Good Morning America's Lifeguard Surf & Turf Showdown - Official Rules

— -- Calling all lifeguards! "Good Morning America" is looking for teams of lifeguards from across the country to go head-to-head in an epic live TV competition this summer for a chance to win a $10,000 prize. Send "GMA" a video of you and your fellow lifeguards performing to the song "Shut Up and Dance" by Walk the Moon and tell us in 200 words or less why you and your team should be one of our competing teams. Read the official rules below and click here to find out how to enter.

GMA'S LIFEGUARD SURF & TURF SHOWDOWN OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.
Eligibility Guidelines:
Contest sponsored by Good Morning America ("GMA") and American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. (“ABC”), (collectively, the "Sponsors").

Entrant (“Entrant”) and principal participants (“Participants”) appearing in an entry of “GMA’S LIFEGUARD SURF & TURF SHOWDOWN (“Contest”) must be current legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States or the District of Columbia, 18 (eighteen) years old or older and currently employed as professional or volunteer lifeguards by a city, town, or local department that is exempt from taxes under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Entrant and Participants will be considered representatives of the city, town, or local department that employs them as lifeguards. To be considered a valid submission, all Entrants and Participants are subject to confirmation of their lifeguard status and qualification of their city, town, or local department as tax exempt. Upon request of Sponsors, such verification shall be provided in writing by an authorized representative of the city, town, or local department that employs the Entrants and Participants.

Entrant and Participants may work at different beaches, pools or lakes, but must all belong to the same city, town or local department that employs them. There is no limit to the number of lifeguards from the same entity who may appear in the video. You may also include additional people in the video, including members of the community you serve. Each city, town, beach, lake, or pool may submit more than one video, but each lifeguard may only participate in one video.
Determination of all eligibility related matters by Sponsors is final.

Finalist Teams composed of Entrant and two (2) Participants from the video designated by the Entrant must be available to travel to New York City to compete in a physical, skill-based and/or knowledge-based competition (“Competition”) on “Good Morning America” during the week of July 26- July 31, 2015.

Any individuals (including but not limited to employees, consultants, independent contractors, and interns) who have, within the past six months, performed services for the Sponsors, any organizations responsible for sponsoring, fulfilling, administering, advertising or promoting the Contest or supplying the prizes, and their respective parent, subsidiary, affiliated and successor companies, and immediate family and household members of such individuals, are not eligible to enter or win. "Immediate family members" shall mean parents, step-parents, children, step-children, siblings, step-siblings, or spouses. "Household members" shall mean people who share the same residence at least three months a year.

HOW TO ENTER: GMA’S LIFEGUARD SURF & TURF SHOWDOWN (“Contest”) entry period begins 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time ("ET") on July 15, 2015 and ends at 3:00 p.m. eastern on July 24, 2015 (the "Contest Period"). Sponsors’ computer is the official clock for this Contest.

To enter, navigate the Internet to www.goodmorningamerica.com (“Contest Site”) and click on the link for "GMA'S LIFEGUARD SURF & TURF SHOWDOWN" which will take you to the Contest home page. There you will find instructions on the appropriate and acceptable file formats and sizes for submitting your Video and essay entry electronically.

Complete the Contest entry form with the requested information and submit a video (“Video”) up to one (1) minute in length of you and your fellow lifeguards’ own interpretation of any portion of the following song: “Shut Up and Dance” as recorded by Walk the Moon. You MUST use the audio recording of this song in your submission. You are prohibited from using any other music, songs, melodies, recordings, or lyrics in your videotaped entry.

Submissions may include singing or lip synching to the song. You may ONLY (a) lip synch silently to the music or (b) sing along to the music. Any variation from or violation of this rule shall result in disqualification of the entry.

Submissions may also include dancing or other types of performance which must be suitable for a morning television audience. Any entries submitted with inappropriate or offensive content will be disqualified in the sole discretion of the Sponsors.

