Can I send in my registration forms now, and the Certificate of Insurance later?
Yes. The Certificate of Insurance information will be out in January. The address for submitting the COI will be one of the hosting YMCAs (and a FAX number).
Yes, High School and USA Swimming times are eligible, as long as they are accomplished during the qualification period. Proving times would require a computer printout from the meet (or the Internet), or if the results are handwritten, a copy signed by the referee.
Yes, composite times are allowed. When composite times are used, the relay must be composed of the four swimmers used to create the composite time. Substitutions are not allowed.
You can use this time as a qualifying time and swim the relay as long as all four swimmers are still members of the team. You may replace one of the swimmers used to make the time, but the replaced swimmer must still be on the roster of your team. A current roster may be requested to prove the swimmer is still on the team. If any of the four swimmers are not on your roster, the time is not a valid qualifying time.
Times achieved by a relay foursome is owned by the team. The team can decide which four swimmers to compete. When the team has a DIFFERENT set of four swimmers achieving a Zone qualifying time, they have the opportunity (but are not required) to enter a second relay team. At the meet, the team can swim whichever four swimmers they wish on the two relay entries. The important point is that if swimmers A, B, C and D achieve a qualifying time, and then swimmers A, E, F and G did not, the A swimmer is common, and this does not count as a second relay qualifying time.
I have a 10 year old who qualifies to compete in the 11-12 200 IM (and there is no offer of a 200 IM for the 10 & Under age group).
Swim-ups are not allowed at Zones -- except in relays. The swimmer must compete in their own age group for individual events.
Can I use a split time from a relay race?
A legal split is only possible from the leadoff swimmer in a relay. The time achieve (assuming touchpad results) is a legal time for meeting the zone qualifying time. The split for a breast stroke swimmer in a medley relay is not a legal split, and therefore cannot be used to qualify for Zones. The lead-off split needs to be part of the official results of the meet. Typically the computer printed results with splits.
Can I use a initial distance split to qualify for Zones?
Time standards achieved over the initial distance of a longer event qualify for Zones. The initial distance time needs to be part of the official results of the meet. Typically the computer printed results with splits.