Congratulations to the NCS Zone Team on winning the 2021 Southern Zone Age Group Meet in Tupelo, Mississippi last week. Despite the long bus trip and oppressive heat, the zone team rose to the occasion, outscoring second place Florida Swimming by 63.5 points.

The team had many outstanding performances in the pool but by all accounts were equally outstanding out of the pool. The team showed great enthusiasm and sportsmanship throughout the week, and were model ambassadors for North Carolina Swimming. The hotel staff was so impressed, they called them the best group they had ever had.

Thank you to the Zone Team swimmers, staff, and chaperones for making North Carolina Swimming proud!

Click here to view the Zone Team highlight video

Here are the final team standings and scores:

Rank	Team		Score
1	North Carolina Swimming		1038.5
2	Florida Swimming		975
3	Georgia Swimming		744.5
4	South Carolina Swimming		587.5
5	South Texas Swimming		418
6	Southeastern Swimming		380.5
7	North Texas Swimming		201
8	Florida Gold Coast		96
9	West Virginia Swimming		79
10	Kentucky Swimming		71
11	Border Swimming		69
12	Mississippi Swimming		68
13	Louisiana Swimming		56

Click here for complete individual results

The 2021 Southern Zone Age Group Championships will be held at the Tupelo Aquatic Center in Tupelo, MS on July 27- July 31, 2021.  See the meet information below for details:

2021 ZONE MEET INFORMATION

2021 SOUTHERN AGE GROUP ZONE TEAM INFORMATION

KEY DATES

Submit Zone Applications by:	Deadline – July 17, 2021
NCS Age Group Champs	July 15-18, 2021 (TAC)
Senior Sectionals	July 15-18, 2021 (GAC)
Southern Zone Meet	July 27- July 31, 2021 (Tupelo, MS)
Zone Team Departure	July 26, 2021 – Two charter buses will transport the team to Tupelo, MS., departing from Raleigh and Concord Mills Charlotte locations.  Athletes and staff will receive Team apparel prior to departure.
Zone Team Return	Aug 1, 2021 – Zone Team will stay through Sun AM, as Team Social will be immediately following the meet on Saturday,  July 31, 2021. Athletes must be picked up at the same departure location.

ZONE TEAM TRANSPORTATION, LODGING, MEALS AND FEES

The 2021 NCS Zone Team will check in at departure locations early on Monday morning, July 26. The team will meet the coaching staff, travel by bus, check into the hotel in Tupelo, MS. More details will be announced later.

Breakfast will be served each day at the hotel.  Chaperones, under the direction of the team manager, will coordinate and prepare other meals.  Swimmers are expected to contribute toward group meals and will be able to visit a local grocery store for personal need items at least twice during the stay.

The fee for Zone Team athletes is $600 – plus roughly $30-$40 spending money per day for meals, snacks, and incidentals.  Should athletes have food allergies or any condition causing difficulty eating certain types of food, you are asked to clearly communicate that on the application form.

2021 ZONE TEAM APPLICATION PROCESS

Please submit the online application and mail the check for $600 to: Amy Faulk, 413 Kenilworth Road, Statesville, NC 28677-3107.  Swimmers who are selected to the team and their parents/guardians will receive the required agreement and release forms to review and sign after the selections are made.

2021 NCS ZONE TEAM APPLICATION FORM

Completed applications along with checks will be accepted until 10:00 am on Saturday, July 17 for 11-14 athletes and until 10:00 am on Saturday, July 17 for 15-18 athletes at their respective NCS Age Group Championship Meet and Senior Sectional Meet.  However, due to the complexity of the selection process, applicants are strongly urged to get the applications in earlier, if possible.

Senior (age 15-18) selection will be based on times through the Senior Sectional Meet in Greensboro, July 15-18.  Swimmers should apply even if they are not participating in the Senior Sectional meet.

ZONE TEAM SELECTION POLICY

For the 2021 Southern Zone Championship, 16 athletes (8 males and 8 females) will be selected in each age group—11-12; 13-14 and 15-18—to represent North Carolina Swimming.  Since no athlete can compete who has achieved USA Swimming Junior National qualifying times, the closer an athlete is to those qualifying times, the better he or she can expect to do in the competition.  For details, view the selection policy below.

NCS ZONE TEAM SELECTION POLICY

The zone team can also select up to three male and three female disability athletes. See the selection policy below for details:

ZONE TEAM DISABILITY ATHLETE SELECTION POLICY

QUALIFYING TIMES FOR NCS ZONE TEAM APPLICANTS

Athletes ages 11-12 and 13-14 may use any long course meters time achieved from December 1, 2019, through the end of Sundays finals (July 18, 2021) at the 2019 NCS Long Course 14 and under Age Group Championships.  All swims prior to the 14 and Under Championships must be listed in the USA Swimming SWIMS database.

