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Post by schlager7 on Jun 12, 2012 7:31:41 GMT -6
This is a bit of a spin-off of ideas that were mentioned in the Tournament Attendance thread. I have already posted this to the Gulf Coast Division's Facebook page. It occurred to me that a circuit of open tournaments within the Gulf Coast Division might be fun. Many of the clubs already hold such tournaments. We could create a rolling points list of some type. At the last open open of the year we could award the circuit winners as well. Using the events we seem to most frequently hold, we would want mixed and women's events in all three weapons. Looking back at local tournaments that could serve as each club's contribution, here are some quick ideas. FCUH - Cougar Call to Arms BCFA - Battle on the Bayou Salle Mauro - Blackbeard Memorial Rice - Van Buskirk Memorial CLFC - Clear Lake Open Galveston FC - Buccaneer Open TAMU - Heavy Metal (or Wieder Memorial) We have some epee-only clubs (Alliance, Woodlands, Brazosport). We could either just adapt epee events allowing for more competitions or ask some of the other clubs that are used to the ROW weapons to hold foil & sabre tournaments to balance out. Either way, I don't see this particular issue as being a deal breaker. It is just a matter of who wishes to participate. We can also sound out the Fort Bend Fencing Academy and some others in our division who are not holding tournaments on such a regular basis. Participation would, of course, be purely voluntary. I'd like to hear ideas on this forum and, if we have everything largely worked out by summer's end, we could designate participating tournaments at the annual meeting to organize the division calendar.
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Post by grace on Jun 13, 2012 11:42:44 GMT -6
Sounds good to me. I'm very happy to see the women's events listed...
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Post by katyblades on Jun 16, 2012 9:01:39 GMT -6
Since this was attempted several times before and killed by many of the members currently on the board, let's talk about how this is a great idea and the pitfalls.
1. The division must do a more HONEST job sanctioning tournaments. It is not an issue of how a club did something wrong in wording the dates, etc. but the RESPONSIBILITY of the USFA GCD officers is to make certain every tournament is sanctioned by the USFA. It is not how they did it wrong, but how it can be fixed before it is an issue. There were three tournaments this year early in the season that there were/are sanctioning issues and then if it is not sanctioned there can't be points. The only reason that there are not more reported by me is that I have not been fencing locally much. The sport belongs to fencers.
2. There is a participation of the clubs issue, or there was the first time(s) this was attempted. There were emails that certain clubs would not let there fencers fence in a tournament at another club or they would kick them out. It is stupid, I know, but the fencers don't know where else to go if they are kicked out. You can't legislate this issue by the GCD, but be aware that is probably happening because the same clubs with additions are mentioned.
3. There is software, (and I believe FRED), to keep the points.
4. The good standard is the BAY CUP. Since this idea was killed so effectively by some of the methods mentioned above before, I have not followed this model recently. There was software purchased by Alex P. that would run the points. Each club would hold tournaments based upon their club members skills and interests. I may actually do something to help the club attendance I see lagging so badly.
5. It is good for the GCD of the USFA. You mentioned the HSA negotiating to host the NAC. The HSA was aware of this model before, and were very interested in being involved at that time. Vendors donated gift certificates for the winners.
6. Just a warning. It has been attempted through multiple seasons. It was killed by the above mentioned methods, (primarily 1), and these issues still exist. There will be mistrust for many years because of those issues. It will need to be tweaked, because nothing starts perfectly. Don't let the issue 1 cloud the tweaking issue and kill it entirely if the GCD can control issue 1.
