Canadian Nationals

[Will Stranks]

Dear TSAC Executives, TSAC Members, and fellow Foosball players:
Please review my application to host the Canadian National Championships on October 2-4, 2009 at the Gateway Entertainment Center in Edmonton, AB. Executives, please accept this as an application to TSAC for a vote on the merit of Edmonton hosting this event in 2009.
If the vote is passed, we will determine the National Champion of Canada at this tournament. If someone who is not Canadian wins the event, the highest placing Canadian will be crowned as the national champion. If two are tied, they will have a playoff in a best of 5 format.
We would also like to determine 4 spots on the Men’s National Team based on the results in Open Singles in this tournament. If a spot on the team is declined then the spot should be given to the next highest placing Canadian that accepts the invitation to play on the National Team.
There are several reasons that we believe this tournament is fit to be named as the National Championships:
1. We are willing to guarantee payouts of at least $10,000 made up of the following
a. 100% payout of entry fees
b. Sleeman’s is sponsoring the event for $2,000
c. Gateway Entertainment is sponsoring the event for $2,000
d. The Edmonton Foosball Association is sponsoring the event for $1,000
e. We are planning on approaching other local businesses to attain more sponsorship
2. We are working out excellent deals with a hotel next door to the tournament venue.
3. We are planning an extensive awards ceremony dinner. At this dinner we will present the Trophies, Prize Money, and a Championship Ring to the first place finisher in open singles.
4. We have major media already eager to cover Table Soccer in Edmonton. Several news channels and the local sports radio channel will all cover the event leading up to and during the Championships.
5. Table 1 will have streaming Video onto a projected display for spectator viewing. Also the setup of the venue allows for excellent viewing spots for spectators.
6. We have a sound system available to be used for calling matches, hosting ceremonies, and making announcements.
7. We are in close proximity to the International Airport (15 min drive)
8. We are willing to have up to 20 tables depending on the expected amount of entrants
9. Gateway is also willing to pay the ITSF fee for running an ITSF Masters Series Event
We also are requesting the right to name this tournament after a sponsor if a sponsor is willing to pay for the name. We also would like to be able to make all decisions on the format of this tournament without having to follow other people’s guidelines.
As the Tournament Director, I am guaranteeing that this event can be not only biggest tournament in Canada this year, but truly a world class event worthy of naming our National Championships.
Regards,
Will Stranks

[Will Stranks]

Eric could you please set up a vote regarding this with a closing time in one week? If anyone has questions, please ask.

[Eric Goodman]

WOW

Awesome Will, way to take initiative. I hope that everyone stands behind you on this. I'm already getting psyched about this. This would be an awesome event if it happens.

Do you do this kind of organizating in any other aspects of your life? (Work etc.) because you seem to be really on the ball with this kind of thing.

[Will Stranks]

only when I am really motivated about something. I am applying this type of organization to my skills in learning foos also though, so next time we play watch out.

[Darrel Popowich]

Eric,
Who would do this kind of organization in their work life - come on - there's no meaning to that!!!

Will,
You ROCK!

[Mario Iannuzzi]

Kudos on the effort, Will! Great job!

[Audrey]

Wow That is totally amazingggg...!!! But is it to determinate only Male National Champions, or Female too? Only the Single national champion or Doubles national champions too?

[Will Stranks]

We will for sure have doubles.

I want to have everything decided at this tournament, such as the complete national team, and doubles champion, womens, junior, and senior champions. I thought it might be hard to accomplish that all, but i would be willing to take on everything if that is what everyone wants.

[Eric Dunn]

Will this sounds great. Awesome work. at the last minutes, i'm being flown out on business I'm not clear on my internet connectively when i land. I'm at the airport as i type this.

Yes give though to female, junior, senior, mens singles and doubles national champship spots. It's best if we can get them all.

Possibly could be determined from the same event.

If you do not hear (or see an email from me) by tonight, i would suggest act as VP and conduct the vote yourself. as i might be out of pocket, and i can understand if there is some urgency for this.

Refer to this posting to let everyone know that I might not be able to 'perform my duties'. I'm out of town for a week.

also give some thought to sharing some more info on the format you wish to run things in. saying "not having to follow other peoples guidelines' might get you a few no votes - if they are unclear if the format will be fair.

just some quick thoughts. I have to get on the plane now.

hopefully talk to you soon

[Will Stranks]

I agree that it would be great to determine the National womens champion as well. If we can do this all at once i would be more than happy. I would really like to keep this to a one weekend tournament though, i believe we should be able to schedule enough games over that time to finish several events.

That said, as Eric pointed out I do want to be able to use my discretion in the decisions of this. I know that often people try to force there opinion on things that are out of there control, I would just like to be able to make decisions as the tournament director.

As to format, I am exploring a couple of different things - before I send this to a vote I will type out a large explanation of the details regarding this subject. I will say that I want to get away from the standard double elimination tournaments - and move to something that incorporates a round robin with scheduled match times, then based on how you finish in that group it would seed players into another bracket, which would be single elimination. This would completly eliminate conflicts and would also make it more exciting for spectators, and would make sure no one goes 2 and out.

As far as what players are ranked I would also like to be given final decision on that, I know a lot of people argue about that, especially considering we don't have a ranking system in canada. I won't do anything stupid, obviousluy, and would be open to having a vote on how players are ranked as well.

[Eric Dunn]

I would think it reasonable, that once control is given by TSAC to a body to run our national championships, then we're giving their tournament director full control over how that is run.

As you can see i'm connected once again (here in Chicago), and will have good connectivity at the hotel, but will be working crazy hours, so I likely won't have alot of time to handle admin stuff - So Will please if i'm not being responsive enough, carry on, as acting president (as the VP should).

round robin is a format i've always thought should be used - and that is how we've run our qualifiers at worlds (for the Canadian team at Tornado Worlds). - so i don't think you'll get a lot of push back on that Will.

I assume ranking will only impact the groupings within the round robin events. There might be other ranked events like semi-pro singles - and that's not TSAC's primary concern - its more how ranking effects placement in the event that determines our National Champions. Here i'd assume that ranking would be used to properly seed the pools. for example each pool might have 2 pro's, 3 semi-pros, and 3 rookies - after that everyone is on equal footing. This way people will want to be ranked properly - because (for example) if i complain my way to a rookie ranking - then i'm playing agaisnt 2 pro's in my pool. if i'm ranked a pro- then i only have to play agaisnt 1 other pro. So being ranked lower than you should be is a detriment in this case - which is good. But of course this is entirely up to the tournament director. B-)

[Ottawa Foosball Ass.]

Hey Guys:

Sounds great. I don't think anyone from Ottawa would object to this event deciding the national team. We had our shot a couple years ago and we think it is great that this tournament is happening.

I would agree that a round robin event then single elimination works well. We did that here recently for an open one day event. The doubles went really smooth but I could have used more tables for the singles. If you get 20 then it shouldn't be a problem.

Let me know if there is anything I can help out with - custom wraps, shirts and stuff.

Chris

[Jeff Tung]

Absolutely insane...
Great work Will and all of Canada definitely appreciates what you do. Might be the only time I've ever been jealous of Alberta. I suppose all the normal issues with hosting a single tournament for qualifications still exist but the immense value you are adding here makes up for it in my opinion.