Same problem with Worlds. Players are grouped into pools based on their players ratings. Yet we all know players ratings are not 100% accurate.
Shouldn't PRO's playing an event be considered as equals prior to an event starting? I know that players are grouped by score after the first round. But shouldn't it be fair that players are grouped randomly as the PDGA suggests for the first round?
I mean it is in the PDGA rules. Why are these rules changed for certain events?
Where is this waiver that I hear about?
I'm not bored, I just think that the PDGA needs to stick with what they say.
...
I'm just really pissed off at the PDGA's inconsistencies. I love disc golf, I love PDGA events, but I don't like people not following rules that are laid out. Supergroups are cool to watch. It makes it more exciting for the live scoring. But it goes against the spirit of the game. ALL PLAYERS ARE EQUAL. EVERY PLAYER SHOULD BE GROUPED RANDOMLY. If you want to do a REAL live scoring, put a Marshall every 3 or 6 holes and have them get every players score. Not just the supergroup.
If you are going to make rules or suggestions, follow them. Don't make some imaginary WAIVER to change the rules.
C'mon! This argument fails both the "letter of the law only" position AND the "common sense/intent" position. Realistically you're arguing a personal pet peeve or preference -- not a PDGA failure.
It fails on letter of the law, because the rules manual says specifically, "...
should be grouped...," "...
two methods...," and "...
TD's may request a waiver...." So one can easily see why supergroups in the first round ARE within the the
letter of the PDGA
guidelines (not
requirements).
It fails on common sense because for some tournaments, if we would like a different level of media exposure, provide some visible bonus for former champions, and/or increase online viewership and therefore money and therefore exposure and so on..., the TV entities are going to want to negotiate some of the conditions. It happens in sports all the time in the US. TV networks change start times for games, require certain athletes of specific talent or novelty who are being showcased in competition to be held until "prime time," promote certain athletes and not average ones, etc. I mean realistically, how many events have Anna Kornikova and Danica Patrick actually won??? [here's a hint: I can count them on one finger for both put together.] and then how much relative media coverage do/did they get? But that's part of the common sense of trying to increase exposure.
I absolutely respect that such a situation will NEVER occur in an event you run -- even if 10 years from now discgolfplanet.tv was offering a $10,000 donation to your local organization in exchange for one round of a supergroup. People who stand on principles and values absolutely deserve to be heralded for standing on those values. In this case, what I see, though, IS your personal value and
NOT a failure on the part of PDGA to follow rules.
P.S. To my knowledge the PDGA only is responsible for hosting a few events per year; the rest are sanctioned by the PDGA but run by a local club. Given this, the rules not be being followed by the PDGA s tremendously over-stated. Remember that your complaint about Worlds was players being assigned to groups by ratings -- yet you quoted a competition manual which states that grouping by ratings is one of the suggested models.
You guys can think I'm whining all you want. I just want to see rules be consistent. No matter what the circumstance.
Really??? That's what you want, that level of black and white with no room for judgment. I have no knowledge of who you are -- you very well may be a top pro & long-time TD and I am just Joe every day weekend warrior new to the sport, but that sounds awfully unrealistic for the state of our sport right now.
