2016 Maccabi Games Information Packet

®
TeamDenver-JCCMaccabiGames
InformationPacket
TeamDenver
TeamDenverisluckytoofferspotstotheJCCMaccabiGamesinSt.Louis,Mo,July31st–August5th
2016andtotheJCCMaccabiGamesandArtsfestinStamford,CT,August7th–12th,2016.
Wewillberecruitingathletesforthefollowingsportsandarts.
St.Louis
- BoysBasketball
- GirlsBasketball
- Baseball - Dance
- FlagFootball
- BoysSoccer
- GirlsSoccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track&Field
- Volleyball - TableTennis
- Swimming - Golf
- StarReporter
Stamford
-BoysBasketball
-GirlsBasketball
-Baseball
-In-LineHockey
-BoysLacrosse
-GirlsLacrosse
-BoysSoccer
-GirlsSoccer
-Dance
-Golf
-Swimming
-TableTennis
-Tennis
Artsfest
-Acting/Improve
o Culinary
o MusicalTheatre
o RockBand
o StarReporter
o VisualArts
o VocalMusic/Glee
Eligibility
Athletesmustbeatleast13andnoolderthan16asofJuly31,2016.
AllathletesparticipatingintheJCCMaccabiGames®mustbeJewish.Jewishisdefinedasthefollowing:
theathlete'smotherisJewishortheathleteisaconverttoJudaism;ifthefatheristheonlyJewish
parent,theathleteiseligibleifhe/shehasbeenbroughtupJewish.Intheathlete'sregistration
confirmationkit,thereisadeclarationthatcontainstheaforementionedeligibilityrequirements;both
theathleteandhis/herparentsmustsignthisdeclaration.
Dates
TheJCCMaccabiGamesinSt.Louis,Mo,July31st–August5th2016andtotheJCCMaccabiGamesand
ArtsfestinStamford,CT,August7th–12th,2016.
Andmore…
ThereissomuchmoretotheJCCMaccabiGamesexperiencebesidestheexcitingsportscompetitions.
AthleteshaveanamazingopportunitytomeetandsocializewithotherJewishtensfromaroundthe
world.Whenathletesarenotcompetingtheycanjusthangoutinthe“HangTime”lounge.Thereis
alwaysfood,internetaccessandfunactivities.Everynightthereisalargesocialeventforall1500
participantsinthepasttheseeventshaveincludeddances,eveningatamusementparks,casinonights
andmore.
SocialactionisalsofrontandcenterattheGames.Allathleteswillparticipateinahalf-daycommunity
serviceprojectaspartoftheJCCCaresprogram.Thisisawonderfulopportunityforathletestogive
somethingbacktothehostingcommunity.
Housing
AthleteswillstaywithhostfamiliesfromtheStLouisorStamfordJewishcommunity.OurTeamDenver
athleteswillbehousedwithatleastoneotherathletefromourteam.Whenathletesareselectedand
registerforthegamestheywillhavetheopportunitytoindicatetheirhousingneeds(i.e.kosher,
Shabbatobservant,nocatsordogs,allergies,etc.).
Athletesmaynotarrangetheirownhousingorstayinhotels.Thehomehospitalityexperienceisan
importantpartoftheGamesexperience.
Spectators
Parents,familymembersandfriendsarewelcometoattendtheGamesasspectators.Spectatorpasses
willbeavailableforpurchaseon-linefromtheGameswebsite.(NoonewillbeadmittedtoaGamessite
whoisnotwearinganapprovedspectatorcredential).TheGamesorganizerswillalsorecommend
hotelsintheareaforparents.
Travel
AllTeamDenverathleteswillberequiredtoflywiththeteamtothegames.Flightarrangementswillbe
madebytheDelegationHead.DifferentflightarrangementsmustfirstbeapprovedbytheDelegation
Head.
Cost
Theathletechargeis$1700*fortheJCCMaccabiGames.
