Birmingham Bike Polo Chat & BS Thread

My brother is coming over from the US this month and I was thinking of putting in a Fixcraft order that he can bring over.

The prices on most items* are cheaper in the US store than the EU store. The more high-ticket items (like the new hubs) are significantly cheaper.

Let me know if anyone wants anything (other than shafts -- too big for his luggage) and I'll put an order in this week.

*Chris mentioned getting the connect kit – this is cheaper in the EU store but with split shipping would work out cheaper via US.

Sharks VS Jets bench series one

The teams are pretty much as people asked for with the exception of Irial who was last to pick and got stuck with the jets instead.
Ken, David, LJ, Tom & igor were assigned a team.

What do people think? Happy with the teams? please give thoughts on the following
First team to 21 points wins that series then we start again or change teams around.
2 points for a win 1 for a draw
Sharks wear dark Jets wear light.
50 minute games - no stoppages except for the ball going out
Ref from each team per game?
minimum of 4 from each team to play a game

Awesome, nice one Matt. But maybe 30 min games would be better. Same time as PHBP standard and casual/less competative throw ins are still primary.

Looks good Matt, ta! I agree with Fin about the 30 minute games though. Also, when it says nominated ref per game, does that mean that person couldn't play or that at any given point one person would be nominated as ref?

Hi Harry,

I'd like a couple of the cheapest heads if that's OK.

Harry's Brother's Shopping list
Neil - 2 x cheapest heads
Dan - 1 x connect kit

Harry's Brother's Shopping list
Neil - 2 x cheapest heads
Dan - 1 x connect kit

League format looks good to me (with 30 min games I mean).

Yeah Sharks v Jets looks ace. 30min games should be fine.

I think we should ref our own games, as in no one sits out to ref.
#icannotrefmyowngame

Ok cool, yeah 30 minute games are cool with me.

It isn't very clear on the refs thing and I think that needs some suggestions. My idea (and I didn't think about it for long) would be for a player from each team to be nominated as ref at the start of the game. And, even when they're playing can make calls. Obviously they have to be diplomatic about it and not just call a foul when they lose the ball. It should work out that the refs will agree on most calls and trust that the other is playing a fair reffing game.

All other suggestions are welcome though because my idea has holes in it and is taking on water.

Mya just suggested that one player is Ref for example game one Fin (sharks) is ref. When Fin is on the court it's his responsibility to assign one of his benched players (also sharks) to take over until Fin comes off again.

We alternate between the two teams game by game. (game 1 sharks ref, game 2 jetz ref)

I think we could all ref the bench games, then regular 3 on 3 can have a nominated ref?

the problem with all of us reffing is A)who has final say? and B) it's just look like heckling rather than calls with any authority if 4 people are all shouting Stop! It's a foul!

I've changed the time to 30 mins and also changed the target score to 15. This will make each series go a little quicker (need 8 wins to win the round).

After each series (max 15 games) We're going to switch two players from each team as follows:

• After first series the top and bottom goal scorers from each team swap
  
• After second series the oldest and youngest players from each team swap
  etc. (feel free to suggest some)
  
  

Sharks v Jets looks good -- gonna have to remember the colour coordination.

Fixcraft stuff ordered, it'll arrive in three weeks. Monies owed:

Neil (2 x classic heads) £22
Fin (1 x pick up head + connect) £28
Dan (1 x connect) £10
Chris (1 x connect) £10

Can I PayPal you, or do you want cash?

Good bench game tonight!
Go jets!

Ok so, just spoke to JCC (I now have his personal mobile number, such a high roller!) they've said that on the 7th June they are open from 8.30-6pm. They are happy for us to set stuff up the night before and check the court and whatever.

Usually it's be £15 an hour which would be £135 but he's happy to give it to us for £100. He also said he will make sure someone sweeps it the day before and he said he'll ask the college maintainance people to deal with the moss in advance but that if we want to do it and test out the court beforehand we can.

I said that I'll check with everyone and let him know by the end of the week.

That sounds great, play can start even earlier than at Bristol! Great job, Kat, you hostile, high rolling shark.

Neil, you can Paypal harrybb@gmail.com. Thanks

All done Harry

Excellent Kat. Great Job.

League table updated.

Last night was good, especially for the first game. Lots of competitive play, but also clean and in good spirits. The teams were nice and even too.

The only contentious issue seemed to be around the awarding of goals. So, from now on, the team behind the goal are the goal refs if they say it's a goal, then it's a goal. Sometimes they'll get it wrong, but it will be consistent.

In terms of reffing we probably aren't going to need much based on last night. Let's keep it as it is for now. If there's a foul, call it!

We missed out on stats last night (my bad) but from now on if we could get a person on each team noting down the scorers then we can guarantee we'll get them all.

On a similar note we should make sure each team has a spare ball on them ready to swap it if it goes out. I was stopping the clock for balls going out last night, but it's tough to keep on top of when it only goes out briefly and/or I'm playing at the same time.

If anyone has any suggestions for improvements feel free.

For the record, the goal I was insistent about being a goal, was in retrospect not a goal. It was inside the top of the cone, but that's outside where the yellow marks are on the ground due to the errr conical shape of cones . Conceding team judging the goal might become contentious in tight games/final minutes, although I can't think of a better way... Matt's final goal went just over Fin's wheel from my perspective, and Fin thought it went over his top tube. Thumb war in case of a draw?

Reffing/fouling seemed fine. Self reffing worked just as good as actual reffing.

I was confused about time stopping (thought it was just constantly rolling) but if it's agreed to stop when ball goes out that makes sense. Can we clarify what happens after a goal though?

Generally I thought it was good, and inclusive, but wasn't as 'spirited' as 3 v 3/10 mins.

Oh, I scored all 9 of Sharks' goals btw

Oh yeah, in terms of restarting after a goal we should ask the other team if they're ready before we cross. If one playing person on the opposing team says yes, then its game on..

Wow, I take my eyes off this thread for a few minutes and a new league forms! It all looks good to me. The only thing is since I probably would have scored three goals on Wednesday can we change the result to a draw?

Do you think we'll be OK to write on the wall at the JCC in chalk? We can put a scoreboard/fixtures/etc table up there, then just wash it off afterwards?