Why did the IAAF drop their ranking system on their website?

[Track fan]

Thanks.... :wink:

[Flumpy]

Because it was stupid and it made no sense and everyone hated it.

[gh]

And they weren't getting the bang for their buck.

[Seeksreal]

It was flawed and needed to be programmed with a better algorithm. I don't see why they couldn't design a new ranking system that is automatically updated as results are entered. I like the idea of an ongoing ranking system and think it could be set it up in such a way that it wouldn't cost much to maintain. I think they had it done by a separate company, though, which doesn't really make any sense.

[Figaro]

I don't see why they couldn't design a new ranking system that is automatically updated as results are entered. I like the idea of an ongoing ranking system and think it could be set it up in such a way that it wouldn't cost much to maintain. I think they had it done by a separate company, though, which doesn't really make any sense.

You can find the site of the company that currently carries these rankings and claims that their World Rankings are the improved successors of the former IAAF World Rankings here: http://www.all-athletics.com/en-us/c...world-rankings

Look for their ranking methods here:

http://www.all-athletics.com/en-us/rules-all-athletics-world-rankings-2009

[donley2]

There is room for it to be significantly improved quite easily by re-working the bonus points for the various level of meets. The bonus points they have now is total garbage.

[lalala]

Ah I loved getting all IRATE about the IAAF ranking system

It was utterly LUDICROUS from start to finish...

[James Fields]

Rankings vs. Standings

Figaro provided helpful URL links when writing that "You can find the site of the company that currently carries these rankings and claims that their World Rankings are the improved successors of the former IAAF World Rankings here."
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In an an earlier, similar T&FN Forum thread, I wrote on 18 October 2007 that discussion on this subject needs to recognize two different terms that describe two different systems: Rankings and Standings.

"Rankings" have been published for many years; they appeared in newspapers before widespread use of the World-Wide Web. IAAF ranking provided recognition of an athlete's top six performances (time, height, or distance in the event ranked) during the 52 weeks preceding each week's release of an updated ranking list. The athlete's top performance could include heats and final in the same meet. Even marks in an all-comers meet had been recognized. although a weighting system gave them less impact than major meets.

"Standings" have been based more on an athlete's place (first, second, etc.) in a specific meet that is part of the IAAF "World Athletics Tour." The standings, updated after each WAT meet, are used to select entrants for the World Athletics Final in September -- which in 2009 will be held at Thessaloniki, GRE.

See current IAAF standings at

http://www.iaaf.org/gp09/standings/index.html

A T&FN Forum previous discussion on this subject can be seen via:

http://mb.trackandfieldnews.com/discussion/viewtopic.php?t=27319&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0