I was honestly on the fence about whether I wanted to swim the breaststroke 3 pack or do freestyle at my next meet in a couple of weeks. So I ended up signing up for 5 events today and mailing it in, knowing that I will scratch at least one, maybe 2, events depending on how I feel at the meet.
Are scratchers evil like sandbaggers? I know I had a lot of fun at the last meet with a couple of very close races with people right next to me, but honestly the only times empty lanes have bothered me have been when I've been in 1 and the only other entrant was in 8 or 6. Feels like a weird time trial when that happens. But just an empty lane or 2, no biggie. Does it bug the race directors? Why do I feel vaguely guilty about it? Should I just kick an extra 200 as penance tomorrow (I hate kicking) and forget all about it? Or is it not even something to worry about?
Parents
Former Member
"How does sandbagging get someone any of those things?"
I'm glad you asked.
If you lie about your seed time to get calm water I think that's bunk. If you lie about your seed time because you're too tired, boo hoo. That is one of the challenges of a swim meet.
If you swim your seed time I've no beef.
"It's fine to enter events with slower times
there's no rule against it
lesser beings call it "sandbagging"
I call it strategic event planning or rest management"
Correct, there is no rule against it. That doesn't make it acceptable. I don't think it is fine to lie about a seed time just to break a record, win a ribbon, or beat some other competitors time. Call it what you will, I call it lipstick on a pig.
Sandbag Police
"How does sandbagging get someone any of those things?"
I'm glad you asked.
If you lie about your seed time to get calm water I think that's bunk. If you lie about your seed time because you're too tired, boo hoo. That is one of the challenges of a swim meet.
If you swim your seed time I've no beef.
"It's fine to enter events with slower times
there's no rule against it
lesser beings call it "sandbagging"
I call it strategic event planning or rest management"
Correct, there is no rule against it. That doesn't make it acceptable. I don't think it is fine to lie about a seed time just to break a record, win a ribbon, or beat some other competitors time. Call it what you will, I call it lipstick on a pig.
Sandbag Police
