LiveHeats offers a number of seeding algorithms that pre-set the distribution of athletes and progression positions within rounds of a draw.
Note: LiveHeats seeding algorithms are a pre-set distribution, and optional to use. If you have your own rule book you should edit where the positions are placed, and save it as a template for later use.
LiveHeats offers the following seeding algorithms. Below the table, you'll find worked examples of each.
| Seeding algorithm | Detail | Common sports used in |
| Top and bottom seeding |
The top seed is placed in the first position of the first heat or run in the draw. The lowest seed will also be in this heat. The second seed is placed in the first position of the bottom heat or runs in the draw. Other seeds are distributed in the same pattern. |
Surfing, Skimboard, SUP sprints, Snowboard Cross and Ski Cross |
| Reverse seeding | The top seed is placed in the last position of the last heat or run in the draw. The lowest seed will also be in this heat. The second seed is placed in the last position of the first heat in the draw. Other seeds are distributed in the same pattern. | Snowboard park and pipe, Wakeboard, Skateboard, BMX |
| Random seeding | The seeds or athletes are randomly placed in any position of any heat in the round. No club or team details are taking into account in this algorithm |
Surf Life Saving, Freeride snow |
Top and bottom seeding
- The top seed is placed in the first position of the first heat or run in the draw. The lowest seed will also be in this heat.
- The second seed is placed in the first position of the bottom heat or run in the draw. Other seeds are distributed in the same pattern.
- Where possible, seeds will not overlap onto other sides of the draw. For example, in a draw with 4 quarter-finals, a semi, and a final. Seed 1 could never end up on the bottom side of the draw.
Here is an example draw:
Common questions - top and bottom seeding
Why do the same athletes compete against each other in each round?
This is due to the rule that athletes should not cross over to the other side of the draw. If you'd like to mix up athletes, please use the tool to edit progression positions and seeds and save as a template.
Reverse seeding
- The highest seed from the athlete list will go first in the run, with the lowest seed from their athlete list going last in the run, the second highest will go second in the run and the second lowest will go second last in the run.
- The order is then set out like this for all the athletes competing in the division.
- Unseeded athletes will always go before seeded athletes
Random seeding - Part 1.
- Random seeding is exactly that. Regardless of the competitor's order on the athlete list, once heats are drawn athletes are completely randomised over the heats as we as subsequent rounds.
- E.g. An athlete might appear first on the athlete list however when heats are drawn appear in the final heat of the first round. They could appear in the first heat of the second round if they progressed successfully
Random seeding - Part 2.
- Athletes lists across an entire event/carnival can be randomised with one button. Once this button is selected, shown below (only available on "Scheduled", "Entry open" & "Entry closed" statuses) all will be allocated a random number for each division they are entered in.
- This randomisation of the athlete list allows people to know their random number in advance of an event.
- When heats are drawn athletes not accounted for are left out of the draw, with confirmed athletes compressed and pushed into the draw in their random order.
- E.g., If you have a random order number of 4 but the 3rd athlete is not confirmed you will be pushed into the draw-in 3rd position etc (shown by images below).
Common questions - Random seeding
Why do some heats have huge amounts of athletes from the same club competing in each round?
The randomiser algorithm is completely that. Therefore if there are a lot of athletes from the same club they may be a chance they all end up in the same heat.
If athlete lists are randomised prior to the draw being done as per random seeding part 2 and certain athletes are not confirmed there is a chance that athletes from the same club will then be compressed into the same heats, where previously they wouldn't have if all athletes were confirmed.
For example:
If 7 out of 39 athletes are from the same club and you draw 6 heats for the opening round.
- There is a 100% probability of having 2 athletes from the same club in the same heat.
- There is a 63% probability of having at least three athletes from the same club in one heat
As a director, you can always drag and drop athletes to change the athlete make-ups of heats, please bare in mind it would no longer be Random