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.
For age group meets, we do positive check in up until 45 minutes before meet starts. Then it is a rush and flurry and stressful time to get everything scratched seeded and printed. And yes, it does not prevent empty lanes all together, but it stops many of them. I don't see the admin people staying late, this is a before the meet process unless you close checkin the night before like age group championships.
For age group meets, we do positive check in up until 45 minutes before meet starts. Then it is a rush and flurry and stressful time to get everything scratched seeded and printed. And yes, it does not prevent empty lanes all together, but it stops many of them. I don't see the admin people staying late, this is a before the meet process unless you close checkin the night before like age group championships.
