FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If your child is a first-time qualifier -- or even if he/she has made the trip before -- you probably have questions. We've gathered helpful information here to help you get started. Click on a topic below to skip to those questions.
ZONES MEET & QUALIFYING | TEAM TRAVEL & COSTS | MEALS & SNACKS | PACKING & HOTELS | SUPPORT TEAM OKLAHOMA | LEAVING THE MEET EARLY | CHAPERONES
What is the Central Zones meet?
USA Swimming divides the nation into four zones, which includes numerous LSCs (Local Swimming Committees). Our LSC, Oklahoma Swimming, participates in the Central Zone. Because our Zone is so large, it is divided into two Zone Championship meets most summers.
This meet is often the first taste of higher-level swimming for age-group athletes, as only swimmers ages 14 and younger are permitted to attend. This meet follows a championship format, which means all swimmers participate in prelims in the morning. The top athletes return in the evening for finals. Swimmers in the top 8 receive medals and usually stand on an awards podium.
(The exception is 10 & under swimmers, who compete in a Timed Finals session in between prelims and finals.)
How can my swimmer qualify for Zones?
Your swimmer must achieve a “AAA” or “AAAA” time in an event being offered at the Zones Championship meet. (Check meet information to learn which events are offered, as this can change year to year.) These time standards are USA Swimming’s Motivational Age Group standards, and may be found here. Your child must qualify for the age group the he/she will be in as of the first day of the meet. Make sure when reviewing these time standards that you are reading the correct page (long-course meters, short-course yards, short-course meters). A swimmer may qualify in any of those three courses.
My child has qualified. How do I sign up him/her for this meet?
Please visit the main Zones Team Info webpage for details on how to register.
My swimmer has a “AA” time or just missed the “AAA” cut. Can she attend?
Unfortunately, no. An athlete must have a “AAA” qualifying time to attend.
My swimmer is only qualified in one event. Can he swim bonus events?
Generally, bonus events are not permitted. However, once our team roster is set, the coaches will look for events in which we have only one or no swimmers competing. If we have a swimmer on the team who has a “AA” time, he/she may be considered for that event.
Will my child swim on a relay?
It’s possible. The meet does include relays each day, and our goal is to have two relays in each gender and age group each day. Our goal is to create the fastest relays possible.
Where can I find more information about this meet?
There are three places to check over the next few months for additional information:
- The Oklahoma Swimming Zones Team website. (https://www.teamunify.com/Home.jsp?_tabid_=0&team=oklscz) This is where you’ll register your child, review your child’s events the week of the meet, and where we’ll post information as it becomes available.
- The Central zones website. (https://www.teamunify.com/Home.jsp?team=cenzone) Particularly check the Zones Meets tab, where eventually they may post links to meet information and/or an event website.
- Like the Oklahoma Zones Team Facebook page. (https://www.facebook.com/OKZonesTeam/) We’ll try to post updates on this page. During the meet, we’ll try to post photos, too.
Why does Oklahoma Swimming travel as a team?
At this meet, swimmers do not represent their individual club teams. Instead, they represent Oklahoma Swimming. As such, we expect our athletes to travel together, room together, dine together, compete and cheer together. This is an excellent opportunity for our up-and-coming athletes to prepare for future meets, national or regional camps, or high school and college teams, in which athletes are required to stay with the team instead of their parents.
But once you get beyond all of that, travelling as a team provides a fun and memorable experience for most athletes. The swimmers make friendships with athletes from other teams, which makes future competitions more enjoyable. It’s a great time overall!
What is the cost to attend?
In 2018, the cost for swimmers who have earned a "AAAA" time is $400. The cost for "AAA" swimmers is $500.
What is included in the cost?
This fee provides entry fees, supervision from 5-7 adult chaperones and coaching from 3 coaches from various Oklahoma teams, and includes 2 team caps, 4 team t-shirts, 5 nights’ hotel stay, all meals, all snacks, bus transportation from Oklahoma to Minneapolis, and transportation from hotel to pool.
Will my child need additional spending money?
You may wish to send cash for the following:
- If your child plans to purchase any meet merchandise. They often sell t-shirts, sweatshirts, towels and other items at the meet. (NOTE: Check the event website ahead of time for information on pre-ordering these items. We have attended Zones meets in which t-shirts and towels were sold out the FIRST DAY!)
- Often they have an engraving service on site so that your child can engrave his/her medal with his name and event information.
- A photographer will take a team photo, which is available for purchase either as pre-sale or at the event. We will update you when we have information regarding team photos.
- Extra team caps. Please see the next question.
Finally, we will notify everyone at the Zones Team Meeting in July if the athletes need any additional spending money.
Why would I need to purchase additional team caps?
Part of the fun at the Central Zones meet is trading caps with swimmers from the other teams. Oklahoma’s caps are often highly-sought after, since our team is smaller than most.
We will provide information on ordering additional caps closer to the the meet.
What can my child expect when it comes to meals and snacks?
Our chaperones will do their best to choose healthy and fulfilling meals each day. Breakfast will be at the hotel or pool. Lunch and dinner will be provided by the team. If you have a child with allergies or a very picky eater, please alert OKS Zones Head Coach Ali Baker ([email protected]) and Zones Team Coordinator Laura Healy ([email protected]) immediately with details.
