Tourney: Cambridge Regional Bench Minor Tournament 31/03/2012-1/04/2012

Your attitude stinks worse than your set.

Rob's been hammered more times than we've had hot dinners.

We in MCR are desperate to bring new players to taste tawny life, however, this doesn't read like an attractive proposition/format for new/beginner players then - to travel 400 miles and risk not being picked to play or only when losing sucks. If this particular tawny is in part designed to celebrate the rest-of-UK polo scenes, could it not have the reverse effect by putting off/down enthusiastic beginners that are essential to continued growth outside LDN?

Surely it'd be better to ensure, through a standardisation of bench numbers across the cities represented, that each player in each squad has equal and therefore limited time on court? Then the Captain's job becomes genuinely meaningful in a tactical way, not a merely political one.

It wouldn't be too difficult for each player to carry their score (read: time) card showing their maximum time available for the day, with the refs marking those players cards down as (post-match) they each played in a round (maybe player time has to be in blocks of 5 minutes to ease the work ie. you either play a 5 minute or a full game, depending on your Captain's strategy).

Once a 'star' player has used up their allocation of time, then it's over to the rest of the bench...

This has been discussed before. It complicates things too much, during a game, captains have so much to think about. They need to watch the game, work out weaknesses and strengths in their players and the opponents, think about good combinations, when to make changes and who to change as well as playing themselves. To keep track of each individual player's court time would be almost impossible.

Captain's jobs are really meaningful in a tactical way with 6/7 players in a squad. everyone plays a decent amount, feels part of the team and, if well managed can make good contributions. A clever full line change or a timely individual substitution can turn a game on its head. Thats what makes BM so interesting and fun. A captain's job is only political when there are 8+ players on a team where the emphasis shifts to giving everyone a certain token amount of time on court instead of using all their players in an effective, tactical way.

As for the ref, its hard enough reffing a game and time keeping and keeping score than having to work out individual times on the pitch as well

I really dont understand anyone when they discuss, "new players will be discouraged" / "Isnt it going to have a negative affect on new players..." / "dosnt swiss rounds mean that less experience players get spanked by better teams and therefore discourage them from entering tournaments..."
WHo are these fucking pussies? I don't think they exist. These hordes of discouraged beginners and lesser players that never come back because bike polo has been too mean to them. Those that left the court in floods of tears, because shock horror they lost a game of bike polo and they came along to be encouraged not beaten dammit!

A coach will pick the best team, if you dont think you'll get court time, dont sign up. The coach and court time really has nothing to do with this whole whiney argument for inclusivity and development and encouragement that rears its head again and again, from swiss rounds debates to first to 5, to NS tourneys and bench minors. This is bike polo, these are tournaments. this is supposed to be about skill and stamina, turn up, play, win lose or draw, play better next time.
#bikepolonotbedwetting

Ha and yes.

I don't think I've ever heard anyone complain of being demotivated by an ass-whupping. I've been consistently receiving them since 2009 Euros! It's the fundamentally good-natured victors who have all the bad feelings, not the losers.

I wasn't thinking about newish players getting discouraged, more about the really new players that ain't really tournament ready, so wouldn't think about signing up for a tournament for a few months until they are ready. Kind of like taking a young football player to the euros or whatever to get a feel for tournaments, and maybe playing little bits of games without affecting the teams push for a win.
I was basically looking for a conformation of the rules on if everyone in the squad had to play each game, as that would affect who I'd pick for a team (not that I'm captain), if you have a team with only 6 players it's a non-issue really.

I really dont understand anyone when they discuss, "new players will be discouraged" / "Isnt it going to have a negative affect on new players..." / "dosnt swiss rounds mean that less experience players get spanked by better teams and therefore discourage them from entering tournaments..."
WHo are these fucking pussies? I don't think they exist. These hordes of discouraged beginners and lesser players that never come back because bike polo has been too mean to them. Those that left the court in floods of tears, because shock horror they lost a game of bike polo and they came along to be encouraged not beaten dammit!

