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Post by Rajiv on Jun 24, 2011 11:20:35 GMT 8
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Post by Rajiv on Jun 30, 2011 7:56:18 GMT 8
The contents of the schedule thread has been changed to reflect prepayment going forward. Each thread now also includes a statement: .... Proposed line ups will be put up a few hours before the game. If there are an odd number of players, the proposed line ups may be delayed until we have an even number of players. .... The General Information post has been amended to correspond with the changes.
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Post by Rajiv on Jul 19, 2011 23:14:18 GMT 8
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Post by Rajiv on Aug 14, 2011 13:54:11 GMT 8
I've moved the thread on "Latecoming" to the "Queries, Suggestions, Introductions & Chat" board to allow discussion on what changes to the system are needed to deal with latecoming.
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Post by Rajiv on Aug 20, 2011 18:00:57 GMT 8
I have also added at the bottom of the General Information post:
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Post by Rajiv on Aug 21, 2011 11:59:25 GMT 8
.... .... I try to ensure every game has even numbers, but from time to time, we get stuck at odd numbers (not necessarily due to late withdrawals). The possible solutions: * Pick up a player at the venue itself. * Modify the rules with the team with an extra player handicapped by where they can score from (eg, from within the D). * One player switching over halfway through, with the handicap switching over too. Treat the two halves as two legs, "home" and "away". The side with the extra player is at "home". ....
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Post by Rajiv on Aug 27, 2011 12:09:11 GMT 8
Each schedule thread contains a link to payment modes and how to check balances. Dave H suggested I make the payment information (payment modes and how to check balances) more prominent in each schedule thread. For the games from 1 September 2011 onwards, I will move the links to the top of each schedule thread. I have split the information on checking balances and the payment modes into two posts under the existing "Payment modes and current balances" thread on the "Payment Information" board. As the current balances post is first, I've renamed the thread "Current balances and payment modes". I've also copied the information on alternatives to payment (such as using another's credit or owing me) to the payment modes post. It will no longer appear in each schedule thread. I have substantially revised the schedule post with effect from today (starting with the 1 September 2011 game at Sports Planet).
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Post by Rajiv on Sept 10, 2011 11:59:31 GMT 8
For some time now, I have been suggesting line ups about 4 to 5 hours before the game. Recently, I have been doing so up to 6 hours before the game, to fit in with other stuff I have going on. Also, regular games are filling up much earlier, sometimes by the end of the day on which the schedule thread is put up. From now on, I will be suggesting line ups 6 to 4 hours before the game. If before I do so, any regular who is familiar with all the players for that game can suggest line ups. Please do so on the message board, rather than as an SMS to me.
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Post by Rajiv on Sept 13, 2011 23:07:30 GMT 8
For tonight's game at Sports Planet: Stopped raining about 10 minutes ago. Game is on. Started pouring again 5 minutes ago, but has already started to ease up. Looks like it will stop by 9 pm. Sports Planet inform me that the pitch has been in use since it started to rain, so hopefully, the earlier games will help clear much of the water. After more than a year of this, I've become quite good at reading the weather, especially between 7 and 9 pm on weeknights.  On a separate note, the game is on unless I SMS those playing (or make other arrangements) to inform them that it is cancelled. I received several SMSes at various times between 7.30 and 8.45 pm asking if the game is on. If it threatens or starts to rain less than 3 hours before the game, there will also be updates posted on the schedule thread. Addendum (14 Sep 2011, 7.51 am): It started storming some time after 1 am and continued until about 5 am, with lightning and thunder.
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Post by Rajiv on Sept 17, 2011 7:45:50 GMT 8
.... Greater standardization means I am going to increasingly stick with the way our games are usually played, one hour flat out. There is some variation of the system for: * Challenge games. * Extra games. * Mixed games. The variations are also standardized. The basic formula of playing one-hour flat out isn't going to change though. ....
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Post by Rajiv on Sept 19, 2011 13:00:18 GMT 8
New rules affecting new players: .... .... With effect from this weekend's games: * If you put down the name of a player for a regular game who has not played with us before, you must vouch (on the message board, when putting his name down) that you have played in a game with him before, and that he meets our minimum standards. * If you cannot vouch for that, he must post a Self-Rater on the "New Player" sub-board. * If neither condition is met, he can only remain in reserve, and can only play if we have no other players available. The above does not apply to mixed games, so introducing him to a mixed game might be a better way to bring in a new player, whose abilities you're not familiar with. The rule may also be relaxed for extra games. and For all players registering after today, I will not approve their registration unless I am satisfied they meet our minimum standards. After they play their first game, they will remain on Guest List A until their registration is approved. The General Information page has been modified accordingly. The purpose is not to shut out new players, but to introduce them in a more systematic and less disruptive way.
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Post by Rajiv on Sept 23, 2011 12:42:44 GMT 8
.... I'm very reluctant to change any regular feature of our games between putting up the schedule thread and the game itself because: * it means more work for me. * players who put their names down for a game on the premises set out in the schedule thread may be unhappy about changes without notice to suit some players or reserve players.
