How would you arrange your relay team?

RE: How would you arrange your relay team?

Former Member — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:44:14 GMT

In freestyle I would think the guy with the best regular start (or worst relay start) goes first and the rest doesn't really matter. The fact that everyone has a different way they think is best should tell you it doesn't really matter. In medley relays as ande said, it's simple math.

RE: How would you arrange your relay team?

ande — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:34:55 GMT

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? It all depends, on free relays coaches usually put the best starters first & the fastest swimmers last. But if a swimmer wants a split request for their lead off, they should go first. It all depends on the purpose of the relay. On medley relays, put the fastest swimmers in each slot. bk br fl fr do the math and figure out who should swim where. Sometimes coaches put their fastest swimmers 1st & 2nd to give the 3rd & 4th swimmers clear water to race in.

RE: How would you arrange your relay team?

Former Member — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:15:26 GMT

I'd be inclined to let the swimmer who wants to lead, go first. If this is the same swimmer who has the fastest reaction time then that's a real bonus. (I agree with pmccoy here) I always put my fastest swimmer third, and my slowest swimmer last. The slowest swimmer in the team will, if he's put under pressure, raise his game. I wouldn't put my slowest swimmer in 2nd or 3rd place where he can hide, and to a great extent, enjoy the ride, being carried along by the others.

RE: How would you arrange your relay team?

Rykno — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:59:09 GMT

It really depends on how much slower the slower swimmers are. It's no fun swimming in the wake of others. so if the diff is large usually 1-4 in speed. if 1 is better than the other 3 but the other 3 can hold their own I like to see the one who usually steps up on relays and can chase down swimmers infront of them. I've seen this type of swimmer go 3-4s under their pb in a 200 fr, 1-2 100 fr .5-1 in a 50. in the 50 it can be the transition start that helps, but in the 100 and 200 it's something else that motivates them to go out hard and not die. the other factor that can play in is reaction time. some of my swimmers don't gain anything in a relay start so they might as well lead off.

RE: How would you arrange your relay team?

Former Member — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:33:50 GMT

All of these ideas make sense. I think another consideration is who is sacrificing the most to be on the relay. If that person has a very full dance card, it might be good to let them go last so they can just cruise if the outcome is already decided.

RE: How would you arrange your relay team?

Michael Heather — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:56:09 GMT

Instead of speed, I organize by ability. 1) Fastest flat starter 2) best relay start 3) second best relay start 4) most competitive (in case he has to come from behind)

RE: How would you arrange your relay team?

Swimosaur — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:20:30 GMT

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.

RE: How would you arrange your relay team?

Betsy — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:57:54 GMT

Several thoughts... On our Masters team, there is often a fight for 1st so the swimmer can get a lead-off split. If you are not in a tight race for 1st or any other place, the order shouldn't matter. If everyone does their time, the total will be the same. If it is a real race, personality and determination make a huge difference. Some people are such relay competitors that their best times are always on a relay. On the other hand, some Masters are sensitive about being the slowest and don't want to be 1st or last so it is not so obvious if they are slower.

RE: How would you arrange your relay team?

Former Member — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:45:58 GMT

Just remember to have Jason Lezak anchor. Or Bruce Hayes.

RE: How would you arrange your relay team?

Former Member — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:24:09 GMT

Just remember to have Jason Lezak anchor.

RE: How would you arrange your relay team?

Former Member — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:51:05 GMT

As an age grouper and in Master's we always went: 2nd fastest slowest 2nd slowest fastest I don't think strategy ever came into it!

RE: How would you arrange your relay team?

Former Member — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:49:58 GMT

1) If you've got someone without much relay start experience, put that person first. 2) Put your best racer last. THIS... or, the weakest relay starter goes first. I had plenty of experience, but still very poor relay starts. Led off almost every free relay I was ever on back in college because my flat start was pretty good back then.

RE: How would you arrange your relay team?

Former Member — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:43:16 GMT

How I've seen most success if your mixing very fast swimmers with one slow swimmer or just a younger swimmer is: Second Fastest Fastest Third Fastest Slowest This gives you such a big lead that for the slowest its easier to hold them off :D It was a great counter for the usual stack cause the fastest goes against their slowest.

RE: How would you arrange your relay team?

Former Member — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:36:27 GMT

Sometimes the situation enters into the decision, such as dual meets.

RE: How would you arrange your relay team?

pmccoy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:55:44 GMT

If you have someone with a quick reaction time, you might consider putting them first. Or perhaps if you have someone that chronically jumps early on relay exchanges. As mentioned before, offer the first slot to anyone looking for a split. My team did that for me once and I greatly appreciated it. The anchor leg is the only other one I'd worry about. Depending upon how important the race is, this leg can have some pressure associated with it. Some people thrive off it. Others hate it. This person doesn't need to be the fastest but you don't want someone who is going to turn into a basket case if they think they might lose it for the team.

RE: How would you arrange your relay team?

Calvin S — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:31:09 GMT

The club coach here almost always shotguns his freestyle relays (fastest followed by second fastest). I believe your best racer might not necessarily be your "fastest" swimmer, but actually the person who thrives the most off the thrill of anchoring a relay. That person should go last.

RE: How would you arrange your relay team?

Redbird Alum — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 02:51:44 GMT

Fastest. 2nd Fastest. 3rd Fastest. 4th Fastest. (I don't believe in slowness...) After all, then your fastest swimmers are there to psych up, coach and/or calm down your less fast swimmer. It puts the team out in front early, possibly taking the heart out of other team's slowbies who see how far behind they are!

RE: How would you arrange your relay team?

chowmi — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 02:14:16 GMT

I would first let them decide among themselves. It's masters, we're all adults, and I cannot recall the coach ever deciding for us. We seemed to know for each relay what to do. If someone wants a split, they should lead. Times alone should not dicate order. Some people are better relays swimmers than others. I personally like to go 2nd or 3rd IF I am not getting a split. I don't like going 4th, because I swim really fast as 2nd, 3rd, or 4th, and I don't need the extra umph of anchoring RELATIVE to other relay swimmers. Or how about if it was a MIXED relay? That could also determine how you want to stack your swimmers. Or how about trying to anticipate a race with another team in particular, so you'd line up your order according to how they line up theirs. Last, you could always do the "draw the name out of a hat", which is really fun for medley relays.

RE: How would you arrange your relay team?

Rich Abrahams — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:31:25 GMT

See if anyone really wants an official split. They should lead off.

RE: How would you arrange your relay team?

knelson — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:27:45 GMT

1) If you've got someone without much relay start experience, put that person first. 2) Put your best racer last.