ThisfeeincludesalldirectexpensessuchasGamesRegistrationFees,Gamestransportation,kosher
meals,equipment,tradingpins,marchinguniforms,competitionuniforms,t-shirts,travelbagsand
round-tripairfare.Wehavekeptadministrativecoststoanabsoluteminimumandhavecountedon
generoussupporterstokeepthepriceaslowaspossible
*Thisfeeissubjecttochangeifthereisasignificantincreaseinthepriceofairlinetickets.
FREQUENTLYASKEDQUESTIONS
TRANSPORTATION
HowwillmychildgettotheGames?
ThelocalDelegationHeadwillmakearrangementsforthedelegationtoflyordrivetothehostcity.
HowwilltheathletesbetransportedonceattheGames?
Thehostcommunitywillofferabussystemforathletesandcoacheswhichwillallowthemtotake
busestotheirathleticvenuesaswellastothehub.Theywillbeabletousethetransportationsystemto
visitvenuesotherthanthosefortheirsport,towatchtheirfriendsandfellowdelegationmembers
compete.
Willvisitingfamilies(spectators)beabletouseathletetransportation?
No.SpectatorsmustprovidetheirowntransportationwhileattheGames.
Whathappensifanathletemisseshis/herbus?
Mostbusesrunevery15minutesandathleteswillbegiventransportationschedulesuponarrival.Ifan
athletehasmissedthebusandmustbeatanathleticvenuepromptly,theathletewillbeinstructedto
callthelocaldelegationheadforassistance.
WhohaspermissiontotransportmychildduringtheGames?
Hostfamilymembersandyourowndelegation’scoachesover21,aswellasyourowndelegationhead,
maytransportyourchild.Inaddition,driversfortheGamestransportationbussystemwillbepermitted
totransportGamesathletes.
SPORTS
Whatdoathletesdobetweenathleticcompetitions?
Ifanathletehastimeinbetweenathleticcompetitions,he/shewillhavetheopportunitytovisitother
venuestoeat,visitwithfriends,gotoHangTime,orobserveotherathleticcompetitions.
Whatifourcitydoesnothaveenoughathletestofieldateam?
Intheeventthatacitycannotassembleanentireteamforaparticularsport,thelocaldelegationhead
mayapplythroughtheJCCMaccabiGames®officetocreateamixedteamwithathletesfromanother
delegation.Yourlocaldelegationheadcanexplainthisinmoredetailandistheonlypersonwhocan
applyforathletestoparticipateonamixedteam.ThereisnoguaranteethattheJCCMaccabiGames®
officewillbeabletoaccommodateallrequests.
Howdowefindoutourchild’sathleticscheduleandthescores?
Hostcitieswillmaketheirbestefforttopostscoresinatimelymanner.Scoreswillbepostedonthe
hostcity’swebsiteaswellasatthehostcity’shub.Askyourlocaldelegationheadforthewebsite
address.
Whycan’tathletesparticipateintwosports?
Athletesmayparticipateonlyinonesportbecauseissueswithschedulingandconcernsfortheathlete’s
health,andtoallowalargernumberofathletestoparticipateintheGames.
Whatdoathletesdooncetheyhavebeeneliminatedfromcompetition?
Athleteswillhavetheopportunitytovisitothervenues,spendtimewithfriends,andtoobserveother
athleticcompetitions.TherearealsoactivitiessuchasHangTimeattheHub(aswellasotherlocations)
andexhibitionsportssuchasNFLFlagFootballwhichathletesmayparticipatein,duringtheirremaining
timeattheGames.Manyathletesenjoywatchingthefinalsofvarioussportsandcheeringontheirown
delegationsandnewfriends.
Howmanygameswillmychildbeabletoplay?
Theamountwillvaryfromsporttosport,butthehostcitystrivestoensurethateachathletewill
competeonMonday,TuesdayandWednesdayduringtheweekoftheGames.Sportssuchastennis
mayofferdoublescompetitiontoensurethattheathleteshaveasignificantamountofplayingtime.
IsmychildguaranteedplayingtimetheentireweekoftheGames?