While we will do our best to accommodate every child’s tastes, please let your child know that this is a team meet. We cannot shop individually for every child. Encourage them to speak up if they have specific requests but also let them know that they will need to be flexible, too. This is an important part of the team experience.
Can I pack snacks for my child?
We will provide information on snack guidelines closer to the meet.
What should my child pack?
Please do NOT pack any gear with your club team’s logo. We represent Team Oklahoma on this trip. We suggest the following:
- Swim backpack (the OKS Team backpack, if you have one) without a team logo. If your team backpack is all you have, please use duct tape to cover the logo. Include in this bag a competition suit, practice and/or backup suit, goggles, extra goggles, backup caps, towel, and any other meet items you need.
- A small backpack with a full water bottle and any other items you need on the bus, such as a sweatshirt or small blanket (it’s always cold on the bus), headphones, electronic device, book, playing cards, travel game
- Bag or suitcase with clothing for each day, appropriate shoes, sweatshirt or other items to keep warm in the event the pool deck or hotel is cold, additional towels, charger for your electronic device, small game for the room, and toiletries.
- For 10 & under athletes: They have more downtime than any other swimmers. You might pack a fun activity – non-electronic – for your child to share with his/her teammates.
- A bag chair – we’ll update closer to the meet on whether we need these.
Can my child bring his/her electronic devices?
Yes, you may send a cell phone or a handheld electronic device with your child. However, all athletes and parents will be asked to sign an Electronic Device Team Policy and athletes must adhere to this policy while with the team. Please do not send multiple devices with your child. Also note that the chaperones and coaches may designate electronic-free times during the weekend.
How many swimmers are in each hotel room?
We won’t have room assignments finalized until everyone has registered for the team. Therefore, we won’t know how many athletes are in each room until the day before the meet. However, generally, we place 2-3 per room for the 13-14 age group. Swimmers ages 11-12 and 10 & under will likely have 3-4 per room.
I’m planning to attend the meet. Can I book a room at the same hotel, or take my child to dinner one night?
USA Swimming’s Travel Policy requires that athletes stay with the team at all times. Parents are not permitted to join us for activities during the weekend. When your child is finished swimming for the weekend, you may check him/her out through our Team Manager. After check out, the swimmer may not participate in any team functions and is the responsibility of the parent.
Can we check out my child at the meet when he/she is finished swimming?
Yes, once your child has completed all events, you may check him/her out through the Team Manager.
We’d like to support the team in some way. What can we do?
Oklahoma Swimming is looking for sponsorships that will help defray the cost of this trip. If your business or a business in your contact circle is interested in sponsoring the team, please email OKS Zones Head Coach Ali Baker ([email protected]). Some ways we can thank your business would be to include a business logo on a team banner to be displayed at the meet or on t-shirts. Let us know!
Also, we are working on making Team Oklahoma apparel available for parents to purchase. We’ll keep you posted.
Finally, if any parents have a knack for making delicious breakfast burritos or other breakfast items, we would certainly be interested in donations for the morning we depart. Please contact OKS Zones Team Coordinator Laura Healy.
Who are the chaperones?
Chaperones are parents of swimmers who have qualified for and are attending this meet. Our goal is to have 6-7 chaperones, though the final number will be based on the size of the team. We try to balance the number of male and female chaperones, as well as have a variety to represent parents of multiple age groups (10&U, 11-12, 13-14) and clubs. Specifically, we would like to have a female and male 10 & under chaperone, based on whether we have qualifiers in that age group/gender.
How can I become a chaperone? Are there special requirements?
If your child is already qualified for Zones and you are interested in chaperoning, please contact OKS Zones Head Coach Ali Baker ([email protected]) and Zones Team Coordinator Laura Healy. We’ll be selecting the chaperones in the coming months, and we’d like to speak with and meet all potential candidates.
All chaperones must register as a USA Swimming Non-Athlete, complete the Athlete Protection Training online course, and complete the Level 2 Background Check. This process takes some time, therefore we hope to identify chaperones months and/or weeks before the meet.
To complete the steps listed above, first you must download and complete the 2017 Non-Athlete Registration form located on this site. Mail it and a check made payable to Oklahoma Swimming for $71 to Oklahoma Swimming, PO Box 690782, Tulsa OK 74169. Once that has been received, you can complete the Athlete Protection Training course at this link. Finally, you can initiate a background check here.
My child may not qualify until OKS Champs, but I really want to be a chaperone. Is that possible?
It may be, though this depends on a variety of factors. For example, we may not have filled all slots, or we may need additional chaperones if the team is larger than expected. In particular, we may need you to chaperone if your child is in the 10 & under age group. Please attend the Zones meeting at OKS Champs and talk to Coach Ai or Laura about chaperoning.
What exactly does a chaperone do on this trip?
We’re not going to lie: It’s hard work! Chaperones are on the trip to support the coaches and all athletes, not just an individual athlete. A few of the duties: room checks at curfew, attending team meetings, coordinating team meals, entertaining athletes during down time, enforcing team rules and travel policy rules, making grocery runs as needed, picking up meals as needed, supervising athletes at the meet, staying at the hotel with our 10&under athletes, organizing team t-shirts, selling caps, packing snacks for the pool, loading ice chests … the list goes on. Often, our chaperones are the first to wake and last to bed each day of the trip. It’s imperative that our chaperones work closely together. In some cases, chaperones cannot be at the pool to watch their child in every race, though we do our best to make this happen.
