I'm looking for opinions as to what you guys think is reasonable as to the number of restroom breaks is acceptable for a simple race to four 9-ball weekly tournament match, as well as the timing of when it is appropriate for a player to take that restroom break?
My viewpoint is from that as a tournament director, who is trying to keep the tournament moving along, so that we can finish the tournament at a reasonable hour, for the benefit of everyone.
I assume I'm in the minority of thinking that one restroom break, or two at the most, during a 20-40 minute race to 4 match is more than enough? We have a few players that literally take 3+ breaks during a match on a regular basis.
Also, the timing of when a player in a match takes their restroom break, in my opinion, is a matter of etiquette. In my mind, the best time to take the break is between games - I don't think that's too much to ask. If you must take a restroom break in the middle of a game, at least it should be when it is that person's shot who is wanting to take the break, so they are not holding up their opponent. We have players that decide they want to take their break in the middle of a game, while their opponent has control of the table. I just don't think that's fair. When it happens, I generally allow the player controlling the table to keep shooting, as long as myself or another witness is observing the play. If the player returns from the restroom and the game is over, that's just too bad.
Lastly as a pet peeve of a tournament director, how often do you see a player waiting for their match to be called, and it's not until you call them to a table to start their match that they decide then they need to go to the restroom, when they could have easily done this before their match is called.
It's just seems that common sense actions that could speed up a tournament are often ignored by many of the players, and then those same players complain about how late the tournament runs.
My viewpoint is from that as a tournament director, who is trying to keep the tournament moving along, so that we can finish the tournament at a reasonable hour, for the benefit of everyone.
I assume I'm in the minority of thinking that one restroom break, or two at the most, during a 20-40 minute race to 4 match is more than enough? We have a few players that literally take 3+ breaks during a match on a regular basis.
Also, the timing of when a player in a match takes their restroom break, in my opinion, is a matter of etiquette. In my mind, the best time to take the break is between games - I don't think that's too much to ask. If you must take a restroom break in the middle of a game, at least it should be when it is that person's shot who is wanting to take the break, so they are not holding up their opponent. We have players that decide they want to take their break in the middle of a game, while their opponent has control of the table. I just don't think that's fair. When it happens, I generally allow the player controlling the table to keep shooting, as long as myself or another witness is observing the play. If the player returns from the restroom and the game is over, that's just too bad.
Lastly as a pet peeve of a tournament director, how often do you see a player waiting for their match to be called, and it's not until you call them to a table to start their match that they decide then they need to go to the restroom, when they could have easily done this before their match is called.
It's just seems that common sense actions that could speed up a tournament are often ignored by many of the players, and then those same players complain about how late the tournament runs.
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