Sammy,
I thought most Stan players lived in the West Midlands area? For the record I also don't want to see more restrictions - fundamentally should people have the choice to do whatever they like. I am actually becoming more sceptical of the current 'geo' system - seems a bit contrived to me nowadays - most people would naturally choose to play geo if the circumstances were right. My suggestion is that we should encourage *loyalty* (by discouraging roster additions for international clubs events, for example). I think this is more palatable than annoying nanny-state regulations and would help local teams. I dunno - food for thought anyway. Best of British babbling luck in NZ! ;-) Ben ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "Dave Neilson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2002 10:53:20 +0100 >I would warn against the idea of imposing too many restrictions on the >make-up of teams. Offer incentives, by all means, for the geo model if >that seems appropriate, but the idea of outlawing telephone teams is >crazy! > >I beg to differ with Ben about the inability of 'old boys' (& girls of >couse) teams achieving "anything serious or long-term". The case of STAN >must be considered as counter-evidence to Ben's argument. Formed as a >splinter group of the then national champions, STAN was composed almost >entirely of ex-Bears who chose to play together as they shared a common >style and sense of humour. Despite averaging about one practice per >year, they stayed together for 12 years - yes TWELVE! - and were rarely >outside of the top three teams in the country. > >I know times have changed, but the potential still exists - I have >witnessed first hand the very high standard of the top student teams and >many established 'club' teams owe their strength to a series of >graduates from the same institution (NB not quite the same thing as >'cherry picking'). Please note, I am not actively promoting this model, >but using it as an example of how flawed some armchair theorists can >be! > >The observation about the mobility of "young professionals" is also an >important factor in this debate ... although I must admit that few would >say that any STAN player was ever "young" and we could never be accused >of being "professional" in any way, shape or form! > >Thanks for your time. I'm off to New Zealand, so why should I care? ... >Well I do! > >Sam Neilson > >PS What was it Mel Gibson said in Braveheart? ... >"You can take away our telephones, but you can never take away our >FREEDOM!" >... forcing the geo model could result in civil war! > >>>> "Ben Ravilious" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 10/04/2002 08:10:05 >>> >Jon, > >If you ask me, travelling all that way to play with your chosen team >is >crazy but thats your choice! If we're talking about doing something for >the >good of the sport it would be much more helpful if you brought your >experience (and loyalty) to a local team near you. I appreciate that >that is >easier said than done though. > >I also despair at the number of university 'old boys' teams which >spring up >each year. I can understand wanting to stay in contact with uni friends >and >maybe playing a few fun tournaments together for a laugh but there's no >way >these teams are going to achieve anything serious or long-term unless >you >live near each other. Now that we have contact details for everyone I >very >much want to encourage graduates to go find (or start) a local team >they can >contribute to. This will be better for them in the long run (you get to >play >regularly!) and help strengthen of regionally-based teams. > >I believe the geo rules for the Tour simply say that all players must >live >within a 75 mile radius of somewhere - correct me if I'm wrong - its >never >been an issue for my team! > >Enough from me now I think. > >Ben > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Jon Good" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: 09 April 2002 22:30 >Subject: Re: Mixed Teams In Major Tournaments > > >> >Playing in international tournaments is fantastic fun and I'm glad >I've >> > >been lucky enough to have done this on a number of occasions >myself. >> > >However, as individual players we must recognise that doing this >should >> > >be on the basis of long-term commitment to a team. If we have >this >> >attitude then we will end up with more committed teams and therefore >more >> > >*individual* players getting the chance to attend. Heck if you're >not >> > >going to Hawaii go to Brugge/Rotterdam/Rimini/wherever instead - >you >will >> > >still have a good time and you don't need UK Ultimate to approve >your >> > >roster for this!!! >> >> Ben, >> I have to agree with you on the player loyalty issue. I've played >for >> BAF for about 5 years now, through my university career in Scotland. >I >think >> player loyalty is hard as Ultimate comes from a student base, and as >such >a >> lot of younger (no offense to 'older' players) players move around >the >> country a lot as they go to uni and the struggle to find a job. I may >well >> have this wrong but for geo teams aren't you supposed to live nearer >them >> than any other team? These two things just don't add up. If I am >right >> (doubtful) on the geo team thing, can't we have some kind of waver >for >> players who have been at the club for a decent length of time? Sorry >if >I've >> got my facts wrong but I can't check them at the moment. >> >> Le Boeuf >> #44 >> >> >> >> _________________________________________________________________ >> Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at >http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp. >> >> > > >
