Format for Nationals

[Toni]

I understand the BPF need the money from GP seris to help towards the cost of sending teams abroad, so how about this for a compremise.

4 GP seris across the country using the same format. (This brings the money in, the top teams should still rise to the top)

From this you take your Top 16, These play off over two days (seperate weekends, on different terrains)

From this you get your top 8 players, who play off on another day.
Position 1,2,3 go to North Sea. Position 4 goes to blangy. 5-8 get other GB reprsentations.

After the North sea teams 1-4 meet again to play off for the GB team to go to the World Championships.

.......................................

I know this system would most likely need qualification one year for reprsentation the following, but it would mean competitions played in better weather. The further on the system went the less terrains would be needed so other venues could be used. The top teams have to stay consistant to win.

There would be more competitive days through out the season not all stopping in may. The latter stages could be, knockout, barrage, swiss what ever was best.

[Les cerfs effares]

sound similar to what was originally proposed by the BPF steering group, ie 12 teams from EPA region, 2 from SPA, 2 from WPA playing off.

but on the whole i think this is a better way to do it, means less cost of travel, less time travelling.

but i can foresee that the split for the 4 'regional' areas would be difficult with a lot of pressure from the majority of southern area players wanting more teams from their area than those for example in a north EPA/SPA rregion.

much better than the current system, which would therefore mean more teams playing, more income, better competition and a higher standard.

i doubt there would be any need to restrict a team from participating in only one area of play, but they would only be able to 'qualify' for the top 16 once.

other thought just now, how would area numbers be split? ideas? top 2 or 3 per region and the remainder on a 'global' ranking once the other qualifiers have been removed?

great proposal Toni

[Toni]

sorry les cerfs, either i have not been clear or you have miss understood.

i ment qualifiers across the country like they are now, not seperate areas qualify.

/but you have opened up a totally new idea

[SE Nic]

I've been advocating something along these lines for a while, a few differences:-

Swiss not snake - you still get games but by having winner against winner more competitive games and produce a clear overall winner, should also provide some kind of prize to incentify each GP event, ie, teams will still attend even if they have already secured top 16 place and keep each round real. Plus teams will all still be there so hopefully encourage players to watch final.

Top 16 to play off for north sea and blangy for 4th no problem with that and over two weekends no problem with that either. However the old system of points for winning etc is probably better than the current system, if nothing else if you have a bad first round you can come back on the second day and win your way into top 8 so you are still in contention for worlds even if you don't make top 4 at that stage. This keeps everyone interested all the way through and a team isn't penalised if weather is bad for one of the days.

I would then take top 8 and play off for Worlds over a few weekends at different venues, the rest of the calendar is irrelevant as this will be for players committed to trying to reach the world championships. Barrage plus knockout with points for winning down to 8th over 4/5 rounds would be my preference but not overly fussed.

I also don't see how/why this can't be done all in one calendar year, I am all in favour of taking the inform team in late summer.

Cheers

Se Nic