Birmingham Bike Polo Chat & BS Thread

The meeting tonight is for "Vagina Fest 2014" or Lady Polo Day as I prefer to call it. We can always talk about Matt's proposal on Wednesday at polo (after we get kicked off the court by the youths)

Sounds good.
I'm in for vag-fest from 12:00. let me know what you might want me to do.

In that case then, can you also just let me know what you need from me and my car too? I have goals but I don't think I have any of the small wood pieces that we usually use to plug the gaps (dunno where they are either I'm afraid).

FYI I know it might not be indicative but there are no complete future-league team line-ups playing tomorrow (wednesday), despite there being 9 players (pretty good turnout). This would be the main stumbling block I reckon and we'd maybe have to make sure that there is also a minimum of one league game per meeting which would mean fairly frequent subbing. Not really a big problem IMO but if someone clever has a solution that would be good...

Right... so... here is a list of everything we need to do for Sunday. If you've already said you'd like to do something I have put your name down. If you'd like to volunteer for something, add your name to the list!

• Making food (we're thinking pasta salad, salad etc) Matt, Mya, Kat (and anyone else who's free Saturday and wants to help)
  
• Taking food from M&Ms to courts:
  
• Sorting out wood to block the gaps on the court: Fin and Matt
  
• Driving goals, wood, gazebo (and cones incase to we need to appease youths!) to court: Dan W
  
• Balls: Matt. Chris Swann can you also bring yours?
  
• Stopwatch and Whistle- Fin
  
• Tape (3 colours)- Fin
  
• Pens and paper- Kat
  
• Video/ photos- Matt
  
• Prizes: Guts and Glory Mallet shafts
  Prosecco- Kat/Mya
  
  

I'm sure I'm forgetting something but Fin, Mya or Matt can pick me up on that.

Anyway, why not just come and watch and then come to the pub after! And there'll be a bit of a party at mine on Saturday night.

This court

Is behind the Aldi in Selly Oak. There are two courts there, one is like Calthorpe fences with big open goals. The other one (in the pictures) has highgate style fencing. With only one ball-sized gap where the big gate is (pictured).

It has lights, but they are are smaller than Calthorpe so not sure how effective they are, or if they even work (went in the day). There is also a bush protruding onto the court (pictured) and some moss on that side that would need sweeping before the wet weather comes. The surface is probably slightly worse than Calthorpe, but, if the fences are better, the gaps are better, the lights are good enough and the kids aren't as populous* it may be worth a go.

• there were six kids there kicking a ball at each other and saying fuck nearly constantly when we were there, but because there are two courts they obvs wanted the footy one.
  
  

Anyone know any more about this court, or want to give it a go sometime? even if we just went down one evening to see if the lights work and the number of kids..

This is the first court we played polo on in Birmingham! The surface is poor on the non-MUGA. On the MUGA there are usually loads of people playing BBall in term time.

Those courts are pretty busy, usually with uni people, so when the students come back next week it may be more difficult to get on.
Worth a try though!

I'm going to the US in a couple of weeks and am gonna get a few more of those NAH balls we played with last Sunday, both warm and cool weather versions (not sure if the cool will differ much from the Magic-branded balls).

Happy to order any extra gear that people might want.

^ http://fixcraft.merchtable.com/

If there is room in a car on Sunday morning could we bring one of the reynolds goals and 4 extra boards? I'd like to set up a little practice goal behind the pitch for people who are waiting.

I've re-scheduled the league so that it's not specific dates, but each round has to be finished by a certain dates as follows:

All round 1 games to be played by October 26th. Round 2 games to be played by November 23rd. Round three games to be played by December 21st. Round 4 games to be played by January 18th. Round 5 games to be played by February 15th. Round 6 games to be played by March 15th.

Teams can schedule there games by chatting to each other then confirming with me when they're going to play.

Ideally all games will be played on a Wednesday or Sunday, but if needs must it could be scheduled for another day.

New start date is September 28th to allow us a bit of extra time. Each round consists of 6 games (everyone playing each other once)

updated Google doc

Also at the end of the league we'll have an award for the 'Players' player' - I'll take nominations nearer the end of the winter.

While I think the league is a good idea, it's going to be hard to pull off. The main reasons being coordinating people with different commitments, subbing and the weather.

I think dedicating one Sunday or Wednesday a month to a fixed teams practice day would be better. Whoever is confirmed on the day is put into equal level teams for the whole day in a round robin format (2 or 3 rounds). It would be much easier to organise and you would still get time to play with a dedicated team.

I can take an extra goal/board to the court, but can't take it back (I will have the work van in the morning). On that note - when/where shall I collect boards/gazebo etc? Kat mentioned something on Wednesday but I forgot.

Matt's league thing is great I think. We just need to be flexible and allow teams to use a sub when the deadline approaches. We should at least try it. Sounds like Matt is on the ball in terms of the inevitable whipping that will be required.

It takes time to develop as a team and work on specific individual weaknesses - if we do it in one day then those things probably won't happen. I like the idea of teammates watching each other during throw-ins and offering advice/criticism/things to work on.

We will need to gauge vicky's and alice's interest though - where has vicky gone? And LJ...

Can we have a throw in team added to the league for a bit of spicyness?

I guess if we can't get it back from the court we probably shouldn't take it there! Dan, could you maybe speak to Matt about the gazebo etc, I have a gazebo but Matt said something about someone from London dropping some off on Saturday? Fin said that the boards are at the shop so I can probably carry them to my house on Saturday and you can get them from there (and my gazebo if needs be).

I'm sure a couple of us can cycle a goal back.

If the goals and boards are at the shop shall I just get them from there? Can come by tomorrow around 4.30pm. I have the cones and LucasGoals.

One-dayers would be easier to organise, but not as much fun. and not a league either. I can't see it being that difficult, we had two complete teams on Wednesday that could have organised a game. and I've allowed 5 weeks per round which should be more than enough to play 3 games each.

I wanted to update our blog to help us attract new players and make it more current, but I hate using wordpress so I moved us over to Tumblr.

It would be cool to get the posts going again more regularly. and take lots of inviting pictures. I've posted a few nice pictures already, but if other people want to post to then please do the log in is the same as the BBP gmail and password. If you don't know it let me know. I'll buy us a domain name too so we can be official again.

http://birminghambikepolo.tumblr.com/

Nice! I like that you've used the one of Chris looking like an excited kid at Christmas...makes us seem 'fun' and 'approachable'!

Just seen this - good work Matt!

Yeah, looks great! I'm happy to offer any web skillz if you need 'em, though you look pretty set.