A coach will pick the best team, if you dont think you'll get court time, dont sign up. The coach and court time really has nothing to do with this whole whiney argument for inclusivity and development and encouragement that rears its head again and again, from swiss rounds debates to first to 5, to NS tourneys and bench minors. This is bike polo, these are tournaments. this is supposed to be about skill and stamina, turn up, play, win lose or draw, play better next time.
#bikepolonotbedwetting

Everyone pick a coach, let them pick a team it's simple! the coach can determine your court time not a frigging score card!

I agree with Brendan that generally there is a strange perception that new teams should avoid getting put against teams who will spank them. When I first played in a tournament I got egg end spoon to wheely goaled by Max from Hooks and 'Manchester lazered' by Chan. It made me want to come back next time and wipe the smiles from their faces.

Granted I haven't managed it yet, but t didn't put me off.

If you are all traveling down, or up, together and part of a polo scene, then i would imagine within your group there is a sense of camaraderie and loyalty. The only bench minor i've played in was the ABC last year, one of the things i enjoyed was the fact that we all supported the newer players within our group.

One of the things at normal tournaments i hate is playing teams from your own locality. I weep a little every time we beat or knock out team Cream, after they've tried so hard as well....

That's why I wanna bring some new guys, it'll be great to play as MCR for all of us, but if I'm picking a team to win, they probably won't be on it if I have to use them in every game, the people I'm thinking of started within the last couple of weeks

not that I'm actually picking a team

My comments were driven by the specifics of this tournament only and its loose alignment with the possible birth of UKHBP - comments not driven by/aimed at general tournaments etc. If you re-read in that context then:

Surely most of us can relate to the notion of being discouraged by the thought that we may not even play in a tournament, despite being 'picked' (read: available) and travelling 400 miles?

MCR were/are looking to encourage our new players (I don't see it saying 'hoardes' anywhere BTW) to get in tournaments ASAP - but I was musing that this particular format might not be the one for us to point them at. Nothing to do with getting thrashed - everything to do with actually playing.

I'm only still playing so I can make Buffalo Bill eat some humble pie topped with TS's special sauce...
After that, I'm done...
#bedwetterscan>>>>>>>>>>>

Possible for players from another country to play?

Move to the UK

Only if you can convincingly affect the accent of the locality which you represent.

try this - "eh, ah kid, come ere, aal fookin stab ya!"

I think you'll find it's 'yoh'.

I'm not able to make this tourney but I would play as little or as much as Cap'n tells me to with no grudge harboured or politics noted - the /experience/ of the tourney is what is exciting me as a noob, getting to play as well would be like being taken to a strip-show at 13 and being told you can have a sneaky fondle as well :-D

^No problems there..

That's levy manc, not moss side manc, a subtle but noticeable difference

The thing with new players is that the effort, drive and commitment has to come from them. We can provide all the assistance that is possible, but a large amount of people will come and have a go and then wander off.
What puts them off is the fact that they'll have to practice for a long time until they are at a reasonable standard. Also the fact that we are fairly repulsive.

Possible for players from another country to play?

If you can get on a regional team, one of the cities with a small pool of players might take you. We're not extending the event to cities outside of the UK however for obvious reasons.

As our club/scene is only new we can only offer a team of new players. 3 of us have 1 tourney behind us. In that one tourney the 3 of us leant more than probably 6 months playing throw ins even though we got thumped 5-0.

The bench tourney looks ideal for new players specially with a 30 minute game, you may get thumped 30-0 but at least u get a full game unlike first to 5, where u might be out in 3 minutes!

to travel 400 miles and risk not being picked to play or only when losing sucks.

You have to travel to get more experience to get better at polo.

I shudder to think how many miles I've travelled to play, to lose in the earliest stages. Barcelona and Berlin spring to mind!