Do you encourage non-league players to play in your events?

[TD_Host]

We have given this a little thought, and concluded it is best to allow anyone to participate in our games.

This allows non league players a chance to try us out and see if they would like to join our group and participate in our games.

Also, it allows those who can only occasionally play to join the games when their schedules permit.

Therefore, it should increase our prize pools and increase our player membership in the long run.

The question I have is: Do you take $5 (or whatever amount you take) out of their buy in (toward the season championship prize pool) as is done with all regular league members?

Or, does it go to the prize pool for that particular event?

How do you guys handle that?

Thanks.

[Junior]

We used to let anyone play at any given time but changed it a couple of seasons ago.  The problem was that some players were getting upset that they were playing 13 or 14 out of 14 events and some players were bringing a friend out for one event and 'taking' points away from their finishes.  I didn't think much of it at first but then after calculating a difference in points from one of those events, it would have changed the way the final seats at the Championship table played out.  Now we charge a pre-season membership fee that basically beefs the Championship purse even more so all our players are very happy with it.  They work all season to earn those points to have a chance to win that big purse.  We still drop the lowest 4 scores out of 14 so that allows players to attend family functions or simply miss a few if they choose and still be able to count a full 10 scores. 

If you are going to allow 'strays' as we used to call em, you have to take out the rake for the Championship, that's why it's there!  I would also recommend putting a minimum number of appearances required to qualify for the championship.  In my league you must attend at least half of them (7), to qualify for it.  Always check with your regulars too and ask their opinions before going ahead with something.  Just shows you respect them as regulars.

[TD_Host]

We used to let anyone play at any given time but changed it a couple of seasons ago.  The problem was that some players were getting upset that they were playing 13 or 14 out of 14 events and some players were bringing a friend out for one event and 'taking' points away from their finishes.  I didn't think much of it at first but then after calculating a difference in points from one of those events, it would have changed the way the final seats at the Championship table played out.  Now we charge a pre-season membership fee that basically beefs the Championship purse even more so all our players are very happy with it.  They work all season to earn those points to have a chance to win that big purse.  We still drop the lowest 4 scores out of 14 so that allows players to attend family functions or simply miss a few if they choose and still be able to count a full 10 scores. 

If you are going to allow 'strays' as we used to call em, you have to take out the rake for the Championship, that's why it's there!  I would also recommend putting a minimum number of appearances required to qualify for the championship.  In my league you must attend at least half of them (7), to qualify for it.  Always check with your regulars too and ask their opinions before going ahead with something.  Just shows you respect them as regulars.

We have decided it's only fair to deduct for the EOS prize pool from every buy in and rebuy. It is the fairest approach, I think.

We do have a minimum number of events participated (about 1/3rd of our events is required), with the top 8 scores counting towards the player's final points for the leaderboard.

I'll have to think about the points and skewing issue resulting from stray players.

Since some of those strays may eventually become regulars and play in the championship event if they qualify, I think the best approach may be to just enter them into the database and include them in the league stats anyway.

Otherwise, they may not be able play in the final championship event (because they may not qualify after having lost points if they weren't initially entered.); and that might be a disincentive for some to come back later and begin playing.

[ricochet913]

Our league is not based on points.  We use first place finishes and money winnings to determine who makes it to the TOC.  We play our league until we have 6 individual game winner.  After we have 6 winners, we take the top 3 money winners that did not win a game but placed in the money.  We then invite all of the people who are part of the league that played the minimum number of games (2 games) and invite them to a free (unless they want a buy in for that game only) to a losers game.  The winner gets the 10th seat at the TOC.  All of our players are told that their buy ins and rebuys will be raked for the TOC.  If they are not part of the league they have to decide to play or not.  By playing, they allow us to use their rakes for our TOC. 

We do not go out and look for non-league players, they are just usually friends of the league players.  If they like the league, they can join it by verbally telling me. 

[Martini]

As ricochet913 points out there are fundamental differences between the two leagues. I don't see an issue with having strays come in and play because, as was pointed out, they may end up becoming members at some point in the future. With a points system, a stray placing higher than you will "take" points but the total number of points is also increased when you have additional players in the field which mitigates the effect somewhat.

[Dr. Neau]

Our league is not based on points.  We use first place finishes and money winnings to determine who makes it to the TOC.  We play our league until we have 6 individual game winner.  After we have 6 winners, we take the top 3 money winners that did not win a game but placed in the money.  We then invite all of the people who are part of the league that played the minimum number of games (2 games) and invite them to a free (unless they want a buy in for that game only) to a losers game.  The winner gets the 10th seat at the TOC.  All of our players are told that their buy ins and rebuys will be raked for the TOC.  If they are not part of the league they have to decide to play or not.  By playing, they allow us to use their rakes for our TOC. 