Athletes ages 15-18* may use long course times achieved December 1, 2019, through the final day of the 2021 ESSZ Senior Sectional Championships (July 18, 2021).

*NOTE: Should an athlete age up to age 15 between the 14 & Under Long Course Age Group Championships and the Zone Meet, the athlete can use times personally swum during the qualifying period.

*NOTE: The age group of a swimmer is determined by his/her age on the first day of the Southern Zone Championship Meet (July 27, 2021).  Whatever age group the athlete is in on that day is their age group for the entire meet.

ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

All athletes applying must complete the online Zone Team Application form, other required forms, and a check for $600 by the deadlines previously listed.

Eligibility:  All NCS registered year-round athletes with at least two “AAA” times are eligible to apply for the team. All Adult Athletes, ages 18 and over, must hold current APT certification to compete.  Please note that any athlete who has achieved the current USA Swimming Long Course Junior National qualifying time standard (does not include the bonus cut) in any long course event prior to the July 27^th meet entry deadline is ineligible to compete in the 2021 Southern Zone Championship meet.

Payment: The cost of transportation, lodging, team outfitting, chaperone expenses, and meet entry fees will cost each athlete $600.  A check for $600 payable to “North Carolina Swimming” must be submitted with all applications. If a swimmer is not selected to the team, the $600 check will be returned or shredded at the Team Manager’s discretion.  If a swimmer is selected to the team and then chooses not to attend, the $600 check will be forfeited if an alternate for the spot cannot be secured. NOTE: Food for athletes is not covered by this fee.

Zone Team Application Form:  Please complete the online Zone Team Application form on the previous page. All the requested information is important for communication, reporting, and ordering apparel.

COVID-19  PRECAUTIONS

All staff, chaperones, and athletes 12 and older must be fully vaccinated or must prove a negative test 48 hours prior to travel. Two buses will allow for social distancing. North Carolina Swimming strongly recommends that partially vaccinated or unvaccinated individuals continue to wear face coverings.  Others are welcome to wear face coverings for personal comfort. NCS members are expected to comply with  all COVID-19 safety guidelines from USA Swimming, NC Swimming, state and local juristictions, and aquatic facilities.

MINOR ATHLETE ABUSE PROTECTION POLICY 

The Minor Athlete Abuse Protection Policy (MAAPP) is in effect for the Zone Team. All Zone Team staff members, chaperones and applicable adults are required to submit an acknowledgement form agreeing to comply with the contents of the policy.

2021 ZONE TEAM COACHING STAFF (TBA)

Coach Amy Faulk will be the team manager.  Additional staff members will be announced later.

CHAPERONE INFORMATION

Chaperones: Our plan is to have up to four chaperones, in addition to our coaching staff, accompany the Zone Team.  The chaperones for all age groups will be notified immediately after the respective championship meets. If you are interested in being a chaperone, please check that box on the swimmer application or contact Amy Faulk at mailto:coachamyfaulk@gmail.com.  Chaperones must be registered members of USA Swimming. If you are not currently a member and are interested in being a chaperone, contact Amy on how to register with USA Swimming.

Chaperones work most of the time while on this trip and are involved with meal planning, transportation, overseeing the athletes at all times, seeing to their needs, and working at the swim meet as timers.  Officials chosen as chaperones may or may not be allowed to work at the meet, but, if so, must be prepared to fulfill chaperone duties, as well.  There will be a complete list of chaperone duties emailed to all chaperone applicants.  The selection of good chaperones has had an enormous impact on the Zone Team in previous years.  Please come ready to provide positive support throughout the week.  Team Manager, Amy Faulk, will direct the activities of all chaperones.

Chaperone financial responsibilities:

• Chaperones pay for their own food
• Chaperone hotel and transportation expenses are covered by NC Swimming.
• Chaperones will assist the coaching staff in collecting meal money from athletes and purchasing/preparing meals.

Other Chaperone responsibilities:

• Chaperones help keep swimmers fed, hydrated, and organized. The team will have up to four adult chaperones to assist the coaching staff in managing the team during the competition at the pool as well as away from the pool.
• Chaperones must understand that they are there to assist all Zone Team swimmers, not just their child.
• Chaperones may be asked to help do laundry, drive a van, fill up water bottles, sit in team areas to hold spots during warm-ups, organize food runs, clean up food area, check hotel rooms at check-out time, keep up with any medical needs ….the regular 24/7 chaperoning job.

Correspondence:

The NCS Zone Team manager welcomes correspondence from any potential volunteer chaperones wishing to make this a special trip for NC Swimmers.  Please e-mail Amy Faulk any time between now and the departure if you are interested in serving a chaperone