Poll - Hold Spots for Women?

[jenb]

There is some hot discussion going on over on facebook in the Disc Golf 4 Women group regarding a suggestion that the PDGA require TDs of Supertour events (Majors, NTs, and A tiers) to hold some spots for women until some set time (e.g., one week) before the event. The women seem to be in favor of it, but at least one male TD appears to be strongly against it.

TDs of Supertour events are already required to hold ten spots for certain qualifying touring pros, so TDs of these events should be familiar with the process of holding spots and releasing them one week prior.

The suggestion was that something along the lines of 7% of slots could be held for women, since women make up 7% of the PDGA membership. That works out to about one card worth of slots per course. In other words (presuming an 18 hole course), 4 slots for a field capped at 72, 5 slots for a field capped at 90, 8 slots for a field capped at 144, 5 slots for a field capped at 180, etc.

How do you feel about that suggestion?

 

[vonDrehle]

Why can't they pre-register like everyone else?

 

[mashnut]

I don't see why women would need spots held, you have the same opportunity to register as any of the men. FWIW, after I typed that I asked the opinion of my (avid disc golfer) girlfriend who completely agrees. Maybe I'm missing something, I just have a hard time seeing why certain divisions need more time to decide/register, especially on a popular event that's selling out.

 

[codyroberts18]

Are talking about qualification or registering? I know at a local tourney here, the top 2 scores from the tournament from the same pads qualified for the Vibram Open or something like that. Are you saying there should be 2 spots and one specifically for women? I'm confused lol

 

[jenb]

I don't see why women would need spots held, you have the same opportunity to register as any of the men. FWIW, after I typed that I asked the opinion of my (avid disc golfer) girlfriend who completely agrees. Maybe I'm missing something, I just have a hard time seeing why certain divisions need more time to decide/register, especially on a popular event that's selling out.

One reason we are reluctant to preregister early is because we don't know whether a division will form. Guys don't typically have that problem, so I imagine it is difficult to understand the game of chicken that is played as we wait to see who else signs up. The onse who do sign up early ofeten wind up having to play alone, or get wrecked in a mens division where they feel unwelcome, or take a refund in merch for a tourney they didn't play. Plus, a lot more women than men have to live paycheck to paycheck, and arrange childcare at the last minute. It's really hard to get relatives to commit to childcare a month in advance. And if the mom is playing, odds are the dad is too, and the expense to the family is doubled or tripled, so it tends to be a last minute decision if everything comes together.

 

[Jay Dub]

Maybe hold spots for the grandmasters. We're slow.

Kinda joking but I could make an argument for that. So now they have to hold spots for women and grand masters. Then what about the Masters? If there's an advance division they might want spots held for them also?

I would ask why one group over another?

 

[DiscNutt123]

One reason we are reluctant to preregister early is because we don't know whether a division will form. Guys don't typically have that problem, so I imagine it is difficult to understand the game of chicken that is played as we wait to see who else signs up. Plus, a lot more women than men have to live paycheck to paycheck, and arrange childcare at the last minute. It's really hard to get relatives to commit to childcare a month in advance. Believe it.

If all the women that were worrying about a division forming just signed up instead of worrying, a division would form. /thread

 

[Jay Dub]

One reason we are reluctant to preregister early is because we don't know whether a division will form. Guys don't typically have that problem, so I imagine it is difficult to understand the game of chicken that is played as we wait to see who else signs up. The onse who do sign up early ofeten wind up having to play alone, or get wrecked in a mens division where they feel unwelcome, or take a refund in merch for a tourney they didn't play. Plus, a lot more women than men have to live paycheck to paycheck, and arrange childcare at the last minute. It's really hard to get relatives to commit to childcare a month in advance. Believe it.

I don't agree with that, they should refund the money.

 

[jenb]

Are talking about qualification or registering? I know at a local tourney here, the top 2 scores from the tournament from the same pads qualified for the Vibram Open or something like that. Are you saying there should be 2 spots and one specifically for women? I'm confused lol

Case in point. at Am World Doubles there were 108 slots. Two women's teams got to play and 106 men's teams. Two other women's teams wanted to play, but the tournament had filled, and the TD had already turned away 30 men's teams. If 4 slots had been held until a week prior, two of those men's teams would have been waitlisted, and then not get to play. If 8 slots had been held, 6 of those men's teams would have been waitlisted, two would not have gotten to play, and 4 would have found out they get to play one week before the event.

 

[jenb]

I don't agree with that, they should refund the money.

If oit's open division, they get 50% in cash back. If it's am, though, they get the player's pack the TD bought for them. So merch in that case.

 

[jkdisc]

so you dont want equal rights?

 

[gcr_russell]

If all the women that were worrying about a division forming just signed up instead of worrying, a division would form. /thread

This matches my thoughts as well. The current way certainly treats the men and women equally in this way, and I am more than okay with that.

 

[JeCroisQue]

I voted no and not because I am a man. This is the same problem with affirmative action. If you want true equality then you can't give the minority groups preferential treatment, it just swings the issue to the opposite side. No holding spots, women have the same opportunities as men to sign up for any tournament.

 

[VictorB]

I'd venture to say that a lot more women would be willing to go to events when they are assured that the divisions will be bigger than 10 or so players, potentially giving more than just the same 4-5 touring female pros the chance at cash. If reserving spots will do this, I'd be in favor of it, definitely.

edit: People comparing this to affirmative action are idiots. This is much more in the vein of the title 9 for college athletics. For instance, for every 100 men that sign up for an event, 10 spots are reserved for women.

 

[Usher]

At first, I was against this. But then I thought of the Rocky Mountian Women's Disc Golf Championship being held in Denver,CO. It currently has 57 women signed up. I didn't think that there were more than 50 women played disc golf in Colorado. Because it is a women only tournament and they know they are welcome and will play with other women is the same skill level, they signed up. It is also really cool that there are more than 50 guys signed up to be a caddy(and had to pay $25 to do so).

The last tournament I played in had 7 women. Where were the other 50? Maybe if there were spots saved for them they would play?

PDGA Event Page

Registration Page

 

[JeCroisQue]

edit: People comparing this to affirmative action are idiots. This is much more in the vein of the title 9 for college athletics. For instance, for every 100 men that sign up for an event, 10 spots are reserved for women.

How many spots are reserved for men? What disadvantages do women have to signing up for these events that men don't have? Let's not cater to or patronize people, you'll find that most people don't like it.

Edit: I'd rather just make women's divisions if they want their own spots.

 

[Jukeshoe]

I voted "I am male, and I have mixed feelings and need to think about women holding spots."


:|

 

[vonDrehle]

I voted "I am male, and I have mixed feelings and need to think about women holding spots."


:|

I feel like you could have thought about it and then voted for one that takes a stance .

 

[VictorB]

How many spots are reserved for men? What disadvantages do women have to signing up for these events that men don't have? Let's not cater to or patronize people, you'll find that most people don't like it.

Edit: I'd rather just make women's divisions if they want their own spots.

really? you think that men need reserved spots? do men need special encouragement to sign up, since they constitute 98% of the competitive fields in basically every event that isn't women only?

this has nothing to do with gender equality. it has everything to do with growing the competitive side of the sport for women.

 

[BrotherDave]

I've got a spot women can hold.

*licks lips*

RIP Frank Delicious