Seeding & lane assignments Principles of seeding:
- Direct results are most important
- Races between the same schools later in the season carry more weight than those earlier; Later competitions between direct competitors can change the seeding from previous results and affect other crews indirectly
- The closer the race distance is to 1500 meters, the more valuable the result.
- Times over a given race course are not significant. Given varying weather conditions comparing times is generally irrelevant.
- Margins can be used in instances when two or more schools have not raced each other, but have seen the same competitor. In such cases the seeding committee will exercise discretion in determining seeds.
- All results are counted. Race results cannot be discounted because of additional information (e.g. crew was without a key member, crew did not handle the water well, someone had recently switched sides, etc.)
- Programs will not gain an advantage by not submitting results. If information is lacking, it may hurt the crew’s seeding.
NEIRA Seeding
In 2007, the NEIRA adopted a change for the placement of crews in morning heats. Heats will be seeded from lane one sideways across the racecourse.
For events with two heats:
Lane |
Heat 1 |
Heat 2 |
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
8 |
7 |
5 |
9 |
10 |
6 |
12 |
11 |
For events with three heats:
Lane |
Heat 1 |
Heat 2 |
Heat 3 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
4 |
12 |
11 |
10 |
5 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
6 |
18 |
17 |
16 |
In the event of unfair wind conditions for the heats, the Head Referee could adopt a mirror image to these plans (seeding from lane 6 across to lane one.)
Lane assignments for the NEIRA
In order to minimize “racing for lanes” in the morning heats, the NEIRA adopted the following plan in 1985. If race officials do not think that there are unfair crosswinds, either Plan A or Plan B will be used for the finals. In both cases, crews are placed beginning in the center of the course and working towards the outside.
Two heat plan:
Plan A
Crew |
Lane in Finals |
3 rd place, Heat 1 |
1 |
2 nd place, Heat 2 |
2 |
1 st place, Heat 1 |
3 |
1 st place, Heat 2 |
4 |
2 nd place, Heat 1 |
5 |
3 rd place, Heat 2 |
6 |
|
|
|
|
Plan B
Crew |
Lane |
3 rd place, Heat 2 |
1 |
2 nd place, Heat 1 |
2 |
1 st place, Heat 2 |
3 |
1 st place, Heat 1 |
4 |
2 nd place, Heat 2 |
5 |
3 rd place, Heat 1 |
6 |
|
|
At some point during the lunch interval, the Race Committee is to flip a coin and announce whether Plan A or Plan B will be used.
Crosswind Contingency Plan
There are frequently cross headwinds on the Lake that raise the question of the fairness of lanes. If the Head Referee has questions about the fairness of the course based on wind conditions, he or she may elect to use plan C for the finals, whereby:
Plan C (Wind from Lane 1)
Crew |
Lane |
1 st place, Heat 1 |
1 |
1 st place, Heat 2 |
2 |
2 nd place, Heat 1 |
3 |
2 nd place, Heat 2 |
4 |
3 rd place, Heat 1 |
5 |
3 rd place, Heat 2 |
6 |
If Lane 6 is deemed to be the faster lane (rare at Quinsigamond), the Race Committee may assign the boats in the mirror image of Plan C. that is:
Plan D (Wind from Lane 6)
Crew |
Lane |
3 rd place, Heat 2 |
1 |
3 rd place, Heat 1 |
2 |
2 nd place, Heat 2 |
3 |
2 nd place, Heat 1 |
4 |
1 st place, Heat 2 |
5 |
1 st place, Heat 1 |
6 |
|
|
The same logic would apply to a race that had three heats. The favored lanes would go to the three heat winners.
Plans C and D may be deemed necessary at any point in the racing schedule . It is not necessary for all finals to use the plans.
If there are THREE HEATS , the plans read as follows:
Plan A
Crew |
Lane |
2 nd place, Heat 2 |
1 |
1 st place, Heat 3 |
2 |
1 st place, Heat 1 |
3 |
1 st place, Heat 2 |
4 |
2 nd place, Heat 1 |
5 |
2 nd place, Heat 3 |
6 |
|
|
Plan B
Crew |
Lane |
2 nd place, Heat 1 |
1 |
2 nd place, Heat 3 |
2 |
1 st place, Heat 2 |
3 |
1 st place, Heat 1 |
4 |
1 st place, Heat 3 |
5 |
2 nd place, Heat 2 |
6 |
|
|
Plan C (Wind from Lane 1)
Crew |
Lane |
1 st place, Heat 1 |
1 |
1 st place, Heat 2 |
2 |
1 st place, Heat 3 |
3 |
2 nd place, Heat 1 |
4 |
2 nd place, Heat 2 |
5 |
2 nd place, Heat 3 |
6 |
|
|
Plan D (Wind from Lane 6)
Crew |
Lane |
2 nd place, Heat 3 |
1 |
2 nd place, Heat 2 |
2 |
2 nd place, Heat 1 |
3 |
1 st place, Heat 3 |
4 |
1 st place, Heat 2 |
5 |
1 st place, Heat 1 |
6 |
|
|
|
