Competition

Competition Name
2017 COMSA Masters Short Course Championships
Meet Dates
Fri, 3/24/2017 - Sun, 3/26/2017
Description

COMSA and the Colorado Mesa University, El Pomar Natatorium invite you to the 2017 COMSA Masters Short Course Swimming Championships. The pool is 25 yards by 50 meters, and will be set up with 8-10 short course yards competition lanes. A Colorado Electronic Timing System with backup timing and scoreboard readout will be used. Bleacher seating is available for up to 750 people, with additional on-deck seating available. We recommend bringing your own chairs if you plan to make use of on-deck seating.

Eligibility:  This is a USMS sanctioned meet. Swimmers must be at least 18 years of age on the day they swim. A valid 2017 United States Masters Swimming (USMS) membership is required to compete, and must be furnished with the entry. Online USMS registration is available on the COMSA website. Contact the COMSA Vice Chair at debbutler@comcast.net with questions.

Rules:  All 2017 USMS Rules apply, including a NO FALSE START RULE, and whistle alerts announcing the start of each race. Pull buoys, kickboards, fins, hand paddles, and snorkels are not allowed in the competition or warm-up pools.

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. One or two lanes will be designated as one-way sprint lanes during the pre-meet warm-up sessions in the competition pool only.

Any swimmer who acts in an unsporting or unsafe manner within the swimming venue may be considered for appropriate action or penalty by the referee (rule 102.13.3)

Entries and Fees:
$15 surcharge per swimmer
$4 per individual event (max of 6 events per day)
Those swimming Relay Events only will pay $15 surcharge fee.
Fees must accompany Registration, and must be paid in U.S. Dollars by credit card, check or money order.

Deadlines: 
All entries will be online and must be completed by March 17th at midnight. 

Online entries receive email confirmation.  No entry verification will be made via telephone.

Event Seeding:  All events will be seeded slow to fast. “No Time” entries will not be accepted. All events are timed finals, one swimmer per lane. Men and Women may be combined in events of 200 yards or longer at the discretion of the meet director. Deck seeding is strictly at the discretion of the meet director.

Meet Check-in and Positive Check-in:  All athletes must check-in upon arrival on their first day of competition. At check-in, athletes receive their T-Shirt and participation award. Each athlete need only check-in to the meet once, on their first day of competition.

ADDITIONALLY, participants in the 1650 Free, 1000 Free, 500 Free, and 400 IM MUST positively check-in for those events, separately from the meet check-in process. THIS YEAR WE WILL BE USING SWIMPHONE ONLINE CHECK IN SO THAT YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE THERE IN PERSON TO CHECK IN FOR THE LONGER EVENTS!   
Go to http://www.swimphone.com/mobile/meets/meet_menu.cfm?smid=8285  to check in.  
If you cannot check in online you still will be able to check in in person.  See check in times below, they are valid for both online AND for in person check in! There will be clearly marked, separate areas for meet check-in and positive check-in. Deadlines for positive check-in are as follows:
Friday’s Events:
1650 Free Positive Check-In opens at 6:00AM closes at 1:30pm
1000 Free Positive Check-In opens at 6:00AM and closes at 2:30pm
Saturday & Sunday:
Positive Check-In for the 500 Free and 400 IM opens at 12:01AM and closes at 8:30am

Lane assignments may be changed at any time, at the meet director’s discretion.

Age Groups and Relays:
Age for the meet is determined as of March 24, 2017.
Individual Events: 18-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39,…100+
Relay Events: 18+, 25+, 35+, 45+, etc. 10-year increments as high as necessary determined by age of youngest relay member. Relay cards will be available on deck, and will be accepted each day according to deadlines announced at the meet. All relay members must be USMS members and be individually registered for the meet ($15 fee for relay-only swimmers).


Beer Relay:
COMSA  will run a Beer Relay which will be the last event of the day on Saturday and a perfect kick-off to a fun evening.

Scoring:
Swimmers may enter up to 6 individual events per day; 14 maximum for the meet, plus relays. If more than 6 events are entered on any day, the meet host reserves the right to eliminate any of the additional events over 6.
Individual Events: 11-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1
Relay Events: 22-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2

Team Awards:
Scored by total point counts, Men and Women combined. Swimmers points go to the team specified during their State registration. Swimmers will not be allowed to change teams after registration has closed. Top six teams will receive an award. In order for relay points to count towards team awards, all swimmers on a relay must be registered for the meet under the same team. The 4x100 and 4x200 relays do not count toward team points.

Participation Awards/T-Shirts:
Each swimmer receives a participation award. To guarantee that you receive a meet T-Shirt (available for purchase); you must pre-order and indicate your size on the entry form. A limited number of extra T-shirts may be available at the meet.

