The BIG Question! Take your gloves off and discuss...

[eflfanatic]

In the next couple of days I'll be outlining, a plan that I feel may be able to garner some real results in the way of a "PROFESSIONAL National League" based on existing tournament & regional league dates. This is solely voluntary and in no way will effect any established rules or customs of any particular region or league. My goal is to further the cooperation between regions through creating a competitive circuit comprised of members that frequent these events.

Bruce,

I really want to see what you are proposing. I don't think it is that far off from what we are considering in trying to come up with a series of MFCA regional tournaments.

Our membership is dropping, not growing and every year that passes it gets worse, while other hobbies such as ping pong, billiards, fooz ball, RC racing of all types, darts hell even scrabble has an audience & respect on the street, with no changes,

What do these have in common? How many different ways can you play ping pong, billiards, fooz ball, etc...? One set of rules and standardized equipment with nationally sanctioned competitions by a ruling organization.

I don't get what 's the problem in here. If someone does not want to participate to that national championship, he just has to not participate, don't you think ?

Dimitri,

I really don't get what the problem is either.

[the french guy]

returning for the beta testing ruleset, I found some things I can give you my opinion on (wich is, if i understood correctly, the point of the topic)

first, no clock on formations deployement. I think it's a strange choice for tournament.

Other thing is the duration of the game. I think it's a way to long for tournament rows.

Other thing : the "see some space between bases" statement, for formations. Here 's again, you need an official measurement. Perhaps some markers or rulers to check legallity of the formations spacing around the bases.

Remember that we are speaking of an official ruleset wich should NOT BE SUBJECT TO INTERPRETATIONS. You can't let "holes" in the ruleset, because the risk is to see one interpretation in NY, another one in Texas, etc, etcc...and the day you'll make regional or national tournament rows, no one will know what choice to do, and people will not be happy


I tought about another thing yesterday....But I can't remember it for now Tonight after work, I'll read the rules again to figure it out.

[Megawattz]

Im confused fellas,help me to understand we greet each other at these Tournaments, like we know each other personally. We have discussions face to face, phone convos, emails & p.m.es, about this very subject, with a general agreement that something more is desired, but when we get behind a computer screen something changes?like all of a sudden we dont know each other, no clue what your talking about. Why do every time someone suggests alternative methods of doing things, its viewed as if they have a hidden agenda, not just me, but many others before me, some of which dont participate anymore because of that? Why do coaches profess that they play different rulesets on the road anyway, rules dont matter, I can adjust, my coaching skills are "AMAZING" but when u put 'em in a room together, theyll rather quit, than pick one? Why do people think, that after years of supporting each other, the guys that I see on the road are the same guys for the most part, that I seen going back 10yrs. for some of u longer, Im fairly new compared to some of u guys. But somehow its going to suddenly BOOM!overnight! It will be as we leave it!most of us have grandchildren, thats another 2 generations right there! when is all of this suppose to happen? Why do guys after years of friendship, some of which go back to childhood, then overnight, mortal enemies, over this game! whats that about! This is FOOTBALL game or not, a win at all costs attitude has been bred into all of us, and those that played organized ball know what im talking about, litteraly! "SPORTSMANSHIP" was the tool to slay that beast, alot of us need to work on the "SPORTSMANSHIP", because the "WIN AT ALL COSTS" mentality is here to stay! If fellowship is the purpose, wouldnt it seem prudent to start at home.Just wandering. would like to hear from u guys on this one.

[Jim Davis]

ok wolf and all coaches

There are a few basic questions that have to be answered first:

* Will games be timed or be based on a set number of plays?
my answer is a set # of plays

* How to handle passing? Turn and burn ... Attack passing ... pass placement, etc. A hybrid?
my answer is Attack passing with QB only

* Single stop or multi-stop?
my answer is Single stop

* Front-of-base tackling or any touch?
my answer is Front-of-base tackling on run plays and any touch on pass plays

* Implementation of dice and if so, for what?
my answer no dice

[dallcow4life28]

Originally Posted by Jim Davis

ok wolf and all coaches

There are a few basic questions that have to be answered first:

* Will games be timed or be based on a set number of plays?
my answer is a set # of plays

* How to handle passing? Turn and burn ... Attack passing ... pass placement, etc. A hybrid?
my answer is Attack passing with QB only

* Single stop or multi-stop?
my answer is Single stop

* Front-of-base tackling or any touch?
my answer is Front-of-base tackling on run plays and any touch on pass plays

* Implementation of dice and if so, for what?
my answer no dice

These are all good questions. I also agree with alot of what Mega said above. I wish I had the time to vibe with more of you guys more often, and comment on these topics. That's my only regret in my EF world.

Anyway, why not elect Lynn, and a board of 5 of THE most respected coaches in the country, and hammer out a univeral rule-set. Maybe this was mentioned before, I don't know. Good topic, though.

