Seed times

Any time I've given seed times, I've never been asked for the sanctioned meet at which I did them. I could put in whatever time I wanted. (Otherwise, how would I give a seed time for an event I've never swum before? Or for a SCM or LCM event that I've only previously done SCY?) This, of course, differes from QUALIFYING times, which should be verified! It seems to me that adding a few seconds to one's seed time just so you can "be sure to beat it" is counter-productive. I want to be in a heat with people who will be doing a close time (or even a slightly faster time) than I will be doing so that I get the best competitive push. If I'm in a heat that has all slower swimmers (which could happen if I bloat my seed time), I won't have someone next to me pushing me along to my max potential. And I wouldn't want to shave time from my seed time because I could end up in a heat with 5 other people who will smoke me, and that could be demoralizing and may detract from my potential performance. Speaking of seeding, just a few day ago I was contemplating (for no obvious reason) how various meets I've attended have been seeded. Some take the top 6 times and put them together in one heat. Others take the two best times and place them in lanes 3 and 4 of the first heat, and then take the next two best times and place them in lanes 3 and 4 of the next heat, and so on, so that the top swimmers always swim next to their closest peers. (Otherwise seeds 3 and 4 are in lanes 2 and 5 and are relatively out of eyeshot from each other.) Anyone have preferences/dislikes for heat-seeding?

Originally posted by DocWhoRocks Depends on the person. Some people swim faster if they are in the lead. While others like to have someone to chase. I Have been to meets , where people put in no times. I amsure almost all people know there times ,whether in pratice or competition. :) :cool: :)

The concept of putting a slower seed time only hurts you, not helps. If you enter a slower time, you are put in a slower heat and will probably be faster than those with you (unless they fibbed also). I find being in a heat with those of similar or slightly faster times than me causes me to swim faster. However, for the purposes of arrival time, I do like the concept.

I think putting a slow time is commonly referred to as sandbagging and not viewed very positively.

Depending on the meet/event (usually mile) I may give a slower seed time. People do this so they will be in the first heat or last heat of the mile. This can be helpful - say if you know you won't be able to make the meet on time. Then put in a slower seed time so you'll be in the last heat (assuming fastest to slowest seeding for mile). Or vice versa if you want to be in the first heat and leave early.

Originally posted by aquageek The concept of putting a slower seed time only hurts you, not helps. Depends on the person. Some people swim faster if they are in the lead. While others like to have someone to chase.

Originally posted by aquageek I think putting a slow time is commonly referred to as sandbagging and not viewed very positively. Agreed. But doesn't change the fact that some people swim better when they're in the lead.

YOU must be aware of your times , in pratice. Even if you never swam competition. But are planning to swim at a meet.:) :cool:

Doc But what has that got todo with , putting in a time that is true to your swimming abilitys. Weather you are fast or slow. Or swim in front or behind?:) :cool:

Originally posted by LindsayNB I was discussing seed times with a friend and we had different ideas about what a seed time was. I thought a seed time was supposed to be a result from a prior race while he thought one could enter whatever one wanted and it was legitimate to adjust the seed time, for example to add a couple seconds so that he would be sure to beat it. On further thought there is the question of what previous time one should enter (if "should" enters into it), I have been entering my best time. Is there a general policy or ethic or does anything go? A seed time is supposed to be an estimate of how you think you're going to do so that swimmers of similar abilities can be grouped together when they are competing. Doing this makes the meet go faster because the slowest swimmers will end up grouped together in one heat instead of being spread out among several heats. There is no official rule that I've ever heard of regarding how you should make the estimate. It's whatever works for you. I can't see that deliberately adding a couple of seconds to your time will do any harm, if that's what you're most comfortable doing.