Meet Information

Location
Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex
501 Seabreeze Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Facilities
The Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex is an outdoor facility with 2 x 50 meter pools, a diving well, spa and instructional pool. The stadium pool (50m x 25yd) will feature 2 x 8 lane courses separated by an officials runway. The scoreboard pool (50m x 25yd) will have 20 lanes open continuously for warm up, except during the 1650, 1000, and 500 freestyle events where 10 lanes will be used for competition. There is seating for 2000 and numerous tents will be erected around the facility. NOTE: there will be no shade provided over the grandstands.

Temperature and Climate
Fort Lauderdale in May enjoys a tropical climate with temperatures warm and humid. Competitors should plan on drinking plenty of fluids, wear hats and use ample sunblock.

Concessions, Vendors & Souvenir Items
A vendors village offering food concessions, refreshments, souvenirs and swimming apparel will be available throughout the meet.

Registration
All participants must register prior to competing to sign an emergency card, safety information statement, and liability release. Registered swimmers will receive a meet program and other meet information. Registration will be held at the Aquatic Complex on Wednesday, May 18, from noon to 8 pm and on Thursday, May 19 through Sunday, May 22 from 7:00 am until the end of each day's last event. Check-in for all events and relays will be available in the same area.

Eligibility
The Championships are open to any registered Masters swimmer at least 18 years of age as of April 14, 2005. If a swimmer wishes to affiliate with a Masters club, the club and swimmer must both be registered with the same Local Masters Swim Committee (LMSC). If there are questions about affiliation, the swimmer shall be entered "unattached." Foreign entries must include a copy of swimmer's Masters Swimming registration card and fees in U.S. dollars.

Age Groups
Age for the meet is determined as of 5/22/05.
Individual events: 18-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49 ... 100-104. 
Relay events: 18+, 25+. 35+, 45+, etc. (in ten year increments as high as necessary determined by the age of the youngest relay member).

Final Results
Complete final results may be ordered in advance or at the Awards Table during the meet. Cost will be $15.00 per copy. The USMS website will post results.

Seeding
All events, with the exception of the 1650, 1000, 500 and 400 IM, will be pre-seeded unless meet management determines that the meet cannot be completed in a timely manner. Three courses (a total of 26 lanes) will be used for the 1650, 1000, and 500 free and possibly the 400 IM. Men's heats will precede women's heats for each event. The 1650, 1000 Free and 400 IM will be seeded slowest to fastest by entry time regardless of age. All other events will be seeded by age group with the oldest age groups first, slowest to fastest within each age group.

Check-in Deadlines for Deck Seeded Events
For all deck seeded events, check-in is required for each event and may be done in person at the registration area or via the Internet at www.usms.org. Coaches or teammates may check in 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. A heat sheet booklet will be given to each participant and coach at check in. Heat sheets for the deck seeded events will be available each morning and posted around the facility.

Check-in Times
For all deck seeded events on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, you must check-in the day before between 7:00 am and 6 pm. For Thursday's events, you must check in by 7:00 am that day for the women's and men's 1000 Free and approximately one hour prior to the estimated time the other events will start that day. You may also check-in for Thursday's events on Wednesday between noon and 8 pm in person. Internet check-in is available with a one-day earlier start time to accommodate swimmers travel plans.

Warm-up Times
The competition pool will be open for warm-up on Wednesday, May 18 from 12:00 noon until 8 pm. On competition days, the competition pool will be open for warm-up from 6:30 am until 7:50 am and the warm-up pools will be available from 6:30 until conclusion of the final event. The competition pool will reopen for warm-up for 30 minutes of warm-up on Friday and Saturday, following the completion of the 500 Free. The competition pool will be open for warm-up for 30 minutes following the last event each day.

Scratches
Any swimmer failing to report to the proper lane in the correct heat of his/her 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 should be represented at the General Meeting at the Aquatic Complex on Wednesday, May 18 at 7 pm. Matters pertinent to the operation and conduct of the meet will be discussed.

Time Verification (formerly OVCs)
Swimmers needing verification of time(s) or who wish their time(s) to be entered into the USA Swimming SWIMS Database (for entry into USA-S national meets) should complete a form at the meet and prior to the swim. Contact the Administrative Referee at the meet.

Social
There will be no formal social planned during this event. Should teams wish to organize their own social activities, the Host Committee will assist with making arrangements.

