Australian National Hardcourt Bike Polo Championships 2009

Submitted by Dingo on Thu Aug 27, 2009, 07:08pm

Saturday, November 28, 2009 - Sunday, November 29, 2009

Host club:

Melbourne

** November 2009 **
Bikepolo.ca is no longer the formal pre registration system for the tournament. You can register here: http://www.bikepolo.com.au/nationals-registration

** Please register your team so organisers can plan brackets, timing, food, goodies and more. **

Mark it in your diary, book your flights. More details to follow.

First Australian National Hardcourt Bike Polo Championships, 28-29 November 2009.

To be held in conjunction with the 2009 Bike Film Festival, Melbourne.

Planning is underway, representatives from Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Castlemaine are collaberating with Melbourne.

Contact info:

http://www.bikepolo.com.au/nationals

Court size:

Stats: 2 x Courts 30.5 metres (100 feet) long and 15.25 metres (50 feet) wide, Level, Surface Plexipave, 100% http://www.bikepolo.com.au/where/

Location

Flagstaff

Peel

Melbourne, 3003

Australia

See map: Google Maps

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Calendar

Comments

Thu Aug 27, 2009, 09:08pm

scottles

Melbourne

I'm sure I had that kangaroo t-shirt as a kid.. circa '89

Thu Aug 27, 2009, 09:08pm

Caff

Melbourne

I actually rather like it, cultural cringe and all.

Mon Aug 31, 2009, 04:08pm

captain_morgan

Oakland Bike Polo

This open to non-Australians? I might be in Australia around then.

Mon Aug 31, 2009, 05:08pm

eh jackal

East Van Bike Polo

Yes Damon, do I have to find some sort of honourary Australian citizenship or are you going to allow fellow commonwealth nations equal footing here? We don't really care about America, we'd be fine with former and present British subjects only. You need to provide me with some reason to finally visit down under.

more kenball played by more people in more places more often

Tue Sep 1, 2009, 08:09pm

Leigh

Hey Pieter, I haven't played against you since your last visit to Victoria, which was some time ago. Nevertheless, you have a reason: to play with two honorary Canadians! I'm up for Damon's suggested Balls Down Under. Can I be a self-elected member? If we can poach Damon, it means I'll get to break up his beloved Top Centre 4 Ever. Hahaha!

Sun Sep 6, 2009, 08:09pm

Rob B

Hi Leigh,
Hows the holiday going? Three less horses all the way mate!
Cheers

Sun Sep 6, 2009, 11:09pm

Dingo

Melbourne

Yes Rob, I would also have to say Top Centre all the way, but if Piet did travel down under, it would force us to make some pretty hard decisions!

Cascadia all the way!

Mind you, if he brings Rory and Chris...

--
bikepolo.com.au
urbanbicyclist.org

Mon Aug 31, 2009, 09:08pm

Dingo

Melbourne

I guess the event would be open to non Australians... We haven't talked about it, then again we don't really have a big problem with foriegners coming in and stealing our championships. Get in quick before we change the rules. Balls Down Under?

--
bikepolo.com.au
urbanbicyclist.org

Wed Sep 2, 2009, 09:09pm

virginia

Sydney Bike Polo

I think as long as you have one Australian in your team you should be able to compete (and I'm not just saying that because the two other members of my team are New Zealanders!)

Wed Sep 2, 2009, 02:09pm

#10

captain_morgan

Oakland Bike Polo

Cool, although I will not actually have a team, if my plans go through I will probably just show up and look for a team in need of a drunk. I will know in two weeks if I am going.

Tue Oct 27, 2009, 03:10pm

#11

captain_morgan

Oakland Bike Polo

Well well, so I managed to get my shit together and will be in Adelaide at that time. Anyone need a third? Foreigner (band or nationality) team?

Fri Oct 30, 2009, 09:10am

#12

prawza

uhh.. its in Melbourne.

PISS CORNER!

Fri Oct 30, 2009, 04:10pm

#13

captain_morgan

Oakland Bike Polo

I know that. I will make the trip there that weekend.

Sat Oct 31, 2009, 01:10am

#14

buildingbridges...

Sydney Bike Polo

My team just found out our third has gone to NY till christmas. So we need a replacement but still trying to figure out whether we can convince another local player. If not we may call on your services.

Can you prepare a 6 page resume with references?

Sun Nov 8, 2009, 05:11pm

#15

Medic.Mike

Seattle

Damon you're apparently very attractive to spammers.
_______
Marco!
I am the Duck.

____________
West and East squash the beef
"So Bike polo is the other woman?"

Sun Nov 15, 2009, 12:11am

#16

scottles

Melbourne

Official Registration now online. Register Here

Sun Nov 15, 2009, 06:11am

#17

captain_morgan

Oakland Bike Polo

The drunken nightmare from Oakland approaches! The indiscriminate flailing of mallet in a fury of beer and blood. Beware Australia, I am coming for you. Any takers on a team? Bringing bike and mallets. That is basically my polo resume.