EachJCChasitsownpolicywithregardtoplayingtime.However,allcoachesareencouragedbythe
hostcityandthelocaldelegationheadtogiveeachathleteasignificantamountofplayingtime.The
host’ssportchairsworkwiththeJCCMaccabiGamesContinentalGoverningBodytomakesure
competitionformatspromotethegreatestamountofplayingtimeforeachathlete.
SECURITY
Whatarecredentialsandwhyaretheyneeded?
Credentialsarevisibleidentificationbadgesforathletesandcoachestohelpthehost’ssecurityteam
determinewhoshouldbeadmittedintoGamesvenuesandkeepvenuessecureandalsoprovidesthe
athlete’smedicalinformationonthebackofthecredential.Ifcredentialsarelost,replacement
credentialsareavailableatthehub.Spectatorsarealsorequiredtoobtainaspectatorpasswhich
permitsthementryintoGamesvenuesandOpeningCeremoniesonly.Spectatorpassescanbe
purchasedonlineonlyatwww.jccmaccabigames.org(clickontheregistericon.)
WhoisresponsibleandinvolvedinprovidingsecurityfortheGames?
Thehostcommunityworkscloselywithawidevarietyoflocal,stateandfederalagenciestodetermine
thesecurityneedsfortheGames.
MEDICAL
Whoisauthorizedtogivemychildclearancetoplayafterhe/sheisinjured?
Clearancemaybegivenonlybythehubmedicalpersonalaftertheyhaveexaminedtheathleteandare
confidenttheyarewellenoughtoparticipateandwouldnotriskfurtherinjury.Athletes,delegation
heads,coachesandparentsarenotauthorizedtogiveclearance.
Aretheretrainersateachvenueandwilltheydotaping?
Althoughmedicalpersonnelwillbeavailableatmostvenues,theywillnotbeavailablefortaping.
Athletesandcoacheswillberesponsibleforalltaping.
HowdoIcommunicatehealthissuesaboutmychild?
Parentswillbeaskedtofilloutamedicalinformationformaspartoftheirregistrationprocess.In
addition,parentsshouldcommunicateanymedicalconditionsorissuesdirectlytotheirdelegation
heads.Anydocumentedinformationwillbekeptconfidentialandparentsareencouragedtobehonest
ontheirformssothatthedelegationheadispreparedtodealwithanysituationthatmayarise.
WhydoIneedtoprovideamedicalformfilledoutbymydoctorwithinthepastsixmonths?
ItisimportantfortheGamesmedicalstafftohavethemostup-to-datemedicalinformationoneach
athletetoensuretheathletereceivesthebestcareintheeventofaninjuryoremergency.
Whathappensifmychildgetsinjured?
Medicalpersonnelareavailableatmostathleticvenuesandthehub.Ifanathleteisinjured,theon-site
staffwillevaluatethesituationanddeterminethenextcourseofaction.Ifthereisnomedicalpersonnel
onsite,whichmaybethecaseforsomenon-contactsports,theathletewouldbetakentothehuborin
anemergency,tothelocalhospitalorurgentcarecenter.Intheeventofaninjury,theathlete’s
delegationheadwillbenotifiedimmediately.Thedelegationheadwillthencontacttheparents.
HOUSING
Shouldathletesbringgiftsfortheirhostfamilies?
Athletesareencouragedtobringgiftsfortheirhostfamilies.Hostsareextendingthemselvesforan
entireweekandwillappreciateaninexpensiveThankYou.Suggestedgiftsincludegiftcertificatesto
placessuchasBlockbusterorStarbucksorauniquegiftfromyourcity.
Whatmealsandassistance,suchaslaundry,cantheathletesexpectfromtheirhosts?
Breakfastandsomedinnerswillbeprovidedbythehostfamily.Laundryfacilitieswillbeprovided,but
athletesareexpectedtodotheirownlaundrywhenneeded.Hostfamilieswillalsoprovide
transportationwhenneeded.
Whatarethesleepingaccommodationsthatwecanexpectforathletes?
Eachhostfamilyisaskedtoprovideathleteswithseparateandreasonablesleepingaccommodations.
Whenwillwebecontactedbyourhostfamilies?
