If I've understood this correctly (forgive me, I am new to this rostering lark) then this new exemption allows me the possibility to help out a team struggling for numbers in Nottingham this weekend. I was going to go and watch for a few hours*, but if I have the chance to play, then so much the better.
On the admin front, I am not rostered with anyone, in fact not even a UKU member, but (NJ/Ben, I have your email somewhere, but correct me if I'm wrong...) I can sign up as an associate foreign player on a tournament-by-tournament basis. Surely no objection from Si if I can help out a team who wouldn't otherwise be able to play....? And I can personally ensure that no team I play in will be likely to make the semis :-)
Anyone interested in me(!), please get in touch so I know whether to pack my cleats for when I fly over on Thursday.
Cheers
Wayne
* sticking to my habit of giving far too much detail, I should say I'm not around the whole weekend, unfortunately: I'm already booked on a coach arriving Nott'm 11.30 Saturday, and can only play that day.
From: "Simon Barry" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Mon, 19 Aug 2002 16:53:22 +0000
Subject: [BD] Co-Ed Nationals - Further Developments
Dear All
Quite a few teams applied to add people to their rosters. Some were granted
where justified and some were not. However there are 2 or 3 teams who say
that they are in a position where, unless they can pick up extra players who
have not played with them on the Co-Ed Tour and who are not established
members of their team, then they will not be able to field a team this
weekend.
Another development is that the event is not full, so there are not teams on
the waiting list who would take their place.
The affected teams say that most people would rather they came and played,
rather than missing the event altogether for the lack of a couple of
players. I think this is probably right.
The TD would also like to ensure that the event is full enough to break
even.
Another consideration is that teams who were not on the Co-Ed Tour can now
enter Nationals, so there is nothing (other than a race for places) to stop
a team short of players picking up who they want and re-entering under a
different name.
That said I think that most teams would rather enter and play under their
proper name, especially geo-teams.
Given the above, all things considered, I am inclined to add a further
rostering exemption to the ones that already exist, and say that any team
who will be unable to attend Nationals unless they pick up spare players,
may do so.
It will only be for teams in genuine need. Needless to say spirit and
honesty apply strongly here - I will be there at the weekend. This
shouldn't need to be said, but... Any team unspirited enough to "suddenly"
find more players from their roster turning up at the weekend can expect to
be disqualified and barred from next year's Co-Ed Tour.
The only concern I can still see would be about the teams at the top. While
I reckon most people would want teams not challenging for the title to be
able to attend, those teams who are in the top 8 and who have fielded proper
squads throughout the Tour and complied with the rostering rules, might not
be happy if another top 8 team picks up some ringers just cos they are/claim
to be short of players.
So I considered 'protecting' the top 8 places from teams that had not been
able to comply with the roster rules.
Having said that I'm not sure how much of a top eight there will be, as BAF
are not attending and Chevron look unlikely to. Grazed and Confused have
not been heard from. So there are only 5 of the top 8 in at the moment.
So what I propose is to 'protect' the top 4 places in this way:
Teams entering Nationals who have not been able to comply with the rostering
requirements (and who have picked up players under the further exemption
above), AND, teams entering Nationals (including name changing teams) who
have not played on the Co-Ed Tour, may NOT finish in the top 4 places of the
event. What this means is that if any such teams are in the quarter-finals
on Sunday, then they will be held to have lost that match, regardless of the
result on the pitch. Adjustments will be made to the QF draw if necessary
to avoid 2 such teams being drawn in the same quarter-final.
Only 1 game over the weekend could be 'for honour only' in this way, which
seems acceptable.
Given that this involves a few changes to the playing field (though not, I
hope, its unlevelling) and given that I am making some assumptions about
what people/teams at various levels are likely to want, I would be happy to
hear approval or suggestions from anyone concerned. Either to me or to BD,
but try and keep it short ;-)
To Summarise:
- A team that absolutely cannot attend Nationals unless it is allowed to
pick up unrostered players may do so.
- No team that picks up unrostered players, nor any new team that has not
played at least one Co-Ed Tour event, will be allowed to progress into the
semi-finals of the top 8 group at Nationals.
I would like to make it all official Tue evening.
Regards
Si Barry
Co-Ed Tour Coordinator
PS So, Mr Weekes, it'll just involve "collecting a few rosters", yeh,
sure... ;-)
