Scratch has two meanings in track and field, and they trip up newcomers. It can mean a foul, a jump or throw that breaks a rule and does not count, or it can mean pulling out of an event entirely. Here is what each means and when you will hear them.
In the jumps and throws, a scratch is a foul: stepping over the takeoff board in the long jump, crossing the foul line in the javelin, or leaving the ring wrong in the shot. A scratched attempt is marked with a red flag and does not count.
A scratch can also mean withdrawing from an event you were entered in, by choice or because of injury. A coach might scratch you from the open 400 to save you for the relay, for example.
A scratch in the foul sense costs you a mark you earned, so consistency at the board or in the ring is precious. A scratch in the withdrawal sense is a strategy and health decision. Context tells you which is meant.
A scratched jump is a run-up problem you can see. Film your approach and takeoff, the AI shows where your foot lands relative to the line, so you stop giving back the marks you earned.
Follow up in chat and ask questions. The AI remembers your analysis and speaks the language of long jump coaching.
In the foul sense, a scratch is an attempt that crosses the line. A foot behind the line is legal; a toe over it does not count.
Common questions athletes and coaches ask about this topic.
A directory of every long jump page on the site, from broad analysis tools to specific phase deep-dives. Each entry points to a focused write-up.
Download the app. Film a rep. See what the AI sees. Free first analysis, no card, no account required.