Heat Sheets and Results:
Heat sheets will be posted online and in several locations around the pool deck. Results will be available on the COMSA website at www.comsa.org and at Swim Phone

Brute Squad Award:
The elite group of aquatic wonders who complete the 200 Fly, 400 IM, and 1650 Free will be presented a T-shirt after the events are concluded.

Sprint Squad Award:
The elite group of speedsters who manage to complete the 50 Free, 50 Fly, 50 Back, 50 Breast, and 100 IM will be presented a T-shirt after the events are concluded.

The Jack Buchannan Service Award:
This award is presented during the opening ceremony on Saturday to the male and female swimmers who have made major contributions to Masters Swimming. Nomination forms are available at www.comsa.org.

The Lou Parker Coaches Award:
This award is presented during the opening ceremony on Saturday to the outstanding COMSA Coach of the Year. Recipients must be current USMS members. Nomination forms are available at www.comsa.org.

Individual Awards:
The top 10 swimmers in each individual event will receive a ribbon. No awards for relays. An individual high-point award will be given to the highest scoring swimmer, male and female, in each age group.

Entry Confirmations:
All entry confirmations are via email from Club Assistant. Psych sheets will be posted at www.comsa.org 2-3 days before the first day of the meet. Contact the meet host with corrections to errors found on the psych sheet.


PLEASE JOIN COMSA FOR A SOCIAL SATURDAY AFTERNOON!
Come mingle with fellow swimmers Saturday after the meet, as COMSA will be hosting a fun social at 3:00.  Tickets are just $10 per person and include heavy appetizers, beer and soft drinks.  

EVENT SCHEDULE & NOTES
Event 1 Mixed 1650 Y Free  - Seeded slow to fast
Event 2 Mixed 1000 Y Free - Seeded slow to fast
30 Minute Break between events 4 and 5
30 Minute Break between events 26 and 27


*Longer Relays: These relays are swum Women, Men and Mixed together. A swimmer may swim only one relay in each event. These relays do not count toward team points.
**The length of the competition course is in compliance and on file with USMS in accordance with articles 105.1.7 and 107.2.1, but as a bulkhead course, is subject to length confirmation. Eligibility of times for USMS Top 10 and Records will be contingent on verification of bulkhead placement.

Bus Transportation – Full Weekend of Transportation for $50.00!
COMSA has secured one 54 passenger bus for the trip to and from Denver and for transportation in Grand Junction to and from the pool etc. COMSA will subsidize your costs so that you pay only $50 for the weekend of transportation. We expect that this bus will fill up quickly and the online entry is the only way to secure a seat(s). If necessary we can do positive check in on the bus for the 1650 and 1000 Yd Freestyle events.  There will be free Wi-Fi available on the bus. 

Bus Ticket Schedule:
Leaving Denver 8am on March 24th, leaving Grand Junction 4pm on March 26th, or sooner if the meet has concluded.

Where to Catch the Bus in Denver Area:
Pre-paid and reserved bus ticket holders should catch the bus at the following address.  Return trip will also deliver you to this address.  You may safely park your car here for the 3 days.
Wooley Mammoth Parking Lot
18540 US Highway 40
Golden, CO 80401


Hotel Accommodations:
The rates for all rooms are $109.95 for the dates of  March 23-26. Please ask for COMSA rates when making your reservations. Please make reservations by March 10th to guarantee this rate.  Parking is $6 per day at all hotels.

Fairfield Inn & Suites                                             
1-970-242-2525                                                                       
225 Main Street                                                                   
www.marriott.com/GJTFI     
Online Group Booking Codes:   
Queen Bed /Sofa Sleeper:CMSCMSA 
Two Queen Beds: CMSCMSB
Tempur-Pedic Beds
Laundry Facilities
Microwaves and Refrigerators

Hampton Inn
1-970-243-3222 or 877-307-5678
205 Main Street
www.grandjunction.hamptoninn.com
Online Group Booking Code: CMS
King Bed or Two Queen Beds
Microwaves and Refrigerators

SpringHill Suites by Marriott
1-970-424-5777
236 Main Street
www.marriott.com/GJTSH
Online Booking Codes:
Suites with King:CMSCMSA
Suites with 2 Queens: CMSCMSB
Laundry Facilities
Microwaves and Refrigerators
Marlo's Lounge


Complimentary at all hotels: Breakfast Buffet, Internet Access, Exercise Room, Newspaper

Pool
El Pomar Natatorium Colorado Mesa University
Street
1100 North Avenue
City, State, ZIP
Grand Junction, CO 81501
Map
Course Description
25 Yards / Indoor
Date Entry Due
Fri, 3/17/2017