Scratching at a Master meet

RE: Scratching at a Master meet

magick17 — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 12:56:34 GMT

I am considering scratching an event at an upcoming meet. Is there a protocol that I should be aware of. For instance, at a USA meet, if you fail to report to the blocks for event A, you are automatically DQ'd for event B. Is this true in USMS as well? I would like to make a "game time" decision, but it's the 2nd event that I'd like to focus on, and would be totally bummed if I screwed up. Oh no you too? I need to scratch an event also...ha ha

RE: Scratching at a Master meet

orca1946 — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 06:00:04 GMT

Swim then scratch is what you train for!!

RE: Scratching at a Master meet

ande — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 02:35:44 GMT

If it itches, you know what to do

RE: Scratching at a Master meet

jpetyk — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 01:07:09 GMT

Oh no you too? I need to scratch an event also...ha ha What are you scratching? I have decided I am definitely dumping the 100 back. :afraid:

RE: Scratching at a Master meet

knelson — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 12:05:06 GMT

Perhaps I should have let someone know No need, really.

RE: Scratching at a Master meet

Elaine Krugman — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 06:35:25 GMT

Thanks! Unfortunately, I won't be at any of those 3 meets. :badday: :sad: :cry:

RE: Scratching at a Master meet

pmccoy — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 12:27:39 GMT

I've had it happen a couple times in the 200 fly I've learned to stay on my toes with the 200 fly because of this. A couple years ago, they reseeded a 200 fly fairly close the the event start. My teammate thought he had 4 minutes to get a quick bathroom break while the slower heat was going. Another teammate had to go hunt him down. "Um... don't want to rush you or anything but your heat is on the blocks right now."

RE: Scratching at a Master meet

Allen Stark — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 11:50:07 GMT

This is total nonsense. That is a lot of events for a sprinter to swim at any meet, much less a meet that is moving fast. People scratch events all the time (even at nationals) for many reasons. It's no big deal. I think my current streak is two meets in a row with no scratches. :) Agreed.I have swum 5 events in a day,but I can only swim 2 at best time quality.If you want to swim a lot of events,fine.If you want to swim fast,make sure you have plenty of rest.

RE: Scratching at a Master meet

That Guy — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 11:49:16 GMT

Still, pretty high attrition rate. :) I cannot say who the no-show from the second heat was. If Lapmonger and the Aqueous Five knew the secret identity of Scratch Man, there could be dire consequences for Dry Boy, Wuss Woman, and the rest of the Sitting-Out Six! I've said too much already.

RE: Scratching at a Master meet

aztimm — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 11:20:56 GMT

I've never seen an event reseeded in masters. Me either. Once the heats are seeded, I've never seen any changes. I've only done 1 nationals, and I checked in for an event the day prior online. After a late day, I decided to scratch (it was my only event that day and I just didn't show). Perhaps I should have let someone know, but I didn't know any better. I've scratched events, shown up late skipping earlier events, left early skipping late events, and even skipped entire meets. Never let a soul know, and never heard anything from any of it.

RE: Scratching at a Master meet

smontanaro — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 10:47:18 GMT

At the Lake Washington meet two months ago (6 lane pool), 7 of us were entered in the 200 fly so there were two heats. 2 of 3 from the first heat did not show, so we reseeded into one heat. 1 from the second heat did not show, so 4 of us dove in, and 3 of us finished. No casualties! Still, pretty high attrition rate. :)

RE: Scratching at a Master meet

That Guy — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 09:55:55 GMT

I've never seen an event reseeded in masters. I've had it happen a couple times in the 200 fly, where the scratch rate is rather high. At the Lake Washington meet two months ago (6 lane pool), 7 of us were entered in the 200 fly so there were two heats. 2 of 3 from the first heat did not show, so we reseeded into one heat. 1 from the second heat did not show, so 4 of us dove in, and 3 of us finished. No casualties!

RE: Scratching at a Master meet

That Guy — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 08:22:10 GMT

Well, That Guy, if you were really your avatar, I would have to think twice on that one ;); however, if you were your previous avatar, I would say definitely :afraid:. Glad to see you back, That Guy! You are one of the reasons I'm sorry I'll be missing Santa Clara. Any chance you would be going to Montreal or Maryland? Thanks! Unfortunately, I won't be at any of those 3 meets.

RE: Scratching at a Master meet

Elaine Krugman — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 06:28:58 GMT

To remove all doubt, I remove my suit, place it on the starting block, and walk away. Now aren't you all glad I never scratch events? Well, That Guy, if you were really your avatar, I would have to think twice on that one ;); however, if you were your previous avatar, I would say definitely :afraid:. Glad to see you back, That Guy! You are one of the reasons I'm sorry I'll be missing Santa Clara. Any chance you would be going to Montreal or Maryland?

RE: Scratching at a Master meet

Former Member — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 13:51:08 GMT

I've never seen an event reseeded in masters. now back is USS my coach had a fit when I scratched. Had I just no-showed, his head would have exploded

RE: Scratching at a Master meet

Water Rat — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 12:32:20 GMT

Jen, not a problem at all. If you knew for sure in advance, I'd email the meet director so they could adjust the heat sheets. Maybe just use the first event as a stress-free warmup to get the jitters out?

RE: Scratching at a Master meet

The Fortress — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 07:56:15 GMT

With the short events you listed I think you should go for it You do a LOT more in practice don't you ?? This is total nonsense. That is a lot of events for a sprinter to swim at any meet, much less a meet that is moving fast. People scratch events all the time (even at nationals) for many reasons. It's no big deal. I think my current streak is two meets in a row with no scratches. :)

RE: Scratching at a Master meet

jpetyk — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 06:37:56 GMT

Yes you can drop an event, it's nice to let then know. With the short events you listed I think you should go for it You do a LOT more in practice don't you ?? I think I'll wait until after the 50's and see how I feel and how fast the meet is moving. I am not known for my endurance, and my last 100 back race triggered an asthma attack. I will be sure to let the important people know in advance. Thanks for all the feedback.

RE: Scratching at a Master meet

orca1946 — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 04:41:27 GMT

Yes you can drop an event, it's nice to let then know. With the short events you listed I think you should go for it You do a LOT more in practice don't you ??

RE: Scratching at a Master meet

Allen Stark — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 03:47:42 GMT

There is no penalty for not swimming an event.If it is deck seeded,then you want to let them know before the seeding.If heats are pre-seeded,then you can wait until the last second to see if you want to swim the event.You don't have to notify anyone,but you can as a courtesy.

RE: Scratching at a Master meet

That Guy — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 03:33:10 GMT

To remove all doubt, I remove my suit, place it on the starting block, and walk away. Now aren't you all glad I never scratch events?

RE: Scratching at a Master meet

__steve__ — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 03:23:05 GMT

I just contact respective lane timer at a convienient opportunity so they can scratch my name a good number of heats prior

RE: Scratching at a Master meet

knelson — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 02:31:05 GMT

The bottom line is there's no penalty and people scratch events (i.e. no show) all the time at masters meets.

RE: Scratching at a Master meet

jpetyk — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 02:08:50 GMT

I'm not positive I want to scratch. The order of events for me is 50 back, 50free, 100 back 100 free. I think the 100 back might be too much if I want to do well in the100 free. maybe I should just make the call now. I was going to wait to see how I was feeling that day. :dunno: