October 29, 2011

TO: Girls’ Swimming/Diving Coaches and Athletic Directors

SUBJECT: State Meet Information

PLEASE NOTE: Total cooperation related to the following matters is appreciated. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION CAREFULLY.

Teams may enter the building at 9:00 a.m. through the pass gate located just east of the natatorium entrance. A sign will denote “pass gate.” Coaches Meeting on Saturday will begin at 9:30 a.m. Competitors will not be allowed in the pool for warm-ups until the completion of the coaches meeting.

1. Your Competitors List and Entry Form MUST be received by the State Office by 4:00 p.m. Monday, November 1. They can be faxed (515-284-1969) or e-mailed (jasoneslinger@ighsau.org). The form may be downloaded (Microsoft Word Document) by clicking here or by going to the IGHSAU Swimming and Diving page on the IGHSAU website.

2. PASS GATE: ONLY actual contestants (qualifiers) including one designated alternate per relay, head coach, assistant coach and team manager may enter through the pass gate. Packets with relay cards and deck passes are to be picked up at the pass gate. Reminder, only coaches employed by the school and those earning college credit for student teaching will be allowed on deck. This does not include club and volunteer coaches. DECK PASSES WILL BE LIMITED TO 3 PER SCHOOL. A purchased wristband will not allow deck access. You must have a deck pass. Schools who make passes available to non-school coaches or athletes in addition to those qualified risk forfeiture of team allowance.

3. DIVING SHEETS: We ask coaches turn in diving sheets during warm-up in order for computer operators to input data. Finalized Diving sheets must be filled out and turned in to the Diving Referee no later than 4:00 p.m. Friday evening. A reminder, the Excel-based diving sheet must be used. Click here to download the 2011 Diving Sheet.

4. The general public will be admitted into the facility through the northwest pool doors at 4:00 p.m. (Friday) and 11:00 a.m. (Saturday). Spectators will be allowed entrance into the Marshalltown Community Y’s gymnasium on Saturday at 8:00 a.m. Fans should enter through the gymnasium entrance of the Community Y (located just south of the main entrance). Spectators are expected to be respectful and behave responsibly while waiting for the facility to open. Click here to view a layout of the Marshalltown Community Y. NO GRILLS OR FIRES IN THE PARKING LOT.

Seating for the State Swimming and Diving is general admission with no reserved seating. Reminder, the saving of seats is prohibited.

Please remind spectators cost of the State Meet is $8.00 per person per session for students and adults. Wrist bands will be issued instead of tickets. Spectators MUST be wearing the wristband to gain entry into the natatorium. The wristband will allow entrance in and out of the Marshalltown Community Y. Anyone who leaves the building without a wristband will not be allowed back into the building unless another wristband is purchased. A reminder to spectators that smoking is not prohibited anywhere on the Marshalltown Community Y grounds. All contestants, managers and coaches must enter and exit the facility through the pass gate.

5. Remember, only coaches and a manager may wear street clothes on the deck and all contestants, when on the deck, must be in proper swim attire.

6. BANNERS/SIGNS/BALLOONS PROHIBITED: The display of balloons, signs, hoops, placards or other paper debris is always prohibited. Additionally, any object which could provide a safety concern is prohibited, as is any artificial noisemakers (airhorns, thunder sticks, megaphones, cowbells, etc.). Excluded from this rule are permanent wall displays or signs used for general administration of the meet.

7. No swimming personnel will be allowed on deck during the diving competition Friday evening -- all must be in the bleachers.

8. Diving awards will be presented immediately following diving competition Friday evening.

9. Cheerleaders will be required to pay admission.

10. SCHEDULE -- Friday

3:00 p.m. Pool opens for warm-up (divers only)

4:00 p.m. Finalized Diving Sheets Due

5:00 p.m. State Diving competition

SCHEDULE -- Saturday

9:30 a.m. Coaches Meeting

10:00 a.m. Pool opens for swimmers (upon completion of Coaches meeting)

11:45 a.m. Pool closes

12:00 (noon) Parade of Teams

11. WARM-UP: Prior to the start of the Saturday afternoon competition, your competitors must be advised that in the interest of safety and establishing proper warm-up conditions, swimmers will be required to use the pool as follows: From 10:00 to 10:35 all eight lanes will be used for lap (circle) swimming. From 10:35 to 11:10 lap (circle) swimming will continue in lanes 6, 7 and 8. Lanes 3, 4 and 5 in the deep end will be used for relay take offs with the same lanes in the shallow end being utilized for turns. Lanes 1 and 2 will be used for sprints. From 11:10 to 11:45 lane 8 will be used for lap (circle) swimming. Lanes 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 will be used for sprints. This leaves lanes 4 and 5 in the deep end for relay starts with the shallow end being utilized for turns.

