Sportsmanship Ratings

[Mary]

Any thoughts on rewards and prizes for teams voted consistently as good guys? (I know they're out there....) I have some ideas, do you?

Although we don't want to be bogged down imposing penalties on teams that are poor sports, I think most people will agree that sportsmanship and good pool etiquette has gone out the window. How would you like to see it handled? It's a good theory, but how to implement it.

[Boogz]

Prizes........
1) Automatic bid to C.o.C.

1) A sportsmanship plaque for the bar

2) APA Clothing (Hats, Shirts, Jackets, etc.)

3) Gift Certificates to APA Sponsers

4) Trophy

5) A patch (not recommended, we get enough)
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When looking at sportsmanship ratings, I would take with a grain of salt. There are alot of politics out there, with this guy not liking that guy. I would just try to stick to the positive responses. Just a rating would not do, a couple of sentances that states why each captain gave their rating is needed. This way you can look for more then just the guys that shake hands before and after matches. The people that actually take the time with new players that are not on their teams and the people who are not cut throat (will tell you if are about to shoot in the wrong ball, or let a slip of a hand that hits a ball go unpunished). Deserve these awards.

[rosie d]

I missed the part on how to acknowledge the sportsmanship??? I read something about Stars, 1 - 5, but do we use this system on the scoresheet by the players/teams names, or did I just totally miss it, being out of play for awhile while having surgery? And I agree with Boogz there should be a place (examle- the back of the scoresheet), to give a few words of why the player/team is being acknowleged.
And plaque's for the bar and/or patches is a great way to reward the players/teams.
And my hope is to bring good sportsmanship back in the window, pool is to have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Thurman]

I dont understand why prizes to those who wins the game.
What about those who try very hard but lose because of some odd conditions agianst them.
The game is all about win and lose so better we should concentrate on good game skills.I give my best wishes to all pool player from this platform.

[ZeroTolerance]

good sportsmanship should come win or lose, and a reward shouldn't be used as motivation to be one. That being said, teams that are great sports are deserving of a little something extra.

[rosie d]

What happened to this???? It is no longer on our scoresheets, nor has anyone i know heard anything else about it..

[bailybird]

vote for me:p

[rosie d]

I remeber this thread, which of course has vanished into the wind.. Just like everything does here.
For those of you who play in my area, you will know what i am talking about, you may not agree. But isnt that what it is all about anymore, the disagreeing, and the unsportsmanship and cheating that happens in this league, with nothing ever being done about it??????????
Anyway, for 14 years i have tried my best to keep the peace and knowledge of the rules in my area. Yes, of course there were unhappy people, you know those who make up their own rules and dont you dare try to tell them, or show them the rule book, because they already know them all. Yes i have been yelled at and even cursed, by a few, as a player and:( DR i always take it with a grain of salt, because i learned long ago, 'you cant not please anyone, no matter how hard you try'. And you learn who is the trouble makers and who want to have fun and you just go by that knowledge.
I always thought that i upheld my Drship and have shown great sportsmanship -you know always trying to include the other team in jokes and whatnot and always giving praise to all the good shooters, and even to those who make them awesome shots. But even though i upheld the rules and helped the APA in any way i could.
I am hear to let all know that they dont care, you are just money to them. And it dosent matter how bad the sporstmanship is. Case in point, a player in my division has had MULTIPLE calls and written complaints against them. And nothing was done about it. So it came to a point where, this person went over (what i call the limit)board (over the scoresheet- my scorekeeper had 2 innings, theirs had 7 - it happens right?). Well it, to say the least got out of hand. While having the scoresheets signed (not by me, i had already left), this player decided to have an issue over it with a fellow player. I cant really say exactly what was said i was not there, but i did recieve a phone call from my player, who was upset, so i turned around and went back to the bar, to see what happened. While i pulled in the parking lot ( a whole 15mph and stopped in front of the big stoop in front of the bar- on ice i must add). The person was at the door, so i asked 'what is going on?', to this i was not confronted nicely at all, so i thought they left. To my dismay, after i went in the bar to hear what happened, i turned around to this person - finger in my face, who said "You better watch your back, because one of these days it wont be a Tuesday, i will get you, you f****** C*** ". Now to me this is a threat that was not called for. In any situation, especially from a player who has played as long as you. To this my response was 'go and tell my brother what a C i am, and that i was turning him in to Mary & Rob.
So i did as i have always been told, i called Mary who told me to put it in writing and turn it in to her and there will be a meeting to discuss it. Three weeks later was the meeting. The only words i can use to discribe it is that 'it was a circus'!!! And even though the pool match was over, scoresheets signed. The verdict was that we both be put on probation AND that my Drship will be evaluated by Rob & Mary...
To me and quite a few others who where there and who know this trouble maker..I got the shaft!!!! I was threatened and i was told 'i didnt handle it properly', and i get punished worse than them... I guess i was sapossed to say thank you, or kiss his feet.....
The moral is, do not bother to put in a formal complaint because it will only come back and bite you...
Money, money that is all that matters, you can be mean and cheat, and it does not matter!!!!

