Through no one's fault, a local swim meet was recently cancelled in our area due to the northeast snow storm. This is the first time in my 8 USMS years I know of a meet being cancelled at the last minute (some past were cancelled with notice).
Several of our team members sent in registrations for the meet. Of course there are expenses with organizing/planning a meet that must be paid, but the meet directors have indicacted that no fees paid will be returned. Needless to say, this has upset some members, especially those paying more by entering the maximum number of events.
I ask what past experience others have had when a meet is cancelled at the last minute. Did meet directors make contingency plans, especially for winter meets? Were there partial refunds? (It would seem that some expenses would not exist - mailing results, officials, pool rental) Were other types of redress offered if money was not refunded? How did swimmers affected understand and accept their forfeit if any? Do host teams share some/all/none of the risk of hosting meets? How usual or unusual is this?
Parents
Former Member
I swam in a two day meet where the first day was cancelled due to severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings. First they cancelled the 1500, which was the first event, then shortly past noon they cancelled the whole day as the weather was no better and possibly even worse (if such was possible). The weather forecast held virtually no hope of clearing before evening. The next day the days events went off without a hitch.
The meet directors said that the timers and other volunteers were from the local Boys Club and doing it for a donation and that, if it was all right with the competitors, there would be no refund and that any money left over after expenses (pool rental etc.) would be given to the Boys Club. So far as I know, there were no objections to this.
I swam in a two day meet where the first day was cancelled due to severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings. First they cancelled the 1500, which was the first event, then shortly past noon they cancelled the whole day as the weather was no better and possibly even worse (if such was possible). The weather forecast held virtually no hope of clearing before evening. The next day the days events went off without a hitch.
The meet directors said that the timers and other volunteers were from the local Boys Club and doing it for a donation and that, if it was all right with the competitors, there would be no refund and that any money left over after expenses (pool rental etc.) would be given to the Boys Club. So far as I know, there were no objections to this.
