[BD] Tour 0: 2008

Fri Aug 31 13:45:46 BST 2007

I'd support the switch to 8 teams sitting out, though not necessarily 
the switch to basing it on tour results rather than nationals. I don't 
really care about fluctuations - seems to me that the top 8 either at 
nationals or over the whole tour are good enough to deserve an A-tour 
spot next year.

But (in my opinion) there are three important ideas behind Tour 0 (in no 
particular order):

1: That the top players (in general) wanted to drop from 4 to 3 tours a 
couple of years ago, but a lot of the lower ranked teams would still 
prefer the extra event.

2: That any new/improved teams should have a fair shot at being A-tour 
if they deserve to be (i.e. if 4 or 5 good new teams appear, they can 
all get into A-tour straight away rather than fighting for 2 or 3 spots. 
(Specifically in response to what Alastair Findlay just said, it's 
important that new or vastly improved teams [Discuits a couple of years 
ago, anyone?] are allowed in as well; plus, most of the lower teams want 
to play the extra tourney anyway)

3: That in order to correctly seed any new/improved teams, it's 
important to have a wide open format, and this is both a) difficult with 
60 teams, and b) generally unnecessary for the top few teams.

The original suggestion was that the top 8 would sit out Tour 0; this 
was changed at the conference - I can't say why because I wasn't there. 
But in my opinion, there would be no real downside to the top 8 sitting 
it out in relation to any of the 3 objectives above, and reducing the 
number of teams competing will greatly benefit the schedule. I wouldn't 
have more than 8 sit it out, because it's important that there are a 
large number of A-tour spots up for grabs.

Incidentally, part of the original rationale for Tour 0 was based on 
only 2 teams being promoted/relegated, and by making it 3 teams we 
reduced the need for Tour 0 somewhat, since there is a greater chance to 
move up and down anyway. Looking at this year's results, only 1 team 
stayed up after promotion each time (sometimes winner of B-tour stayed 
up, sometimes 2nd) and the 3rd placed team in B-tour finished last at 
the next A-tour every time.

I don't think that the 3rd qualifying spot is necessary, though I 
suppose people might like it for other reasons - it gives more teams 
A-tour experience (even though they seem to lose a lot), and it gives a 
meaningful play-off for third place. Do people think it's worthwhile?

B

McLoughlin, Matthew J wrote:
> After having reviewed the results of the tour this year I was wondering if the UKU were going to implement the same rules for Tour0 next year as they did this year.
>
> In 2007 all teams outside the top4 (based on Nationals 2006) were made to qualify via the Tour0 route.  This was because of "fluctuations" between finishing positions between 5-8 deemed it viable to include the fifth place team.  This season has seen the top 5 positions held only by 5 teams with Leeds taking 5th in every tour and unlucky not to take higher.  Also fluctuations between the 6-9 spots has also been reduced (with Discuits filling one of those spots every time).
>
> The question I want to raise is that next year shouldn't tour 0 be compulsory for teams outside the top 8 based on final tour rankings?
>
> Matt
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: britdisc-bounces at ranulf.net [mailto:britdisc-bounces at ranulf.net]On
> Behalf Of Admin
> Sent: 21 August 2007 14:56
> To: 'britdisc'
> Subject: [BD] Open Tour 2007 Final Ranking Positions
>
>
> Sorry about the delay - the results are up now (including OT3):
>
> http://www.ukultimate.com/previous_open_division_results/2007_tour
>
> The 11th year of the UKUA Tour seemed to go pretty well:
> - Clapham retained the Ben Rainbow Trophy (aka "the Rock") - but didn't have
> things all their own way
> - The first ever Tour 0 - a "qualifying round" - generally considered a
> success and likely to be retained in 2008
> - A total of 49 open teams played in Tours 1,2 and 3
> - 37 of the teams played in all three rounds
> - 14 clubs fielded two teams
> - Only 12 teams remained in the A Tour for all three rounds
> - 7 teams (ranked 13th-19th) bounced up and down between the two divisions -
> sometimes breaking into the top 12
> - ABH was the highest ranked team that didn't play in the A Tour
> - Definitely the worst weather we've ever had across the whole Tour!
> Although in 1997, Tour 4 (of 5) at Southampton was abandoned due to
> lightning on Sunday afternoon before the final positioning games could be
> played.
>
> Women's results to follow shortly...
>
> Si
>
>
> Simon Hill, UKUA Administrator
> Email: mailto:admin at ukultimate.com 
> Skype: ukua.admin
> Postal address: UK Ultimate Association, LONDON WC1N 3XX 
>  
>
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