By what time must an alliance have their defenses selected?

[Doug Frisk]

I don't see anything in the actual game rules about when an alliance must select their defenses. The kickoff video says they must be selected "while in line" which makes sense. It certainly has to be done by the end of the previous match if the game is going to proceed at a decent pace.

Does anyone see a rule on this that I'm missing?

[cjl2625]

Refer to 5.5.10

In quals, you have to let the Defense Coordinator know before the end of the match 2 matches before yours (in queue #2)

In elims, you must let him know before the end of the match right before yours (in queue #1)

[Doug Frisk]

Originally Posted by cjl2625

Refer to 5.5.10

In quals, you have to let the Defense Coordinator know before the end of the match 2 matches before yours (in queue #2)

In elims, you must let him know before the end of the match right before yours (in queue #1)

Ahh, thank you. So you must select while in queue position 2 and then when you get to position 1 you get to see what you are facing so you can devise strategy.

The Defense Coordinator position is going to be pretty key in keeping on schedule.

[Koko Ed]

Oh goody....something else for the queuers to do......

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

Oh goody....something else for the queuers to do......

I think you get a pass on this one Ed. There's a new volunteer position, the Defensive Coordinator (DC). Seems to be like a sub-Field Supervisor. A representative from the alliance goes to the DC and gives them their selections.

I'm wondering, how many times is the Audience Selection done? There's an example of the match schedule with 3 matches, all marked (A). It seems to indicate that the audience is selecting a defense from group A for those matches. Does the selection change each match, or is it static for all the matches marked as (A)?

[Doug Frisk]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

I think you get a pass on this one Ed. There's a new volunteer position, the Defensive Coordinator (DC). Seems to be like a sub-Field Supervisor. A representative from the alliance goes to the DC and gives them their selections.

I'm wondering, how many times is the Audience Selection done? There's an example of the match schedule with 3 matches, all marked (A). It seems to indicate that the audience is selecting a defense from group A for those matches. Does the selection change each match, or is it static for all the matches marked as (A)?

Supposedly audience selection happens every single match, but the choice is between two predetermined options.

[ATannahill]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

I think you get a pass on this one Ed. There's a new volunteer position, the Defensive Coordinator (DC). Seems to be like a sub-Field Supervisor. A representative from the alliance goes to the DC and gives them their selections.

I'm wondering, how many times is the Audience Selection done? There's an example of the match schedule with 3 matches, all marked (A). It seems to indicate that the audience is selecting a defense from group A for those matches. Does the selection change each match, or is it static for all the matches marked as (A)?

Once per round, so for Michigan it is 12 times per qualifications, twice for quarter finals, once for semis and once for finals. The selection is static per round.

[Doug Frisk]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

I'm wondering, how many times is the Audience Selection done? There's an example of the match schedule with 3 matches, all marked (A). It seems to indicate that the audience is selecting a defense from group A for those matches. Does the selection change each match, or is it static for all the matches marked as (A)?

Elsewhere in the manual it says the FMS randomly selects a starting group and then goes through the groups alphabetically, so the example should read:

Qualification 1 (A)
Qualification 2 (B)
Qualification 3 (C)

I suspect that's a pastographic error in the manual.

[ATannahill]

Doug, I believe the audience selection is changed by round. The round is a group of matches during which each team plays once. In which case the first three matches should be the same.

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by rtfgnow

Doug, I believe the audience selection is changed by round. The round is a group of matches during which each team plays once. In which case the first three matches should be the same.

Correct, I found it in 5.5.10.1:

Prior to each round of Qualification and Playoff MATCHES, the audience selects one of the DEFENSES used by both ALLIANCES on the FIELD

.

Rounds for Playoffs are defined in a table as well.

I was beginning to worry about needing to have 9 or 10 minute match separations!

[Doug Frisk]

Originally Posted by rtfgnow

Doug, I believe the audience selection is changed by round. The round is a group of matches during which each team plays once. In which case the first three matches should be the same.

Ahh, here is the definition of a round:

5.3.1 Schedule The Qualification MATCH schedule is made available as soon as possible, but no later than one (1) hour before Qualification MATCHES are scheduled to begin. Each Qualification schedule consists of a series of rounds in which each team plays one (1) MATCH per round.



The rounds must be of variable length with the maximum number of matches per team being floor(teamCount/6).

The minimum number of matches per round would be 2 or 3 less than that based on how the matchmaker works.

So with 60 teams (as in Duluth) the maximum round size would be 10 and the minimum would be 7 or 8.

Peoria (where last I saw there were 33 teams) the maximum round would be 5 matches with the minimum being 2 or 3.

[ATannahill]

Originally Posted by DareDad

Ahh, here is the definition of a round:

5.3.1 Schedule The Qualification MATCH schedule is made available as soon as possible, but no later than one (1) hour before Qualification MATCHES are scheduled to begin. Each Qualification schedule consists of a series of rounds in which each team plays one (1) MATCH per round.



The rounds must be of variable length with the maximum number of matches per team being floor(teamCount/6).

The minimum number of matches per round would be 2 or 3 less than that based on how the matchmaker works.

So with 60 teams (as in Duluth) the maximum round size would be 10 and the minimum would be 7 or 8.

Peoria (where last I saw there were 33 teams) the maximum round would be 5 matches with the minimum being 2 or 3.

I believe with 60 teams at an event, the round length would be constant at 10. If you had 58 teams the rounds would vary between 9 and 10 matches. I am not sure how you would define the end of a round if a match spans two different rounds.

[Doug Frisk]

Originally Posted by rtfgnow

I believe with 60 teams at an event, the round length would be constant at 10. If you had 58 teams the rounds would vary between 9 and 10 matches. I am not sure how you would define the end of a round if a match spans two different rounds.

With 60 teams, the gap between matches for any team will generally be in the 6 to 12 match range.

If the round was set at 10 for 60 teams you would guarantee that some teams would be playing twice in each round.

[ATannahill]

Originally Posted by DareDad

With 60 teams, the gap between matches for any team will generally be in the 6 to 12 match range.

If the round was set at 10 for 60 teams you would guarantee that some teams would be playing twice in each round.

I could play in the 8th match of round six and the 3rd match of round seven and the 8th match of round 8. That would mean I would have two vastly different break lengths while keeping the round length the same.

[MikLast]

Originally Posted by DareDad

I don't see anything in the actual game rules about when an alliance must select their defenses. The kickoff video says they must be selected "while in line" which makes sense. It certainly has to be done by the end of the previous match if the game is going to proceed at a decent pace.

Does anyone see a rule on this that I'm missing?

5.5.10.2:

Originally Posted by 5.5.10.2

5.5.10.2 TEAM SELECTION OF DEFENSES
Selection of DEFENSES by each ALLIANCE shall follow the processes outlined below:
During Qualification MATCHES:
■■Step 1 – Once in the Queue and no later than the end of the MATCH two (2) MATCHES prior to
their scheduled MATCH (i.e. “Queue #2”): Each ALLIANCE selects the DEFENSES and DEFENSE
locations on the FIELD and communicates the selections to the Defense Coordinator (DC). The
DC’s location is fixed throughout the event, but varies event-to-event depending on available
space in each venue.
■■Step 2 – Queued and no later than the start of the MATCH one (1) MATCH prior to their
scheduled MATCH (i.e. “Queue #1”): ASAP & concurrently, the DC makes available to each
ALLIANCE a map revealing the DEFENSES and locations.
■■Step 3 – ALLIANCES move from the queue to the FIELD