UK Champs & Euro Qualifier Discussion

Let's get the ball rolling early.

Based on the last few years what did people like and dislike about the euro qualifiers? What improvements would you suggest? Do you think the UK Champs and Euro Qualifier should be together or separate?

With this feedback we could have an informal vote (like NAH) to distinguish the best idea. We should then have enough time to organise the best UK Champs and Euro qualifier yet.

Here are some suggestions for different combinations.

• 1 big Euro Qualifier - All spots given
  
• 2 Tournaments (1 Qualifier, 1 Seeding) - All spots given
  
• UK Champs - All spots given based on final results
  
• UK Champs - Like 2013: Mini seeding.
  
• UK Champs - Top 20% + Separate EuroQ - Top 80%
  
• UK Champs - Top 40% + Separate EuroQ - Top 60%
  

UK Champs/quali combined. Makes sooo much sense. I thought last year was great

Just some feedback, from having been in charge of this the last few years.

In the end most of the teams who wanted to go (with the exception of Cosmic this year, for other reasons), have gone, regardless of the system used.

We did that whole system last year, and in the end a team that hadn't qualified, (me/Jess/Zoe) got in anyway, and that team then also got into the Worlds.

The lesson from that would be, for me, don't take it too seriously, keep it simple. You don't need some full round robin event, like 2011/12. Do it at the UK champs, and save yourself a tournament. Focus on selecting the best teams as early as possible. We all know which players are likely to be representing the UK at the top end, so come up with a system which helps them get there easily, and then let the rest fight it out for the other spots.

John i remember having to play your team in qualifying, even though you guys didnt go as you played, (i.e. with jacob) no? There were extra games that needed / have been played for teams that didnt / weren't going, which in some way would be good to get rid of. But other than that i liked it.

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I like at all one uk champs tourney with the results deciding the euros spots. Thats how we rank the euro s and world's. Maybe leave a few wildcard spots for last chance tourney or not.

John i remember having to play your team in qualifying, even though you guys didnt go as you played, (i.e. with jacob) no? There were extra games that needed / have been played for teams that didnt / weren't going, which in some way would be good to get rid of. But other than that i liked it.

Yeah, my team that went wasn't the one that tried to qualify, it was a whole new team.

There were a load of teams that tried to qualify who didn't end up going, when they had the chance. Not anyone's fault, stuff happens, and it's hard to come up with a system that accounts for that.

Euro places should be decided by a number of regional tournies not a country allotment.

Obviously though that's not going to happen, so I like the last option, 40% of places come from uk champs, 60 from a euro qualifying tourny.

That way there are two ways for people to qualify, so you don't have the thing of last year where cosmic couldn't make the UK's so didn't qualify.

I'd like to see two tournaments - each with 50% of the places up for grabs.

In two different locations and on two different dates to ensure people can make at least one. Teams can play at both, however if you qualify in your first attempt you can't enter the second tournament.

I think it would also be good (and there is plenty of time) for a committee to be formed to sort out and decide on any discrepancies after the qualification process to make sure it's fair for everybody.

I'd also like to see rules enforced like:
2/3 of your lineup for the qualifiers and the Euros.
Not being able to play in the UK qualifiers if you've already qualified in another country.

Either one of the two qualifiers could be the UK champs, or they could be a separate weekend altogether.

Not being able to play in the UK qualifiers if you've already qualified in another country.

FYI, last year, the EHBPC organisers stated that no-one is allowed to try to qualify in two countries.

That may or may not happen again, depending on the organisers.

Wait a sec... Does anyone know where the euros might be yet? Has there been a bid(s)?

I'd like to see two tournaments - each with 50% of the places up for grabs.

In two different locations and on two different dates to ensure people can make at least one. Teams can play at both, however if you qualify in your first attempt you can't enter the second tournament.

I think it would also be good (and there is plenty of time) for a committee to be formed to sort out and decide on any discrepancies after the qualification process to make sure it's fair for everybody.

I'd also like to see rules enforced like:
2/3 of your lineup for the qualifiers and the Euros.
Not being able to play in the UK qualifiers if you've already qualified in another country.

Either one of the two qualifiers could be the UK champs, or they could be a separate weekend altogether.

i quite like this idea

I'm thinking two tourneys, more tourneys the better!

Two opportunities would be nice, I've missed out on even trying for the last two years because of stupid friends getting married and other such bullshit.

Bristol!? Dublin!? Glasgow!?

Bagsie Dublin!

This feels like it makes most sense, last year was really fun, and it's less organising over all, but what of teams that, whislt unable to go to the Euros, would like to compte in the final rounds of the UK Champs?

UK Champs/quali combined. Makes sooo much sense. I thought last year was great

If it is combined then the seeding needs to be accurate all the way down so that teams that drop out or who only want to play in the UK champs don't have a negative affect on the teams who place below them but get bumped up towards the euro spots and want to go.

No opinion on process, but happy to organise an event in Bristol for this. We'll definitely do a tourney of some description in 2014 anyway / as well.

bump! what happens now?

From the comments it looks like there are two options that people are keen on.
1) UK Champs (inc Euro Qualifier)
2) UK Champs + Separate Qualifier.

For the first option we only need a group willing to set up the UK Champs.

For the second option I suggest that it should be split: Top 4 from UK Champs final results qualify for the Euros + remaining spots to a separate qualifier which is open to all apart from the top 4. I think Bristol would be a good location for the second quali seeing as it has decent prebuilt courts and a good surface.

Maybe we could do a straw poll between them using the forum vote system?

right on Fin! I like that second idea!

Yep sounds like a good idea fin!

Ok, I'll set up a poll tomorrow and try to PM/email some people from other cities who may not be on this forum.

I'll keep the poll open until the end of the month unless people want it longer.