[artlax]

Originally Posted by Megawattz

Here we are in "2010" playing a "Board Game" introduced roughly 60 yrs ago, in an age of high technology. Our membership is dropping, not growing and every year that passes it gets worse, while other hobbies such as ping pong, billiards, fooz ball, RC racing of all types, darts hell even scrabble has an audience & respect on the street, with no changes, Why dont we

Dimitri - in a post on another thread made these points which I think clearly describe the challenge facing us.

I teached the game to a friend, in about 1half hour he was ready to play. I won the game, but he was able to play, being a total beginner in american football. Since he's not a board game geek he didn't involved much, sadly. Since he 's not a board game geek. I believe in our countries, it's a point more important than being a football specialist.

"Here, "football specialists", for most of them, watch games on tv and sometimes play madden. You will not take them off their seat easily to do something with more involvement. Especially because, as in cheap american comedies, board games, miniature and stuff like that has that negative "geek" image (you know, typical image of the football captain making fun of the glasses guys of the high school chess club)."

I know when I share with people my miniature football involvement they often look at me as if I have 5 eyes or something. Most think the game is long gone and have no idea where it has evolved to. Wolf's recent interview was great - but as they say - seeing is believing - and the nice thing about the BAM playing at The Toy Wiz is we are right in the middle of everything and different "game geeks" and others check out what we are doing whenever we are there.

If we want to promote what we are doing we have to promote the game in high visibility areas whenever possible and represent ourselves in a completely positive manner. Tournaments in common areas of mall - not the conference room. Might not be as cozy - but highly visible. And as Miggle is the entry level outlet to this game we need to partner with them to host events out in view for all to see - it will should help them as well as all of us.

[Michigan Joe]

Bruce, I love your passion for this and I agree that a collective "national" league that we could all be proud of would be great for the hobby.

My two cents...

Keep it simple, and all inclusive... and to me this means more of a tournament circuit format than regular season games, schedules, playoffs, etc. I think an MFCA national league would be more realistic (and successful) if it partnered with the regional tournaments and was created as a series of tournaments rather than played as a league with a regular season and playoffs....the MFCA tour! We could run it like the Fed Ex Cup in golf (points for placement in the preapproved tournaments, with points dependant on # of coaches playing) and then a grand finale tournament for the MFCA championship (with MFCA rules), with seeding coming from the "regular season tournment circuit" point standings.

An MFCA sponsered tournament circuit could provide critical support for the local tournaments, encourage participation and grass roots growth for the hobby, and it with some simple planning can be achieveable in 2011!

(1) The local tournaments are a life bood of the hobby, and this format would hype up the local/regional tournaments and lend support and prestigue to them and encourage participation! In this format we create a WIN-WIN for the grass roots local/regional tournaments and the "big picture" and that would be a bond that ties us together, rather than wedge us apart. Can you imagine checking the "standings" after each tournament and the fun it would be to rank and specualte.
(2) it will create the grass roots effort that is needed to encourage new participants to compete. Anyone can come play and be apart of these tournaments...heck, we could even award tournament points to coaches who recruit a new coach to play in a tournament. An individual can start small with one local tournament and you can build your "tournamnet schedule" at your own discretion and timetable (no demanding pressues...this is important for many!)
(3) this is achievable! Every person's schedule is different and getting organized for a league is very demanding. However tournament format is a fresh start each time, encourages and promotes participation, if one guy doesn't show up the plan doesn't get spoiled, there are no teams that are 0-10 feeling hopeless, you can attempt to compete in a tournament without worry of not meeting a long term league committment, and overall tournaments are a great way to play. By combining forces into a unified tournament circuit we have a way to create something BIG out of what we already have without it becoming overly demanding on our schedules/lives.

I want to go to LA for the OPEN RUN, I want to go to BELTSVILLE, I want to go to DIXIE, I want to go to a Jim Davis run tournament in Detroit, I want to have a tournament in Indianapolis or Chicago, etc, etc. If we tie these great events together like one big family of events maybe these events will have the support to be even more successful.

Sorry if thats more than 2 cents.
Joe

[Shabby J]

I got news for you Artlax, malls charge you to hold events in the "common" areas, the fee can be upwards of $1000. That has been the discovery out here in Los Angeles.

The community rooms are free or can be rented for a nominal fee.

[Megawattz]

Thank u guys for hearing me out on this, I know we got a long way to go but at least were now holding, a serious convo about the things that are holding us back. Guys out west stay with us on this, your support, will truly make this a national effort.

[WEIRDWOLF]

I just want to add, that some wonder how this meets the mission statement of the MFCA. In short, having something that presents a national championship goes along way toward the promotion of the hobby, gives us validity as a serious competition that could attract a sponsor and gives us a better shot at getting sponsors, so it does tie into the mission statement and the marketing of this hobby/game/sport.