procedures

Swimmers must enter the pool feet first in a cautious and controlled manner. No diving or backstroke starts will be allowed, except in designated sprint lanes. A few lanes shall be designated as one-way sprint lanes during the pre-meet warm-up sessions in the competition pools only. Any swimmer who acts in an unsportsmanlike or unsafe manner within the swimming venue may be considered for appropriate action or penalty by the referee (rule 102.13.3). Pull-buoys, kick boards, fins, hand paddles, and snorkels are not allowed in the competition or warm-up pools.

Scratches

Any swimmer failing to report to the proper lane in the correct heat of an event shall be scratched from that event and shall not be permitted to swim that event at another time.

General Meeting

All swimmers, coaches, and officials are encouraged to attend or be represented at a general meeting in the south bleachers at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 6 p.m. Matters pertinent to the operation and conduct of the meet will be discussed.

Hospitality

Northstar hospitality, which will include breakfast, lunch, snacks, and drinks, is $55 for Wednesday thru Thursday, and $80 for Friday thru Sunday. Purchase both passes ($135 total) for access to Northstar hospitality all 5 days. The passes can be ordered until July 21, 2017 through the Summer Nationals Store.

Online Entries

Online entry is encouraged and provides immediate entry confirmation. Online registration will close at midnight Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time on July 5, 2017. The meet surcharge increases from $55 to $65 on June 13, 2017. (see Entry Deadline/Variable Surcharge/Mail Entry for dates applying to both online and paper registration).

Paper Entries

Read all instructions and fill out the paper entry form completely. Incomplete forms or forms with “pending” in place of a USMS registration number will be rejected. 18-year-olds who will turn 18 after the meet entry deadline and before the first day of the meet must enter the meet by the meet entry deadline, and must register with USMS either before or on August 1, 2017. A legible copy of a foreign swimmer’s Masters registration card must accompany the entry form. A swimmer whose club affiliation differs from what is listed on his or her USMS registration card must send either a new USMS registration card or a letter from the local registrar with the new club affiliation and effective date.  If there are questions about affiliation, the swimmer will be entered with the affiliation “UC.”

Fees

Fees are $4 per individual event plus a surcharge per swimmer. The surcharge varies according to date of entry. (See Entry Deadline/Variable Surcharge.) Fees must accompany the entry form and must be paid in U.S. dollars by check or money order. Do not mail cash. The entry is not complete until the check has cleared the bank. If there are questions about an entrant’s check, full cash payment in U.S. dollars will be required before the entrant is allowed to swim. Refund requests must be received in writing (USPS or email) by July 12, 2017.  No refunds will be given for events not swum. The surcharge also applies to relay swimmers not entered in an individual event. Relay-only swimmers must submit an entry form with payment by the entry deadline. All fees should be payable to “U.S. Masters Swimming.”

Entry Deadline/Variable Surcharge/Mail Entry

Online entries are encouraged and will be accepted until midnight Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time on July 5, 2017.  If entry is received by June 12, 2017 the surcharge is $55.  If entry is received after June 12, 2017 and by July 5, 2017, the surcharge is $65.  Entries received after July 5, 2017 will be returned to sender. No telephone or email entries will be accepted. Mail paper entries early (include a self-addressed stamped envelope with entry for proof of receipt). Do not send certified or overnight mail requiring a signature. Photocopy completed entry forms and personal checks for your records and verification. Mail paper entries to: USMS Summer Nationals, 1751 Mound Street- Suite 201 - Sarasota, FL 34236.

National Qualifying Times/Number of Events/Sixth Event

Competitors may enter up to three individual events without meeting the national qualifying time (NQT), or a maximum of six events if they meet the NQTs, i.e. have swum a time equal to or better than the NQTs during the past two years. Exception: Competitors entering the 1500 free must meet the NQT. All swimmers are limited to three individual events per day. All events must include an entry time. If the meet is deemed too large, an athlete’s sixth event will be dropped. On the entry form, indicate this event with a “6” in the designated column. No refunds will be given if the sixth event is dropped.  A decision on the sixth event will be announced at usms.org by July 9, 2017. If a swimmer enters an event with a time significantly slower or faster than that swimmer's recorded time in the previous two years, the Championship Committee may, after a discussion with the swimmer, change the seeded time to a realistic time.

UPDATE (7/9/17): The Championship Committee has decided NOT to drop the sixth event.

Distance Events (800/1500)

Swimmers may enter either the 800 or the 1500 free but not both. Swimmers entering the 1500 free must meet the NQT.

Relay Information

Swimmers can enter relays until 3 p.m. on the day before the relay is scheduled. Relay only swimmers, i.e. not entered in an individual event, must have entered the meet and paid the surcharge by the meet entry deadline. Each competitor is allowed to swim only one freestyle relay, one medley relay, one mixed freestyle relay and one mixed medley relay. You have three options to enter relays for Summer Nationals: on-line, paper in person, and email. Relays are $16 each, payable by cash, check or credit card. Payment, age groups, and entry times are due at the 3:00 daily entry deadline for the next day relay. You may still change the name(s) at any time prior to the relay being swum by crossing out the names(s) on the card and replacing with the new name(s) and age. The lead-off (first) swimmer must be identified correctly. Seeded relays will be charged and there will be no refunds for relays not swum or entered incorrectly. 

Online Relay Entry: On-line registration for coaches opens on July 31, 2017 at 12 a.m. CDT

• Requires submission of a credit card, which will be held until Saturday, August 5 and may be used for final payment of relays, or swapped to another method of payment.

• Credit cards will be charged on Saturday, August 5 for all relays entered and seeded by the 3:00 p.m. deadline.

Relay entries may also be submitted at the relay desk in the registration area or emailed to Krisie Melsen (2017mnnatsrelays@gmail.com). Each of the four members of any relay team must be registered with the same Masters club. Relay entry fee is in addition to individual entry fees. Relay entry forms can be downloaded here.

Scoring

Individual event points: 11-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. Relays: 22-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2.

Club Scoring

Club scoring will be tabulated in three categories: men, women, and combined, for the Local Club and Regional Club divisions. Mixed relays score points only in the combined category.

Awards

Medals will be awarded for first through 10th places in each age group. A U.S. Masters Swimming National Champion patch will be given to each individual and relay team member for the first event won. Swimmers winning more than one event may purchase additional patches. Unclaimed awards will not be mailed unless arrangements are made at the meet. There will be a charge for mailing awards. Awards will be presented to the top 10 clubs in the local club division and top five clubs in the regional division.

Final Results

Complete final results may be ordered with your online entry or on the Summer Nationals Store until July 21, 2017. Cost is $15.00 per copy. The complete results, including splits, will be posted at usms.org. 

Time Verification (formerly OVCs)

Swimmers wishing to have times entered into SWIMS (USA Swimming times database) must complete a form at the meet prior to the swim. Contact the administrative referee at the meet.

Hearing Impaired Start Assistance

All starting blocks are equipped with strobes.  Any athlete needing additional assistance may request it from the meet referee. The request must be made prior to the start of the meet and  another appropriate method may be employed to visually assist the affected swimmer. Please contact the meet director by the meet entry deadline if you require this assistance.

Service Animals

Please contact the meet director by July 5, 2017 if you require the use of a service animal.  Animals other than service animals will not be permitted on deck at the venue.

Meet Director

Tom Moore
tom.moore.mn@gmail.com
626-676-8006

Krisie Melsen
kmmelsen@yahoo.com
612-325-9009

USMS National Office

events@usmastersswimming.org
1-800-550-SWIM (7946)