ZONE SELECT CAMPS- SELECTION & ELIGIBILITY

https://www.usaswimming.org/articles-landing-page/2017/02/06/zone-select-camps--selection-eligibility

USA Swimming sponsors four Zone Select Camps in an effort to identify the emerging young athletes in each Zone and offer them a unique motivational and educational experience. The Zone Select Camps are viewed as an integral step for athletes to move from the local and Zone level onto to the national scene.

2019 Eligibility:

28 male and 28 female athletes are selected in each of the four Zones.
Selected girls must be age 12-13 at the time of performance.
Selected boys must be age 13-14 at the time of performance.

14 athletes of each gender are selected based on 2018 Long Course Meters (LCM) IMX point scores according to the following:
Seven girls age 12 and seven boys age 13
Seven girls age 13 and seven boys age 14
 
Then, the fastest swimmer in each Zone in each Long Course Meters (LCM) Olympic event (including the 800 and 1500 for both genders) is invited for a total of 14 additional male and 14 additional female athletes. If a swimmer was already selected based on IMX score, the next fastest swimmer is selected in that event.

Other criteria:

Long course times only will be considered. Altitude adjusted times are not considered.
 
Times must be achieved between September 1, 2017 and August 31, 2018.
 
Athlete must be registered in a LSC within the Zone at the time of the qualifying swim.
 
All athletes must be US citizens.  US citizens (dual citizens) that have represented another country in international competition are ineligible.
 
Athletes who qualify for or are selected to National Select Camp, National Junior Team, or any USA Swimming National Team are not eligible for Zone Select Camps. Athletes who have ever attended a National Select Camp or been a member of any USA Swimming National Team are not eligible for Zone Select Camps. An athlete who will attend the upcoming Diversity Select Camp is not eligible for the Zone Select Camp. Athletes can attend one Zone Select Camp. An athlete who turns down the opportunity would be eligible the following year if he/she still meets the age criteria and qualifies based off of the selection criteria. An athlete who accepts the invitation and does not attend is not eligible the following year unless an alternate was able to attend in his/her place.

Location:

Four sites, one per Zone, are selected by USA Swimming. First preference is a college campus that can provide on campus housing and dining accommodations. Private sites will be considered if college sites cannot be secured.

Dates:

The preferred date for the camps is Memorial Day weekend. Facility availability may dictate that the camps be held on an alternate weekend.

Costs:

All athlete expenses at the camps are covered by USA Swimming. Athletes are responsible for their own transportation arrangements and expenses. Some LSCs have expressed interest in assisting athletes with travel expenses.

Staff:

USA Swimming selects a head coach for each camp as well as four assistant coaches and two managers. In addition, one male and one female National Junior Team athlete attend each camp. Two members of the USA Swimming National Headquarters staff attend each camp to conduct educational sessions.

Gear and Materials:

USA Swimming provides each athlete and staff member with appropriate gear, equipment and educational materials.

Camp Schedule:

Camps include five long course workouts, four educational sessions and recreational activities. Athletes are required to stay the entire time and must stay onsite in the accommodations provided by the host. Unfortunately, we cannot be flexible in allowing athletes to arrive late or leave early. Please check school and graduation schedules prior to accepting your invitation.

Notification:

Personal coaches are notified and have "right of refusal" for their athletes. Athletes are then notified of selection and are given a reasonable amount of time to accept or decline the invitation. In the case of a refusal, either by a coach or athlete, the next eligible athlete will be invited until all slots are filled in each camp.

ZONE SELECT CAMPS

https://www.usaswimming.org/articles-landing-page/2017/02/06/zone-select-camps

2019 ZONE SELECT CAMP DATES & LOCATIONS

2019 Athlete Selection:
28 male and 28 female athletes are selected in each of the four Zones.
Selected girls must be age 12-13 at the time of performance.
Selected boys must be age 13-14 at the time of performance.
 
14 athletes of each gender are selected based on 2018 Long Course Meters (LCM) IMX point scores according to the following:
Seven girls age 12 and seven boys age 13
Seven girls age 13 and seven boys age 14
 
Then, the fastest swimmer in each Zone in each Long Course Meters (LCM) Olympic event (including the 800 and 1500 for both genders) is invited for a total of 14 additional male and 14 additional female athletes. If a swimmer was already selected based on IMX score, the next fastest swimmer is selected in that event.

Full Criteria is available here.

If you have any questions, please contact Morgan Weinberg at 719-866-3211.

FAQs

Q: Can an athlete attend a Zone Select Camp in the spring and then attend National Select Camp in the fall?
A: Yes. In fact, we hope that a lot of athletes who attend Zone Select Camps will then go on to have terrific summer seasons and qualify for National Select Camp.

Q: Can an athlete attend multiple camps in the spring? For example Diversity Select Camp and Zone Select? 
 

A: During the same year an athlete can attend either the Diversity Select Camp or the Zone Select Camp, not both. There is the possibility that an athlete could be selected for the Open Water Select Camp and one of the other spring camps. Since a key purpose of the Open Water Camp is to entice accomplished pool distance swimmers to try Open Water swimming, we will not force an athlete to choose between the Open Water Select Camp and another spring camp. So, an athlete cannot attend both the Diversity Select Camp and the Zone Select Camp in the same year, but can attend the Zone Select Camp or Diversity Select Camp and the Open Water Select Camp in the same year.

Q: Can an athlete attend the same camp more than once? 
A: No. Zone Select Camp, Diversity Select Camp, National Select Camp, Open Water Select Camp and National Junior Team Camp are all subject to the same rule: an athlete can attend each camp only once. An athlete who is selected but turns the opportunity down is eligible to be selected the following year. An athlete who is selected, accepts the opportunity and then fails to attend the camp is not eligible for a subsequent selection to the same camp.

Q: What is the progression of camps? Can an athlete "step down" a level from one year to the next?
A: The basic progression is: 1. Zone Select Camp/Diversity Select Camp 2. National Select Camp 3. National Junior Team Camp. An athlete who has ever attended a camp in the progression cannot "step down" to a lower level camp. An athlete who is selected for a higher level camp, but turns the offer down and does not attend is eligible for the lower level camp. If an athlete is selected for and accepts the offer to attend the camp and then is a "no show" the athlete is not eligible for a lower level camp.

Q: Where do LSC Camps fit into the progression? Can an athlete attend a Zone or National Camp and then attend an LSC Camp?
A: LSC Camp selection policies are determined by the LSC. An LSC may chose to restrict attendance by athletes who have attended Zone or National Camps or they may chose to include those athletes in their LSC Camps.

Q: Where does the Open Water Select Camp fit into the progression of camps? 
A: The Open Water Select Camp is not part of the progression. USA Swimming wants to entice pool swimmers to try Open Water Swimming. An athlete can attend any other camp at any level and also be selected for an Open Water Select Camp.