Imagine you get to arrange four swimmers into a freestyle relay team. They are within ~10% difference when it comes to times.
Would you do the most popular arrangement?
1st leg - 2nd fastest swimmer
2nd leg - 3rd fastest swimmer
3rd leg - slowest swimmer
4th leg - fastest swimmer
...or a different one? Would you consider other factors besides speed such as personality, experience, etc.? Does it make a difference if it is 4x50 or 4x200?
So what order would you put them in?
Lo these many years ago, we had a very small person on our team. The coach would often arrange the relays,
Fastest
Smallest
Another Guy
Second Fastest
The reasoning was to get the smaller guy out in front of the turbulence, so he wouldn't be washed into the lane lanes. It worked pretty well.
In Masters, that strategy could be useful, particularly in mixed relays.
Lo these many years ago, we had a very small person on our team. The coach would often arrange the relays,
Fastest
Smallest
Another Guy
Second Fastest
The reasoning was to get the smaller guy out in front of the turbulence, so he wouldn't be washed into the lane lanes. It worked pretty well.
In Masters, that strategy could be useful, particularly in mixed relays.
