a) The number of entries received for events shall determine the necessity to conduct heats and further rounds prior to conducting a final.
(b) The seeding of competitors is desirable to assist with the conduct of fair competition and may occur at competitions conducted by SLSA.
(c) The initial draw for heats and beach positions including seeding of competitors may be conducted as directed by SLSA or nominated officials. The method used shall be approved by the Competition Committee or Referee and may include an eye check and manipulation of draws to provide separation of potential finalists, clubs and/or teams. Draws shall then be provided to Clubs.
(d) The draw for subsequent rounds, seeding and beach positions shall be conducted as directed by SLSA or nominated officials and supplied to clubs. Unless otherwise approved by the Competition Committee the seeding shall be based on the results of immediate prior round of the competition (i.e. an even spread of placings distributed randomly across the races to be conducted in the next round of competition).
(e) Should there be insufficient nominations for heats, draws for beach positions in semi-finals or finals may be conducted by SLSA or nominated officials and supplied to clubs.
(f) To assist with the fair conduct of competition if there is an even number of competitors in a heat, wherever practicable, at least half the competitors who correctly complete the course should progress to the next round of the event (e.g. if there are 16 starters in a race at least 8 who correctly compete the course should qualify for the next round of the event). If there is an uneven number of competitors in a heat, wherever practicable, at least half the competitors less one who correctly complete the course should progress to the next round of the event (e.g. if there are 9 starters in a race at least 4 who correctly compete the course should qualify for the next round of the event). For Beach Flag events please refer to Section 9.
Note: Officials should be mindful of confirmed entries when determining the number of rounds required to conduct an event through to a final and also to, as far as practicable, have an equal number of competitors in each heat.
(g) Vacancies created by the disqualification of a competitor or team shall only be filled by the next placegetter participating in the same race.
(h) Vacancies created in qualifying to further rounds of an event due to the withdrawal of a competitor or team shall only be filled by the next placegetter who participated in the same race.
(i) In the events up until a final, should a competitor be disadvantaged due to performing a rescue during that event, and have their chances of qualifying through to the next round disadvantaged, the person may be allowed to proceed through to the next round, providing it can be accommodated. However, should the rescue take place in a final, it will be subject to the Referee’s discretion, but generally unless the race is stopped, the race results shall stand.