Included in your submission must also be a brief essay, up to a maximum of 200 words that describes why your team should be chosen to participate in the Competition. You warrant and represent that all of the Materials submitted by you are original to you (and not based on or derived from any other materials), that you own all necessary rights in and to the Materials (with the exception of the rights to the song as detailed above) which are fully transferable, and that you are not subject to any recording agreement, production agreement, union or guild agreement, or any similar agreement which would interfere with your ability to enter into this Contest or grant all of the rights to be provided hereunder. Accordingly, you further warrant and represent that you have the right to enter into this agreement and grant the rights hereunder without the need for permission from or payment to any other party and the exercise of the rights set forth in the Contest Rules by the Sponsors will not violate any third party rights and will not violate any contractual obligations or confidential relationships which you may have to or with any third party.

No entry may be submitted in any other contest or promotion.

Upon submission of your Video together with the completed entry form (collectively, “Entry”), you will see a thank you message on your screen indicating that you have successfully entered. You will not receive a further acknowledgement. Free internet access is available at most public libraries.

Incomplete Entries will be disqualified. Proof of entering information at the Contest Site or registration form is not considered proof of delivery to or receipt by Sponsors of such Entry. Personal information collected in connection with this Contest will be used in accordance with ABC.com’s privacy policy, available at http://corporate.disney.go.com/corporate/pp.html.

Judging Procedure, Notification and Finalists Judging:

Eligible entries will be assessed by a panel of judges selected by Sponsors. The judges will rate the entries on the basis of creativity, on-air appeal, “wow” factor, originality and feasibility of participating in live segments (collectively, the “Criteria”) on “Good Morning America” during the week of July 26 – July 31, 2015. Each aspect of the Criteria will be weighted equally. As part of the judging process, additional pre-interviews, photos and/or videos may be asked to be submitted and may be used during the judging process. Decisions of the judges are final as to all competition related matters.

After verification of eligibility, approximately five (5) entries will be chosen as Semi-Finalists (“Semi-Finalist”). In the event of a tie, the entry with the highest score in the creativity category will be declared a Semi-Finalist. Semi-Finalists videos will be broadcast, in whole or in part, on “Good Morning America” during approximately two (2) days on or about July 27–July 28, 2015. Viewers will be asked to vote at goodmorningamerica.com for their favorite Semi-Finalist videos. Voting shall begin at 7:00 A.M. ET on July 27th and will remain open until 12:00 P.M. ET on Tuesday July 28th (the “Voting Period”). The three (3) Semi-Finalists with the most fan votes at the end of the Voting Period will be named “Finalists.”

Each Finalist must designate three (3) members from its video, the Entrant and two (2) Participants to form its Finalist Team (“Finalist Team”).

The three (3) Finalist Teams must be available to travel to New York City on July 28, 2015 to compete on “Good Morning America” sometime between July 29 – July 31, 2015. In the event a Finalist Team is unable to participate during this time, the Semi-Finalist team with the next highest fan votes shall be designated instead as the Finalist Team, and so on until three (3) Finalist Teams are selected.

On or about July 29 – 31, 2015, on two (2) broadcasts of “Good Morning America”, the Finalist Teams will compete against each other in physical, skill-based and/or knowledge-based competitions (“Competition”) to attempt to score the highest number of points (“Competition Score”). All members of each Finalist Team must sign releases prior to the first broadcast signifying that they are able to compete in a physical challenge.

On the first day of the Competition, the Finalist Teams will score points based on their successful completion of the Competition as explained to the contestants by the producers and/or a new panel judges on the day of the broadcast. The Finalist Team with the lowest Competition Score will be eliminated during that broadcast. Decisions of the judges are final as to all contest-related matters.

On the second day of the Competition, the Finalist Teams will score points based on their successful completion of the Competition as explained to the contestants by the producers and/or a new panel judges on the day of the broadcast. The Finalist Team with the lower Competition Score will be eliminated during that broadcast. Decisions of the judges are final as to all contest-related matters.

