Sandbagging

[[old] William Fisher]

I just got an erg of my own in Sept., so this is the first time in the four years I've been erging on and off that I've kept up with the daily "honor roll" per-day meters and the university/club standings -- it's fun. So, maybe it's a time-honored custom, but thousands of meters not previously logged showed up on the last day of the season, and the standings had some wholesale changes. My own university (Penn) dropped six places from 19th to 26th, and it had been no lower than 20th all year (or since I started looking at it in Sept.). I noticed another erger commented in his profile that his club had lost its place as another club apparently withheld meters until the last minute.<br /> I know, I know, this ain't the Olympics, and seats at the head table at the end-of-the-year banquet are not at stake. But some of us enjoy the informal little competitions between the clubs, and all of it is harmed if some groups are going to build up a slush fund of unreported meters, ready to be posted at the last minute. And, frankly, there's a lot more opportunity for <i>mistakes</i> to be made if, instead of being posted daily, meters are toted up and saved for later. <br /> If I've misunderstood what's going on or offended anyone I'm sorry, but I really enjoy and appreciate the whole meters/times/training/records thing at this web site that I don't want to see it manipulated.<br /> thanx <br /> William<br />--------------------<br />57 6'5" 120kg <br />

[[old] John Rupp]

I agree with you that for the purposes of competition, and also honesty, that meters should be put in every day.<br /><br />However, motivation, inclination, and other life pursuits, often get in the way.<br /><br />In April 2003 there was a guy around me who was only adding his meters up now and then. That was annoying and for a few days I considered doing the same thing, since he wasn't posting every day, to do the same and not let him know where I was.<br /><br />Upon reflection though, such a response would not have done me any good, and would not have helped him either. After all I had nothing against the fellow. Also it would have had nothing to do with my personal goals or objectives.<br /><br />So I decided to keep focusing entirely on those, and felt much better about that.<br /><br />Meanwhile I figured out his system was to post approximately once a week. Thus once a week I would know where he was, and the rest of the time not. That was fine though, as I was still focusing on my own goals anyway, though wanted to keep my position on the board. In the last few days of the season, without seeing where he was, I piled on the meters, then he posted with a couple days to go and didn't have a chance to catch me. So it turned out to be a bit of competition after all.<br /><br />During the 2003/4 season I was doing other things a lot of the time, lost track of the meters board, and would only update it every few weeks or so, until the last month and then kept it up every day. That was more a matter of motivation and focus rather than anything else.<br /><br />In the matter of honesty and fair play, also REALITY, I feel any intentional holding out of meters, i.e. entering less than has actually been done, should be considered dishonest and not be an option for anyone to entertain or consider. Also were anyone to do this, I think they would not feel good about it afterwards.<br /><br />Thus my preference and intention is to post every day, while realizing that life, motivation, and other things can get in the way of doing this.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

[[old] Mikez]

I agree that there may be some sandbagging at the end of the season, I cannot fathom the reasons behind it as there are no cash prizes that I am aware of . However I do recall from past experiance that the standings change when a member of a team leaves and joins another team during the season and also in past seasons, I for example left the Forum Flyers after the end of the 2004 season and all my 2004 meters went to Taff Attack, even tough Taff was not a viable team during the 2004 season. Also another reason for a change could be (cbill2 may have the answer) but if you were erging and not putting your meters on line, and now want to make you online meters match your real amount of meters, you can post them to the last day of the past year (I.E. 2005) and that may increase your past years team numbers. I hope I am correct about these alternatives to sandbagging. A fellow erger, Mike<br />

[[old] ancho]

I can understand your complains. As a member of one of the teams that has raised during the last few days of the season (CEU Barcelona), I just wanna give my point of view.<br />We are now 4 members, 2 of us posting regularly from the beginning (I myself started rowing again in january), and having our "little competitions" with the similar-level teams.<br />We have convinced some of our on-water-rowing team mates to log their meters, so we have ben having some "jumps" every time one of our colleagues has joined and introduced all his records of the year, and more cosidering that one of them though the season started in january, and afterwords noted his meters from may to december! Of course, end of season is an "additional motivation", but the fact is that our standing reflects the real situation. As a matter of fact, I must say I kinda "miss" the old competitors from when we were only 2 (row hearty, I am a child, ...)<br />Anyway, there is an interesting information, which is if you divide the total meters by the club members, so you get the average meters by member, which shoulkd .<br />This season I suppose we willstarting to post regularly, but if there are new members, there also will be changes.<br />Good row!

[[old] Cran]

Not everyone has access to a PC every day, shock horror!!! So they have to put them in when they can, once a week, once a month, or whatever.<br /><br />The reason the nonathlon stays up for a few weeks in May after the end of the season, is to let people who cannot always access a PC have time to log their results from April.

[[old] seat5]

It is sort of frustrating when people suddenly post blistering times in the last few days of the season that they rowed way earlier in the season. I can't imagine forgetting to post a time that was really fast right after I row it--doesn't everyone have the urge to rank their PBs or SBs immediately? It makes for better competition, because when people see that fast time, they want to go after it and see if they can at least match it. But I guess it doesn't break any rules to wait.

[[old] John Hendrie]

Just to add my tuppence, I have ready access to a computer but am in the habit of posting to the C2 log (and to my own spread sheet) on Sunday mornings. That's the most convenient time for me. <br /><br />john