What has recording results and scoring the points at a track and field meeting got to do with physics you might ask.
Well, I am into sports as well as Physics! An Excel spreadsheet has been developed that makes it very simple to record results and do
the scoring of the points at a track and field meet where several schools compete.
The system is based on assigning each athlete a unique number and have this number stored in a Lookup table. Each School creates
their section of the Lookup table and these are combined. All that is needed on the day is to type in the numbers in the
correct finishing order for each event and the spreadsheet does the rest!
The special features of the spreadsheet are:
Calls up an athlete's name and school when the number is typed in the appropriate cell.
Scores the correct number of points to each School or House Group.
Where two athletes are placed equally, the list of placings 1, 2, 3, 4, etc is changed manually to say 1, 2, 2, 4.
The correct number of half points is then scored by each athlete in the tie. In this example 9, 8, 7, 6 becomes 9, 7.5, 7.5,6. Also Eq flashes up next to the two place numbers that are the same so the announcer is alerted to an equality.
The points are tallied for each School.
The number of 1st places, 2nd places etc each School achieves in each age group is tallied including equalities e.g a win and a dead heat for first shows as 1 1/2.
The total number of 1st places, 2nd places etc each School/House Group achieves is tallied.
The total number of points is tallied and the Schools are listed in descending order of points scored.
If there is a tie, the listing 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 etc is automatically adjusted to say 1, 2, 3, 3, 5 and the word Equal flashes
out next to the placings that are equal.
The number of events scored is tallied so the announcer knows to what event the scores apply.
When the time, distance or height of the winner is recorded, if this is a record or equal record, the words Record or
Equal Record flash out in red to alert the announcer.
The pages are formatted for printing back at school or at the venue if a printer is available.
The sheets are protected and can’t be accidentally altered preventing the scoring from being ruined.
To sum up, all the computer operator has to do is type in the athletes numbers in the finishing order, adjust the place numbers
if there are equalities and the computer does the rest!
A team entry sheet is available in which athletes names and numbers are recorded.
The numbers of athletes may be included in the program but must be on the results sheets handed to the computer operator at the completion of an event.
A simple system is for each athlete to say their number to the person recording the order of finishing on the results sheet. Only the number is needed.
The suggested system of numbering is to assign the numbers 100 to 199 to one School/House/Group, 200 to 299 to another etc. The School/Group assigned the numbers
100 to 199 uses the number 1 for all its teams event e.g. relays. For situations where larger than 100 athletes are in a team, the numbers 1000 to 1999 etc are recommended.
Track and Field Sports Days vary in the age groups and events held. The spreadsheet can be modified to suit
individual needs by negotiation. Contact us by email if you are interested in having the package modified to suit your needs.
