On to the next round......boards

[GUTTMANN]

Originally Posted by eflfanatic

The Rules Committee is working on two things right now. A "For Advanced Play" guide book, encyclopedia, or whatever you want to call it.

This is the Purpose and Mission of that project.

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.

We are also working on a set of "official" rules for MFCA sanctioned league and tournament play. Every league or tournament has to have rules. Any one who has ever worked on league or tournament rules knows what a difficult task this.

We are not trying to force standards on any one.

This series of discussions (and there will be more) is purely to find out what the majority of the MFCA membership wants so that we can create a set of rules that will govern the game play of MFCA league and tournament competetion that hopefully enough people will be satisfied with to want to participate in.

For those of you who think that this is trash and a waste of time. I humbly respect your opinion and you have a right to express that opinion. But you also have to repect the opinion and the right of those to express their opinion who do think that it is worth their time and effort.

Respectfully,
Chris LeMay
Chairman, MFCA Rules Committee.

Hello Chris,

I believe that if everyone knew about the guide/rules being created for the MFCA, which is why Al was posting these questions about standards and boards, there wouldn't have been so many pros and con responses. There was no mention of this in any of the original posts. There would've been suggestions made for it, and the responses wouldn't be going the way they are. It's all in the wording of the questions. I wouldn't have known why these questions were being asked either, until I called Wolf about it.

Mike

[Treks1]

Originally Posted by Shabby J

Just let people play, you guys are really aren't doing the hobby any favors.

I really hate the direction we are going in with standards, weight classes, board sizes, etc... I am just one man and my opinion does not mean jack here, but for the first time in the last few years I am on the fence about renewing my dues bases on what I have seen lately.

You guys hash it out.

I'am with you Shabby. Enough already.

Play ball.

We have enough on our hands with the weight issue. One major issue at a time. Lets get back to why we are here, painting, customizing, trading and playing.

[ki6ds]

I am a new guy and haven't played much, but guys, I do have some common sense. Do you really think 2 guys are NOT going to play if they don't have an "official" board???? Leagues can spec what is the minimum board if they want to, the tournaments do it already. Surely you guys have something better to do than stir the pot. Why don't you:
A. Build a new team
B. Find a newcomer and invite him over to give him some help
C. Practice your team
D. Call someone up and play a game.
E. Play a solitaire game
F. Write an article for the "Tweak" (which arrived in Dos Palos today, marvelous issue.)

[Michigan Joe]

Nah...diffent boards is like different golf courses in golf or different playing surface in tennis, don't take the competition specifications too far. Embrace the uniqueness of type of board. FHaving said that, it might be benefitical to just document the sizes of the various boards used around the hobby, starting with the Tudor and Miggle stuff, then moving on to some of the various board makers out there.

Shabby, here's my spin...I'm curious to your thoughts. All the guys are really trying to do was to help define a few competition classes, really just a snap shot of where we are in the hobby in 2010. For some people that travel to a lot of tournaments, simplification of the classes is really important thing, for others who are happy to play in a local league then it doesn't affect them. All in all, the emphasis should be on just playing -like you said! The hobby is small and every league has their own special home baked rules and we all do our own custom things and that won't change- and nobody's asking it to. In my opinion, the significance of the latest round of questions regarding "weight classes" really centers around what the MFCA tournament/competition weight class will be held at, what other affect could there be? Like I've said before, I have teams for 3.2 and 4.0...but if you're at the MFCA convention and guys have different weighted teams...well lets just say, its a little awkward. Based on this alone I think its a worthy topic to at least discuss openly on this forum. Its a touchy topic and there are always people that rub us the wrong way (especially thru text on the internet), but I don't think its really something to get too upset about because its not that big of a deal. A weighted competition class is a worthy issue for the MFCA to address at a time when we are still many months away from the convention, and many are passionate about it. You just say your peace with the best intentions, don't take things too personally and move on. I don't think anyone's intention is to create division, but if you are planning events for the convention in August you've got to be able to address this and its better to do so openly. So Shabby, I hope you don't take offense to me writing to you thru the chat board but I just thought if you were feeling that way then others probably are too. Have a great night and keep doing what you do. -Joe

[eflfanatic]

Great response. Thanks.

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by Michigan Joe

Nah...diffent boards is like different golf courses in golf or different playing surface in tennis.

Also, baseball has no regulation for the distance the the power allies, down the lines, and to straight center. The polo grounds center field was i think 487 ft. or something around there, but down the lines it ranged from 250-270 ft. I like the tennis relation by Joe, grass, clay, concrete, just like fiber board, expanded pvc, sheet metal, plexi, ect.

There is a point to draw a line on size though, probably at the rose bowl size.

Taylor

[FrustratedFinFan]

I kind of agree with Shabby. Seems like we are treading over well worn ground here. You play with the rules in place at the venue. I know that in Dallas, it will be their version of the shootout rules. Similar scene in Canton. I know that out here in L.A., we allow lots of equipment that other leagues don't....but I haven't seen any road warriors having any troubles with our rules.

The Miggle tourney has standards as well....but ain't it the granddaddy of all the events anyway? It makes sense that Miggle's rules will remain unchanged.

When in Rome....do as the Romans do!

[artlax]

Originally Posted by RavennaAl

So, where would you draw the line as to which board would be the smallest that should be used for league or tournament play? I'm thinking the 620's. They are everywhere and easily portable. The Rose Bowl board is borderline to me. It would be a great starter board, but I'm talking about league and tourney play, not what is easiest or cheapest for beginners to get.

Correct me if I am wrong - but don't they use the smaller boards at the Miggle tournament? And from the pics and comments I don't see any complaints. Those tournament wins aren't diminished because of the size of the board - are they???

[GUTTMANN]

[quote=RavennaAl;103593]

So, where would you draw the line as to which board would be the smallest that should be used for league or tournament play?

This should be decided by the league and the tournament host.

[WEIRDWOLF]

I think the question needs more definition.
This was Al's question. "What do you feel should be classified as the minimal regulation size for a board?"

I first need to know, what does regulation mean and who will it apply to? Are we talking in context of the MFCAL, a MFCA Guidebook, our local leagues or the hobby in general?

Before people get the wrong idea on these questions, I think is is important to remind everyone including myself of the purpose and mission of the MFCA.
Our Mission: Assisting the miniature football hobbyist by promoting miniature football, educating the public and providing an association which recognizes and supports the diverse coaches and leagues.

The MFCA is who? It's not the BOD. The BOD is in place to carry out what the membership wants and not the other way around. In order for the BOD to do anything, we need to know what peoples feeling are on certain subjects. At best and especially in the case of board size, the most the MFCA can do is make recommendations in a guidebook as to the preferred size field. Economics, room size, portability, personal preferences regarding surface type and so forth make it impossible for the MFCA to "regulate" anything beyond our own skills competitions.

I don't believe Al's question is going to effect anyones league or what fields they use. I think he is just trying to get an answer to what would be everyones preference for minimum field size for league play? Al, correct me if I am wrong on that assumption.

If that is the question than my answer would be 2x4 (except that I don't own a 2x4 yet). However, I see nothing wrong with anything down to the size of a Miggle Rose Bowl field. 500's are good for practice and arena.