Mission Viejo had very good facilities, great weather, superb organization, and the best hosts. Overall a great meet.
However, as commented in another thread, there were lots of no shows. In four of five events I had an empty lane next to me. This is not the best racing environment, and it makes the meet last longer than necessary. I am not critical of the people that did not show up -- I was one of them on Thursday, as an emergency at work made me arrive a day late.
On deck seeding would be a simple and easy solution.
Evidently some people like to know a day or days in advance who will swim in their heat. However, the way it worked for me, I found out as I walked up to the block who would *not* be swimming. *That's* lots of opportunity to get psyched! (not)
I don't think the way this meet was seeded (check in for distance events, advanced seeding for the other events) was a very good compromise. This was my first non-deck seeded masters meet, and I did not enjoy that aspect of it.
I have been to a lot of age group meets. I have run the computer table at a lot of age group meets. I know Master's is not age group, but the age group championships are always preseeded. The regular meets, up to the meet host.
Positive check in at a meet is very, very, very hard to juggle and get the meet started on time. And a meet of this magnitude, I would think would be real tough. Although, you could preseed the first 2 events each day, and deck seed the rest. That gives the computer people more time to get the scratches, seeding and printing done.
I have been to a lot of age group meets. I have run the computer table at a lot of age group meets. I know Master's is not age group, but the age group championships are always preseeded. The regular meets, up to the meet host.
Positive check in at a meet is very, very, very hard to juggle and get the meet started on time. And a meet of this magnitude, I would think would be real tough. Although, you could preseed the first 2 events each day, and deck seed the rest. That gives the computer people more time to get the scratches, seeding and printing done.
