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Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2002 22:39:24 +0000
To: britdisc@csv.warwick.ac.uk
From: Wayne Retter <druid#6@phidelta.demon.co.uk>
Reply-To: Wayne Retter <wayne@fluiddruids.com>
Subject: Re: No. of teams from each region.
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>There are only 34 teams registered for Tour 1 according to the latest mail
>Matt sent round.

It worries me a little that I can quote this info, but...

numbers of teams entered into past Tours 
        Year   Entrants         Teams @ Events
        1997 - 38               (23, 28, 20, 25, 22)
        1998 - 39               (32, 32, 28, 28, 26)
        1999 - 43               (31, 32, 28, 32, 28)
        2000 - 35               (33, 28, 32, 29)
        2001 - ? I wasn't official statto for this one, so don't know.
                 I reckon the figures r @ www.ukultimate.com somewhere?


> Does anyone know why?
> Are we losing or alienating some potential outdoor players for some
> reason we could affect?

The Tour was designed to be elitist.
"Ultim8" wasn't just a play on words!

IMHO:

There are quite a few players/several teams that would like to play at a
more 'recreational' level than the Tour. Whether this is because they
just prefer it that way, or because they're beginners and don't want to
"drop in at the deep end", or whatever...

It seems to me that there has been a bit of a shortage of non-Tour
events in the last couple of years (apology: Ross-on-Wye not happening
last year didn't help, sorry!). 

On the other hand, there seem to be several non-Tour events appearing on
the 2002 calendar already. Cool. The question is, will representatives
of the 'serious' teams deign to attend?
One of the complaints heard about the Tour is that several teams below
16th don't get the chance to play against the top 4 unless they're
"lucky" in Tour 1. This is one of the reasons that the format of
Nationals was changed to a 32 team knockout in 2001.


I also think the money thing is kicking in, too.
Particularly when it comes to Students.

We see very few Student TEAMS competing REGULARLY in the Tour these
days.
OK, we see a fair few Student PLAYERS, but they're mostly playing with
their 'local' Open teams - Jesters/York/Loughborough with Red; and
Mythago with Headrush are two prime examples that spring to mind.

Is this due to the cost?
Tournaments used (3 or 4 years ago) to cost approx £65 and split between
an average team size of 7-12 would cost between £5 and £10 per head.
Last year and this look to cost approx £150 per tournament, more along
the lines of £10 to £15 per head based on a team of 10-15 players.

>Now come and get some outdoors action - the Frogs are waiting! ;-)

BAH! I've got MY sights set higher than the French!   :)

Wayne

----------------------------------------------------------------
Wayne Retter
mobile: 07970-903420
w.retter@bigfoot.com
office: 01737-273655