How would you arrange your relay team?

Just remember to have Jason Lezak anchor.

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

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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.