I was honestly on the fence about whether I wanted to swim the breaststroke 3 pack or do freestyle at my next meet in a couple of weeks. So I ended up signing up for 5 events today and mailing it in, knowing that I will scratch at least one, maybe 2, events depending on how I feel at the meet.
Are scratchers evil like sandbaggers? I know I had a lot of fun at the last meet with a couple of very close races with people right next to me, but honestly the only times empty lanes have bothered me have been when I've been in 1 and the only other entrant was in 8 or 6. Feels like a weird time trial when that happens. But just an empty lane or 2, no biggie. Does it bug the race directors? Why do I feel vaguely guilty about it? Should I just kick an extra 200 as penance tomorrow (I hate kicking) and forget all about it? Or is it not even something to worry about?
The penalty for this should be getting kicked out for the rest of the meet. I remember finishing in the dreaded "first alternate" position many times in age group swimming and would have loved having the opportunity to swim at night due to a scratch. I think the really fast swimmers often forget that just making finals is an achievement for others.
In USA Swimming, that is the rule. If you no-show for finals, then you are out for the rest of the meet. The only exception is if you become sick/injured, or some other situation that is "beyond your control" at the discretion of the referee.
-Rick
The penalty for this should be getting kicked out for the rest of the meet. I remember finishing in the dreaded "first alternate" position many times in age group swimming and would have loved having the opportunity to swim at night due to a scratch. I think the really fast swimmers often forget that just making finals is an achievement for others.
In USA Swimming, that is the rule. If you no-show for finals, then you are out for the rest of the meet. The only exception is if you become sick/injured, or some other situation that is "beyond your control" at the discretion of the referee.
-Rick