We do not go out and look for non-league players, they are just usually friends of the league players.  If they like the league, they can join it by verbally telling me. 

I worry about focusing on money.  As soon as you do that, you'll make it obvious that 80% of the people are losing money.

[ricochet913]

They do not seem to care.  The league has its hardcore players and its recreation players.  We can tell the difference.  It's only a $15 buy in.  The "other 80% just keeps on coming back though. 

We tried to use the points system set up, but several of the regular players found out that it is possible for a person that shows up to the minimum number of games can get into the TOC without winning and a person who won a game could possibly not make it to the TOC.  We scrapped that idea early.  We wanted a true Tournament of Champions.  Not a collection of players who made it to all of the games, knocked out a few people and placed in the cash once.   

[Martini]

They do not seem to care.  The league has its hardcore players and its recreation players.  We can tell the difference.  It's only a $15 buy in.  The "other 80% just keeps on coming back though. 

We tried to use the points system set up, but several of the regular players found out that it is possible for a person that shows up to the minimum number of games can get into the TOC without winning and a person who won a game could possibly not make it to the TOC.  We scrapped that idea early.  We wanted a true Tournament of Champions.  Not a collection of players who made it to all of the games, knocked out a few people and placed in the cash once.   

If the group is so set on a true TOC then why do the top three money winners that didn't win a tourney and the winner of the loser's game also get in? Seems like there are two contrary things going on there.

If you're looking to fill in extra spots at the TOC, how about backfilling with players that came in second in the tourneys instead? Seems that would be more in line with the spirit of a table full of champions than putting someone in backed their way in through a losers tourney.

[KingRichard]

Our league has six-game seasons with "mini-games" in between seasons.  We usually have two or three "mini-games" between the seasons.  In our lexicon a mini-game is NOT a small game it's just a non-points, non-season game.  Players are encouraged to bring guests and non-league players to these games and these games are used as recruitment games.  If the guests are deemed compatible with the group, they are allowed to join the league (our League director is picky so that we don't end up with trouble makers).

This works fairly well.  Exceptions have been made to this rule if someone's close relative wants to play (we'll let them play in a points game).  Exceptions are also made occasionally for out-of-town guests. But... for the most part, the only games where non-members are allowed are mini-games.

[skingfool]

To the original post- do you charge a "league fee"?

I do not charge a league fee.  Therefore, every player who ever plays is a member.  They get points based on their finish, have their buy-in raked for the Championship like everyone else, and must attend the minimum amount of games in order to play in the Championship.  It is very simple. 

One thing I am adamant about is I am very clear to them on the fact that not all of the money paid in that night will be paid out and what it takes to qualify.  If he/she has a problem with the rake, that are aware of that up front.

[cbbroo]

We take $10 total, not per player, ($20 per player buy-in) from each Qualifier tournament.  Then, our rule is as follows:

To automatically qualify for the Championship, you must have played in 6 of that season's 11 Qualifier Tournaments.
If a Qualifier Tournament is cancelled, the number of games needed to qualify is reduced by 1 game.
A player may play in the Championship Tournament without completing the appropriate number of Qualifier Tournaments if they have played in at least 1 Qualifier and pay an additional $5 for each game they are short.  The $5 fees will be added to the Championship Tournament pot.

[NutFlopper]

Hi All,

We allow non league members to play.  Our buy in is 25 and 5 goes to the League Championship tournament.  So the more players we get during the season the more money we generate for the championship.  Our Season is 10 tournaments so we ask that new players play at least 4 tournaments in a season to qualify for the championship.

John

[Gameface]

I prefer the idea that everyone who plays in the league tourney becomes a member of the league. That won't work for everyone, but if it does work for you it is by far the simplest approach.

You can control things by requiring a certain number of games to qualify for the TOC. Honestly, though, if you determine TOC eligibility by accumulated points (excluding 2 games of a 12 game season and using the top 10 games for each player, for example) then your top players are going to most likely be people who show up for at least the number of games that count toward the final score. If not, well, then they should have played better.

[jjschoon]

In the league I run, $5 is taken out of every $50 buy-in for the end of the year tournament.  When we have new players show up, I hand them a copy of the rules and give them a brief synopsis.  We have 12 monthly tournaments and to qualify for the year end tournament, you must either win a tournament (and play in a minimum of 6) or finish in the top 10 in points.  If we are in the 2nd half of the season when they start, I make sure to point out that they can not qualify.  I have never had anyone walk out after my talk.