Here is a little background before I go over the actual selection process:
Each year, the NCAA DIII Swimming National Committee produces a list of Automatic ("A") time standards, and Provisional ("B") time standards. These time standards change from year to year depending on a number of factors. If a swimmer achieves an "A" cut, that swimmer is automatically qualified for the NCAA DIII National Championships. If a swimmer meets a "B" time standard, that swimmer is eligible to be selected to swim in the National Championships.
This year, all entries for Nationals must be submitted today. Anyone who has met an "A" or "B" time standard is eligible to enter the meet. Tomorrow morning, the selection process will take place...and this is where things get complex.
- All individual swimmers and all relays that have achieved "A" time standards will be entered.
- The top 16 qualifying relay teams in each relay event will be entered and 24 places will be reserved for divers.
- Entries will then be added to each individual event filling across rows until each event has an equal number of qualifiers.
|
|
50
Free
|
100
Free
|
200
Free
|
500
Free
|
1650
Free
|
100
Back
|
200
Back
|
100
Breast
|
200
Breast
|
100
Fly
|
200
Fly
|
200 IM
|
400 IM
|
200
F.R.
|
400
F.R.
|
800
F.R.
|
200
M.R
|
400
M.R
|
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1
|
A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
|
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2
|
A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
|
A
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A
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A
|
A
|
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3
|
A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
|
A
|
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4
|
B
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
|
A
|
A
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A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
|
5
|
B
|
A
|
A
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B
|
B
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A
|
A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
|
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6
|
B
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B
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A
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B
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B
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A
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A
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A
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B
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A
|
A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
|
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7
|
B
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B
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A
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B
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B
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A
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A
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A
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B
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A
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A
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B
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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A
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8
|
B
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B
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B
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B
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B
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A
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B
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A
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B
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A
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B
|
B
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A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
|
9
|
B
|
B
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B
|
B
|
B
|
A
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
A
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
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10
|
B
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B
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B
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B
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B
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B
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B
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B
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B
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A
|
B
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B
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B
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A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
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11
|
B
|
B
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B
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B
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B
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B
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B
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B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
|
12
|
B
|
B
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B
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B
|
B
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B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
|
13
|
B
|
B
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B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
|
14
|
B
|
B
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B
|
B
|
B
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B
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B
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B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
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15
|
B
|
B
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B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
|
16
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
A
|
A
|
A
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A
|
A
|
Using this sheet, the selection committee will go across the rows from left to right, selecting swimmers into the meet. Rows 1-16 are arranged from fastest to slowest. That process will look like this:
|
|
50
Free
|
100
Free
|
200
Free
|
500
Free
|
1650
Free
|
100
Back
|
200
Back
|
100
Breast
|
200
Breast
|
100
Fly
|
200
Fly
|
200 IM
|
400 IM
|
200
F.R.
|
400
F.R.
|
800
F.R.
|
200
M.R
|
400
M.R
|
|
6
|
B
|
B
|
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B
|
B
|
|
|
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B
|
|
|
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|
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|
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In this example, I have used row number 6 from the table above. Notice that each of the "A" cuts has a dash through it, indicating that that particular swimmer has already been selected into the meet. The red "B" cuts have been selected into the meet. This process will continue until each individual event has an equal number of qualifiers. However, according to the meet bylaws,
"If at some point the addition of one competitor per event to the entire order of individual events puts the field over the individual qualifier cap... the competitor whose percentage is closest to the record will be taken first until the 140 men and 146 women individual event qualifiers are selected or the maximum participant number is reached."
Each individual selected into the meet counts towards this cap of 140 men and 146 women. So, to use the example from my table, let's say that by the time row number 14 is completed, it becomes clear that filling in row 15 in each event it would exceed the "individual qualifier cap," for example adding another swimmer from each individual event would result in 143 men being entered into the meet. When this occurs, each individual's time from row number 15 would be compared to the National record in that particular event. The person who's time is closest by percentage to the National record is then selected into the meet. For example, if a person's "B" cut in the 50 freestyle is 20.67 and the National record in the event is 19.38, that "B" cut is 106.65% of the National record in the event. But if someone in the 200 IM has a "B" cut of 1:50.18 and the National record is 1:47.28, that individual's time is just 102.70% of the National record. Therefore, the IM swimmer gets selected before the 50 freestyle swimmer. This process of comparing percentages continues until all 140 men or 146 women have been selected into the meet.
And that's it! Yes, it's complicated--but it's also a fair and objective way to determine who gets selected into the meet and who does not. I'll be sure to post another update after selections come out with a link to the psych sheet.
