Rather than being a fixed number rowIT rankings take the form of probabilities. They are specific to an age-group or class, and a boat type. They look at the chances of a rower's ranking being a particular value.
The graphs
U17
boat
rank
uncertainty
seed
2X
1422
75
1272
1X
1397
110
1177
4X
1276
109
1058
other
1500
350
800
Updates
Every rower's rankings evolve over their career. Statistical analysis of past performances establishes the rankings.
Analysis happens within each boat type and class (age/ability/weight). Rankings actually change race-by-race. But they only get updated online occasionally e.g. when needed for seeding crews.
A rower's most recent results have the greatest effect on the update process.
During an update the system looks at all race results within the update period. It compares them with the expected results (based on existing probability curves*). The system looks at who was in the crews**. And it evaluates how crews performed against their opposition.
Then the system adjusts the existing probability curves to better fit the actual results. This can involve adjusting the blue line of the mean. Or it can change the shape of the curve e.g. making it looser or tighter.
* for boats larger than a single the crew members' rankings can be statistically combined to give a probability curve for the whole crew.
** this is an excellent reason why it is important to make sure crew changes are properly recorded!
Usage
The primary purpose of rankings is to use for seeding crews. Though, inevitably, they also get used for comparing rowers.
Seeding regattas
Seeding is mainly used for heats at NZSSRA Championships; because those regattas have elimination heats. There, a random draw can create a situation where top crews get eliminated early.
For example: if only 2 crews can progress from a heat then a random draw can put the top 3 crews the same heat. That would knock out a medalist during the heats.
The goal of the seeding system is to prevent such undesirable draws.
This happens by getting as close as possible to an optimum draw. One where all crews are perfectly seeded. Yet it is not necessary to get seeding 100% correct. (If that was possible you could simply skip racing and hand out medals)
At last review Maadi seedings were about 85% accurate. The system was able to accurate predict the placing of 85% of all crews in every heat race. More than adequate for the job.
Competitor comparison
It is possible to use rankings to compare rowers.
But anybody doing that must bear in mind the fact rankings are super-specific. They relate only to the age-group and boat type shown. This means:
It is only valid to compare rankings for the same age-group and boat type.
Comparing rankings across classes is meaningless. And even relevant comparisons are challenging.
The easiest comparison is seeing which rower has the higher mean.
But a more accurate comparison may be the seeding value. That takes some uncertainty into account.
In reality, the best way of comparing rankings is to race the rowers!
At the moment only the rankings for a rower's actual age-group are showing. But rankings for other classes are also held (and are usable for seeding).
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