The Finalist Team with the higher score will be declared the Grand Prize Winner (“Winner”). In the event of a tie, the two (2) Finalist Teams will participate in a tie breaker round where a question will be asked on a timed basis. The Finalist Team to give the correct answer to the question first will be deemed to have the higher score that day and that Finalist Team’s qualified lifeguard department will be announced as the Winner. Final determination of the Winner is always conditional on verification of eligibility and compliance with all rules and procedures.

An authorized administrative representative from the winning lifeguard team must acknowledge acceptance of the prize for the city, town, or department that employs the Finalist Team. For the avoidance of doubt, the Entrant who submitted the winning entry and the Participants who take part on the Finalist Team are not eligible to receive the Grand Prize prize in their individual or personal capacities. The proceeds of the Grand Prize will go to the city, town, or local department that employs the Finalist Team.

In the event a Semi-Finalist, Finalist, Finalist Team or Winner is deemed ineligible or fails to comply with contest procedures, is not available to participate as specified, or becomes unable to completely fulfill all aspects of the Contest, then the first runner-up in each category will be selected to participate, time permitting, or Sponsors reserve the right to terminate the contest at their discretion.

Prize:
One Grand Prize Winner lifeguard department will receive: $10,000 from Retail Me Not Dot Com (www.retailmenot.com)

Approximate Total Retail Value of “GMA’S LIFEGUARD SURF & TURF SHOWDOWN” Contest Prize Package is $10,000.00.

Final actual retail value may be considerably higher or lower depending on the final elements that will comprise “GMA’s (contest name) Contest Prize Package.

Winner is responsible for paying all taxes, if any. The Winner must provide a validly completed IRS Form W-9 and proof of tax-exempt status to the Sponsors prior to receiving the prizes. An IRS Form 1099 reflecting the final actual value of any prize valued at $600 or more, if required by law, will be issued to the Winner. The award of the Grand Prize is subject to applicable withholding requirements.

All elements used to fulfill the Winner’s prize package will be determined at the sole discretion of the Sponsor and prize providers. Winners are not entitled to exchange or transfer prizes or to obtain cash or other substitutes, but Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may substitute prizes of equal or greater value.

All expenses not specifically provided for herein are the winner’s sole responsibility. Some restrictions may apply.

The Winner may be featured in videotaped and/or live broadcast segments on Good Morning America, as determined by the Sponsors. All videotape and live production will be determined at the sole discretion of the Sponsors.

Any appearance on Good Morning America is subject to availability. Sponsors are not responsible for cancellation or preemption of show or for other circumstances that make it impractical or impossible to fulfill this element of the prize. The appearance portion of the prize has no approximate retail value and if it becomes impractical or impossible to fulfill this or any element, Sponsors’ only obligation will be to provide the remainder of prize, if any.

Releases: By participating, Entrants, Semi-Finalists, Finalists, Finalist Teams and Winner agree to be bound by these official rules and the decisions of the Sponsors/Judges, which shall be final in all respects. By entering the Contest, Entrants, Semi-Finalists, Finalists, Finalist Teams and Winner agree to execute in a timely manner and by any deadline set by Sponsors any and all paperwork requested by the Sponsors which may include, but is not limited to, background checks and any release forms, prior to any on-line or on air appearance of Entrants, Semi-Finalists, Finalists, Finalist Teams and Winner participating in the videotaped or live broadcast, or use of their submissions or related materials.

