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

if you get a list together and put in a draft im pretty sure you will in!

Absolutely ^
The focus is getting as many UK teams down, more the merrier!

Absolutely ^
The focus is getting as many UK teams down, more the merrier!

Even if it's 3+ London teams?

Think we have to limit london to 2 teams, otherwise we are looking at 10+teams in total and there is not enough time to have the round robin. sorry.

Just thinking aloud, but are you going to set minimum numbers to form a team? It's unlikely we'll get 10 players in Brum, so would we be forced to take on a few subs? Or maybe make a two-city team of 5-each?

You dont have to make a team of 10, as long there are at least 6 of you and one captain, but if you did want to make a two-city team that would be fine, as i am sure there are a couple places lacking the numbers.

IMO ten is far too many players for a 30 min game ideally between 6 & 7

I think your right Adam, but if people want to form a bigger team we didn't want to limit them. the cambridge team will only have 6/7 players.

Yeah 6ish is ideal, I just wanted to clarify. Can't wait to see the lineups. I don't envy whoever has to decide in London!

would all players have to play each game, or could you bring some new players along to make up places 8-10 and play them in some games but not others?

I really liked playing in a 6 player team in the ABC Bench Minor. The fact that every player had to have game time was important in making sure teams didnt just put their best 3 players on for the whole game and that lesser players got awesome experience of playing with top players

I get that, it'd be nice to bring some newer player to their 1st tourney, but putting them on against 6-7 stronger londoners might be a bit much for their precious noob constitutions, but putting them in a games with weaker teams and maybe leaving a stronger player out could be good

how about "you have to use min 6 players"? or shall I just shut up?

^^ It's up to the captain to make those decisions isn't it?

yeah, but i think all players on a team have to play in each game. 10 player=each player plays. IMO I think for new players it is better to play against a stronger team as it gives them an idea of actual tournament play.

I'd leave it up to captains.

If they want to play the same 3 players the whole tournament let them, it will be a fun journey home

conversely, I played in GM2 as one of the obviously weaker players in a large squad. It majorly sucked not to get on court at all in some games and I would rather have played and got creamed by better teams than sit out.

***IMO ***bring a squad that you intend to use for each game, if that means leaving better players out in order to give newer players experience, so be it

I'm thinking really new, like started in the last week or 2, means they can see everyone play, catch the "tourney bug" and get some court time but not feel like they're holding back everyone else if they're forced into playing against a team that's basically cosmic/spring break/nice touch or whatever

Not to turn this into a debate of the merits of bench minor, but at GM2 I was happy to sit out of some games as it was clear I was of little to no use to the team!

If I were captain, I'd try to give newer players some time in games we were likely to lose anyway, and focus the strongest players on games we had a chance in. Goal difference may get fucked, but you'd put your firepower in the most effective place.

I'd try a bit of both I reckon, put the weaker players out when they've got a chance of being some use, or when the game is already won/lost. But if they were forced to be on every game then you'd end up thinking "is it worth them coming?". I guess as a captain you'd want to mix winning with getting everyone game time.

Rob for Captain! Rob for Captain!

captain morgans?

I get that, it'd be nice to bring some newer player to their 1st tourney, but putting them on against 6-7 stronger londoners might be a bit much for their precious noob constitutions, but putting them in a games with weaker teams and maybe leaving a stronger player out could be good

And here was me as a 'noob' in an other wise experienced team thinking that bm would be the perfect taster for competitive polo. Don't worry about our 'precious constitutions', whup our asses. We'll be back...

I get hammered all the time and keep coming back, so I ain't that worried, just want to know how much of a disadvantage to doing well it would be to use it as an opportunity to bring along new people. I'm just gonna go play polo and stop worrying about it

My money is on Cambridge, home court advantage plus they all been so well at tourneys recently..