going to cities, need some advice

mm4pool

mm4pool

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hello All,

I captain my APA 8 ball team, somehow we made it to city finals which are tomorrow. my elegible team consists of the following skill levels - 5, 4, 3, 3, and 3. My lower skill players do not have any experience in higher level tournaments, this is their first time. Any suggestions to help with nerves, matchups, etc? I do not expect to win but would like to make a decent showing. Any help would be appreciated.

Mike
 
Wow, you are going to have an interesting time matching up.

My advice to you is to use two of your SL3's on your opponents higher level players, and go for it with the other three. This is assuming a matchup with teams that have SL6's and SL7's. Teams without those higher level players, I'd probably just try to match up by skill level.

As for nerves, that's a tough one. Try to keep them in the moment, and to not be looking ahead of what they're doing. "Concentrate on making this ball" is a good mantra for all of us, but even moreso for newer, unexperienced players. The biggest thing is to stress to everyone that it's supposed to be fun, even with what is at stake. The way I look at it is "let's see what we can do here", and not to get too worked up about it.

Good luck! To you and your team, and everyone else who has their Cities/States coming up. Maybe we'll all meet out in Las Vegas this summer? :p
 
mm4pool said:
Hello All,

I captain my APA 8 ball team, somehow we made it to city finals which are tomorrow. my elegible team consists of the following skill levels - 5, 4, 3, 3, and 3. My lower skill players do not have any experience in higher level tournaments, this is their first time. Any suggestions to help with nerves, matchups, etc? I do not expect to win but would like to make a decent showing. Any help would be appreciated.

Mike
Click to expand...

If nerves are a problem make sure your team isn't drinking caffeine.
 
justadub said:
My advice to you is to use two of your SL3's on your opponents higher level players, and go for it with the other three. This is assuming a matchup with teams that have SL6's and SL7's. Teams without those higher level players, I'd probably just try to match up by skill level.
Click to expand...

Solid advice right there.... Have fun.... Buy'em shots
 
Just go into having fun... if you try to get all serious and "super strategic", you might put MORE pressure on them. If this is their first time at high pressure situation, you don't want to heap more on them.

If you go into it "loosey goosey" (yes, that's the technical term :D), they might feed off of that and play more relaxed. Certainly can't hurt.
 
justadub said:
Wow, you are going to have an interesting time matching up.

My advice to you is to use two of your SL3's on your opponents higher level players, and go for it with the other three. This is assuming a matchup with teams that have SL6's and SL7's. Teams without those higher level players, I'd probably just try to match up by skill level.

As for nerves, that's a tough one. Try to keep them in the moment, and to not be looking ahead of what they're doing. "Concentrate on making this ball" is a good mantra for all of us, but even moreso for newer, unexperienced players. The biggest thing is to stress to everyone that it's supposed to be fun, even with what is at stake. The way I look at it is "let's see what we can do here", and not to get too worked up about it.

Good luck! To you and your team, and everyone else who has their Cities/States coming up. Maybe we'll all meet out in Las Vegas this summer? :p
Click to expand...

yeah, i took a look at the brackets and the first team we face can bring three 6's, a 2 and a 3 so i figure we are just going to have to grind it out a game at a time. matching is gonna be fun.

your comments about keeping "in the moment" are excellent advice that i
hadnt thought about, thanks. good luck to you sir and maybe we will meet up some day in Vegas.

Mike
 
Just act like you do in a regular session match... When people start acting differently in cities, it changes the entire dynamic of the team, especially with the lower handicaps.

People start thinking too much, over-analyze, and completely change their standard routine.

Good luck
 
paulempor said:
Solid advice right there.... Have fun.... Buy'em shots
Click to expand...

Dam, ^^^^^^^^^ he stole it from me !! :grin-square:

When I went to Vagas for the internationals, I really had to do everything i could to bring down the excited of being there. And what my other team-mates did was just keep telling me to slow it down and breath when they saw that I was getting to worked up.

And if what I said, just do what Paul said :D
 
s'portplayer said:
Just act like you do in a regular session match... When people start acting differently in cities, it changes the entire dynamic of the team, especially with the lower handicaps.

People start thinking too much, over-analyze, and completely change their standard routine.

Good luck
Click to expand...

excellent reminder, i did that very thing last year with a different, more experienced team with disasterous results.

Mike
 
A spoonful of sugar...

Throw allllllll wants, expectations and desires out the window and have a good time regardless of the outcome!!! Relaxation comes from comfortableness and lack of anxiety....or you could just pass some xanax out 'bout 20 minutes before the match and watch 'em all hit deadstroke! :grin-square:
 
Posting Strategy

Usually in tournaments like this, it is "Win 3" and go on. I would bet they come out posting strong. If you win the toss, post 1st. That way you have control of the last 2 matches if it goes that far. Post your weekest 3's against their best 6's. If one of your 3's takes down a 6 then you have a shot. Post your power against their weakness.

Determination will overcome nervousness. Make sure your team is determined.

Do NOT say, "You have to win this match". That will cause an instant case of nerves. Tell your player "Now, go kick his ass."

And be sure you tell your player that he did well. The others will be listening. Let them know, through example, that you have their back and support them fully.
 
If you win the flip, I always used to put up first. When you do that you can put your best middle handicap player up. The opposing team will more than likely post someone of close to equal skill as no-one wants to burn thier ringer on the first match nor do they want to throw out someone who is a sure loss and start out in the hole. The next two matchs you can put up players as you feel best.

The important thing is that by putting up first you essentially control who plays the last two matches. The opposing team will have to put up blind for the 4th match and you can pick who plays them and either put up a sacrifice or gain an advantage. By the 5th round the number of players available has been reduced and you usually can determine who they are going to have to play by the process of elimination and you can put your player up who has the best chance of beating them.

Good luck this weekend.

Also, bring a bag of hard candy along for the team to snack on. It sounds funny but it is a great way for people to loosen up and reduce the stress. Don't know why is works but it does.
 
Be sure to tell everyone to get a good night's rest and to just not sweat it (much as Sam has suggested).
 
I like to remind my newer players that half of the players in the tournament are going to win, and half are going to lose. Have fun, enjoy the tournament, and win or lose, try to learn from the experience.

Steve
 
thanks to everyone for the replies, we'll see what happens tomorrow. win or not it will be fun.

Mike
 
mm4pool said:
thanks to everyone for the replies, we'll see what happens tomorrow. win or not it will be fun.

Mike
Click to expand...


Best of luck to you.

Lots of people already gave you really solid advice.

Don't over-think it. Sounds like you guys already won just by being able to advance to cities. I would try to remind everyone of that, and remind them that now, it is all for fun and experience. Take the pressure off of them...they have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Joe
 
thanks for the resonses

I would like to thank all who responded with advice, all good solid advice. We made it through the first day ok although we got knocked to the losers side. ran into a real strong team yesterday morning and i just didnt have enough firepower to get it done. my team did well, handled the pressure like troopers, the other team was just better. all in all a better showing than last year so progress was made, will try to improve more next year. still got a shot in singles so it aint all bed.

thanks again to everyone and hope all the rolls go your way!

Mike
 
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