This guide will help you select the correct seeding method and lane/order assignment method. The seeding method example below is based on three (3) heats/groups with a total of 24 athletes (except for the specific indoor method). The lane/order assignment example is based on 8 lanes/athletes. 


For more details on seeding, please check the Seeding guide.


Seeding method for heats/groups (this does not include lane assignment)


  1. Alphanumerical (BIB)
    • Heat/group 1-3: Allocation according to BIB
  2. Alphabetical(last name/name for relay)
    • Heat/group 1-3: Allocation according to the last name
  3. Circle
    • Heat/group 1: 1 - 4 - 7 - 10 - 13 - 16 - 19 - 22
    • Heat/group 2: 2 - 5 - 8 - 11 - 14 - 17 - 20 - 23
    • Heat/group 3: 3 - 6 - 9 - 12 - 15 - 18 - 21 - 24
  4. Manual
    • Heat/group 1-3: Manual allocation to heats/groups (drag and drop)
  5. Random
    • Heat/group 1-3: Random allocation to heats/groups
  6. Timed / Results
    • Heat/group 1: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8
    • Heat/group 2: 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16
    • Heat/group 3: 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24
  7. Timed oval (Indoor)
    • Heat/group 1: 1 - 2 - 7 - 8 - 13 - 14
    • Heat/group 2: 3 - 4 - 9 - 10 - 15 - 16
    • Heat/group 3: 5 - 6 - 11 - 12 - 17 - 18
  8. Zig-zag
    • Heat/group 1: 1 - 6 - 7 - 12 - 13 - 18 - 19 - 24
    • Heat/group 2: 2 - 5 - 8 - 11 - 14 - 17 - 20 - 23
    • Heat/group 3: 3 - 4 - 9 - 10 - 15 - 16 - 21 - 22


After you have selected a heat/group seeding, you need to select a lane/order assignment method.


Lane assignment / Order assignment


  1. Alphanumerical (BIB)
    • Lane/order 1-8: Allocation according to the BIB
  2. Alphabetical (last name/name for relays)
    • Lane/order 1-8: Allocation according to the last name
  3. Best-to-worst
    • 1st jumper/thrower: 1
    • 2nd jumper/thrower: 2
    • 3rd jumper/thrower: 3
    • :
    • 8th jumper/thrower: 8
  4. Half & half 
    • Lane 1 and 2 and 7-8: 5-8 mixed randomly within lanes 1-2 and 7-8
    • Lane 3-6: 1-4 mixed randomly within lanes 3 to 6
  5. Manual
    • Lane/order 1-8: Manual allocation
  6. Pairs 
    • Lane 1 and 8: 7-8 mixed randomly within lanes 1 and 8
    • Lane 2 and 7: 5-6 mixed randomly within lanes 2 and 7 
    • Lane 3 and 6: 3-4 mixed randomly within lanes 3 and 6
    • Lane 4 and 5: 1-2 mixed randomly within lanes 4 and 5 
  7. Pairs oval (Indoor)- if less than four lanes, then the best pair always has the two outer lanes 
    • Lane 1 and 2: 5-6 mixed randomly within lanes 1 and 2
    • Lane 3 and 4: 3-4 mixed randomly within lanes 3 and 4
    • Lane 5 and 6: 1-2 mixed randomly within lanes 5 and 6
  8. Random
    • Lane/order 1-8: Random allocation
  9. Standard alley (outside-in) 
    • Lane 1: 7
    • Lane 2: 5
    • Lane 3: 3
    • Lane 4: 1
    • Lane 5: 2
    • Lane 6: 4
    • Lane 7: 6
    • Lane 8: 8
  10. Standard alley (inside-out) 
    • Lane 1: 8
    • Lane 2: 6
    • Lane 3: 4
    • Lane 4: 2
    • Lane 5: 1
    • Lane 6: 3
    • Lane 7: 5
    • Lane 8: 7
  11. Waterfall (mostly for middle and long distances) 
    • Closest to inside: 1
    • Next closets: 2
    • Next..: 3
    • ...
  12. Waterfall (reversed) (mostly for middle and long distances) 
    • Closest to inside: 8
    • Next closets: 7
    • Next..: 3
    • ...
  13. World Athletics - Half & pairs OLD standard
    • Lane 1 and 2: 7-8 mixed randomly within lanes 1 and 2
    • Lane 3-6: 1-4 mixed randomly within lanes 3 to 6
    • Lane 7 and 8: 5-6 mixed randomly within lanes 7 and 8
  14. World Athletics - Straight
    • Lane 1 and 8: 7-8 mixed randomly within lanes 1 and 8
    • Lane 2 and 7: 5-6 mixed randomly within lanes 2 and 7
    • Lane 3-6: 1-4 mixed randomly within lanes 3 to 6
  15. World Athletics - 200m
    • Lane 1 and 2: 7-8 mixed randomly within lanes 1 and 2
    • Lane 3, 4 and 8: 4-6 mixed randomly within lanes 3, 4 and 8
    • Lane 5 to 7: 1-3 mixed randomly within lanes 5 to 7
  16. World Athletics - 400m/800m
    • Lane 1 and 2: 7-8 mixed randomly within lanes 1 and 2
    • Lane 3 and 8: 5-6 mixed randomly within lanes 3 and 8
    • Lane 4 to 7: 1-4 mixed randomly within lanes 4 to 7
  17. Worst-to-best
    • 1st jumper/thrower: 8
    • 2nd jumper/thrower: 7
    • 3rd jumper/thrower: 6
    • :
    • 8th jumper/thrower: 1


If you select the Qualifying result as the basis for the seeding (i.e., seeding the final based on semi-finals), then keep in mind that athletes are ranked based on the following rules: 


  1. Fastest heat winner (Q)
  2. 2nd fastest heat winner (Q)
  3. 3rd fastest heat winner, etc. (Q)
  4. Fastest 2nd place (Q)
  5. 2nd fastest 2nd place (Q)
  6. 3rd fastest 2nd place, etc. (Q)

    concluding with

   x. Fastest time qualifier (q)

   x+1. 2nd fastest time qualifier (q)

   x+2. 3rd fastest time qualifier, etc. (q)