LAKE ERIE SWIMMING, INC.

INDIVIDUAL AND RELAY SCRATCH RULE

Each swimmer/relay team shall be aware of the meet starting time and shall report to the proper meet authorities promptly upon call.

1. Pre-Seeded Meets
   Each swimmer/relay team shall report promptly to the Clerk of Course or starting blocks prior to the race in which the swimmer/relay team is entered.  Any swimmer/relay team not reporting for or competing shall not be penalized.
    
2. Events Seeded on the Deck
   1. Events seeded on the deck shall be closed for seeding no earlier than thirty (30) minutes prior to the start of the session.  Host may provide alternate methods of check-in (such as email, phone, and/or fax) for swimmers who do not plan to arrive before the scratch deadline.
   2. Any swimmer who has checked in for an individual event 400 yards/meters or longer must swim in the event unless the swimmer notifies the Clerk of Course or Administrative Official before the seeding of the event has begun that the swimmer wishes to scratch; failure to scratch prior to seeding and not swimming the event will result in a fine of $25.00 to the swimmer’s club or the unattached swimmer, except as noted in "Exceptions for Failure to Compete" (below). A declared false start or deliberate delay of the meet in events 400 yards/meters or longer is not permitted and will be regarded as a failure to compete.
   3. Any agent of a team (coach, parent, swimmer, etc.) who checks in a swimmer for any event when that swimmer is not present at the meet may cause a fine of $2.00 per swimmer per day to be levied against that team.
   4. Events seeded on the deck and swum as a timed final with one or more heats swimming with finals shall provide the swimmer the opportunity to indicate their desire to swim only during the preliminary session by indicating this desire by placing a “P” next to their name on the sign in sheet.  Any swimmer failing to indicate this desire who does not compete during the finals session shall be subject to a fine of $25.00, except as noted in "Exceptions for Failure to Compete" (below).
3. Scratching from Bonus Finals, Consolation Finals, and Finals
   1. Any swimmer qualifying for C, B, or A (bonus, consolation, or final race) in an individual event who fails to compete in said race shall be barred from further competition for the remainder of the meet, except as noted below in "Exceptions for Failure to Compete."  If such failure to compete occurs on the swimmer's last day of the meet, the swimmer’s club shall be fined twenty-five dollars ($25.00) by LESI. If the swimmer is not a member of a USA Swimming member club, the swimmer shall be fined $25.00. A declared false start or deliberate delay of the meet is not permitted and will be regarded as a failure to compete.
   2. In the event of withdrawal or barring of a swimmer from competition, the Referee shall fill the consolation final or final when possible with the next qualified swimmer(s).  First and second alternates shall be announced along with the final qualifiers.  These alternates shall not be penalized if unavailable to compete in the finals.
   3. When consolation finals have not yet been swum and a barring or withdrawal is known to the Referee, the Referee shall re-seed the consolation final and the final, if necessary, to insert the alternate(s) in the appropriate lane(s), filling all lanes in the final.
   4. If a consolation final has already been contested, the final shall be swum without reseeding for the empty lane(s).
4. Exceptions for Failure to Compete - No penalty shall apply for failure to withdraw or compete in an individual event if
   1. The Referee is notified in the event of illness or injury and accepts the proof thereof.
   2. A swimmer qualifying for a consolation final or final race following preliminaries notifies the Referee or designee within thirty (30) minutes after the announcement of the qualifiers for that race that the swimmer may not intend to compete.  The swimmer must declare within thirty (30) minutes following his last individual preliminary event a final intention to scratch or swim.
   3. The Referee determines that failure to compete is caused by circumstances beyond the control of the swimmer.