[rvbridge]

Hi,

I am looking at different methods used for selecting National teams in various countries with the intent of re-looking at Indian selection procedure. Traditionally we have always selected our national team based on Team trials for all qualified teams (winners of Nationals and Masters events) and direct entries (high-entry fees). Sponsor of the winning team usually foots the expenses except for the entry-fees which is borne by the federation (BFI). BFI is looking at some changes including sponsoring the Indian team fully, having a coach/team manager etc.

I can think of the following methods of selecting a national bridge team with associated pros and cons:

a) Teams based trials: I presume this is still the most popular methodology and is followed in many countries including US. The advantage of this method is that team is playing all events together (bonding) and sponsor is still required for the team to play other events in national and Intl circuit even if federation sponsors the national team. The downside here is that the national team may not be the strongest possible because of the presence of sponsor and/or better pairs in other teams missing out.

Pairs based trials: I have heard Polish National team used to selected based on Pairs based trials. Theoritically this seems to be best selection methodology since it could lead to 3 Top/Best Pairs representing the country. The downside here is that the Team may not have too much bonding since it is a one-off team (requires a very good npc) as well as it could be alienation of sponsors (vital for bridge eco-system) who might lose interest if they can never represent the country. Another minor issue here is that we can't have partnerships which function as a trio in regular teams.

c) Selection panel/committe: Here selection panel evauates the performance of Pairs and Teams in national and zonal events and chooses the national team. This is similar to selecting Cricket, Soccer or Hockey team. Is Italian national team selected on this model? The downside here is that inspite of the best intentions of the selection panel, there is subjectivity involved and hence bound to more controversial.

d) Ranking/MPs based: I have seen national teams in other sports like Tennis, Chess etc selected based on ratings/ranking (ATP, ELO). Unfortunately in Bridge and especially in India, we don't have ratings which reflect current levels of performance (too much historical bias in cumulative MPs scheme) as well as we don't have ratings for partnerships.

I would like this forum to throw some light of selection procedure followed in other countries as well as preferences.

Rgds,
RV
(BBO ID: RV)

[655321]

http://forums.bridge...showtopic=37602

[Vampyr]

I think that the best method is to have either teams of pairs trials, but ignore the results and have selection by a committee anyway. (Preferably a committee with several potential "selectees" as members.)

[Fluffy]

Vampyr, on Sep 21 2010, 11:03 AM, said:

I think that the best method is to have either teams of pairs trials, but ignore the results and have selection by a committee anyway. (Preferably a committee with several potential "selectees" as members.)

yeah, but have a very high entry fee so you can gather some money for the team... or the committee.

[paulg]

The previous thread contains useful information. You may get some nuggets from other forum members.

But I think that the only certainty is that your final decision will be wrong.

Paul
Ex-Selector for Scotland

[hrothgar]

I've always thought that simplicity is a virtue.

Cut out the middleman (in this case the actual need for card play)
Auction off the right to represent India to the highest bidder
Let said individual hire himself a team using whatever criteria he prefers

1. The ability to dispense with team trials would save enormous amounts of time and money for everyone concerned.

2. The sponsoring organization would be able to collect significant amounts of money to cover administrative expenese

3. Clients would only need to pay pros if they actually won the auction to represent India so they'd save lots of money as well.

Looks like a no-brainer to me...

[Aberlour10]

rvbridge, on Sep 20 2010, 10:55 PM, said:

I have heard Polish National team used to selected based on Pairs based trials. Theoritically this seems to be best selection methodology since it could lead to 3 Top/Best Pairs representing the country. The downside here is that the Team may not have too much bonding since it is a one-off team (requires a very good npc) as well as it could be alienation of sponsors (vital for bridge eco-system) who might lose interest if they can never represent the country.

I wrote some thoughts about this issue in Poland in the other thread. The format/system/way of the trials (Team Open) changed there every time in last years. Nothing helped, it followed failure after failure or desaster ( Estoril ).
After all this, the solution was quite simple >>> take your by far best pair and let them play with whom they want (second pair). and? They were only a few VPs away from the gold medal in the last Europeans.

Robert

[Free]

hrothgar, on Sep 21 2010, 02:09 PM, said:

I've always thought that simplicity is a virtue.

Cut out the middleman (in this case the actual need for card play)
Auction off the right to represent India to the highest bidder
Let said individual hire himself a team using whatever criteria he prefers

1. The ability to dispense with team trials would save enormous amounts of time and money for everyone concerned.

2. The sponsoring organization would be able to collect significant amounts of money to cover administrative expenese

3. Clients would only need to pay pros if they actually won the auction to represent India so they'd save lots of money as well.

Looks like a no-brainer to me...

I don't like this idea, some rich guy who can't even play bridge could mess things up easily. It's too simple.

[Free]

What I always wondered: what's wrong with sending the national champion anyway? They've played competition for a whole year and ended up first. No need for selections, you just send the best team. Simplicity rules

[gnasher]

hrothgar, on Sep 21 2010, 02:09 PM, said:

Auction off the right to represent India to the highest bidder
Let said individual hire himself a team using whatever criteria he prefers

That seems to work for Italy.

[hrothgar]

gnasher, on Sep 21 2010, 05:14 PM, said:

hrothgar, on Sep 21 2010, 02:09 PM, said:

Auction off the right to represent India to the highest bidder
Let said individual hire himself a team using whatever criteria he prefers

That seems to work for Italy.

Well, it did for quite some time...

Things may have gotten a bit more complicated in recent monthes.

[TimG]

hrothgar, on Sep 21 2010, 08:09 AM, said:

I've always thought that simplicity is a virtue.

Cut out the middleman (in this case the actual need for card play)
Auction off the right to represent India to the highest bidder
Let said individual hire himself a team using whatever criteria he prefers

1. The ability to dispense with team trials would save enormous amounts of time and money for everyone concerned.

2. The sponsoring organization would be able to collect significant amounts of money to cover administrative expenese

3. Clients would only need to pay pros if they actually won the auction to represent India so they'd save lots of money as well.

Looks like a no-brainer to me...

Trials are better for the pros because more of them are hired. So, not as much a no brainer if the organization is run by, or heavily influenced, by professionals.