[Jacoby Predator]

hmmm. Sorry to hear about your situation Rosie but I guess I haven't played in this area long enough cause all I've seen is good sportsmanship. The bars my team has played at have been cool and the teams we have played have all been cordial and nice.

Every match I play in I introduce myself to my opponent, I give him or her props for good shots and joke with them when they get bad rolls. I stay far away from the table when I'm not shooting, I don't make a sound while it's not my shot, I will never stand in someones line of sight, and I even get up and move if someone is shooting into a pocket where I'm close to. I shake the person's hand when the match is over and thank them for playing against me.

I see so much complaining on this board about sandbagging that I want to post my 2 cents in. The way I have always looked at it is that if someone wants to throw games against myself or a teammate, sweeeet we'll take the points happily. I hope my team gets sandbagged against all the way to the Riviera. I can only wish every person I play against bags against me but I've never been one to be too lucky.

As far as people calling refs to look at clean shots, I have the perfect remedy and I've never had an issue. First off I DON'T CHEAT, EVER. I know the game of pool at least well enough to know whether I'm about to shoot a questionable shot. When I see it's going to be close I stop and ask the opponent if they want to watch or want to grab a ref. If you do this you should never feel bad or out of line for asking to have a ref watch your opponents close calls. Maybe once or twice in my life have I ever seen a ref needed for more than 1 "watch" in a single game. If someone is going to call a ref to watch every 10 minutes, they mine as well be asked to watch the whole match, which I would always welcome. If you have nothing to hide and don't ever cheat, you should not care who is watching.

So, I'm sorry for the long post but I just wanted to say thanks for all the good sportsmanship I've seen so far and look forward to more of it. I'm glad I have the opportunity to play in the league and have had nothing but good times playing. Best of luck to everyone out there and may all the rolls go your way.

[slanidrac16]

I remeber this thread, which of course has vanished into the wind.. Just like everything does here.
For those of you who play in my area, you will know what i am talking about, you may not agree. But isnt that what it is all about anymore, the disagreeing, and the unsportsmanship and cheating that happens in this league, with nothing ever being done about it??????????
Anyway, for 14 years i have tried my best to keep the peace and knowledge of the rules in my area. Yes, of course there were unhappy people, you know those who make up their own rules and dont you dare try to tell them, or show them the rule book, because they already know them all. Yes i have been yelled at and even cursed, by a few, as a player and:( DR i always take it with a grain of salt, because i learned long ago, 'you cant not please anyone, no matter how hard you try'. And you learn who is the trouble makers and who want to have fun and you just go by that knowledge.
I always thought that i upheld my Drship and have shown great sportsmanship -you know always trying to include the other team in jokes and whatnot and always giving praise to all the good shooters, and even to those who make them awesome shots. But even though i upheld the rules and helped the APA in any way i could.
I am hear to let all know that they dont care, you are just money to them. And it dosent matter how bad the sporstmanship is. Case in point, a player in my division has had MULTIPLE calls and written complaints against them. And nothing was done about it. So it came to a point where, this person went over (what i call the limit)board (over the scoresheet- my scorekeeper had 2 innings, theirs had 7 - it happens right?). Well it, to say the least got out of hand. While having the scoresheets signed (not by me, i had already left), this player decided to have an issue over it with a fellow player. I cant really say exactly what was said i was not there, but i did recieve a phone call from my player, who was upset, so i turned around and went back to the bar, to see what happened. While i pulled in the parking lot ( a whole 15mph and stopped in front of the big stoop in front of the bar- on ice i must add). The person was at the door, so i asked 'what is going on?', to this i was not confronted nicely at all, so i thought they left. To my dismay, after i went in the bar to hear what happened, i turned around to this person - finger in my face, who said "You better watch your back, because one of these days it wont be a Tuesday, i will get you, you f****** C*** ". Now to me this is a threat that was not called for. In any situation, especially from a player who has played as long as you. To this my response was 'go and tell my brother what a C i am, and that i was turning him in to Mary & Rob.
So i did as i have always been told, i called Mary who told me to put it in writing and turn it in to her and there will be a meeting to discuss it. Three weeks later was the meeting. The only words i can use to discribe it is that 'it was a circus'!!! And even though the pool match was over, scoresheets signed. The verdict was that we both be put on probation AND that my Drship will be evaluated by Rob & Mary...
To me and quite a few others who where there and who know this trouble maker..I got the shaft!!!! I was threatened and i was told 'i didnt handle it properly', and i get punished worse than them... I guess i was sapossed to say thank you, or kiss his feet.....
The moral is, do not bother to put in a formal complaint because it will only come back and bite you...
Money, money that is all that matters, you can be mean and cheat, and it does not matter!!!!

