Selection of Teams
To Represent Reading Bridge Club
COUNTY LEAGUE-OF-EIGHT
Set out below are the club's Selection Criteria and Selection Procedures. They rest on the Committee's Policy that (a) the best teams available are fielded, and (b) movement of players both up and down the teams' structure is an accepted part of the team selection procedure.
1. The Selection Committee
The Main Committee will appoint each year three suitable club members (including one, but not more than two, members of the current A team) to form the Selection Committee who will have the task of allocating pairs to each team. At least one member of the Selection Committee shall be replaced each year.
The Selectors may nominate up to three extra selectors, probably the captains of the previous season's lower-division teams, to assist in the selection of teams not playing in Division 1.
Each year, the Selection Committee will appoint a spokesperson who will act as Liaison Officer with the team Captains as well as the Main Committee. This Officer may attend appropriate Main Committee meetings.
2. Selectors' Duties
2a Before each season:
At a time approximately coinciding with the club's AGM, the Selectors will choose five pairs for each team.
Their decision shall be guided by (a) the Main Committee's policy stated in the introduction above; (b) the criteria laid down by the Main Committee (see 3); (c) a recommendation from the Main Committee not to be afraid to make changes and, unless it weakens the team too much, Selectors should resolve close decisions by ensuring movement of pairs. However, following any year in which promotion and relegation has disturbed the original ranking of the teams, selectors should only move players into and out of the affected teams if there is a clear difference between the pairs; and (d) the instructions below:
2. Selectors' Duties continued
2b During the season:
(i) In the case of a Captain being unable to field a team from the existing pool (e.g. when pairs from that pool are genuinely unavailable, or the pool has been reduced to fewer than five pairs) the Selectors will cooperate with the Captain in the best interest of the team and the club. Such consultations must be completed within one week of the Captain first approaching the Selectors' Liaison Officer. (An exception to this may be in an emergency when a captain has to find a pair at very short notice, in which case the Captain's judgement is enough).
(ii) The same process is to apply if a 'new' pair or player should come to light during the season.
(iii) Any problems met by a Captain of a disciplinary nature, or any problem affecting team spirit, is likewise to be referred back to the Selectors.
(iv) The Selectors will meet at least once during the season, to assess progress after consultation with all Captains and monitor attendance.
3. Selection Criteria (Listed in no particular order)
" Regular attendance at the Club (i.e. playing in at least six sessions, though extenuating circumstances will be taken into account).
" General achievement (Club, County and National, but particularly teams results). Pairs wishing to provide the Selectors with evidence of recent form may do so.
" Performance in the County League-of-Eight in previous season.
4 Captains
Captains will be nominated by the Main Committee after the selection of the teams (i.e. as soon as possible after the club's AGM). Input from the Selection Committee will be welcome.
5. Captains' Duties (General)
The Captains' main task is to weld the five pairs allotted to their 'team pool' and get the best possible performance from them as a group.
To encourage confidence and team spirit, all five pairs should be given adequate opportunities to play and contribute to the team's result. Each pair is expected to play both in home and away matches, if selected. If experience over several matches indicates that one pair is significantly weaker than the rest, Captains must discuss their concerns with the Selection Committee (see 2b (i) and 2b (iii) above) in order to determine whether any action needs to be taken to re-arrange the pool.
Similarly, the Selection Committee's Liaison Officer must be contacted as soon as possible in the case of being unable to field a team from the existing pool (e.g. when pairs are genuinely unavailable). (See 2b (i) above.)
Captains are requested to encourage good bridge etiquette at the table, being both generous in victory and pleasant in defeat. If any player or pair reveal a lack of common courtesies during a match, or create discord within the team, Captains are expected to discuss this also with the Selection Committee's Liaison Officer.
A detailed list of Captains' Duties follows.
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6. Captains' Duties (Practical)
(i) Contact all members selected for your team, check on addresses, telephone numbers, etc., and ensure that they are all paid-up members of BBCBA. (Non-County Association members may play for one season for a team in the lowest division).)
(ii) Attend the Fixture Meeting, usually held in High Wycombe in July. to arrange match dates with other Captains. If unable to attend, Captains must make sure that they are represented. List of dates must then be given to the Club Secretary.
As a general rule, home matches may only be played on Monday and Wednesday evenings.
(iii) Inform all team members of all match dates, checking their availability as far as possible for each match.
(iv) Make visiting teams aware of smoking regulations at Reading Bridge Club.
(v) If you intend to use machine-dealt boards, make sure that (a) the opposing Captain is informed and has no objection; and (b) you know how to use the machine (for information., contact Tony Parkinson).
(vi) Two to three weeks (and certainly not less than one week) before a match, Captains are to inform players of selection and post list on the Club's notice Board. During the week before the match, the opposing Team Captain must be contacted to check on venue and start time (this is normally 7.45, though it can be earlier by mutual agreement). Captains must ensure that such information is available to all team members and that they have transport.
To avoid last minute panics on the date of a match, Captains should ensure that an emergency telephone number (such as a mobile phone) is made known to all team members, so that the Captain can be reached at all times on the night.
(vii) After each match, a Butler of team performance must be prepared. As the Selection Committee refers to these score-sheets as a guide to team selection, it is important that team Butlers are of uniform standard. Please use the new program on the club computer (copy enclosed for home use) which produces both the traditional Butler and the new-style Contribution Butler. Give out copies of both Butlers to your team members and to the Selection Liaison Officer and post match result (not the Butlers) on the club Notice Board.
(viii) At the end of the season, prepare your Captain's Report, i.e. an overall summary of team performance and send a copy, together with a summary of the season's Butlers, to the Selection Committee, for their guidance for next season's selection.
Also, ascertain which players in your team wish to be considered for selection the following year, and include a list of their names with your report to the Selectors, together with any suggestions for new pairings.
(ix) Captains' attention is drawn to Section 7 in the County Guidelines for Captains. This states that if a problem cannot be dealt with by simple reference to the Laws, then the two captains must cooperate to try to reach a decision. No player, no matter how confident, should dictate to the opponents.
(x) When playing matches at home you will need to ensure that there is sufficient milk available for the match, and please (a) ensure that the opposition are apprised of the refreshments on offer and know where they are to be provided. In particular, if any opponents are elderly or disabled, offer to bring their refreshment upstairs. If any of your team are going to the pub then please invite the opponents along if they so desire. (b) ensure that the Club Kitchen and refreshment area are left in a reasonable state.