Div.1 & 2 match times - clarifications on process
@ThomasJEvans
#1
This thread is regarding the set times used for Div.1 and 2 for the current season. While currently only those divisions have the set times, we will look to include more divisions in this setup in future seasons.

There have been confusions around the new system of setting match times, so I would like to clear these up and answer some questions I’m sure many of you have.

Before the start of the season, I contacted all 16 teams in Div.1 & Div.2 to ask them for their preferences as to what times they would like to play at. For teams that did not respond before I set the timings, they were given a default allocation. These settings were then used to set the match time, and then the date the match would be played on.

To decide the match time:

If the two teams’ preferred times are within 2 hours of each other, then the match will start at the exact midpoint of those two times.
If the two teams’ preferred times are more than 2 hours away from each other, then the 12 hour windows are taken into account to set a time that is not unfairly towards one team’s extreme starting times. A team will only have to play towards their extreme starting times if their opponents would also have to do the same (this will likely only happen if the two teams have a very large time zone gap).
The match date is then decided, based on what the teams’ preferences are, their working days and hours, what their weekend days are, and what days the teams have said they wish not to play on (e.g. most teams have asked not to play on Easter Sunday or that weekend). In some of these scenarios, matches are moved from their scheduled week to a free week (and in many of these cases I contact the affected teams to arrange a different date, if there are multiple available days available).

If teams want to change the time for their match, then this needs to be agreed between both teams and the tournament director. The representatives from both teams should send a message to the TD detailing the proposed change and why they would like to change the time (so that we know for future what we need to consider for default times). (highlight supplied)

Requests to change the time of the match must be made the week before the original or requested time (whichever is earlier). This will be enforced strictly from Round 3 onwards (matches on the weekend of 27th/28th Feb), so you have until the 20th/21st Feb to reschedule your Rd.3 matches, after which the times will be locked in on the 22nd.

The default match times will not be changed for Stage 1. If you feel your preferences were not set correctly (because you misunderstood them, got the times wrong etc.), then please contact me (if you haven’t already) to request a change in these preferences for Stage 2.

The end aim of these times is for us to be able to set times that (excluding unexpected events) require no rearrangement from teams – with us using these times with some adjustments mid-season, I expect that teams will be able to provide more detailed preferences in future that would allow us to reach this point soon.

COMMENT I POSTED (in the same forum)

@philbertsky
#2
"If teams want to change the time for their match, then this needs to be agreed between both teams and the tournament director. The representatives from both teams should send a message to the TD detailing the proposed change and why they would like to change the time (so that we know for future what we need to consider for default times). "

Is it not enough just for both parties in the match to agree between themselves and just inform the TD of such an agreement? To get the TD to agree first on such an agreement, or to get his confirmation on such an agreement first would make the process tedious and already akin to red tape. And would it not be enough that at least one party inform the TD? What happens if the other party already agreed but would not bother to inform the TD because they know and just would let the party that proposed the time change to do the notification to the TD? Would the results of the matches be nullified or would they be asked to have a play-off? How would the party that proposed the time change and informed the TD know for real if the other party informed also or not the TD? Would that not put the proponent party in a dilemma - that it's entirely up to the disposition of the TD to declare the matches were in order or not? With due respect to the TD, and this is only a supposition (not suspicion), what if the TD is biased against a team and more inclined to favor the other? Would he declare a match to be in order if the other team he favors won but did not inform him as per his ruling and declare it not in order if the other team won? These are mere hypotheticals. But what is definite is that the rule is an unnecessary burden and makes it more difficult for any team to make an adjustment to a disadvantageous schedule given to it. It is just what we are experiencing. Why does it have to be this way. It's like taking the fun part of competing in a tournament and in playing chess.

Besides, this rule is being made while the plays are already on-going. It's like changing the rules in the middle of the game. Can it not wait until next season? At least, the teams would be aware that there is such a rule and so could best weigh if they would still join LCWL notwithstanding.

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