NEWSLINE STORY

published September-October 2016

Playing Rules, Judging Clinics and Breaking Ties

by Dan Sanders, 1^st Vice President, By-Laws, Rules and Grievance Director

Another Great World Tournament! I have been attending World Tournaments since 1983, and this was one of the best that I can remember. The spacious air-conditioned arena was perhaps the most impressive physical aspect of this venue, with ample room for the set-up of courts, including both play-off and practice courts. I also heard very few negative comments about the clay or court conditions/set-up. The spacing of the courts, seating for spectators, and spacious areas outside the arena for Game Related Sales items, HOF booth, spaces for future WT bidders, reasonably- priced food and refreshments, and area for picking up a variety of printed materials and talking with our next year's host, the St. George Utah reps, were all more than adequate. Thanks also to the NatStats crew for all of their Class Results efforts and for maintaining the electronic scoring system and scrolling results . . . in such a way that even pitchers unable to attend were able to follow this tournament from the comfort of their homes. A special thanks also to my fellow NHPA Officers and to our World Tournament Director, David Sidles, for the many hours that were spent both before, during, and after this memorable tournament. I would also be remiss if not including all of the Montgomery folks who served as our gracious hosts. If we needed something, all we had to do was ask! I'm looking forward to seeing many of you next year in St. George, Utah.

Playing Rules & Judging Clinics Update  – You may recall that the recent NHPA Judging Clinics were first offered in Buffalo, NY – three years ago. They were also offered last year, and again this year in Montgomery. Each year there have been about 30 or so members who have attended these clinics from many states, and the feedback has been very favorable each year. Many members have taken the written Clinics Materials, GRS Judging Kits/tools, and GRS Pit Models back to their charters each year, and several of them have been successful in the training of judges for their local and state tournaments. But other than at 'special' meetings or perhaps the Annual State/Charter meeting, the scheduling of these Judging Clinic presentations/demonstrations has been reported as 'difficult' to schedule . . . mostly because at many/most Charter tournaments, people who aren't pitching are needed for keeping score, in the stats office, or in other ways. And so for this reason, we have decided to put the Judging Clinics on the NHPA Website.

This will start with the written materials . . . a series of questions taken from the Playing Rules section of the RGS Book. These questions are presented as True or False and Yes or No questions, which are then followed by the actual RGS Text, where the answers can be found. Some very good discussions usually follow these Playing Rules questions/answers. Some of this discussion material will also be included on the website. We'd eventually like to include some video footage of these clinics/discussions, and would especially like to produce some YouTube kinds of video, which actually show how all of the basic measurements are supposed to be made, along with special situations which may surround some of these more difficult measurements. If anyone has this video/editing expertise and an interest in helping with these video clips please contact me. Upon completion of viewing/understanding the website presentations, some actual judging 'experience' at charter tournaments will be required before an individual can become an NHPA Certified Judge. Individuals completing these requirements will then be recognized with an official NHPA Certified Judge pin, as well as a peel-off sticker that can be applied to his/her annual NHPA card. Look for more information about this training program in the next few months, or e-mail me if you have any questions.

The Breaking of Tournament Class Ties – Over the last few months I have received questions from several charters about the breaking of tournament class ties, for individuals who have the same number of wins and losses. Under Rule 11, Section B-2, there are several options suggested, and although they are not presented there as a 'required' order, this order is arguably the order that should be followed. The first tie-breaker mentioned here is a play-off game, which is required for some tournaments/classes, as further described in this and other Sections under Rule 11. But a play-off game (if not required) it is often impossible, or may be inconvenient . . . for example, there may not be any play-off courts available, or the time required for a play-off game would delay another shift that is scheduled to begin right away. And so, the TD may choose to go on to the second tiebreaker listed here . . . overall ringer percentage during that class play. Though this is not allowable for handicapped classes, overall ringer percentage is most generally used as the 'next' tiebreaker, and this will most always break these W/L ties. If overall ringer percentage cannot be used (as in handicapped classes), the next recommended tiebreaker listed is 'Who beat Who' (aka Head to Head) during class play. This is perhaps the next-best thing besides using overall ringer percentage (and some TDs choose to use H to H over ringer average as that next tiebreaker) if a play-off game isn't possible. And finally, it is possible for there to be a 3-way (or more) tie, especially in handicapped classes, since all pitchers pitch the same number of shoes. And so in these situations, the next suggested (and final) tiebreaker is 'Highest Over or Closest To' their entering NatStats average. And in 99+ of all cases, this will break all ties as it is very unlikely that any two pitchers in the entire tournament would have the very same entering NatStats average; and so, the likelihood of them 'tying' in the same class increases these odds even further!

One of the problems with all of these 'options' for the breaking of class ties is that each charter TD may have a different opinion about which of the tiebreakers is best to use. And since there is no 'requirement' for which tiebreaker is used, or in which order they should be used, this situation is sometimes problematic to the pitchers who are involved in these ties. This is especially true if the TD has not announced (before class play begins) how ties will be broken, which they are required to do based on the published RGS Book information. At stake, for some pitchers/charters, is 'Player of The Year' Awards, which are based on points awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. places, for all scheduled charter tournaments.

And so for a greater consistency among Charter TDs, 'Requirements for the Breaking of Class Ties', for both 'scratch' and for 'handicapped' classes (in cancellation play) has been added to the charter bylaws of at least one state. This State's Bylaws Change/Addition Proposal was made after many discussions of their Charter Officers, with members, and all TDs who host their NHPA Sanctioned Tournaments. Although not all TDs may have been in unanimous agreement, these proposed 'Requirements for the Breaking of Class Ties' was adopted by a 2/3rds + vote of their Charter members/delegates at their annual meeting, and is now a part of/included in their Charter Bylaws.

Is this even allowable, according to NHPA Rules? Yes, it is . . . so long as the listed 'Requirements for the Breaking of Class Ties' are not in violation of NHPA Rules. And so now, all of their Charter TDs must follow these Charter Bylaws Requirements for the breaking of class ties for their sanctioned tournaments. And this is something that your Charter Officers, TDs, and members may want to consider enacting at your next State/Charter Convention? It certainly provides consistency for this very important question/concern, and all pitchers/members involved will know in advance how all class ties will be broken, should they occur. In the next issue of Newsline, I may include some examples of 'Requirements for the Breaking of Class Ties' that your state/charter may choose to use or modify, and possibly add to your Charter Bylaws.