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I’ve been out of the game for a few years now but enjoy staying in touch by reading what’s happening. Fact, I’m still a paid member of ZSC. Regarding points for playing; it’s my opinion that is like giving kids a participation trophy. It’s meaningless and I don’t like the award just for showing up. I played tournaments to win, but if not I kept coming back because I enjoyed the game. It’s always been my opinion that the FSA State rules are a bit too strict. More ‘fun’ needs to be introduced into the game. Coaching for instance, it’s part of the game in Curling so why not shuffleboard. Separate men & women divisions, stupid. The Women are just as capable and show it all the time in the district tournaments. In fact, the Central District draw tournaments were much more fun than the State Tournaments. Things could be learned from the Royal Palms Club in Chicago. I could elaborate, but basically, add fun, relax some rules, you’ll more players.
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Glad you are following Terry. We can always count on you for a “good” comment!! Stan
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Hi my name is Mike Collins from the FSW DISTRICT
I’m a new player basically, I’ve played three years.
I’m a very thick skinned guy, but my real frustration is the lack of places to go to learn the game.
What shot should I take now and why?
I find others especially during tournaments don’t want to help because they want to win.
So when is the time to learn and from whom?
I’m told to watch the good players, which I do, but I really can’t pick up on the whys and when’s of the right shots at the right time. The risk and reward shots?
I think any sport that is successful has a great minor league system where you can learn the game and have fun along the way until you can get good enough to play with the Elite Players.
But as I watched Amauteur Tournaments last year,there were not enough players at some of them for even the winners to get any points. I realize that if there is no one coming up there will be no tournaments in a few short years.
I believe we need to set up some sort of system to encourage the better player, to help the newbies.
The game is more fun, the more you learn.
But their help is needed more than once per year.
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Hi Mike,
It distresses me that you aren’t getting help. In Zephyrhills you are expected to help others and you are only limited by your willingness to listen, try and put the time in. We have a few that don’t take part but very few. When I started I got lots of help and not always in a nice tone but I learned. Lots of players have moved to Zephyrhills because they know they’ll become far better players.
Earl
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Hi Mike. I agree with some of your comments, I was actually one of the amateurs this past season who won a tournament but received no points because there were only 7 amateur teams. I did feel like I learned much from the Shuffle University held at Bradenton, and we have a couple in our park who hold lessons once a week. It would be great to see more like Shuffle University that focused on specific topics—like you mentioned: when to take a specific shot, strategy, etc. Thanks for the comments—it made me think more about this.
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I can certainly appreciate Both what Earl B. stated 2 years ago and what Terry R. has recently commented to regarding the point system!! At the present time there is a 10 day notice that is on the docket for a vote this Oct. (2020) from Henry Strong addressing the point system to encourage people to attend State Tournaments. In my humble opinion, I believe that winning a match especially in a large field event should warrant a point as Henry’s 10 notice has proposed. If nothing else, a player and his partner of average abilities could go home with a single point, assuming they lost in the next round and be encouraged to perhaps attend the next event. There are other scenarios in Henry’s 10 day notice to address the point system that would take up too much space and time for me to continue on but I believe what he has proposed, in addition to what I have stated, definitely has merit! Terry’s idea of coaching during play, especially in the am ranks, men/ women divisions together and taking a page from the New York/Chicago style of play are certainly worth discussing.
There are other underlying issues why tournament play has not had the player participation that we would all like to vision; the traffic situation here in Florida is getting more congested each and every year as Florida explodes in population and it’s not going to get better!. As a result, “more” time is needed to get to venues than it once was discouraging many not to travel. Another thought that I have heard mentioned to cut down on travel time is to perhaps have a discussion about the size of the districts thus limiting driving times on the road
Yet, other problem issues persist including entertainment that has come on the scene in the last several years, pickle ball, smart phones, computers and just a lack of wanting to participate in “anything” are all part of the bigger picture that the sport has to deal and compete with.
The above comment made by Mr. Mike Collins is another issue; we, as individuals, groups, clubs, districts need to encourage “all” of our district ams and state ams to come out to enjoy the game more frequently!
The St. Pete, Avon Park and Sebring area has worked very hard and has experienced an increase in the number of people picking up the game which is encouraging. The Zephyrhills area, including Betmar and ZSC has been able to maintain its base as well. In addition, here in Zephyrhills for example, Glenna Earle/Linda Marshman devote some of their precious time to put on a clinic once per year for those who are new comers to the game. There is an area tournament here in Zephyrhills that David Earle generously gives his time to each year where more than 50 players took part this past season. Woodbrook (in the Lakeland area) hosts an am tournament led by Glenn Monroe, David Earle, Jannette Harvey and the Woodbrook folks all of whom take time out of their busy season schedule to coordinate. Pres. David Kudro and the FSA board created a TOC for ams 2 years ago that has been well attended and I know that one of Pres. Kudro’s pressing issues is to get more folks involved with the sport.
In closing, together, we all need to dig these ams out from park play and/or go into parks and do some teaching and have beginning players play the game correctly as Mr. Collins points out above in his comments so that we can keep replenishing the am ranks and help players learn exactly how intriguing this game we all love truly is!!
Respectfully, John Houghtaling, Central District President
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A comment about Mike Collins inquiry. Thinking about his comments/question about where to get help with the game, I have to wonder if one part of the ‘access’ problem is the individual clubs rules across the state. For example, in Zephyrhills, as far as I know, only the ZSC is open for membership from anywhere. I lived in Betmar and was President there for a couple or three years. Only Betmar residents could become members. Actually, the Park association rules stated that only member residents could play unless that member had overnight guests. While I was President there, the park board was pressing the rule about non residents playing which would have prevented us from hosting tournaments. I vigorously fought them as some Betmar members may recall, and the issue died. My point/question is, how many clubs in FL are open to non resident members? I sense that most are closed clubs which could be a contributing factor to reduced tournament size. Shuffleboard competes with so many other sports that are actually a larger attraction to residents. Allowing members from parks with no courts would help, but park boards I’m sure would resist. My thoughts.
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