Hostfamilieswillcontactathletesandtheirfamiliestointroducethemselvesseveraldaysbeforethe
Games.Ifyouarenotcontactedbyyourhostfamily,pleaseinformyourdelegationhead.Donot
contactthehostcommunity.
Areathletesguaranteedtobehousedwiththeirfriends?
No.Thehousingofathletesisverycomplexandalthoughthehostcitywillmakeeveryeffortto
accommodaterequests,theymaynotbeabletodoso.Therefore,requestsarenotguaranteed.When
requestingaroommate,makesurethatpersonrequestsyouandthatyouarecompatible,including
allergies,keepingkosher,etc.
Whatifanathleteisnothappywithhis/herhostfamily?
Changesinhostfamilieswillnotbemadeunlessthesafetyorsecurityofanathleteisofconcern,or
thereisamedicalconditionsuchasanallergyordietaryissue.
Howarehostfamiliesselected?
Eachhosthasdevelopedascreeningprocesstheyuseforselectingappropriatehostfamilies.Most
familiesaresoughtoutfromthelocalJCC,localsynagogues/templesandJewishgroups/organizations.
Inaddition,eachlocalathleteMUSThouseatleasttwoathletesinordertoparticipateintheGames.
Althoughtheprocessmaybesomewhatdifferentfromcitytocity,allhostfamiliesareresearchedto
ensuretheathlete’ssafetyandwellbeing.
FOOD
Aremealsincludedinourregistrationfee?
Yes.Allmealsandlodgingareincludedintheathlete’sregistrationfee.
Whatmealsdohostfamiliesprovide?
MosthostfamilieswillprovidedinnertoathletesbeforetheyattendOpeningCeremoniesandonHost
FamilyNight.Theyalsoprovidebreakfast.
Dothehostfamiliesservekosherfood?
Kosherhomesareavailableuponrequest.However,youmustspecifyakosherhomewhenregistering
online.Insomecommunities,thereisalimitedsupplyofstrictlykosherhomes,sopleaseregisterfora
kosherhomeonlyiftheathleteeatsonlystrictlykosherfood.Variouslevelsofkashrutmaybe
requestedviatheonlineregistrationprocess.
Isthereavarietyoffoodservedeachday?
Allhostcitiesworkwiththeirfoodandteencommitteestocreateanappealingandvariedmenuforthe
week.Mealsarehealthyandpromoteawell-balanceddiet.
Aretheredrinksandsnacksprovidedfortheathletesduringtheday?
Yes.Snacksanddrinksareprovidedforathletesandcoachesatmostvenuesthroughouttheday.
AthletesareencouragedtocarryandkeeptheCocaColawaterbottlethattheyreceiveatorientation
withthematalltimesandtomakesurethatitisfilledwithwater.Spectatorsareresponsiblefortheir
ownfoodanddrinks.
Istherefoodavailableforvegetariansandvegans?
Yes.Allhostcitiesprovidebothvegetarianandveganoptionsateachmeal.
IsthefoodattheGameskosher?
AllGamesarerequiredtoprovidekoshermeals,snacksanddrinks.Thelevelofkashrutmayvaryfrom
communitytocommunity.Pleasediscussanyconcernswithyourlocaldelegationhead.
ATHLETE/COACHESCONDUCT
Whodeterminesifanathleteshouldbesenthome?
EachhostcityhasaCourtofHonor.Ifanathleteorcoachhasacomplaintmadeagainsthim/her,the
CourtofHonorwillreviewthecomplaintanddetermineiftheactionsofthepersonwarranta
punishment.Thepunishmentscanrangefromawarning,beingaskedtositoutagame,tobeingsent
homeattheirparents’expense.TheCourtofHonor’sdecisionisfinal.Shouldlocallawenforcement
intervenethendecisionsmaybeoutofthecommittee’shands.
Whatbehaviorcouldcauseathletestobesenthomeearly?
ThisiscoveredintheCodeofConduct.Pleasereviewitintheathleteconfirmationkitprovidedbyyour
localdelegationheadorgototheGameswebsitewww.jccmaccabigames.org
OPENINGCEREMONIES
WhatisthescheduleforOpeningCeremonies?
