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From: "David Grayson" <david@mcg.gla.ac.uk>
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Subject: Re: handicapping
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> From my recollection of handicap systems in other
> sports I have played, the winner is always the one
> who's handicap is slightly generous because their
> form (or team) has changed from that which was used to 
> fix a handicap score.
> 
> So a handicap that adjusts itself to the current 
> score in a game might be good fun.
> 

The problem with a handicap that adjusts itself during a game is that 
there is really no reward for a team playing well, because regardless 
of how well you play (within reason) it will be close.  Therefore - 
who cares?  There really is no incentive to play well, or more to the 
point, to play sensibly.  How many teams will we see performing no 
look thumber hucks most of the game?

The other thing is that it will almost always come down to who scores 
last or a time scramble - HRT goes ahead, gets penalised, LRT 
makes a comeback, HRT loses their penalty, HRT moves ahead again, LRT 
catches up etc. - might as well just play one point.

As for team winning who was mishandicapped, every tournament has a 
favourite, it just so happens in this case it would be the team that got their 
handicap wrong instead of the best team.  Will people deliberately 
talk down their quality beforehand instead of boasting? - nah can't 
see it!

As for novel handicaps - why not drive 12 hours to get there....

Dave.
Mud Culture.