Minutes of players meeting held at the Australian National Championships 7/11/07

at the completion of the block rounds of the singles

Chair Person: Trevor Bassett

Note Taker: Claire Gorton

51 players and spectators in attendance

Agenda

1) Running hoops in practice

2) Hoop setting during games

3) Doubles time limits

4) Doubles plate

5) No play on the Friday at start of tournament

6) Dinner time slot

7) Seeding singles draw

8) Court allocations

9) Play under lights

10) Future of event moving

Topic	Summery	Recommendations
Running hoops in practice	Players were not allowed to run hoops before play unless it was the 5 minute warm up before a game. Players felt that this procedure does not allow them to prepare on the courts thoroughly enough before the start of the day.	Players are able to run hoops in practice before the start of play on any day and that the hoops are to be reset approx 30mins before play. At this time hoop running is to cease until the 5 min warm up.
Hoop setting during games	Hoop setting during the tournament was sporadic and unregulated. Players discussed the different techniques of players setting hoops and employing a hoop setter from the ACA. Also once in play the second game of a double banked game cannot reset the hoops.	For ACA to review hoop setting during the tournament and consider the employment of a hoop setter for events. If this was to happen hoop setting could happen at any time (incl during a game) because the designated hoop setter would be setting the hoops consistently and this should not advantage or disadvantage any game that is already in progress.
Doubles time limits	Doubles games were continually being played into the evening which was agreed to be unacceptable.	For all doubles games to have time limits imposed. The limits suggested for Bof3 matches were 4/3/2.
Doubles plate	Doubles plate was suggested. Players discussed formats and decided that a Swiss format would be most beneficial and discussed singles players being able to enter.	A plate event to be offered to players who are knocked out of the doubles event or who are just arriving for the singles.
No official play on the Friday before Championships	Discussed length of the event to be kept to 9 days for working players. It was suggested that having a single life quarters could do this. Ie 4 games Sat, 3 games Sun with single life quarters, then Bof3 semis and final on Monday.	The event to be kept to 9 days.
Dinner time slot	Discussed the dinner time slot could tie in with events of the tournament. Suggested that it could be on the Wed night for the draw of the final 32 and an official players meeting.	ACA to note on entry forms that a dinner will be held for the draw of the 32 and an official players meeting.
Singles time limits	Again it was decided that the singles games were dragging on too much and that time limits should be imposed for at least the early Bof3 rounds, especially where court conditions were sub-standard.	Bof3 time limits should be a cumulative 4/3/2. This way we can ensure that 3 rounds will be completed in 2 days (hopefully without the use of lights).
Seeding singles draw	Discussed seeding the singles draw. Discussed many different models and it was suggested that a model be put on the internet for players and officials to review and evaluate. See extract of article prepared by Mike Hughes (attached below).	In short, the top 2 players from each block will be reseeded to fill the top half of the final 32 draw. The remaining block qualifiers will be reseeded to fill the bottom half of the final 32 draw. See attachment.
Court allocations	Players discussed the conditions of all the courts and suggested that courts are to be shared around more frequently. Courts 11 & 12 were the courts in question in this instance.	ACA consider conditions of all lawns and consider court allocations when completing draw.
Play under lights	It was mentioned that conditions of entry should state that some games may need to be played under lights. This note should also not be taken advantage of and numerous times were discussed but not agreed on. Comment was made that if the games were time limited as suggested above that the need to use the lights should be minimised.	Conditions of entry to be changed to include that players may need to play some games under lights. Although this should be a back up only.
Future of event moving around the states	It was suggested that the event still move around to the states with the facilities and the want - for the benefit of the game. It was suggested that every second year have the event at VCC and every other to other willing and able states, ie. in a rotation system.	To move the event around to other states. Eg. Vic, then Tas (if they want it), then Vic, then SA (if they want it), then Vic, then WA (if they want it), then Vic, then QLD (if they want it), then Vic, then NSW (if they want it), etc. If one of the states don’t want to hold it then it should go back to Vic.

Extract from Mike Hughes article on the proposed changes:

The alternative suggested at the meeting is considered initially in the ideal scenario of 8 balanced blocks (of any number) producing 4 players each into the knock-out.

The alternative suggestion "protects" players who perform sufficiently well in block play by ensuring they are allocated into the top 16 place in the field (thereby ensuring they play lower ranked - or performing - players in round 1 at least). Examples as to why this may be appropriate from the 2007 Australian Open are Alan Walsh (who won his block) and Robert Fletcher (who came second) both of whom were placed in the 25 to 32 group by world rankings, so met a 1 to 8 player in round 1.

The mechanics of the change would be quite straightforward as the block winners and runners up would be ranked 1 to 16 by world grade, and 3rd and 4th placegetters would be ranked 17 to 32 by world grade. The normal draw process would then be followed.