The anti-sandbag law:
"if a swimmer enters an event with a time significantly slower or faster than that swimmer's recorded time in the past two years, the meet director may, after a discussion with the swimmer, change the seeded time to a realistic time" (104.5.5.A(10)).
Concerning my Auburn nationals entry, I confess, when faced with a 7 hour 2 stop flight and 3:45 nonstop at an earlier time, I did what any warm-blooded middle-aged American swimmer with low self-esteem would do--sandbag my entry so I could catch the earlier flight, thus diminishing the possible time spent sitting next to a 400 pound Alabama slammer with sleep apnea wearing nothing but overalls and body odor. Of course, I was caught in my bold fabrication and my time was "fixed."
USMS seems to have an identity problem. Are we hard core with rigid qualifying times? It would seem not as 2 of my not-so-speedy family members were allowed to swim four events last year in Puerto Rico. If we are not hard core, why does anybody care that I sandbag? More to the point, why can one person enter a crappy time and another cannot? Just wondering.:)
One final question for the morality police: If I check in for the 400 (with my newly adjusted time) on the outside chance I can still make my flight but then need to leave is it still unsportsmanlike or am I just a scumbag for dodging competition or adversely affecting the timeline on the other end?
Mr. Dickson,
We apologize, but The Morality Police is much too busy lately to address your concern. Between the Weiner scandal, which thankfully seems to be winding down, and staying up late at night to cheer for the Mavs to triumph over the hated LeBron James (aka, "by-passed college because he knew he'd never show up for Finals"), it's been an exhausting couple of weeks.
So it may be awhile before your relatively minor problem is addressed. But you can do one of the following to ensure that your question is bumped up in the priority queue:
-- Tweet about it and include photographs of you in an illegal tech suit, complete with a strategically-placed rip (Paul Smith can advise you on this);
-- hold an ESPN news conference where you announce the formation of a new USMS club for the express purpose of breaking relay world records (gosh, I think Paul can help you on this one too).
Good luck,
The Morality Police
I think I speak for all those who have and will continue to sandbag this thread. Go forth and prosper with whatever strategy you have ruminated over. In the meantime, I will be thinking...
3. Does this suit make my butt look fat?
2. Should I eat something, again?
1. DO I HAVE TIME TO GO THE BATHROOM ONE MORE TIME??????
Also rans: Should I wear my flip flops, go barefoot, or my uggs? Will anyone steal my uggs? Should I use a dry towel, or save it for the victory Dry Towel After the Meet? Shoud I do as Ande says, and bring an extra cap and goggles in my parka jacket? Should I wear my parka jacket or risk getting cold? Do I care? Am I cold? Are there buggers on my face? Is my cap crooked? Should I take it all the way off or just mash it around on my head?
As you can see, whether or not someone else is and sandbagging really, really isn't important to me.....will probably ask #3 much more, in addition to....Did I bring anything to read???? And then...have my legs fallen asleep?Awesome post. Glad to see it's not just guys who worry about #3. :D
... and staying up late at night to cheer for the Mavs to triumph over the hated LeBron James (aka, "by-passed college because he knew he'd never show up for Finals"), it's been an exhausting couple of weeks.
In fairness to LeBron, he and DWade had a bad cough after game 5 - so you couldn't expect them to play their best in game 6.
So much for the super-twins.
So, when I wind up in the 3rd fastest heat
of my age group - or in the "leftover" heat -,
I will know that I did the right thing by
NOT entering the time that I think I will
go at nationals.Hey! I'm sandbagging that heat... go work another one.
Had my most delightful experience signing up for a meet:
Was able - online - to renew my USMS membership in
not more than 10 minutes, with a printout of my USMS
card IN MY HANDS at the end of the process !
(No more sending off a check and waiting - hopefully - for
the quick return of the "card," so I can
attach a copy with the meet entry.)
Immediately went to the LCM nationals site,
and signed up for several events at nationals.
Again, a 10 minute process, with no waiting for
"return mail" confirming my entry.
Noticed that while signing up on line, there is
an option to find my "best recorded" time.
I usually count on a 36+ for LCM 50 ***,
but the computer popped up with 38.02,
so that's what I entered.
So, when I wind up in the 3rd fastest heat
of my age group - or in the "leftover" heat -,
I will know that I did the right thing by
NOT entering the time that I think I will
go at nationals.
Plus, I will get to see the fast guys swim......
Sorry Scott,I'm pretty sure you will still be in the fast heat for your age group.On the plus side,since I am one age group younger,I'll be able to watch you swim.
I usually count on a 36+ for LCM 50 ***, but the computer popped up with 38.02, so that's what I entered.
Scott,
The USMS nationals meet entry system looks for your times in a given event that have been swum within the last two years.
In the case of your LCM 50 ***, there is only one time in the database that was swum within the last two years. That time is a 38.02, swim on July 12, 2009, at a meet in St. Pete.
There are two other times for you for the LCM 50 ***, but they are much older (a 36.14 from the 2004 LC Nationals, and a 37.22 from the 2007 Bumpy Jones meet).
You can view all of your times in the database by performing these steps:
1) Go to www.usms.org
2) Mouse over the blue "Competition" tab across the top
3) Select "Individual Results" from the pull-down menu
4) Enter your last name into the search box; click "Start Search"
