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COUNTDOWN 2018

Excitement is in the air as twirling's greatest competitors get ready to assemble at the University of Notre Dame for twirling's most meaningful event ofthe year. AYOP 2018 will AGAIN BE HELD IN THE SPACIOUS, air-conditioned Joyce Center's twin domes, July 24-28. There is no event quite like AYOP. It is truly the "world series of baton twirling" and "world showcase of youth, beauty and pageantry" all wrapped up into one. AYOP's hallmark motto "we are family" says it all.

AT NOTRE DAME—THE MONOGRAM ROOM, located on the second floor of the Joyce Athletic and Convocation Center, is headquarters for AYOP. Monogram Room hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday noon.

Registration is handled prior to AYOP, so merely report to your contests at respective times.

Your free 16-page AYOP program includes a list of contestants in each contest by age group, lane assignments for Open Solo, Strut, Two- and Three-Baton and Duets, plus a final schedule. You may pick up your copy of the free program in the Monogram Room on Monday between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. or the following days. Use Joyce Center gates one or two. (Group directors may take one copy for each member of competitive group.) The twin domes are not available for practicing on Monday. Doors will open at 7 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

1. Monogram Room hours – Tuesday-Friday 8am to 5pm, Saturday 8am to Noon

2. FREE PARKING AND FREE ADMISSION: During AYOP, park in Lot C-1, south of the twin domes. (Parking directly behind the twin domes is reserved for Notre Dame employees.)

3. Gyms may not be used for practice purposes. No early morning outside corps practicing, except on the parking lot next to the Joyce Center.

4. STARTING LETTERS, then alphabetical order: "R" Tuesday contests, "W" Wednesday contests, "B" 'Thursday contests, "G" Friday contests, "L" Saturday contests. Each year first day start letter advances 7 letters. Corps will be assigned starting times in advance.

5. AYOP RESULTS WILL BE POSTED at individual contests and in the Monogram Room.

6. SCORE SHEETS AND AWARDS: After a reasonable time following the completion of a contest, go to the Monogram Room to pick up your score sheet. If you are an award winner, take your score sheet to the awards desk to receive your trophy, plaque, or medal. Remember, the Monogram Room closes at 5 p.m.. so sometimes you may have to wait until the next morning to pick up your award.

7. FOR SAFETY, DO NOT OBSTRUCT CONTEST AREAS with floor blankets, portable chairs, or tents. Use the spectator seating to observe the competitions. Smoking not permitted. Do not sit in marked practice areas. Absolutely no area may be blocked off by individuals or groups.

8. TRAVELING TROPHIES should be returned TO THE MONOGRAM ROOM early in the week.

9. NO TAPE ON WALL PLEASE: Do not tape anything on the Joyce Center walls or spread literature. An information table for printed matter can be found in the Monogram Room.

10. TEAM LINEUPS will be available in the Monogram Room.

11. TEAM ROSTER: Team directors will be required to submit a team roster for each team entered to the respective contest director(s).

12. CORPS LINEUP will be determined in advance by a drawing held by Director James Hallett.

13. SLOW LANES: Because one large event follows another on a tight schedule, should a competition be completed, except for a slow lane(s), AYOP reserves the right to move the slow lane(s) to another area so the next competition may begin.

14. NURSE'S STATION—A nurse is at the First Aid Station from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.

15. REFER TO THE AYOP MASTER SCHEDULE in the Monogram Room for any last minute changes.

16. IF YOU ARE TO COMPETE IN TWO OR MORE EVENTS during the same time slot, report to each contest director for instructions. You may not jockey for position.

17. AYOP RESULTS ON INTERNET: Parents and friends back home will learn the results of key AYOP competitions soon after they are posted at AYOP. Internet results should also prove convenient for twirling families who have returned to their motel rooms. Log in at www.batontwirling.com and click on AYOP.

18. BIG DISCOUNTS: Official AYOP T-shirts, tank tops, shorts and commemorative AYOP/Notre Dame souvenirs, and discounted batons and twirling items will be available in the Monogram Room Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturday until noon.

19. BRING YOUR WALKING SHOES—Avoid foot blisters during AYOP by wearing your sneakers or running shoes.

20. BATON TWIRLING WEEK—The week of July 22 has been designated as National Baton Twirling Week. If you would like to have a copy of the proclamation for use on the local level, merely write: Twirling Week Proclamation, Box 266, Janesville, WI 53547.

21. HELP WITH VISITORS INFORMATION is available by contacting the South Bend/Mishawaka Convention and Visitors Bureau at: 101 North Michigan Street, Suite 300 South Bend, IN 46601. Nick Kleva, Sports Sales Manager. Phone 574-400-4021, visitsouthbend.com

22. SAFETY - Again, we direct your attention to a safety and courtesy issue. Do not obstruct practice areas with chairs, blankets, tents, etc.

23. AYOP is the ideal time to make new friends and renew old friendships.

24. BIG SHOW MEMORIALS: To include the name of a loved one who has passed away this past year, use the memorial notebook on Don Sartell's desk in the Monogram Room to list pertinent information (or notify Julie Leathers).

25. CONTESTANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENTERING THE CORRECT AGE DIVISIONS and to know in advance if they are eligible for the events entered. AYOP clerks abide by information listed on entry form.

26. THE AYOP RHYTHMIC TWIRL CONTEST will feature the traditional four age divisions with separate contests for girls and boys: 7-9, 10-12, 13-15, 16+. There will not be a twirl-off since this is not a qualifying year for WORLD. (Single age divisions were talked about but will NOT be held.)

27. SEATING IN THE FIELD HOUSE: Hundreds of chairs will replace two of the three sets of bleachers that were previously in the Field House. The former ice rink side bleachers may still be used.

28. FIELD HOUSE FLOOR: Half of the new field house floor is wood and half another surface. The wooden side will be used for a majority of field house contests. The opposite side will be used for warm-up, assembly of groups, and, in some cases, for competition lanes.

29. SAFETY FIRST AND ALWAYS: Blankets and chairs will NOT be permitted in roped off warm-up/assembly area. REMEMBER: Safety first — and always.

30. HEY, GUYS! This year boys age divisions will also be broken down by novice, beginner, intermediate, and advance. Hopefully, this will help grow competitions for guys.