The Universities Pool Council are pleased to announce two major changes to this season's eight-ball pool events in Great Yarmouth, that are aimed at providing greater flexibility for teams in managing their players, whilst ensuring that institutions are able to send as many students as is feasible to compete at the event, in line with our mission statement. We pride ourselves on being able to respond constructively to feedback, as we have done in each and every season since we were incepted, and these latest changes are further evidence of this approach, with them being in response to specific feedback and subsequent consultation with several institutions about our events this season.
The first change relates to the management of squad players in light of late changes/absences. Previously, if you had entered multiple teams, a player ascribed to a particular team on the original entry form/submission would not be allowed to play for a lower ranked team in the tournament; players were only permitted to be moved up from a lower to a higher ranked team (e.g. seconds to firsts) or from the reserve list into teams. This created the anomaly whereby an institution may have the correct number of players to constitute their compliment of teams, but were prevented to do so as demoting players was not permitted. We have now amended our rules and regulations to provide more flexibility in such a situation; if a team attends an event with less than the required players to form any of their registered teams, but that the team could compete if a player was demoted, then in such a scenario the lowest ranked players in the higher team(s) would now be permitted to drop into a lower ranked team to ensure all teams can compete. This will be at the discretion of the Tournament Director to ensure compliance and a consistent approach is taken.
The second change relates to the UPC Women's Eight-ball Pool Championships. This standalone event had been an excellent showcase for women's pool at university level for several years however, after a number of successful seasons, entries dropped to the extent that the event was unfortunately no longer viable for the 2011-12 season as a separate event in Coventry. As with all our decisions, this was not taken lightly, particularly as women's pool forms an integral part of our long-term strategy, and had been subject to continuing review amid feedback from universities, clubs and players of all genders. It was thus with great pleasure that we announced its return alongside the BUCS-UPC Eight-ball Pool Championships in Great Yarmouth this season.
Based upon the feedback we had previously received, and numerous other factors, not least the impact on scheduling that such an event would have, we took the decision to split the event into gender-specific streams as we view this as the best way forward to promote women's pool across the UK's university campus and build up a more diverse and inclusive environment for all student pool players. The decision was well-received, however it understandably disappointed a minority of players for whom it affected in the short-term. As mentioned above, we always value any feedback we are given and take a considered approach upon how best to respond to it, and in this case it led to us discussing how best we may accommodate the wishes of the minority whilst at the same time not compromising the long-term strategy for women's pool.
Thus, after careful consideration, we have taken the decision to revert the event to an "open" championships, the BUCS-UPC Eight-ball Pool Championships 2012-13 (whereby both men and women can compete together, if they so wish, in team and individual competition), with the UPC Women's Eight-ball Pool Championship (team and individual) running alongside it. To do so, those eligible to compete in both (i.e. women) must now select to compete in the open championships (team and individual) or the women’s championships (team and individual) only, and cannot compete in both.
It must be made clear that this is a one-year trial aimed at responding to some short-term concerns, and will be reviewed again in the summer as we do not believe such a format to be in the best long-term interests of women's pool. Indeed, we strongly encourage all participating universities to send at least one women's team, if not more, to the event alongside their regular teams to really showcase the strength of women's pool and forward-plan to the 2013-14 season when the event reverts back to a male/female split. With institutions now allowed to bring as many as 30 players in total to Great Yarmouth, plus any supporters they can muster, there really is potential for a university to leave their mark at the event in a major way, if they buy into this process.
In summary, with the continuing success of the BUCS-UPC Eight-ball Pool Championships in Great Yarmouth, we feel the time is right to encourage all those concerned to experience the unique atmosphere of the UK’s largest student pool tournament in the excellent facilities housed at Great Yarmouth, and so we sincerely hope the above changes are received in the positive manner in which they are intended.
Good luck!
Oliver Dark
Executive Chair
Sent on behalf of the UPC Committee
