Tourney: London Open 2011 - NS - July 30th and 31st

Ha £525 Fuck that!

I think at a big tournament, it's almost essential to have decent score board (zip-ties & laminated numbers is lame) & a clock makes it a lot more engaging for the spectators, and a lot less hassle for the ref. Given that we have at least 2 big tournaments a year in London, I reckon the one-off cost makes it easily worthwhile, but so far I haven't been able to convince the LHBPA.

When I have some time I'm going to look in to making some scoreboards. Hopefully I'll be able to write up some sort of proposal in time for the next lhbpa meeting.

Good information thus far... what was the overall size of the two Hackney courts? I need to cost and size up the MCR options for our budget.

They were too small, which is why we're moving to a new location.

Try and build 35m x 20m minimum if you can. The caged court at Downs is 33m x 18m.

I think at a big tournament, it's almost essential to have decent score board (zip-ties & laminated numbers is lame) & a clock makes it a lot more engaging for the spectators, and a lot less hassle for the ref. Given that we have at least 2 big tournaments a year in London, I reckon the one-off cost makes it easily worthwhile, but so far I haven't been able to convince the LHBPA.

+1

Ref calling the time seems like a waste of time if you ask me. Add a bit on to the registry fee...its for the players anyway.

"Ref... ref... what time is left?"
ref looks down at watch.
"6.23secs left"
POINTLESS!!

+1

Ref calling the time seems like a waste of time if you ask me. Add a bit on to the registry fee...its for the players anyway.

"Ref... ref... what time is left?"
ref looks down at watch.
"6.23secs left"
POINTLESS!!

I agree, but some players get really antsy if they're not told the time at least every 30 seconds. Much better if there's a visible game-clock.

next time you're reffin, maybe suggest they ride over to take a look for themselves?

next time you're reffin, maybe suggest they ride over to take a look for themselves?

Yeah, that would work.

off thread... youre liking that milk head arnt you.

hows the wear?

It's better than any other head I've used, but it does still wear. I've probably played 100 games of polo since I got it, it's still ok.

Having the projected scoreboard at cambridge was good, not so great for outside though

but is yours concave yet john?

Yep, projections are rubbish with a small amount of ambient light.

but is yours concave yet john?

It is, I've still not compared it to a new one.

I'll do that tonight it I remember.

Try and build 35m x 20m minimum if you can. The caged court at Downs is 33m x 18m.

The two courts I'm working on in Brum at the minute are 27 x 40m. I've been told by some this is too big and others that 'the bigger the better'. I think boarding them down the sides will look awful and affect spectating. What's a girl to do?

As I said, if you could shave ~5m off the sides with good boards, I think it would be a rather nice court.

27m x 40m would be awesome, it's a joy to play on larger courts.

The only downside to larger courts is that the game starts to look a little lame with all the unused space. Anything above 45m in length starts to get a bit silly to spectate in my opinion (as you can't see the players/goals, break-aways are predictable, etc).

But yeah, bigger is better at the moment, sounds ace.

Rouen proved that wide courts (with rounded corners) make for exciting polo (to play and watch)... I think that "double the width for the length" is now a bit too long.

Granted that 25m x 40m would probably be better? No-one has the magic formula yet.

Konstanz (roller hockey court) was too big in my opinion (around 50m x 30m?).

Keep it BIG!

x100

I have a feeling that the width may be more important that length. As Jono said above, too long, and you get a game with a lot dead space.

I reckon you want the court to be long enough that you can't score easily from inside your own half, but not necessarily any longer than that. I think Downs is probably slightly too short, and Mitch perhaps slightly too long.

On the other hand, too narrow a court (I'm thinking anything under 20m), and the defence gets a big hand, as it's a lot easier to take someone to the boards, making for a negative "block, block" game. A wider court makes a passing game a lot more productive, IMO.

I have a feeling that the width may be more important that length.

as with most things :)

courts for the paris euro bid are 20x40 maybe a bit narrow but still awesome

Who else pitching for the Euros?

courts for the paris euro bid are 20x40 maybe a bit narrow but still awesome

i dont think anyone else is but they just said its euros bid (as did geneva with worlds) and about 100% going to happen

So this is first drawing i did for the London open courts:

Amazing!