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Dear Team Captain,
Team sports are a highlight of the state finals! We look forward to the basketball, softball, and volleyball competition this year.
The state final's entry deadlines are approaching and we have an abundance of information to share with you. Please read through this newsletter thoroughly.
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Registration Information - Mail and Online Available
If you or your players participated in any event at a district an entry form will automatically be mailed to you. If this is not the case, please click here for entry forms and a blank roster:
http://tnseniorolympics.com/doc/2012StateFinalsEntryForm.pdf
http://tnseniorolympics.com/doc/2012StateFinalsEntryInsert.pdf (insert to be mailed)
http://tnseniorolympics.com/doc/2011_Team_Roster.pdf
These may also be downloaded from our website at www.tnseniorolympics.com.
Team captains need to mail all team members' entry forms in together along with a roster. Please do not allow your teammates to mail their form separately. In most cases, the team name is either missing or a wrong team name is submitted ("I am playing on Bobby's team" usually isn't enough information J). If a team member is submitting their roster with another team, you may indicate this by placing a check mark in the appropriate column on the roster. Your team will not be entered into our system until a roster is received. We expect over 100 teams between the 3 team sports and it is very confusing for the staff to make sure all teams are in the proper age group and sport without a roster. Thanks so much for helping us out on all of these matters. |
Online Registration
Online registration will also be available this year! Beginning May 1, you as a team captain may register by going to our website and clicking the online registration link. It would be helpful for the team captain to log all information in for team members to ensure that the same team name is used for each registration. If you do allow players to go in and register for themselves please make them aware of your exact team name.
Once you click "I am a team captain", a roster will come up for you to fill out with all players and ages. If you are choosing a new team name this year you will be the only one who is allowed to go in and type this information in.
Once the information is submitted it, please follow up by mailing a check(s) and your registration will be approved. It is our hope that next year our budget will allow us to build the last component that will accept electronic payment. |
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Deadlines
Team rosters and entry forms must be submitted on time.
After the final deadline date , there will be an additional $100 fee per player (plus entry fee), to add players to the roster of a team that exceeds the minimum to take the floor/field plus one.
Absolutely NO new players regardless of circumstances may be added 10 days prior to the start of the Games.
Early bird Deadline: May 11, 2012
Final Deadline: May 25, 2012
Because the districts of First TN, Upper Cumberland, and Chattanooga have events well into May all teams from these districts may use the May 25 deadline as well as the early bird fee.
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Team Composition Rule
Remember that teams must comply with the team composition rule:
Three grand divisions are set up. These include West (the districts of Memphis, Northwest, and Southwest), Middle (the districts of Greater Nashville, South Central, and Upper Cumberland), and East (the districts of Chattanooga, Southeast, East, and First). Teams must be comprised of players from their division with one wild card allowed from any area. For example, a team from Greater Nashville may pick up any players from South Central and/or Upper Cumberland and also one player from East or West. If unsure which counties comprise which districts please visit our website at www.tnseniorolympics.com
Teams 75+ will not have restrictions. Teams may be comprised of any player regardless of district.
Important Note: The Board of Directors would like for all exceptions to be determined by committees comprised of athletes. If you have an extraordinary request for an exemption to this rule, please e-mail tnseniorolympics@comcast.net. Team captains from the same sport but different age groups will be asked to serve on a committee to consider the request.
Please keep reading further about team composition rules in the National section below |
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Nationals
This is a qualifying year for the 2013 National Senior Games in Cleveland, Ohio. The top three teams in each age group will qualify to compete.
A new rule that has been implemented at the National level is as follows:
There are no longer rules limiting the number of out-of-state athletes on rosters.
As you may remember, two years ago we conducted a survey about our team composition rule and it was a clear majority who voted to keep restrictions on teams. Our state finals in Tennessee host one of the largest team events in the nation and one reason is that there is a level playing field.
However, we know that at Nationals there are many "all star" teams to contend with. We do not want to hamper your ability to take the best team possible. Since our TN team composition rule is unique, we will allow qualified teams to make changes to rosters before they are submitted to Nationals. We are within their rules to make determinations on who qualifies. This must be done by August 1st in writing to tnseniorolympics@comcast.net. In this way, your team will still be allowed changes at the National level especially if you want to pick up out of state players.
For example, Team Nashville has won the basketball competition in the women's 50's. After the event is over, the team would like to pick up 2 players from Chattanooga from a 4th place team. The team requests this change and this roster is sent to Nationals. Nationals allows 3 changes to basketball rosters and the team picks up two players they know from Indiana. Good luck Team Nashville!
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Specific Sport Information
SOFTBALL
The Nationals (NSGA) has switched the governing body for softball from SPA to ASA. While ASA is the governing body, both the NSGA and the TN Senior Olympics have modifications to these rules. Both rulebooks may be viewed on our website or by clicking the links below.
2012 TN Senior Olympics Rule Book
2013 National Rule Book
Before the state finals, we would like to form a committee to review the ASA, NSGA, and TSO rules to ensure that all rules make sense and that no rule has been overlooked. This committee will discuss issues via e-mail. If any changes are made to the rules posted, all team captains will be notified. If interested in serving on this committee, please e-mail tnseniorolympics@comcast.net.
A strike mat will be used this year for all games.
Women's Softball Tournament Set
Ladies, please read carefully as we have added more information than was e-mailed previously.
The women's tournament will be held Friday, August 24th and Saturday August 25th at Fly Park in Williamson County. This is a one- time only move from our regular dates in order to accommodate the majority of you who are playing in the SPA tournament in Ohio during our state finals. This will be the official time for our women's teams to qualify for the 2013 Nationals in Cleveland.
For those teams not planning to make the trip to Ohio we plan to host exhibition games July 13th and 14th for your team to practice and to have fun. These games will be held at Fieldstone Farms in Franklin. The entry fee you pay in July will be honored for you to come back in August. In August, if it ends up that your team is the only team in your age group then your participation in July will serve as your qualification.
On your roster, please place a note at the top about your plans. Please let us know if you will be playing in August only, July and August, or July only. Or this information may be e-mailed to tnseniorolympics@comcast.net.
Please note the deadlines discussed earlier in this newsletter. Although this seems early, we need your entries in so that we can order items such a T-shirts in early June for all 2,000 athletes in one order. Thanks for your help with this.
We are excited about the tournament. Good luck to those of you going to Ohio! |
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Volleyball
At the time of this printing, we are trying to secure more courts but Battle Ground Academy has been booked for sure. If Battle Ground Academy remains our only venue it may be necessary to start some matches on Saturday the 14th. It all depends on the number of teams. The Saturday play would be reserved for those age groups with a large number of teams. We will keep you informed as this develops.
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Basketball
All games will be played at Battle Ground Academy. Please click on the link to the rulebook below. Nationals has made a few changes to the rules and we encourage all teams to review these.
2012 TN Senior Olympics Rule Book
2013 National Rule Book
If your team has a new captain would you pass
this information to that person?
We look forward to your participation. Please let us know if you have questions (615-200-8760 or
info@tnseniorolympics.com). Additional e-mails and newsletters will be forthcoming as we get closer.
Sincerely,
Tennessee Senior Olympics Staff
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