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Post by Rajiv on Oct 8, 2011 7:26:02 GMT 8
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Post by Rajiv on Oct 21, 2011 23:11:33 GMT 8
.... What Jiv is doing is not an easy job, week in week out with so many games going on. .... .... I am aided by the system we have in place, here on the message board. Thankfully, most of the players work within the system, so it makes my tasks a lot easier. The system works around this message board, so using the message board not only helps me, but benefits the players who use the message board. Apart from the monthly Update, I use SMS and e-mail mainly to help players who are new (or not yet familiar with the message board) put their names down for a game, or to fill up a game that is slow to fill up or still has places left on the day of the game itself. .... I look forward to the day when all the places (including replacements for any withdrawals) are filled on the message board.  Apart from our regular games, anyone is free to organize, propose or offer any game, sport, activity, project or event through the message board, under "OPSAGE". .... I would hope that everyone feels comfortable enough to post their proposals, suggestions, invitations and offers directly on the message board, rather than emailing or SMSing me. After all, what I usually do is just quote the e-mail or SMS on the message board. .... Also: .... feel free to comment and make this comment board a more lively place where views can be shared... ;D Comments about line ups in particular should be on the message board. .... All comments must be on the same schedule thread as the suggested line ups. I will ignore SMSes about line ups. However, if a player is for whatever reason unable to post on the message board and SMSes me instead, I will reproduce the SMS for him on the message board verbatim. .... Only SMSes which carry a negative implication towards another player will be treated as confidential, and not re-produced on the message board. .... The system would work a lot better with more relevant feedback. The message board is set up to allow for better feedback. This includes comments about games on the report thread. Every schedule thread includes the following passage: SMSes about line ups can be particularly disturbing, especially if the sender does not wish me to disclose his SMS to other players. Such SMSes carry two implications: * The player wants to be able to influence the line ups. * The player does not want the other players in the game to know that he is trying to influence the line ups. The first issue is dealt with easily enough: However, the second issue risks subverting the system. Not only does it undermine transparency, it risks leaving the other players wondering about the fairness of the line ups, and the possible influence of one of the players trying to favour himself, for it otherwise "wouldn't make sense for me to initiate changes to the line ups a couple of hours after first suggesting line ups unless something had arisen in the interval". More generally: Especially between noon and 2 pm on a Saturday afternoon.  And finally, it's not about who is in charge; it's about the system - it will never be perfect, but it's about making it work the best it can with the available resources.
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Post by Rajiv on Nov 5, 2011 7:48:58 GMT 8
.... There are repeated reminders of the rules on the message board and in the monthly e-mail Updates, especially those relating to playing safe. .... I would encourage players to avoid sliding tackles, especially from the back. I was a victim for a few sessions lately, though no major injuries substained. However, this is futsal, not field soccer and even fustal tournaments rules prohibit sliding tackles. Thanks. Mark subsequently raised other breaches of the rules and principles with me via SMS. I'm not at most games. I hope the regulars can help me out. If you come across breaches of the rules and principles, please remind the player concerned. If the player concerned disagrees that there has been a breach, we can discuss it on the message board. .... If a particular player is independently identified by several players as breaching the rules, especially those relating to safe play, and does not stop even after several personal reminders, I will suspend or ban the player. For more serious breaches, there may be an immediate suspension.
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Post by Rajiv on Nov 30, 2011 14:44:36 GMT 8
.... As it is cumbersome to deal with playing rules, principles and the system in one thread, and there are other threads dealing more effectively with principles and the system, I have renamed the thread "Playing rules", and will move posts in the thread relating to principles and the system to more appropriate threads. .... On the other hand, it is useful to have a single thread dealing with broader issues. While the "People & standards" thread deals with the broader aspects of players, a "Principles, system & playing rules" can cover the broader aspects of the system and our games, so I've renamed this thread accordingly.
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Post by Rajiv on Dec 7, 2011 11:45:56 GMT 8
.... Any player who intentionally commits a foul which risks causing injury to an opponent, or seeks to instigate another player to do will be suspended for one week. If there is a repetition by the same player, it will be a one month suspension. For this, I need to be provided with the name of the player and what transpired, and the information confirmed by another independent player (preferably a regular). For example, calling out to a team mate to trip or bring down an opponent is unacceptable. I'll insert this into the Playing Rules & Principles.
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Post by Rajiv on Dec 16, 2011 8:51:55 GMT 8
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Post by Rajiv on Dec 19, 2011 14:35:51 GMT 8
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Post by Rajiv on Dec 20, 2011 7:57:30 GMT 8
I've switched this Wednesday's game from Khalsa to Kallang as numbers are not good, and we don't need as many players at The Cage. However, one other advantage of the switch: .... Also, it has been raining the whole day today. Although it stopped by 9 pm, it was still raining past 8 pm. If it continues like this for the rest of the week, games at East Coast and Khalsa may be cancelled. At least at The Cage, the game can go on, as long as we have enough players. ....
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