🏊♀️ MCSL Coaches’ Long Course Invitational: How Seeding & Scratching Work (with Examples)
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With the 2025 MCSL Coaches' Long Course Invitational coming up on Tuesday, July 8, here’s a clear guide to help swimmers, parents, and coaches understand:
- How swimmers are selected
- What “scratching” means
- How to navigate strategic choices
- Two real-world examples to show how this plays out
Who Gets Invited?The top 8 swimmers in each individual event across MCSL are invited, based on:
- The best legal SCM times from the first three A meets
- No swim-ups are allowed — only times in your age group count
- The next two swimmers (9th and 10th) are listed as alternates
View All-Star Rankings here — these are the pre-scratch rankings used to determine selections and seeding for the Long Course Invitational.
What If There’s a Tie for 8th?Ties for 8th place are broken using each swimmer’s next best time from the first three meets.
Example:
Swimmer A: 30.10 and 30.30
Swimmer B: 30.10 and 30.50
Swimmer A gets the 8th spot.
How Many Events Can a Swimmer Swim?A swimmer can compete in up to two individual events at the Long Course Meet.
- If you qualify in 1 or 2 events, you're automatically entered.
- If you qualify in more than 2, you must be reduced to two events.
Is Scratching Required?No — scratching is optional (voluntary) before the deadline.
- Swimmers may voluntarily scratch events they don’t want to swim by contacting the MCSL Automation Chair by the deadline (
Monday, June 30 at 9:00 PM). - If a swimmer qualifies in more than two events and does not scratch, MCSL will automatically scratch down to two events using the lowest time-to-record ratio.
After the deadline, swimmers can only scratch from the entire meet, not individual events.
Can I Hold Out for an Alternate Spot?If a swimmer is already in the top 8 in two events, they cannot “opt out” of one to become eligible for a third event where they placed 9th or 10th.
You’re only considered for an alternate spot if you were never top 8 in more than two events.
EXAMPLE 1: Safe Strategy — Keep ControlSwimmer Jane is:
- 6th in 50 Back
- 7th in 50 Free
- 9th in 50 Fly
Jane really prefers 50 Fly. She could:
- Voluntarily scratch 50 Free or Back before the deadline to make herself eligible as an alternate in 50 Fly.
️ Pros: Full control over which event(s) she might swim
️ Cons: Risky — if no one scratches from 50 Fly, she won’t get to swim it
EXAMPLE 2: Strategic Gamble — Let MCSL DecideSwimmer Max is:
- 7th in 50 Breast
- 8th in 100 Free
- 9th in 50 Fly
Max prefers 50 Fly, but it’s 9th — not guaranteed. He decides not to submit scratches.
Then, after the deadline:
- Several swimmers ahead of him scratch from 50 Fly
- Max moves up to 6th place in all three events
Now qualified in three events — MCSL will automatically scratch one using the time-to-record ratio, and Max might keep 50 Fly if it ranks best against the record.
️ Pros: Keeps all options open
️ Cons: No control — MCSL chooses which event gets dropped
Final Tips for Families- Check Top Times after Week 3 to see where your swimmer stands
- If your swimmer is in 3+ events, talk with coaches about whether to scratch
- Submit voluntary scratches before Monday, June 30 at 9:00 PM
- Remember: MCSL will drop extra events for any swimmer entered in more than two
Have questions? Reach out to your Team Rep or Coach. Good luck to all swimmers — we’re cheering you on at Long Course! 