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

LANE ASSIGNMENTS FOR MORNING HEATS:

In accordance with previous formal action taken by the NEIRA, the top-seeded crews in the NEIRA Regatta are to be assigned to Lane #1 for the morning heats, with the next best seed in the lane alongside the top seed and so on. In the event of a wind shift that necessitates a change in lane assignments the regatta will follow the procedure outlined below in steps #1, #2, and #3. The objective is to ensure that the top-seed will always be given the lee side of the lake in the event of excessive cross-winds on the race course. This procedure will be applied to the morning heats only of the NEIRA Regatta.

LANE ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE AFTERNOON EVENTS:

For events with three heats (1st and 2nd boats)
The three heat winners will be placed in lanes 1-2-3 by random draw and second place crews from heats will be placed into lanes 4-5-6 by random draw.
Similar procedures will be followed for petite level finals in the first boats.

For events with two heats (3rd and 4th boats)
The two heat winners will be placed in lanes 1-2, 2nd place crews in lanes 3-4, 3rd place crews in lanes 5-6.

In the event of a wind shift that necessitates a change in lane assignments the regatta will follow the procedure outlined below in steps #5, #3, and #4. This procedure will be applied to the afternoon finals only of the NEIRA Regatta.

The procedures will be implemented as follows:
1. For the morning heats, the NEIRA office will draw up two Schedules of lane assignments. Schedule “A” will show all top-seeded crews in Lane 1 (or the appropriate Worcester shore lane), and Schedule “B” will show all top-seeded crews in Lane 6 (or the appropriate Shrewsbury shore lane).

2. It is agreed in advance of the Regatta that Schedule “A” will be followed, UNLESS weather conditions dictate a change to Schedule “B”.

3. The decision to change will be made by the Regatta Committee on the recommendation of the Committee of Management. Should there be a change, it would be implemented as soon as possible.

4. The new schedule will be followed for all subsequent races until conditions change sufficiently to dictate another change. In such case, the same procedure will be followed as outlined in (3).

5. For the afternoon finals, two schedules, “C” AND “D”, will be developed. Schedule “C” will place first and second boat heat winners randomly in lanes1, 2, and 3. Schedule “D” will place the same heat winners in lanes 6, 5, and 4 respectively. Schedule “C” will be followed, unless weather conditions dictate a change to Schedule “D”, as decided in accordance with procedures outlined in paragraph (3) above.  3rd and 4th boat heat winners will be placed in lanes 1 and 2 for Schedule “C”, and Lanes 6 and 5 respectively for Schedule “D.”

(Agreed to at NEIRA annual meeting 1/14/2012)