12. REC POOL (WARM-UP/COOL-DOWN): NO INDIVIDUAL is to be on the equipment (slide, boat, etc.) in the rec pool. The Rec Pool pool area is specifically for swimmers to warm-up or cool-down and store bags. Should an athlete be observed on the equipment, they risk disqualification.

13. COACHES AND COMPETITOR SEATING: No bags will be allowed in the seating area. Coolers and larger items are discouraged because of space limitations. The competitor’s seating area will be on the south and east side of the natatorium. All contestants must be seated in the designated bleacher unless they are warming-up in the warm-up pool, competing or in the home room area. To gain access to the seating swimmers may enter and exit the pool area through the south doors of the wet hall. Neither coaches nor competitors are allowed to move back and forth the entire length of the pool. In addition to the designated seating area, coaches will also have a portion of the southwest corner of the deck to stand. No contestants will be allowed in this area and coaches will situate themselves so that the deck official in that area will not be hampered in performing his/her duties.

14. PARADE OF TEAMS: We encourage everyone to participate in the parade of teams at the start of the meet. However, coaches, if you feel that your swimmers in the 200 Medley Relay need to continue to warm-up they may do so after participating in parade. The 200 Medley Relay swimmers must participate in the parade. Once your team has been recognized and is lining up with the other teams, your 200 Medley Relay swimmers are free to return to the warm-up area to prepare for the race. Again, only the 200 Medley Relay swimmers are free to return to the warm-up area.

Prior to the start of each event, there will be a march of the state qualifiers in that event. Coaches, please advise your athletes to report to the staging area (southeast corner of the pool located next to the door of the warm-up pool area) one event prior to their race.

15. AWARDS: The top six place winners in each event will be presented awards at the awards stand. To prepare for the awards presentation, the first six place finishers are to report to the southeast corner of the pool located next to the door of the warm-up pool one event following their race. At the appropriate time, award recipients will parade to the awards stand to be presented with their awards. Competitors recognized on the awards stand must be dressed appropriately. This means warm-up or other school issued clothing must be worn over the suit. Competitors, who do not fulfill this obligation, will not be permitted on the awards stand. COACHES: this is your responsibility! Please remind your swimmers in order to be recognized on the awards stand, they must report to the appropriate location at the appropriate time. We will wait a reasonable time for your athletes to report, but we will not hold up the flow of the meet waiting for them. We will proceed without your athlete if they fail to report in a reasonable time frame.

Team trophies for first, second and third place teams will be awarded at this year’s state meet. The team finishing third overall must be present at the trophy presentations.

16. Participation plaques for all competitors and results MUST be picked up by the coach following conclusion of the meet from John Overton, located in the office adjacent to the coaches break room. Coaches with only divers competing are reminded to pick up plaques on Friday night. PLEASE REMEMBER TO PICK UP YOUR AWARDS AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE MEET.

17. MERCHANDISE: Image Sport will be selling Official 2011 State Swimming merchandise throughout the meet. Programs will also be on sale for $3.00.

18. FILMING: There is no special place designated for teams or fans to videotape from.  Paying spectators are not restricted from videotaping as long as the video equipment is hand held.  The use of tripods is prohibited.  There will not be special arrangements for seating or electrical hook-up for anyone wishing to videotape.

19. NO GLASS CONTAINERS: Notification is given that there will be no glass containers allowed in the locker rooms or pool area. Should you wish to provide your team with liquid refreshments, only plastic containers will be permissible.

20. PROGRAMS: Coaches should retain heat and lane assignments. Official programs will be available for purchase only at the State Meet.

21. HORN START: The horn start will be used at the State Meet.

Best of luck at the State Meet.

Jason Eslinger

Assistant Director/Swimming & Diving Administrator