VRC Div 3 News: 2016.10.15

Guidance, Suggestions and Updates from VDSL

This past week players, team captains and club co-ordinators received some guidance, information and suggestions from the Vancouver Doubles Squash League. Though some or all are available on the league site on SportyHQ, and some was sent to all players, I am also making the three e-mails available here.

Subject: Start times and ranked pairs

Wednesday evenings are divided into two sessions, one that begins at 6pm and the other at 8pm. Two matches are scheduled for each of the two sessions.

First match begins at either 6pm or 8pm. The second match follows directly after the conclusion of the first match. The second pair on should not assume their match will begin one hour later.

The spirit of league play is that all players are there for the two matches and socializing. To enable players to economize their time, the first pair on is known in advance. This is published on SHQ as an announcement and in a "page" next to HOME.

VDSL is intended to be competitive and to that end it is expected that the best pair is matched to play the best pair. In singles it is very simple, ranking points determines positions 1 through 5. Doubles is a little more complicated, however, the spirit is the same. Your best pair plays their best pair. The best pair will have the higher average ranking points and in many cases the two top ranked players.

If captains find themselves in a difficult situation, and wish to alter the prescribed order of play, they should seek permission from the opposing captain well in advance of the match. It is unfair for a team to gain an advantage by playing pairs out of order.

SHQ sends out alerts when a player seems to be out of position, i.e. a player on the B pair is ranked higher than a player on the A pair. SHQ does not differentiate left and right wall rankings, so there may not be an infraction. The plan is to work with SHQ to adapt this "rule" so that average rankings are compared, that is A pair must be higher ranked than B pair.

Subject: Reassigned dates (extra dates)

SHQ bases its scheduling on "round dates". The bulk of matches are played on the assigned "round dates". Not all matches for a particular round date can be accommodated on that night. Some matches are reassigned a playing date which is different from the "round date".

These extra or reassigned dates are necessary to fit in all the matches.

October 19th is the first reassigned date.

October 19th at Evergreen EVE Cov is hosting EVE Broman at 6pm. "A" pair on first.

October 19th also at Evergreen EVE McDowell is hosting EVE Johanson at 8pm. "B" pair on first.

October 19th at VRC Pybus hosting Kochanski. "B" pair on first.

October 19th, there are no scheduled matches at Hollyburn.

Schedule for year below.

Early pair	Round Date
A	2016-09-28
B	2016-10-05
A	2016-10-12
extra	2016-10-19
B	2016-10-26
A	2016-11-02
extra	2016-11-09
B	2016-11-23
A	2016-12-07
B	2016-12-14
extra	2016-12-21
extra	2017-01-04
A	2017-01-11
B	2017-01-18
A	2017-02-01
B	2017-02-08
A	2017-02-22
extra	2017-03-01
B	2017-03-08
extra	2017-03-22
A	2017-03-29
extra	2017-04-05
B	2017-04-05
A	2017-04-12
B	2017-04-19

Subject: Dec 21 and Jan 4

Dates you may wish to reassign.

The last "round date" in December is the 14th. There is a reassigned date, December 21st. Teams may wish to wish to arrange a more convenient date for these matches.

December 21st

At Evergreen, EVE Johanson vs HOL Kaffka at 6pm. "A" pair on first.
At Evergreen, EVE McDowell vs VRC Kochanski at 8pm. "A" pair on first.
No matches scheduled at Hollyburn, but HOL Kaffka plays at EVE Johanson.
No matches scheduled at VRC, but Kochanski plays at EVE McDowell.
No matches scheduled at VLT.

The league encourages captains to find more convenient times for these matches. It is not required that both pairs play on the same day.

Another awkward date is January 4th.

At VRC, VRC Pybus hosts EVE Johanson at 6pm. "B" pair on first.
At Evergreen, EVE Whitworth hosts EVE TBA at 6pm. "A" pair on first.
No matches scheduled at Hollyburn or VLT.

Again, the league encourages captains to find more convenient times for these matches. It is not required that both pairs play on the same day.