Tournament suggestions needed

[cyrex]

I play in a local weekly handicapped 9ball tournament that is fun to play in but can be frustrating at times. This is, of course, an ongoing problem when it comes to matching up and the TD trying to keep track of player's skill level etc...

I was thinking of starting an Open tournament. (Double elim.. race to 5 on the winner's side/race to 3 on the looser's side). My incentive to get 'weaker' players to join would be a cheaper entry fee. Hypothetically, if you are an 'A' player you would pay the full entry fee of, lets say, $15. A 'B' player would pay $10, 'C' would pay $7, 'D' and below would pay $5. Maybe even just a race to 3 or something short which helps the weaker players. So, even if you were sandbagging you're only saving yourself a couple of bucks. You would still have to play at full speed to win.

Other rules I would implement are:
All 9ball shots must be called.
A 9ball break would be respotted and game continues.
Possibly even 'call safety' shots to eliminate inadvertant safeties. Which I would treat as a push shot. It's the upcoming player's choice to shoot or pass.

I really want to encourage beginer/intermediate players to strive to improve their game. And at the same time, try to keep the sandbagging to a minimum.

Something along these lines is my idea. Would appreciate some input/advice or even experience if anyone has done something like this already. Thanks for checking out my post.

 

[stick8]

tourny

I play in a local weekly handicapped 9ball tournament that is fun to play in but can be frustrating at times. This is, of course, an ongoing problem when it comes to matching up and the TD trying to keep track of player's skill level etc...

I was thinking of starting an Open tournament. (Double elim.. race to 5 on the winner's side/race to 3 on the looser's side). My incentive to get 'weaker' players to join would be a cheaper entry fee. Hypothetically, if you are an 'A' player you would pay the full entry fee of, lets say, $15. A 'B' player would pay $10, 'C' would pay $7, 'D' and below would pay $5. Maybe even just a race to 3 or something short which helps the weaker players. So, even if you were sandbagging you're only saving yourself a couple of bucks. You would still have to play at full speed to win.

Other rules I would implement are:
All 9ball shots must be called.
A 9ball break would be respotted and game continues.
Possibly even 'call safety' shots to eliminate inadvertant safeties. Which I would treat as a push shot. It's the upcoming player's choice to shoot or pass.

I really want to encourage beginer/intermediate players to strive to improve their game. And at the same time, try to keep the sandbagging to a minimum.

Something along these lines is my idea. Would appreciate some input/advice or even experience if anyone has done something like this already. Thanks for checking out my post.

I know wher you are comming from on this as i have been running one for about 10yr now but it seems to do well as i have had 52-32 players on sunday nite, hard to rate tho, i make a player that win more than 50 bucks go up 1 rating for at least 3 tourny befor he-or she can come back one, if they ever advance over 2 ratings can never go back but 1 place, workes out for me. also i have a low skill tourny 2 a month of say 2-3-4 only lo of fun here also give that a try. STICK

 

[edatplaypool]

My first bit of advice would be to eliminate the respotting the 9 ball and call the 9 ball. This will hurt your desire to get beginning players. These things are also part of the thrill and uncertainty of 9-ball. It isn't the same game without it in my opinion.

 

[cyrex]

9ball

My first bit of advice would be to eliminate the respotting the 9 ball and call the 9 ball. This will hurt your desire to get beginning players. These things are also part of the thrill and uncertainty of 9-ball. It isn't the same game without it in my opinion.

Yeah.. maybe without the handicapping I could keep these in the game. Or just keep the 9ball break. I don't think you should win because you accidently knocked in the 9ball. I'm trying to make it fair for all the skill levels. It's frustrating for 'A' players giving 3 in a race to 5 when a 'C' player accidently pockets the 9. Then makes a 9ball break. Plus, that doesn't help the 'C' player either.

Thanks too STICK. I like your suggestion for when to bump a player. The problem now is our TD barely watches the matches so ratings don't change often unless a player consistantly wins 1st place. If a player is consistantly getting into the top 3 it might be time to bump their skill level.

May just end up having to try various suggestions till I find something that works for everyone. Would love to hear some more input/suggestions.

 

[Snapshot9]

Lol

Lowering entries by skill level is discrimnatory in nature. They all have a cue, they have a brain, they have time to practice sometime. The handicap is the leveler. The entry fee should be the same for all players in the tournament.

Someone could actually take you to court on that if they wanted to push it.

Are you going to have different rules for the lower level players as well? See my point?

 

[Pushout]

I wouldn't respot the 9, calling the 9 is ok with me. I'd think it would make the newer players concentrate a bit more making them call it.

 

[DoubleA]

I play in a local weekly handicapped 9ball tournament that is fun to play in but can be frustrating at times. This is, of course, an ongoing problem when it comes to matching up and the TD trying to keep track of player's skill level etc...

I was thinking of starting an Open tournament. (Double elim.. race to 5 on the winner's side/race to 3 on the looser's side). My incentive to get 'weaker' players to join would be a cheaper entry fee. Hypothetically, if you are an 'A' player you would pay the full entry fee of, lets say, $15. A 'B' player would pay $10, 'C' would pay $7, 'D' and below would pay $5. Maybe even just a race to 3 or something short which helps the weaker players. So, even if you were sandbagging you're only saving yourself a couple of bucks. You would still have to play at full speed to win.

Other rules I would implement are:
All 9ball shots must be called.
A 9ball break would be respotted and game continues.
Possibly even 'call safety' shots to eliminate inadvertant safeties. Which I would treat as a push shot. It's the upcoming player's choice to shoot or pass.

I really want to encourage beginer/intermediate players to strive to improve their game. And at the same time, try to keep the sandbagging to a minimum.

Something along these lines is my idea. Would appreciate some input/advice or even experience if anyone has done something like this already. Thanks for checking out my post.

Sounds good, but making 9 ball shots called shots and spotting the 9 ball on the break, as well as eliminating inadvertant safeties, would penalize the weaker players that you are trying to attract IMO.

 

[cyrex]

Hmmm...

I'd prefer to make it just an open tournament. If you're a newer player it's a great way to gain experience against better players without having to gamble with them. The most they can win off you is your entry fee. But these days it seems most people don't really want to 'invest' in their game. Take the time to practice, get lessons, or travel to tournaments. They want to stay at the level they are at and just swing at the 9. Or sandbag and use the handicap to their advantage.

So maybe, keep the tournament handicapped... i.e. An 'A' player would give a 'C' player 3 games in a race to 5. But in trying to keep the LUCK factor down, I could have all 9ball shots would have to be called. I've got no problem with a player sinking a crazy 9ball combo if they're actually trying to do it.

If a player gets into the top 3 two tournaments in a row they go up a skill level for at least 3 tournaments. If they go up 2 levels they can only be dropped back down 1.