YourlocaldelegationheadwillbeabletoprovideyouwithinformationregardingOpeningCeremonies.
Istransportationprovidedforvisitorsfromthevisitor’shoteltoOpeningCeremonies?
No.SpectatorswillberesponsiblefortheirowntransportationduringtheGames.
Isthereaspecialseatingsectionforeachdelegation?
Spectatorsarenotpermittedtositwiththelocaldelegations.However,mosthostcitiesprovideamap
uponarrivalatthevenue,whichwillgivespectatorsanideaofwheretositinordertoseeorbenear
theirlocaldelegation.
DoweneedpassesforOpeningCeremonies?
Yes.AllvisitorsrequirespectatorpassesforadmittanceintoOpeningCeremonies.Youmayregister
onlineforyourpassathttps://www.jccmacreg.org.Thereisafeeforspectatorpassesthatwillneedto
bepaidduringtheregistrationprocesson-line.Allmajorcreditcardswillbeaccepted.Ifyouhaveany
question,pleasespeakwithyourlocaldelegationhead.
REGISTRATION
WhataretheNorthAmericanrequirementsforanathletetoqualify?
EachathletemustbeJewishandhaveatleastoneJewishparentandmustbebetweentheagesof13
and16asofJuly31oftheyearoftheGamesforwhichtheathleteisregistering.
HowdoIregisterfortheJCCMaccabiGames?
Registrationisatwo-partprocess.1.BeginbyspeakingwithyoulocalJCCdelegationheadregardingthe
processforyourcommunity,includingsportsoffered,datesandfees.2.Onceyouhavesuccessfully
registeredwithyourlocaldelegationhead,registerontheContinentalJCCMaccabiGameswebsiteat
https://www.jccmacreg.org.
MISCELLANEOUSQUESTIONS
ShouldIcallthehostcitytogetinformationabouttheGames?
No.Yourlocaldelegationheadshouldbeabletoprovideyouwithalltheinformationyouwillneedto
haveapositiveGamesexperienceforyouandyourchild.Pleasedonotcallthehostcityastheyhave
muchtodotoprepareforaneventofthismagnitude.
InadditiontotheGameshotel,whereelsecanIfindinformationabouttheGames?
ThehostJCCwillalsohavethisinformationavailabletoyou.Makesureyouhaveaspectatorpasswhen
youarrivethatwillallowyouintoselectedGamesvenues.Ifyoudonothaveapass,pleasecontactyour
localdelegationheaduponarrival.InformationregardingtheGamesisalsoavailableontheGames
website,www.jccmaccabigames.org.Onceatthewebsite,clickthehostcommunityofinterest.
WhereshouldIstayifIattendtheGames?
VisitingfamiliesareencouragedtostayatthedesignatedJCCMaccabiGameshotelsforparents.These
hotelswillhaveschedulesanddirectionstoathleticvenuesandOpeningCeremoniesavailable.
Whatactivitiescanvisitors/spectatorsparticipatein?
VisitorsmustweartheirspectatorpassesinordertoreceiveadmittanceintoGamesvenues.The
spectatorpasswillallowvisitorstoattendathleticeventsaswellasOpeningCeremonies.Visitorswill
notbepermittedtouseGamestransportation,dinewiththeathletesattheGameshub,attendevening
activitiesorconsumefoodordrinksthathavebeenprovidedforcoachesandathletes.
Whencanvisitors/spectatorsspendtimewithathletes?
ParentsareencouragedtoattendOpeningCeremoniesandathleticcompetitions.However,parentsare
stronglydiscouragedfromtakingtheirchildoutofGamesactivities.BytakingathletesoutofGames
activities,theymissoutonsocialopportunities,riskmissingimportanttimewiththeirteamand
delegation,andcancausesecurityissuesiftheycannotbeaccountedfor.
For more information about Team Denver for the 2016 JCC Maccabi
Games.
Please contact our Delegation Head,
Jodi Asarch at [email protected] or 303.931.8225