Interactive shrinkage methods for class handicapping

A recent publication identified weaknesses with the current handicapping system for disabled Alpine skiing, suggested minor improvements and tentatively proposed an alternative system. This proposal uses shrinkage methods to allow for varying class sizes and race conditions, unlike the existing system that updates historical factors prior to competition. We now recommend a slightly modified form of this proposal for generic application to any sports that involve class handicapping. Our recommendation is based on an investigation into possible uses of this system in a variety of sports, accompanied by extensive analysis of designed experiments and racing data from the 2008 World Cup competition for disabled Alpine skiing. The main disadvantage of this approach is that final scoring times cannot be computed until after all racing is complete and we address this concern by developing interactive result projections that retain the essential excitement of anticipation.