National Series 2011

Come up with a better solution (one that guarantees that one or two people don't have to do all the reffing, and most people do none).

I had one, but I forgot it.

I'll keep thinking, I just want to know that Bill's suggestion isn't set in stone. It will further delay tourneys as teams will have their team chat on court before a game starts instead of off court during the previous game and ready to play as soon as they are called.

The major upsides are an evenly spread workload, wider involvement, wider knowledge of the rules and more respect for refs.

I had one, but I forgot it.

I'll keep thinking, I just want to know that Bill's suggestion isn't set in stone.

Honestly, I don't care who comes up with whichever solution works best. I came up with one, which you got really exercised about, and I said very, very clearly at the time, come up with something better, and we'll adopt it. You have had 6 weeks to formulate a solution, and all you can come up with is, basically, "yours is no good". I am more than happy to try out a different system at the UK Champs, but I am not happy to do what we did at the Brighton tournament. It was unsatisfactory.

What I have come up with is better than what we had before, which disadvantaged people who are willing to stand up and ref, whilst others don't ref at all, ever.

I am happy to do some reffing, I just don't want to do all, or even most, or even more than a few games during a tourney. I know that most other people who ref feel the same way. My solution spreads the load evenly, rather than sharing the reffing unevenly amongst the willing & thereby favouring those teams that manipulate the willing to spare themselves.

I wasn't trying to just slate your idea, I was trying to check if I had left it too long to think of something, if it had been set in stone.

I suggest anyone else who isn't happy with Bill's solution tries to think of another solution too. Maybe it's just me.

Alternatives could be, more people registering an interest in reffing tournament games? Since we spoke about this solution I have reffed at tournaments and will continue to do so.

I hope we won't need solutions like this in the future.

Not sure where to put this, but I think it's a bit strange that the UK Champs is going to have such a small turnout, and not sure it really qualifies as a 'true' national champs. Nothing to do with where it is, just about how small the attendance is.

It's not ideal to have the UK Champs so close to the Euros. Perhaps this is something that we could look at for next year. On the other hand, the fact that EDH is the UK Champs means that they are getting more teams than would otherwise go. It (the UK Champs & the National Series) was definitely a major reason for me deciding to go.

I wasn't trying to just slate your idea, I was trying to check if I had left it too long to think of something, if it had been set in stone.

I suggest anyone else who isn't happy with Bill's solution tries to think of another solution too.

Alternatives could be, more people registering an interest in reffing tournament games? Since we spoke about this solution I have reffed at tournaments and will continue to do so.

I hope we won't need solutions like this in the future.

No offence taken! I agee with most of what you say - especially the part about people who are not happy with this solution trying to think of something else.

Polo love.

I'm crying.

Also remember the UK Champs were going to happen in Manchester. That fell through and Edinburgh stepped up.

I guess the same way you have the team on next reffing, you could also have the team who just played reffing. But that has the downside that if they are wound up after a game (for whatever reason), they won't have their mind on it.

Don't think it's a better solution, just different.

I guess the same way you have the team on next reffing, you could also have the team who just played reffing. But that has the downside that if they are wound up after a game (for whatever reason), they won't have their mind on it.

Don't think it's a better solution, just different.

I considered this also, but discarded it for the reason given above. People are generally much more emotional after a game than before.

Is it only the proximity to a game that you object to Ruppert?

I know it'd be harder to organise, but if everyone had to ref the penniprevious game, would there be objections? They'd still have the game before they play to discuss plans.

Is it not easier to say that reffing a set number of games is compulsory, then divide them up and try to schedule them when people aren't playing? I imagine it would make scheduling games/reffing doubly hard than now, but I'm just thinking aloud.

IMO its great that edinburgh are hosting champs this year, and if people aren't prepared to travel for it, then tough titty. #biasedasitsclosetonewcastle

fairplay though on it being rather close to the euros.......

Is it only the proximity to a game that you object to Ruppert?

I know it'd be harder to organise, but if everyone had to ref the penniprevious game, would there be objections? They'd still have the game before they play to discuss plans.

if your fancy words mean ref the game 2 ahead of yours then that's what I was going to suggest, surely the only real objection to the current idea is that you don't want to be reffing just before you play then reffing when your in the hole should be fine and would probably help get everyone on court at the right time

Is it not easier to say that reffing a set number of games is compulsory, then divide them up and try to schedule them when people aren't playing? I imagine it would make scheduling games/reffing doubly hard than now, but I'm just thinking aloud.

If you're doing Swiss Rounds (as the NS is supposed to be), it is virtually impossible to schedule refs ahead of time, as the fixtures generate at the end of each round, which is why I decided to go with on-deck team refs.

In round-robin, unless whoever is scheduling the games (this is likely to be Mark), is willing to figure who can ref who is not playing on another court in the next game but one etc, etc, you are still looking at next game refs as a simple solution.

in the hole sounds good to me, it's just being on deck that i object to.

i also object to the terms 'in the hole' and 'on deck', but that's for another day.

in the hole sounds good to me, it's just being on deck that i object to.

i also object to the terms 'in the hole' and 'on deck', but that's for another day.

I object to these terms also. I have no problem with the "in the hole" team(s) reffing.

Yes, in the hole teams is better than on deck.

Playing/Reffing order
1 2 3 4 5 6
3 4 5 6 1 2

easy.

but, which team refs? seeing as there are 2 per game.

dance off?

i also object to the terms 'in the hole' and 'on deck', but that's for another day.

American baseball terms. To me 'on deck' sounds like it comes after 'in the hole'. But it doesn't.

I had to look it up before posting to avoid a faux par, I'd prefer, "wooing the court" "copping a feel" and "knee deep in polo"

I've watched enough sports fantasy films to know these things off cuff.

Just give all referees free food/drink, sweet prizes and the power to show video replays... problem solved?

Reffing pre-game is good in theory, it ensures the teams are ready to go and allows better scheduling. Although in Cambridge games were held up by refs not being ready/aware, so maybe it causes more problems (personally I'd rather ref 5 games in a row and then step down for the day than do several stints of it).

Although in Cambridge games were held up by refs not being ready/aware, so maybe it causes more problems (personally I'd rather ref 5 games in a row and then step down for the day than do several stints of it).

Thats always been my concern. Its one more level of whipping required, unless we have a 2nd (refs) whip. Its hard enough finding goal refs without having to track down specific teams and wait for them.

It will further delay tourneys as teams will have their team chat on court before a game starts instead of off court during the previous game

That just requires refs to start penalising teams who fuck around instead of getting on court and playing. I used to think that was a problem too. Now I just think you should get your shit together and talk before you ref.

it's not 'fucking around', it's discussing how you are going to play the game so it is better to play and watch.

I would rather do that off the court, but if I'm reffing the previous 10 minutes then it would be difficult.