Mark,
Many of the Proline dials sold from Miggle added to the convention shell always seem to tip the scale to 1.3.........That to my knowledge is what upped the weight to 3.3 instead of 3.2.

Geno H

Geno,
Thanks...was curious, that's all.

Mark

Ok... then if the "standards" were based on "standard" sets of figures and base the perhaps we do need to change the terminology. Perhaps "Competition Weight" is the term we should be using, as I don't believe the the question raised by the poll had anything to do with "standard figures".

Tudor's definitions need to be re-defined, or perhaps we need to add a new defintion, independent of manufactured "standard" figures that simply addresses total weight of base and figure; call it "competition weight" and the recognized limit is 4.0 g

Thats whats up
 

its obvious that the standard manufactured products isnt going to change no time soon, we need to seperate the 2 "Competition Weight" addresses eveything we need to do here period. George is right the standards have been set awhile back & for new guys, thats where they will most likely start, assuming they go to the common manufactures for there products. With that said "Competition Weight" is what deserves our attention.;) pretend like that wasnt my suggestion for u guys who wouldnt follow me out of a burning house:D

OK, so it was Pratt who came up with the numbers. What year was this determined?

Coach Rip,

You know you are probably much more knowledgable than I in respect to weight classes. But the few tournaments I have been in were for the most part 4.0. This is where the hobby is going. The players perform much better in this weight class. As for the 3.3 team I'm preparing, I want to have them on hand just in case as was the case at the MFCA convention some coaches don't have a 4.0 team. As for me and leagues if its a 3.3 team or 4.0 then I can play in either. But believe me when I say some of the big heavy weights in this hobby are moving to the 4.0 weight class. I have tested both 3.3 and 4.0 on my board (3924) and there is no doubt they perform better at 4.0. Please Rip no disrespect just what I hav efound to be the case.

RD

eye on the ball
 

c'mon fellas cant get caught up in individual back & forth, We need to set a competition weight no more no less, that most if not all tornies can go by. I wish I could play in Beltsville, no time to build a 3.2 team so I cant play. setting a competion weight would ease the burden on guys that want to compete but cant field or afford more than 1 competitive sqaud.

I am making a Notre Dame team that is 3.2 and a Houston Oilers team with custom figures that is 4.0...no big deal.

ppcrn $br# ppcrn $br#

:fghttt:

Why not simply create an official FAQ instead of official weight ?
 

Why not just create an official faq somewhere, taking count of each usual competition weights?


something like that, but with a "pro" (experienced) point of view :


classic (3.2g-3.3g) :
pro :
work out of box (especially miggle sets/figs range, buzzball figs range)
historic way of playing MF
no need to add weight or modify bases or figs

cons :
can be "bouncy" or inconsistant on some big boards
a lot of leagues preferes 4.0gram class

list of leagues playing under classic class : (...)


heavy : (4.0g)


pros :
more "room" for customizing
works better on some big boards
a lot of leagues plays 4.0grams class


cons :
heavy class athletes can be too strong against classic class athletes, causing incompatibility
need to watch out the weight during the team setup (customizing or training)

list of leagues playing under heavy class : (...)



etc, etc... you get the idea. Lets the beginners make their own point reading that official faq and watching 1) the material they have/plan to buy 2) the leagues and friends they can play with around, without any "that is better than this" argument, peacefully (Lennon, go out of this body now).

In my opinion (beginner oriented, of course), it should be usefull. Remember some examples we saw on that topic : the slot cars, the model railroad, the sport gun competition, etc, etc... other hobbies or sports with many diferent sides/scales/etc... in them always choosed that way, instead of saying THAT is the official something. thmbsp$

In the works
 

Dimitri,

What you are talking about is in the works with the "For Advanced Play" project that will be published at some point. Here is the purpose and mission statement from the Rules Committee that will guide the creation of this publication that has been presented to the MFCA Board of Directors.

MFCA Rules Committee
“For Advanced Play”
Rule Set

Chairman: Chris LeMay


Purpose: To create an “Encyclopedia” of rules and terms used by current and past league and tournament organizers to play the game of “Miniature Football”

Mission: By examining and evaluating the various rules that are currently being used and have been used in the past by league and tournament organizers, we are attempting to compile an “encyclopedia” of terms, rules and game play formats, to give the serious coach of miniature football a guide to use in choosing a league or tournament format to challenge and further develop his skills and coaching abilities. This will also serve as a guide to coaches who wish to organize their own local or regional league or tournament for the purpose of attracting other coaches who may wish to play the game of miniature football in a more competitive environment.

This guide will also attempt to serve as a history of leagues and tournaments and as a historical account of the development of rules and equipment (game boards, figures, bases and other innovative developments) used by league and tournaments to play the game of miniature football.

Introduction

In 1947, the “Tudor Metal Products, Corp.” of Brooklyn, NY introduced the “Tru-action” electric football game. It consisted of a “vibrating” metal game board with football field graphics and 2-D metal miniature football figures that moved on the field, when the electric switch was turned on, to simulate playing a game of real football. There was even a metal miniature quarterback that could pass and kick a miniature felt football.

The rules for playing the game were pretty basic and usually just involved setting players up in basic offensive and defensive formations, giving a running back the ball, and running the board until the ball carrier either scored (by crossing the goal line), was tackled (by being hit by a player of the opposite team), ran out of bounds, (hit the sides of the game board), or, in most cases, turned around and began to run towards the WRONG end zone.

Since that time the game of electric or “miniature” football has seen many advancements, developments, and innovations, in equipment and rules used by coaches to make the game more challenging, realistic, and requiring more skill and strategic planning to effectively win games and achieve the goal of league or tournament “Champion”.