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Post by schlager7 on Jun 16, 2012 16:30:11 GMT -6
Since this was attempted several times before and killed by many of the members currently on the board, let's talk about how this is a great idea and the pitfalls. I am presuming you refer to the current Executive Committee: Louise Lepie; myself; Matt Delevoryas; Nicole Trojanowski. I am not certain how many of us are the many you mean. The officers on the Gulf Coast Divison Executive Committee that will take office on Agust 1 are: John Trojanowski (me); Dan Gorman; Kathy Bone; Nicole Trojanowski. I believe I will be the only one going back to those first, early attempts at a "Houston Cup." I will add that I never cast any vote to prevent the circuit from forming. I did categorically state that no club should be coerced into participating. You make good points, but the clubs have to co-operate. At one of the very first opens of this very fencing year, I went to referee on the first day. Also, as a member of the EC I went to collect USFA membership forms/payments to send in. Had there been anything amiss, it would purely have been on my head. As it was I encountered pushback and many, many assurances that the host club had it handled. Guess what. They didn't. Some of those who signed up at that tournament did not wind up with memberships showing until a month or more later, after signing up a second time. You want the division to take care of it? Fine. You want to take care of it? That's fine, too, but then you take the hit for having non-USFA members competing in a tournament and causing it to lose sanction and the ability to issue letters. You can't have it both ways. Cleaning up a local club's mess is not the division's job. If you want to compete at a tournament (for which you would be a valid competitor) and your club forbids it, perhaps you should switch clubs. I doubt if anyone wants the division getting that deep into each club's policies. (Besides which, I don't see how we could enforce that level of interference into a club's internal policies). As it stands a monthly email newsletter goes out to every member of the Gulf Coast Divison for which the USFA has an email address (allowing the fencers has not chosen to opt-out of the email). It details all the tournaments and camps in our division of which I am aware. Surely this would tell a fencer they have other options (with regard to club membership). I believe you correct. Ignoring the rant factor of your second sentence, I agree. Working out the points systems and putting them in place are merely small technical issues. They must be addressed, but are not particularly problematic. We are not back to that point as yet. I am content to encourage and assist the HC-HSA in any way I can to bring national and international level fencing competitions to Houston. Other facets to a relationship between this division and HC-HSA will be explored, but given the narrow timetable in play between now and this coming December I do not feel it is my job to distract them. If anyone knows anything about me, it is that I approach projects from an organic standpoint. We try it this way. Somethings work well, some not so well, some not at all. We keep the first part, tweak the second, jettison the third. Try again. Repeat the procedure. Initial failure does not discourage me. Indeed, I am inherently suspicious of successes achieved too early and with too little effort.
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Post by fox on Jun 17, 2012 7:47:18 GMT -6
Using tournaments that are already being held is a good idea. You simply tack on the points system and, voila! Instant circuit!
Smart.
How are the awards paid for?
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Post by Dan Gorman on Jun 18, 2012 23:01:41 GMT -6
In regards to Auggie's first issue -- is that currently an issue? I'm unaware of a single tournament not billed as non-USFA being denied official status by the division this season. Let's let the past stay the past and try to keep moving forward to improve things.
Dan
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Post by schlager7 on Jun 19, 2012 8:39:24 GMT -6
One thing I believe will help us at the beginning, is that this circuit would largely be made up of existing tournaments. The clubs that wish to participate will only need to make certain they have mixed and women's events and that they designate their tournament as part of the circuit.
This means awards for six event categories at the end of the year and I believe the division can cover this. If it takes off, we can look at some other way to pay for awards down the road.
We can also look at adding local youth or vet circuit categories once we have a year under our belts. Let's keep it simple and take it slow.
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Post by grace on Jun 19, 2012 21:52:11 GMT -6
John, I am with you 100%. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I plan to fence as many tourneys that offer Women's Saber this year as I can. Everything's so far away that it might not be very many. It would be great practice for a NAC this year, too.
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Post by fox on Jun 20, 2012 8:25:56 GMT -6
IIRC Corpus Christi falls within the boundaries of the Gulf Coast Division. Perhaps a Corpus Christi addition to the division circuit might pop up, yes?
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Post by grace on Jun 26, 2012 23:06:21 GMT -6
I'm working on all kinds of things for this fall... referee & coaching seminars... saber clinics... maybe in the spring we can do a tourney. My fencers are taking the liking to the idea of hosting a Wounded Warrior tourney- epee only. We never pulled it off this past spring, but MAYBE this next year...
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Post by schlager7 on Sept 4, 2012 8:54:38 GMT -6
We have a tentative first entry in the Gulf Coast Circuit, that being Cougar Call to Arms. They will meet and decide tomorrow.
I have also heard from Clear Lake which is offering their Clear Lake Open in May as a participating tournament.
Given their respective dates I think those would be the first and last in the circuit... now to fill in the middle.
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nemo
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Post by nemo on Sept 5, 2012 8:34:02 GMT -6
We have a tentative first entry in the Gulf Coast Circuit, that being Cougar Call to Arms. They will meet and decide tomorrow. I have also heard from Clear Lake which is offering their Clear Lake Open in May as a participating tournament. Given their respective dates I think those would be the first and last in the circuit... now to fill in the middle. Sounds like a "short circuit." ;D
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Post by Martin Gale on Sept 5, 2012 8:39:18 GMT -6
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Post by schlager7 on Sept 6, 2012 8:52:40 GMT -6
Looks like Woodlands will be adding their April 28 tournament to the circuit and I am pretty sure Galveston will add the Buccaneer Open. That would give us four in the circuit.
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Post by schlager7 on Sept 7, 2012 8:51:32 GMT -6
I got an email from the FCUH confirming that the Cougar Call to Arms will be a participating tournament in the Gulf Coast Circuit. Obviously, it will also be the first tournament in this year's circuit.
So far the circuit consists of
Cougar Call to Arms 8-9 September 2012 Buccaneer Open 13 April 2012 Woodlands Tournament 28 April 2013 Clear Lake Open 11 May 2013
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