Qualifier at Tornado Worlds to play for Canada in the ITSF Team Event

[Eric Dunn]

If you are in attendance at the World Championships in Dallas, TX - you can attempt to qualify for Team Canada in the ITSF Team Event - WE MUST BEAT THE USA this year. no pressure!

The Qualifier will run like this:
If you're ranked a pro-master by USTSA points in either doubles or singles points, you automatically qualify.
The remaining spots (not including the spare), will be filled by a qualifier to be held Friday morning, starting at 11AM.
Entry Fee is $10 per player
The qualifier will consist of a series of round robin games in goalie-option singles (1 game to 7 win by 2 max 9 points) where the player with serve has option to play that entire point as goalie-wars (team will need goalies)
In the case that more than 8 players enter, we'll split the round robin into two groups (separating players of like rank according to USTSA points)

Players with the most games won after the round robin qualify for the team.
In the case of a tie, break ties by
head to head (if it applies)
goals against (max points against is 7 in a loss, and 6 in a win)
goals for (max points for is 7 in a win, and 6 in a loss)
if still tied players play another game - same format as above.

Once the qualifier is complete, the spare spot will be selected by the current members of the team.

Once that team is assembled, the team will select a Coach.

The Coach enters the roster for each match as they see fit - keeping in mind the spare should be treated as a normal player, and can be played in all or none of the matches.

[Will Stranks]

This is going to be awesome. This format seems like it is as fair as possible.

I really hope everyone is happy with this.

[Eric Goodman]

I'm not a fan.

I have not come up with a rational argument for my distaste for the system, but it doesn't sit right with me. I'm fine with PMs being appointed. This makes rational sense to me. Its this goalie war/singles format that I don't like. I don't think this format will create the strongest team possible or even pick the strongest goalies of the group.

Whatever, it's better than no system at all. See you all at the qualifier.

[Eric Dunn]

The thinking was this.

Others have not liked the bring your partner format of previous years, so it had to be singles or some type.

We needed to find a way to get some goalies on the team - with our 3 pro masters already named to the team we didnt really need a bunch of pure singles players who could hack and smack with the best of them - cause our pro-masters are likely going to be playing singles in the 3 singles games (each match).

But we couldn't just do goalie wars, as that does not show how one can block a 3 row either. So i thought a mixture of both - So if a goalie was able to both block the other player, and shoot well in goalie wars, then they're likely a better candidate for the team than a pure singles player - who is probably a stronger forward than goalie.

At first i had the idea of singles, with goals from back counting for 2 points - but then thought of the option that would allow a pure goalie to be competitive in a singles event - both allowing the goalie to play goalie wars on their drop, and also allowing the other player to play their game.

[Eric Dunn]

and we don't necessarily want just goalies either, switchability is very important, especially blocking the other teams 5 bar - and for a goalie to win in this qualifier format, they're likely have to be able to block some 5 bar passes, or block some 3 row shots - and that's what we're after i would think.

and in the case, a singles player can overpower everyone else and qualify in this then they're likely a good candidate to play with either Mario or myself, who can also pit very well -or play the extra doubles game (incase of a tie).

anways. as you can see i did put some thought into this. probably too much.

[Eric Goodman]

I don't doubt that you put a lot of thought into this Eric, you don't tend to make any decisions haphazardly. Maybe I'm just worried I won't make the cut...

[Will Stranks]

Actually now that I re-read it I think its not a great solution either. I missed the whole point on Goalie wars. I wanted to have a vote - and for clarification I would not have put myself on the team. I did have a really strong team picked out though. I don't think this will get us our best team.

I dont even think that goalie wars has much to do with having a good two bar. Really it is not too hard to be good at goalie wars compared to how hard it is to shoot/pass/clear in doubles. Its not even close to the same thing actually.

Also I have heard of a lot of people saying that goalie wars throws off there shot for a weekend/tournament - I dont think any of us want that to happen to other canadians.

Could we do doubles/singles qualifier? If you are ONLY a goalie you can opt out of singles and have it not count against your chances to qualify. I dont really know what the best method is.

Another flaw is that stopping the other canadians shooting is very different from stopping the top Pro Masters on the USA team.

Does it matter if a player can block my snake/pull shot? Does it matter if I can brick Eric G? It will help me in semi pro singles - but its not the same as stopping Tony Spredeman or Ryan Moore.

All I can do is point out negatives, not present any resolution. I dont know that there is a better system actually but this isn't perfect either. Sorry Eric I probably shouldn't even post this - my mom told me if I didn't have anything nice to say....

Thanks Eric for putting in the effort to get this qualifier going. I'll play for sure.

[Eric Dunn]

WTF. Now everyone is about "forming the strongest team". If that was our goal then that would of been easy. Pick a coach. They pick the strongest team. Remember that was my idea that not one of you voted for.

We don't have time to complete both a singles and doubles qualifier. We have at most 4 hours

if no one likes the goalie war option then don't pick it when it's your serve

here comes my new slogan (that I started using on the bc message boards). "if you don't like it, step up and take my place"

[Will Stranks]

Don't blame me for no one voting for that option - I didn't have a vote :)

I like your new slogan and completly support it.

[Eric Dunn]

Just to let everyone know, i've purchased the team shirts.

2 for the women - with Moya's approval

and 9 shirts of various sizes for the men - hopefully the sizes we have will work out.

The men's shirts are not the ones posted previously. The store i went to did not have those.

I picked up the t-shirts from the bay that are white with black lettering.
Front has CANADA across top, "the true north" and "strong and free" on either side of a olympics 2010 patch looking thing.
Olympic Team is says along the bottom.

The women's are black with Red letting with same graphics on them as the men's - just in women's styling as well.

I'll post a picture sometime, but just letting everyone know what the shirts are going to be - incase you wanted to pick some up for yourself.

$20 each

[Eric Dunn]