Gold Medal Sponsorship
Gold Medal Sponsors will be recognized in the official program as supporters of Masters swimming, entitled to hospitality on deck, and receive a commemorative gift. Cost of one sponsorship will be $50. Order sponsorships on the meet entry form.

Meet Management
Meet Directors: Stu Marvin & Laura Voet
Meet Referee: Bob Brown

Entry Procedures
Use official entry form or a photocopy of the entire form. Read all instructions and fill out the form completely. Incomplete forms or forms with "pending" in place of a USMS registration number will be rejected. A legible copy of the swimmer's Masters Swimming registration card (foreign swimmers) must accompany the entry form. Failure to include a Masters registration card may result in swimmer being charged a fee before being allowed to compete. A USMS swimmer changing club affiliation prior to the meet must send either a USMS registration card or a letter from the local registrar with the new club affiliation and effective date.

On Line Entries
On line entries are encouraged. This method provides immediate confirmation that the entry has been received. On line entries will be available for your use some time around March 7.

National Qualifying Times
Competitors may enter a maximum of three (3) individual events without meeting the National Qualifying Times (NQTs) established for those events. Competitors may enter up to three additional events in which they have swum a time equal to or better than the NQT in the past two years. The NQTs for all events are listed here. Designate the events in which NQTs have been met with a date in the "Date" column. There are no NQTs for the 90 and over age groups.

Entry Times
All entered events must include an entry time. "NT" entries will be rejected.

Number of Events
If the swimmer qualifies, they may enter up to three individual events per day with a maximum of six events during the meet. A swimmer may enter both the 1000 and 1650 freestyle only if they meet the NQT in at least one of these events.

Sixth Event Rule
If, in the opinion of the USMS Championship Committee, the meet is deemed too large to be run efficiently, every swimmer's sixth event will be dropped. If six events are entered, indicate with the number "6" your least desired event in the designated column. If no indication is given, the last event entered on the entry form will be dropped. No changes of the designated 6th events will be allowed after April 14, 2005. No refunds will be given for the dropped event.

Fees
Fees are $4 per individual event plus $30 surcharge per swimmer. Fees must accompany entry form and must be paid in U. S. dollars by check or money order. Do Not Send Cash. The entry is not complete until check has cleared the bank. If there are questions about an entrant's check, full cash payment in US dollars will be required before entrant is allowed to swim. Refund requests must be received in writing by April 14, 2005. No refunds will be given for events not swum. The $30 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 "United States Masters Swimming".

Relay Events
Relays may be entered at any time until 4:00 pm the day before that relay is scheduled to be swum. After that time, only the swimmers on the relay may be changed. Such changes must not affect the age group of the relay. The relay entry fee is $12.00 per relay. Forms are available for downloading here.

Mail Entry and Fees
Postmarked by April 7, 2005 or received by April 14, 2005. Mail to:
Short Course Nationals, USMS National Office
9 Wiley Hill Rd
Londonderry, NH 03053-3109

Questions?
Call the Aquatic Complex at 954-828-4579
Email: lvoet@fortlauderdale.gov or marvingardens840@comcast.net.

Entry Deadline
All U.S. entries must be postmarked with an official US postmark (no business meters) by April 7, 2005, OR received by April 14, 2005. Entries received after this date will be returned to sender. Online entries are encouraged and will be accepted until midnight EDT on April 14, 2005. No telephone or email entries will be accepted. Mail entries early. Include a SASE (Self Addressed Stamped Envelope) with entry for proof of receipt. Do not send certified or overnight mail requiring signature. Allow sufficient time for mail delivery. Photocopy completed entry forms and personal checks for your records and verification.

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

Team Scoring
Team scoring will be tabulated in three categories: Men, Women, and Combined. Mixed relays score points only in the Combined category.

Awards
Medals will be awarded for first through tenth places in each age group. A USMS Championship 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 ten teams in each category.

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. No diving or backstroke starts will be allowed into warm-up pool. One or two lanes shall be designated as one-way sprint lanes during the pre-meet warm-up sessions in the competition pool only. No sprint lanes will be designated in the warm-up pool. 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 102.15.3). Pull-buoys, kick boards, fins, and hand paddles are not allowed in the competition pool or warm-up pool.

Coaches Hospitality
Hospitality is available to coaches who are ASCA members.

Travel Information