[psychobabble]

You can amend any contract given to you before signing and dating. Simply cross out the sections you do not approve of and initialize the amended sections. I have done this several times with both contract clients and employers and not yet been met with any opposition, but it always went a bit different each time. Every time I advised the employer or client of the contract amendment, sometimes with no detail, sometimes with reasons why. Only once did the customer sign and give me a copy of the amended contract, while in his presence at the office, no questions. All other times the employer or client never sent me a co-signed copy of the contract, but things went forward and I was paid.

As others here have already suggested, I would agree that not signing the given contract and just going forward is not the right approach if you truly want to avoid the non-compete trap. Instead, amend the contract (or have a new contract drafted, as also mentioned earlier) and return it signed; it shows both your commitment to the work, and your attention to detail. The ball is then in their court. YOU now possess an amended, signed and dated copy of THEIR contract, returned to them along with an advisory of amendment.