Important - BDGA AGM

[bruce]

Following internal discussion it looks highly likely that there will be no board members able to attend Nationals. As such we are looking at other possible options to make the process worthwhile and fair to all members.

Note that this poll is to get a feel for opinion and not binding...

[West]

Any movement on when the AGM will be and what the agenda is?

I'd like to put forward a suggestion about divisional structure. I've not played in a tour event for a couple of years now so happy to take further input from more regular touring members on this. What I'm suggesting is that along with the hard cut off between Amateur and Open divisions we have the same between Intermediate and Advanced Am divisions.

How it could/would work - Same as the current split between Open and Ams. There is a cut off at the beginning of the year and you play in that division unless you choose to move up. If you rating goes above the cut off during the year that is fine as you are competing for the UK Intermediate Division title. If you rating goes above 920 during the year players aren't forced to compete in the Open division, so I don't see how this can't work?

Why should we? - To give the Int ams something to work towards during the whole year. Yes there are Int am finals at (most) events (when required) but it's purely at a event level nothing long term.

Nationals place? - At the end of the year the top 14 Open players get a nationals spot and both divisional amateur champs get a spot. Why? because they have shown they have the commitment to attend multiple events during the year, the dedication to keep improving and playing well at tournaments to be worthy of winning the title.

I'm not sure of the split but with 144 amateur competitors this year over all events should this not at least be looked into?

[Steve]

Have you thought this through Adam? We would have Int am's who start the year with no rating (as they haven't played an event) and end on 900+ and are still playing Int ams? It's happened several times over the last few years. I'm sure this will encourage new comers to the sport competing in the same division as someone who should be almost playing open.....

[West]

I'm not saying there won't be details to work through, and there will always be the "no rating but are 900+ capable at the beginning of the season" newer players but they would have club/TD guidance to enter the "correct" division in the first place.

Just an idea

[Steve]

Yeah, a crap one

[rhatton1]

in your opinion Steve. There could be many ways to make it work and keep an evenish playing field. One way for example if you play your first or maybe even second event on tour and average above the ams cut off you would be forced into the am division for the rest of the season rather than play at int level. That would get rid of most of the freakish starters -those who certainly started off in the wrong division (Jed Farrell, Dan Eagle for example, both of their first rated comps seeded them above the ad am cut off)

Yes by the end of the season you may have someone who was battered at Frostbreaker in their first comp finishing off at Burnlaw with Open rated rounds - Steve Cox for instance, but he has only been pushed into the ams division in his last couple of tournaments so why couldn't he have a crack at Adams proposed ints division for the last couple of tour events, would his presence in that division in the last three tour events of the year really have put off new players? The idea isn't without merit especially when you have fields that fill out tournaments.

[Steve]

Yes, imo.

I think the idea would just create sandbaggers. The int am division is for people starting out on the tour. If you have natural talent and can progress through that division and go above the ratings for int am then do the right thing and move up rather than bagg it up for the rest of the season. Picture yourself rated 780 in the same division as someone rated 900, how disheartening would that be?

It's in the same league as someone being 1 point below the cut off dropping down a division. And you know my veiws on that.

[bruce]

I'll confess I don't really see the point. I've heard an opposite view that the new 870 cut off is too high and doesn't give rookies a chance, so locking potentially higher rated players in there seems daft.

I also don't get the impression that Int ams are dissatisfied with not having an overall title, they generally seem happy to work towards improving their rating and moving up which is a sensible goal for someone relatively new to the sport.

[West]

Fair enough. I wrote a bigger reply but don't see the point in posting it as we're obviously not at a point where three sustainable national divisional championships could be a thing or people want to consider it seriously.

[West]

Moving back to the main topic ... when is the AGM and what's the agenda?

[robbnot]

I would agree that there could be int and ad am divisions as i play right at the bottom of ints and don't stand a chance playing against the ad ams, we have successfully held three tournaments in the semdgs with three divisions so its possible. Although we all played up a division and int Am was effectively a rookie division. So i still finished last... I should've stayed int with the bagging girls

[bruce]

I'm hoping to have all the board reports by end-Oct, and announce a date for a teleconference in Dec.

Regarding the Int Ams, I'm not sure you get the point Rob, closing the division so it lasts all season without moving up would only make it harder for newer players, as those who would otherwise move up would stay down and keep on winning.

PDGA ratings remain the most effective way of splitting the Am divisions and bracketing competition into peer groups. The reason the Open division is fixed is that by the time a player is 920 rated they will likely have had at least one opportunity to challenge for the Am title, and having someone bounce back and forth between 2 separate title races would massively complicate the issue.

[West]

I'm hoping to have all the board reports by end-Oct, and announce a date for a teleconference in Dec.

Looking forward to it. Hopefully it'll be during nap time for the littleun

[Mr.Scary]

:deleted:

[Mr.Scary]

I'm hoping to have all the board reports by end-Oct, and announce a date for a teleconference in Dec.

Regarding the Int Ams, I'm not sure you get the point Rob, closing the division so it lasts all season without moving up would only make it harder for newer players, as those who would otherwise move up would stay down and keep on winning.

PDGA ratings remain the most effective way of splitting the Am divisions and bracketing competition into peer groups. The reason the Open division is fixed is that by the time a player is 920 rated they will likely have had at least one opportunity to challenge for the Am title, and having someone bounce back and forth between 2 separate title races would massively complicate the issue.

you gonna use google hangouts?

it's awesome if you haven't used it and it lets up to 12-14 people be on it. crazy good stuff and it rotates to whoever is speaking on the main screen with the others below.


:cheers:

[Del]

Now is the time to set a date and venue for the BDGA AGM
Now is also the time to review what is being done under the banner of the BDGA.
We have some active clubs making good progress, there is always chat on the Forum, Phil is on the case with the Tour, Bruce keeps powerstats rolling when TD's provide the info, Rich Wood puts stuff out on Twitter. That's all good, but there are some areas of neglect: a prime example being the BDGA website where the homepage references the 2013 schedule and has a link to the 2012 British Open and no reference to anything happening in 2014. As far as I know, there have been no initiatives to invigorate unloved courses such as Lea Valley and Hornsea. I wonder whether any use has been made of the Development fund.
These are matters for the BDGA Board and also for the membership. So whilst I'd like to hear from the Board on their leadership, I'm sure they would also like to hear from members who are willing to take a lead on moving things forward.

[seamus]

Would the Board consider adding a Masters Division 40+ to the Tour in 2015?
Might be your largest division at some events why not celebrate it.

Another aspect to consider is the relevancy of this forum and how we can use it to move the sport forward. I see many discussions on FaceCrack regarding reform of the sport in the UK that would be better served on this forum and out of the public view. Its not that we have anything to hide or sweep under the rug but this is a better more knowledgeable venue for debate where like minded experienced disc golfers login to check the pulse of the sport, Facebook..... not so much. I can only reiterate what has been said, having an updated modern homepage, course directory and club connections would protect this websites relevance.
I'll update the homepage, who has the keys?
That should scare someone with computer skills to do it

[LostMeow]

Thanks Del and Seamus for the input. Please refer to this separate thread for further discussion:

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1793

[bdga30]

Proxy Votes

As a member of BDGA I would like to send my apologies for not attending the AGM this year. I would like to vote on the various proposals and Board Membership but cannot be there in person so, would the Board consider a Proxy Vote system? I was thinking that we could allow a Board Member or one of the attending members to be a proxy. I think this may be too late to implement this year but could I request it is considered for discussion, to be implemented at 2015 AGM?

Thank you,

Jonnie Burden
BDGA30