Stu, As you state the solution to the problem of consecutive games is either shorter games or fewer rounds (not necessarily fewer games).
Assume that we have 8 pitches for the A tour games. Also assume that games can be played from 9:30-6:00 on the Saturday. We then have two choices for the number of rounds. 1. Play 4 tour hour rounds, starting at 9:30, 11:30, 1:30 & 3:30. If the format is such that teams are playing back to back then it seems sensible to play 75 minute games with 15 minutes cap and 30 minutes in between rounds. 2. Play 3 two and three quarter hour rounds, starting at 9:30, 12:45 & 3:00. with such large round you could play 90 minute games 15 minute caps and have a hour rest in between games. It seems to me that most of the people that have mailed to BD recently to complain about the schedule would be happy (happier) with the 2nd suggestion. However the problem is that with the current wackass Tour structure is that you have pools of three and therefore the entire format requires four rounds on the Saturday even though teams only play three games. This means that the four teams that have byes in the last round of pool play inevitably have three consecutive games. The solution must lie in an A tour format that uses pools of four and therefore can be run in three rounds. There are three choices of such a format all require three games on Saturday and three on Sunday. 1. Top 4 in a pool, two pools for 5-12, bottom 4 in a pool + Q,S,F for 1st and 9th. 2. Top 8 in two pools, bottom 8 in two pools + S,F for 1st, Q,S,F for 5th, S,F for 13. 3. Four pools of 4 + Q,S,F for 1st and 9th. The first option has been used and rejected as it created too many meaningless games. The second option is essentially the old Tour format it's main drawback is that it only gives two games for the bottom 4 teams (unless shock horror you played a promotion relegation round with the top 4 of the B tour) The main criticism of third option is that the top teams are going to have to 'waste their time' playing the 'chumps' at the bottom of the A tour. Here's where I think the top A tour players are trying to have their cake and eat it. If you don't want to play meaningless games inside the top 4 and you don't want to get injured playing too many tough games back to back isn't the best solution to just play four pools of four. There will be fewer hard games for the top teams and they can focus their energy and strength on fewer big games. Meanwhile the bottom teams get to see how they match up against the best teams and avoid the potentially 'meaningless' Saturday games against teams they are more than likely to face again in the relegation games on the Sunday. JP > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Stu Mitchell > Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2005 9:02 PM > To: Britdisc > Subject: [BD] Tour schedule > > > I would like to raise my concerns regarding the scheduling this season. > > I picked up an injury on the Saturday of Tour 2 during Chevrons 3rd > consecutive game, which I think was purely down to fatigue. It happened > when I layed out for a disc, our team having played 5 hours of Ultimate > without a break. My body decided it had had enough and so I sit here with > a knackered shoulder having missed Sundays play and wondering whether I > will be fit in time for Euro's. > > > What is the point of making teams play 3 full length games on the trot? > Our third game on Saturday was a test of fitness not ability. It also > meant that from 8am till 3.30pm we didn't even have a chance to eat > properly or get out of the sun. > I'm not sure what the schedule has been like for teams in other parts of > the draw but it has been punishing for the teams at the top end. I know > Leeds have had this situation in both tours this season. > When the tour was set up it was to improve our teams internationally so > now we play full length games, I've never played in an international > tournament where I've had to play two games consecutively let alone three. > Personally I like the full length games but we cannot continue to play > such a punishing schedule. It is too difficult mentally and physically, > the standard of play and health of our players is suffering as a result. > In my opinion we should either have 2 full length games a day or if we > need to have more games they must be of shorter duration. > > Stu Mitchell > Chevron > __________________________________________________ > BritDisc mailing list > BritDisc@near.me.uk > http://zion.ranulf.net/mailman/listinfo/britdisc > Staying informed - http://www.ukultimate.com/informed.asp __________________________________________________ BritDisc mailing list BritDisc@near.me.uk http://zion.ranulf.net/mailman/listinfo/britdisc Staying informed - http://www.ukultimate.com/informed.asp
