Thanks Sam,  Mattias, I know you had some comments on #4 – care to share them?

-----Original Message-----
From: berkeleytabletennisclub@yahoogroups.com [mailto:berkeleytabletennisclub@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Sam Lam at HQ x4336
Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005 9:30 AM
To: 'berkeleytabletennisclub@yahoogroups.com'
Subject: RE: [berkeleytabletennisclub] Policy Meeting

Dave,

You did an excellent presentation with a very rounded perspective. Great job !

Comments on

#1         I like your idea

#2         I prefer not to have the time extension to 10:30pm. I think 7:30pm to 10:00 pm with 16 tables is sufficient time to finish the matches , if everyone follows the rules, start on time, pay attention to the schedules on the score sheets and don’t leave tables empty. Also, if it is extended to 10:30pm, people will start leaving early and there will be less people to help put the tables away.

#3         Keep the cut-off at 7:00pm and allow another 10 – 15 minutes for first time players who don’t know the rule.

#4         Keep present system. So, one gets to be slaughtered mercilessly (actually its not that bad). Eventually, you will learn how to defend yourself better if you keep winning the lower group.  Alternatively, the person that advances to the next higher table can have the option not to advance, giving up his or her spot to the next highest rated player in the group he wants to remain in.    

#5         Working good.

-----Original Message-----
From: berkeleytabletennisclub@yahoogroups.com [mailto:berkeleytabletennisclub@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of David Sterner
Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005 9:08 AM
To: berkeleytabletennisclub@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [berkeleytabletennisclub] Policy Meeting

Hello BTTC Members:

As announced we will have a meeting on Friday, July 29 at 6PM to discuss some policy matters.  We will appreciate everyone’s input and will vote on several items. Below is a list of topics and some possible policy solutions.  This is just to get the juices and ideas flowing.  You are welcome to offer up other topics and solutions either now or at the meeting.  We will be happy to discuss any concerns you might have.

1.      Round Robin Player Maximum:  We now have 16 tables which helps complete the round robin.  Ideally, we would like to have six players per round robin level with two tables each.  That would allow for 48 players.  But what should we do if we have more than 48 players?  One solution is to close the tournament when we have 48 players and send folks home.  I personally don’t like the idea of closing it off – especially when people have driven far and have arrived on time.  Another solution is to have online registration, which has its own problems. 

A solution I like is to allow 7 players to each table starting at the lower rated tables because their matches don’t usually last as long – and even if players don’t finish all six matches, they usually finish 5 which is the same as if there were six players per table.   This solution would allow for a maximum of 56 players. 

In the less likely event that we go over 56 players, I suggest that we begin assigning five players to one table again starting at the lower rated players.  This would allow us to add up to 24 more players for a total of 80 players (which thank goodness isn’t going to happen soon).  But I think this will work if we have just a few more than 56 players and we have one or two tables of 5 players each.  The lower rated ones, shouldn’t have a problem finishing their matches.

2.      Time Extension:  We have been having difficulty finishing our matches.  One solution is to extend our hours to 10:30 PM.  However this would increase our use fee significantly.  As a result we would probably have to raise our rates by $0.50 to $1.00 per person per night – for both juniors and adults. Or perhaps only raise it for adults?  I guess the question is – how important is it to guarantee that everyone finished their matches.  This is a good topic for discussion.

3.      Late Arrivals.  Our club doesn’t have much time to play and we get a lot of players.  So I think we need to be fairly strict about this rule – especially since we have a late arrival phone message system.  However, I think we need to be a little bit flexible with newcomers who don’t have a clue about our club – especially because the city of Berkeley’s community use policy.  We should discuss how flexible we should be.

4.      Promotion of table winners to next level.   Some people have a strong opinion about this one.  We have not been consistent in its implementation and sometimes promoting last week’s table winner puts them with players that will mercilessly slaughter them, making it no fun for either party.  I would be interested in hearing about your ideas on this one.  Perhaps we should have a cutoff where a player can’t be promoted to a group of players that is at least 150 points higher in the ratings?

5.      Ratings system.  Does it work?  Improvements that could be made here?

6.      Juniors Program.  What type of program would you like to see?

Please feel free to respond and bring up other proposals – and please plan on showing up at 6PM on July 29.

Regards,

Dave Sterner