Greetings
Auburn Table Tennis Club -
Welcome – new players Roger Stockton, Bruce Bowman
and Dave Ganguly. Roger, we
hope to see you accompanied by the next generation of Stockton Table Tennis players in the near
future. Also, after quite some
absence, Kirk Henderson has now spent the last few Monday evenings with
us, welcome back Kirk.
Reno
Tournament – April 24th – Linked at our website;
this is a fine tournament, not too big not too small (is this “The
Biggest Little Tournament” in the world?). Easy drive over the hill on a
Saturday and they did an excellent job last year.
Wednesday March 17 Round Robin - We notice a few matches not recorded
– do remember please the match winner is responsible for recording the
result. Not sure if the games ran
long or there were early departures. Group Leaders: Group 1 – Grant Connell manages to be the one the de-throne Anson
K. from his fairly long reign over table 1 (thank you Grant, this saves us
having to go take other measures); Group 2 – Tom Spesick puts his
sights back on table 1 next week; Group 3 – Devin Forsey prevails
and will threaten ratings of all players in group 2 next week. We had 6 tables used after the round
robin concluded, with some occasionally boisterous chants; possibly more competitive
than the round robin itself, apparently.
Some Round Robin protocol: Among the discussions at our annual
meeting (and thereafter) were some clarifications and some new guidelines for
round robin play. Not quite tablets
with 10 commandments (although Charlton Heston, if still living, could
be a good choice to play any of the club officers) … but here are the
Round Robin Rules, which will be effective starting March 24, 2010 (as always,
subject to change to meet our fundamental round robin objective: Providing an encouraging environment for
competitive matches):
(1) Round
Robin (RR) play will be conducted in groups of 4, 5 or 6 players, with group
winners from the prior week advancing to the next highest table in the
subsequent week.
(2) Apart from
the advancement of the prior week's group winners, the groupings otherwise are
made based upon then current club rating or, for first time players, their
USATT rating (if the player has one, and that rating is reflective of their
current level of play) or a suggested rating determined by the RR organizer.
The initial rating will be tentative and subject to change based upon the
results of the initial round robin play.
(3) Matches
in RR are 3 of 5, games to 11. The winner is responsible for recording the
match result. Unrecorded match results will be treated as though the match was
not played.
(4) Matches
generally should be played in the order presented on the match sheet, provided,
however, that in the interest of time, matches shall be played out of order to
assure the maximum utilization of available tables.
(5) If a
player withdraws from the RR due to injury, illness or emergency, then unplayed
matches and any match in progress will not be played and/or completed and will
not be recorded. A withdrawal can
only be made by the withdrawing player notifying the RR organizer, in person,
of the injury, illness or emergency. Any dispute as to the bona fides of the
reason for withdrawal shall be determined by the RR organizer (or, if the RR
organizer is withdrawing or is challenging such withdrawal, then by the highest
ranking club officer then present).
(6) Absent
(a) a withdrawal for injury, illness or emergency or (b) a match that cannot be
played due to lack of time (i.e. club closure) or (c) the agreement by both
players not to play their match, then an unplayed match will be considered a
forfeited match in favor of the player who stands ready, willing and able to
play such match. The player to whom such match is forfeited is responsible
for noting the forfeit on the match sheet.
(7) In the
interest of providing an appropriate grouping of reasonably similarly skilled
players, the RR organizer shall have the right, from time to time and upon
consultation with the affected RR players, to combine two groups of four
players each into a single group of eight, and then to recast such players in
two new groups of four each, and providing for a second round of matches (i.e.
providing for each player to have a total of four matches) between his/her
relative finisher in the other group.
For Wed. night, - if you will be late (after 6:45
pm), be sure to call Bill at
916-275-0899 or Tom at 530-613-0101 and let us know. If you reach us, we will get you on a
table.
Also for Wednesdays, tables permitting, if you wish to
come and hit for fun (i.e. not participate in the round robin), that is fine
and the Club will charge $2 per person for that. With groups lately from 16 to 21
players, we have generally been able to accommodate “open”
play. This is on a “hit or
miss” basis, though.
Many thanks to those who provided input on the Round Robin
rules. We’re trying hard to
get it right, and we may or may not have it right! Comments, suggestions, criticisms, cash
awards … these are all welcome.
See Tom, Bill, Larry, send an email, release a carrier pigeon, put up
smoke signals, chant in code, however you communicate is fine with us.
Bill Kochenderfer