High Point Scoring

Imported from Yahoo
1

My club wants to encourage participation in racing at all levels of skill. We have used low point scoring thus far.

We want to experiment with a high points system with a cap on the first place score; e.g. 10 or 5 points; 2nd; 3rd; 4th etc reduce by 1 pt for each place down to a minimum of 1pt which is awarded to all other places.

Another alternative we have heard of involves scoring 1pt for taking part in a race plus 1pt for each entrant that you beat who is placed above you in the series to date. The leader of the series can not score more than 1pt per race and as an example the current 4th placed boat overall has the chance to score between 1 and 4pts.

I would appreciate hearing any advice on

A. Scoring systems that encourage participation; and

B, Setting up Sailwave for:

  1. High Point Scoring

  2. High Point Scoring with a cap on the 1st place score

  3. High Point Scoring with points awarded for improvement - as described above

Richard Evans

2

A few years ago I dreamed up what I thought was going to be a totally superior high points system, worked up a spreadsheet to calculate and publish results and only then applied it to a couple of past series. To my horror it made nearly no difference, and I gave up in disgust...

Things I'd be looking at would be scoring codes, and possibly dual scoring with some kind of personal handicap system.
That's a game in itself, because there are loads of ways personal handicapping can work. At my club we base personal handicaps on the previous year's performance so it's effectively an improvers trophy, and thus pretty much impossible for the front of fleet to win. NHC and the like where handicaps change often are much more who had a good day systems.

3

Richard,

I have scored our local J/22 fleet for 25 years and we have tried various scoring systems. Generally, it makes no difference -
the cream always rises. I will say that basic high-point scoring (or low-point with a DNC penalty - same thing!) does reward participation in certain circumstances. A
consistent performer who shows up for every race can beat a top sailor who misses a number of races.

Your 2nd suggestion might create more ties but I doubt it will change the final outcome, particularly at the top of the fleet.

I
was intrigued by your 3rd suggestion, so I re-scored our last PHRF series to test it out. There are a few vague rules (I.e., Do you get a point for beating a boat tied on points with you?) and it creates a LOT of ties to break! Interestingly, after all that work, the lone change in the series was to jump-UP a strong sailor who missed some races and then “swooped-in” late
in the series and beat a bunch of boats. So, this system was - in my case - the opposite of the effect that you are seeking!

Bottom Line: The only way to use scoring to encourage participation is to “punish” boats that miss races. And even then, the desired effects are limited.

Humor: Some of our local fleets have taken to “encouraging” participation by allowing more series throwouts to “attract” those who may have to miss races! The absurdity of that concept is lost on most, so I keep my mouth shut.

Good luck!

Kett Cummins