All submissions will become the sole property of the Sponsors, which may reprint, broadcast, or otherwise exploit the entries in any manner, in any media, worldwide, in perpetuity. Entrants, Semi-Finalists, Finalists, Finalist Teams and Winner may be required to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility, release and indemnification within seven days of notification of winning. By participating in this contest, Entrants, Semi-Finalists, Finalists, Finalist Teams and Winner agree to release, defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Sponsors, their parent, subsidiaries, and affiliated companies, sponsoring, advertising and promotion agencies and prize suppliers, licensees, and each of their respective officers, directors, agents, representatives and employees, as well as each of their respective successors, representatives and assigns (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from including, but not limited to, any and all actions, complaints, claims, injuries, liabilities, fees (including reasonable attorney’s fees), royalties, costs, losses or damages arising in any manner, directly or indirectly, by whomever or wherever asserted, from a) Entrants’, Semi-Finalists’, Finalists’, Finalist Teams’ and Winner’s participation in the contest, b) Sponsors’ exercise of the rights granted herein and/or c) the acceptance, use or misuse of any prize or portion of any prize. Sponsors are not obligated to use any of the above mentioned information or materials, but may do so and may edit such information or materials, at Sponsors’ sole discretion, without further obligation or compensation to the Entrants, Semi-Finalists, Finalists, Finalist Teams, Winner, or any other affiliated party.

By submitting materials hereunder and accepting the prize if chosen as the Winner, you hereby grant to the Sponsors, their parents, subsidiaries, licensees and affiliated companies, and each of their respective officers, directors, agents, servants, representatives, shareholders and employees, as well as each of their respective successors, representatives and assignees the exclusive right to use and distribute your submission, as well as your likeness, picture, voice, name and biographical material (all such materials are sometimes collectively referred to as the “Materials”) in any and all manner, methods, formats and media now known or hereafter created, including without limitation, all forms of television, radio, internet, cable, satellite, wireless applications, home video products and devices, etc., in connection with the Contest, the Production, and/or ABC’s programming, and in all advertising and promotion for the foregoing, throughout the universe, in perpetuity.

Entrants, Semi-Finalists, Finalists, Finalist Teams and Winners acknowledge that any entry materials may be included and/or discussed in a broadcast, that such discussion may include statements or opinions by the broadcast talent or others about the Entrants, Semi-Finalists, Finalists, Finalist Teams and the Winners, their appearances and/or the materials, and that those statements and opinions may be considered surprising, humiliating, embarrassing, derogatory, defamatory or otherwise offensive or injurious to them, Sponsors’ employees, their studio or at-home audience and/or other third parties. Entrants, Semi-Finalists, Finalists, Finalist Teams and Winners release the Released Parties from any actions, claims, injury, loss or damage allegedly caused, directly or indirectly, by any such statements or opinions made during a broadcast.

Sponsors are not responsible for failed, partial or garbled computer transmissions, or for technical failures of any kind, including but not limited to electronic malfunction or damage of any network, hardware or software. If for any reason the Contest is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or other causes that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the contest, Sponsors reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the contest. No responsibility is assumed for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries; or any problems or technical malfunctions of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers, or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any e-mail or electronic entry to be received on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Web-site, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to entrant’s or any other person’s computer related to or resulting from participation in or downloading any materials from this contest. In the event of a dispute over an electronic entry, prize will be awarded to the owner of the e-mail account, not the name on the entry form.

To claim prize: (a) Winner must provide proof of age, identity, residency, and proof that he or she is a professional or volunteer lifeguard; (b) Entrants, Semi-Finalists, Finalists, Finalist Teams and Winners must sign and return affidavit of eligibility/compliance with rules, publicity/liability release and indemnification, and (c) Entrants, Semi-Finalists, Finalists, Finalist Teams and Winners must also agree to complete and submit any additional releases, indemnifications and other requisite paperwork as specified at the discretion of the Sponsors, all within the time period specified by Sponsors.

Miscellaneous; Winner Posting:

Void where prohibited. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.

Sponsors reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process and to cancel, terminate, modify and/or suspend the contest in the event of tampering or other circumstances, including but not limited to acts of God or civil disturbance that render it impractical or impossible to complete or fulfill the contest as originally planned.

Official rules will be posted on goodmorningamerica.com, For a winner's list, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: “GMA’S LIFEGUARD SURF & TURF SHOWDOWN”, c/o ABC News, Room 616, 7 West 66th Street, New York, New York, 10023, by August 30, 2015.