This guide and encyclopedia of rules will help the miniature football coach gain a better understanding of the many ways to play the game and find or develop a rule set of his own to enhance his level of competitive skills.

Totally unrelated to this poll

The purpose of this poll was to help in determining an acceptable weight for players (figure and base) to be used in creating a rule set for future MFCA sponsored or sanctioned league and tournament competetion. I already know we are not going to be able to please everybody with the creation of this rule set and future discusssions on it will spark even more controversy. But one of the goals of the MFCA is to have their own sanctioned league and tournament competetions and I have already sent a proposal for this to the Board of Directors. I have started a thread for discussions on this.

Well, if nothing else, at least we all seem to have come to a general concensus that there are basically 3 weight divisions, 3.2/3.3, 4.0 and unlimited. That is a major accomplishment by itself. frstplc

Dimitri, you keep bringing up slot car racing. I don't know how many guys are involved in that hobby, but I would wonder if maybe it would be bigger if a novice knew which size car to start with. I like the HO scale, because I had an Aurora set when I was a kid. Of course, that was before they had race cars and the sets were basically street tracks with stop signs, 4 way intersections and RR crossings. I had a blast with it until my friend got a slot car that was about 3 times it's size. I don't remember what scale it was, but it was a Chapparel race car that had it's rear wing tilt up and down as it went around corners. I thought it was so cool. We had fun with it until another friend got one that was even bigger. We went with him to a hobby store that had a track in the back room and played for a few hours. When I got home, my HO track seemed pretty tame compared to those 2 cars, like I was playing with little toys instead of real cars. Of course, the main drawback to the larger cars is that you couldn't set up a decent track in your house because they took up so much room. So, even at that young age, I could see the angst of trying to decide which class to procede with. Pros and cons for each size, but no guidance from anyone either. :confused:

I tried 1/43, 1/40, 1/32 (anolog an digital), 1/32 "competition" (digital system used for european endurance championship), and h0. I've got 2 tracks at home, a 4 lanes (h0) and a 3 lanes (1/32). I prefer the h0 scale :D

Ask another guy, he will say he preferes digital 1/32. Another one, analog 1/24. Another one, wood track 1/24 slot racing, another one, 1/40 classic french slot racing, etc, etc...

Usually, when we try to help a beginner in the slot racing forums I go, we ask him 3 things :

the room he has
the budget he has
the other friends or slot racing clubs he has in his aera.


then, we explain him the pros and cons of each scale (for example, h0 scale in france is quite unknown, so if you don't want to order online in USA you'd better choose another scale....other example, if you have a 2m x1meter room, you should choose h0 instead of bigger scales).

Finally, the guy makes his choice with all the informations we gave him. Most of the time, the guy goes naturally to the more fashionable scale of the moment (1/32 scale in europe). Sometimes, he choose another alternative. For me, it's a good guidance. frstplc


@Eflfanatic : I didn't understand that that poll was only for the mfca tournaments and ruleset. I believed it was dedicated also for a beginner guide.

Anyway, I tried to defend my foreign newbie point of view, with my little experience in other "technical" hobbies. :o Now I return to...my unlimited customized teams :D

MAXIMUM STANDARD OR STANDARD MAXIMUM
 

COACHES,

Why don't we address it as "STANDARD MAXIMUM" or " MAXIMUM STANDARD "

IT'S MEANING IN WRITING :

Due to the MFCA'S fairness and competition act. Any participant competing with equipment that is used to play electric football. A standard maximum weight of 4.0 grams was voted on by MFCA members. This said weight has been reveiwed by the board of directors and has been approved for usage as the standard weight to play this game. You as a participant in this hobby are free to create a competative team in your image up to 4.0 grams. You may compete with the products provided by the verified manufacturers. You may customize figures in the likeness of your favorite college or professionakl athletes. You may use golf tape to increase the weight of you competative figures. ANY OF YOU COMPETING FIGURES MAY WEIGHT ANY WEIGHT YOU CHOOSE UP TO THE 4.0 STANDARD MAXIMUM.

FIGURE SAMPLES

1)LINEMAN 4.0
2)LINEBACKERS 3.5
3)RUNNING BACKS 3.2

NOTE : These are sample weights, You may have a lineman who performs well at 3.7. You may stop there if you choose to.
CREATE A WELL BALANCED TEAM UP TO 4.0 GRAMS.

***wolf could write this out better than i can. But something to this effect.

ALL WEIGHTS ARE INCUDED. If you love your 3.2 running back, JUST LEAVE HIM THERE ! He does not really have to block too much !!!!!!!!!!


MANTARAYDRE

Read the Post Title??mgngcrz
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!
btddhrs btddhrs btddhrs

I voted 3.3. Why, there was no KEEP AS IS! I have never played 4.0 and still dont know what the advantages are at playing at this weight. It's hard enough to find people to play. So, I say PAINTEM UP AND LETS GO! I can remember playing Pop-Warner at a weight limit. It was 135lbs and of course I was always over. I never got the experience of playing during my grade school years so when I whent to JR High everybody had more experience then me. At that point I was at a disadvantage because of standards. What I am trying to say is that no matter what we vote on, Lets make sure we dont make people feel disadvataged because of standards.

THE WRITE UP
 

WOLF AND THE MFCA GOVERNING BODY.


At what point can we see the official write up stating 4.0 is the MFCA'S legal "COMPETATIVE WEIGHT CAP ". Lets get out the ink and get it on some trees so we can throw out the next pitch. Lets keep going until we have a list of legal luxuaries !!!!!!!!!


4. a go !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mantaraydre

LETS MAKE IT TO 50
 

4.0 coaches,


Lets get two more votes to make it an even 50 electoral votes.


THANKS
MANTARAYDRE