Rosie , I don't know you or even ever met you. I commend your attempts at good sportsmanship and always trying to do the right thing. My advice to you is to keep it up. Don't let 1 idiot change your attitude or the way you approach the game.
I don't know what went on in your complaint meeting but I do know it is damn near impossible to come to a judgement when you were not there( meaning Rob and Mary). All it takes is 1 phone call from the idiots team to dispute your claim and the seeds of doubt are planted.
As far as being put on "probation" it seems to me YOU have nothing to worry about. Your attitude a sportsmanship will keep you from any further action being taken against you.
I would like to know what will happen if this jerk was to receive another complaint?

[rosie d]

Thank You to those who responded. I can also say that i have never cheated, nor would i, what is the point, right???? I do not worry about innings, mine or others, unless it is extreme, and then i do what we are all sapossed to do, I let Mary know about it. I have alot of players in my area who do not like me as a DR because they know i do not cheat and I do inforce the rules, but they also THINK that i can control handicaps, and i can not, so i have players who count their innings and games when they play against me. No matter how many times i tell them i do not do handicaps, they still do it. As for the complaining, in my opinoin, it has gotten way out of hand, just play your true game and have fun!!!!!! Right?? That is what i do. And no i will not let 1 idiot ruin it for me, i go for fun and that will continue and if i remain a DR it is because Mary & Rob, obviouslly, know that i do a good job of it....
As for the other question, about what happens the next time this player gets a complaint, that is a good question and to be honest, i will address it to the operators, because the truth be told, just earlier today. I found out that this player, who HAS had other complaints, that the last time a written complaint was filed against them, it was said (remember i was not there- i am going by what i was told by the person who filed the other complaint, over a year ago), at that meeting that the player was told that 'if they recieved another complaint, they would be be suspended, for 2 sessions'. So the complainter asked me why that wasnt inforced, to which i did not know that that was the verdict then, or i could have brought it up at my meeting. So, to find out the answer to their question, i asked them to email me, in their words, what happened, so we can ask the operators about it.
My original complaint asked that this person be suspended for 2 sessions, how ironic!!! And if i were the operators, knowing of all the complaints, i would have inforced what i asked. In no way shape or form, should any player have to put up with very poor sporstsmanship, i mean when it turns into negative name calling and such, and maybe there are others out here who agree. Like the first post, you should introduce yourself to your opponent and have fun with the other team. I do this and all of my team does too. And when the match is over i personally shake the opponints hand first, before my team does the high fives. And just like you, and many, i do not talk to the player while they are shooting, unless they start the talk. And everything else you said, because it really comes down to respect, i want it so i give it, and i dont think any team, in my area, can say that they do not have fun when they play against me and my team. As a matter of fact, a newer player, three weeks ago gave us the compliment, that they have more fun with us than any other team they have played. I told them not to say it to loud because i am known as the big b****!!!lol. The whole bar laughed at that one.:p