Wed Nov 18, 2009, 06:11pm

#18

captain_morgan

Oakland Bike Polo

Anyone have contacts for someone in Bike Polo Adelaide? Would like to get some play in early next week before coming to Melbourne. Left a message on their blog, but likely it doesn't get checked frequently.

Thu Nov 19, 2009, 12:11pm

#19

hatchet

no offense to anyone but why did you go to Adelaide? Outstanding bail violation? I can't think of any other reason.

Thu Nov 19, 2009, 05:11pm

#20

captain_morgan

Oakland Bike Polo

Apparently to get hassled about not having a helmet... and my friend I am visiting is going to school here.

Sun Nov 22, 2009, 07:11am

#21

buildingbridges...

Sydney Bike Polo

Get ready to be shown how we play up here in the bush!

Sat Nov 28, 2009, 06:11pm

#22

Dingo

Melbourne

Follow the Australian Nationals on Twitter at #AHBPC2009 and add/see photos on Flickr at flickr.com/AHBPC2009 http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=AHBPC2009&ss=2&m=tags.

--
bikepolo.com.au
urbanbicyclist.org

Sat Nov 28, 2009, 08:11pm

#23

Red Army Falco

East Van Bike Polo

Boards look sick
Court a bit narrow?
Blonde girl drinking beer http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbanbicyclist/4142002430/in/photostream/ is hot
EVBP shirt noted
Go Australia

BOP: Eating Little Split Pea's shit for years.

MMMMMBOP

Mon Nov 30, 2009, 11:11pm

#24

Dingo

Melbourne

Oh Martin! Thats Eazy's Mother!!!

The court sizes are listed at bikepolo.com.au (site seems to be down at the moment.)

--
bikepolo.com.au
urbanbicyclist.org

Tue Dec 1, 2009, 12:12am

#25

Red Army Falco

East Van Bike Polo

sooooo, i made a new friend today? hey eazy! how are you? go play in the sandbox while i speak to your mom. mmmmmmmmmm...

BOP: Eating Little Split Pea's shit for years.

MMMMMBOP

Tue Dec 1, 2009, 12:12am

#26

Red Army Falco

East Van Bike Polo

BOP: Eating Little Split Pea's shit for years.

MMMMMBOP

Tue Dec 1, 2009, 12:12am

#27

Red Army Falco

East Van Bike Polo

BOP: Eating Little Split Pea's shit for years.

MMMMMBOP

Tue Dec 1, 2009, 12:12am

#28

Red Army Falco

East Van Bike Polo

BOP: Eating Little Split Pea's shit for years.

MMMMMBOP

Sat Nov 28, 2009, 09:11pm

#29

emerson

May I query you blokes as to what's going on along the top of the boards? Is it that gross Dow-chemical expandy spray foam?

Sat Nov 28, 2009, 09:11pm

#30

Polo Camo

Christchurch Hardcourt Bike Polo Inc.

emerson wrote:

May I query you blokes as to what's going on along the top of the boards? Is it that gross Dow-chemical expandy spray foam?

I was about to ask the same thing!!

Mon Nov 30, 2009, 07:11am

#31

Rob B

Yes it's expanding foam I was a bit sceptical about it at first and didnt take long to do a bit messy if you are not carefull on the application, I landed on it a few times during games and it worked realy well

Mon Nov 30, 2009, 11:11pm

#32

Dingo

Melbourne

Agreed,

I was originally happy to just go with bare boards but some of the visitors queried it online before the tourney... we looked into slicing some tubular foam/pool noodles http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbanbicyclist/4119281168/ and padding them all along the top but it was too late and going to be too expensive. This foam didnt get too messy and was easy enough to apply. We reapplied it less than half a dozen times after people going over the edges but generally it saved a bit of skin.

--
bikepolo.com.au
urbanbicyclist.org

Tue Dec 1, 2009, 12:12am

#33

Red Army Falco

East Van Bike Polo

dude, can we get names of people on the teams?

BOP: Eating Little Split Pea's shit for years.

MMMMMBOP

Tue Dec 1, 2009, 01:12am

#34

scottles

Melbourne

at www.bikepolo.com.au/nationals-registration ;)

Mon Dec 7, 2009, 06:12am

#35

mossko

Melbourne

Yes, you're welcome :-)

Even though everyone else said it wouldn't work, it did!

Two big cans of gap filler covered the tops of the boards to create a nice spongy cushiony layer. Lots of people who fell on the boards and would have been a little more injured and have a little less skin. All in all a success, if a little ugly.

Melbourne Bike Polo
http://www.bikepolo.com.au/

Tue Dec 8, 2009, 02:12am

#36

Dingo

Melbourne

but it still looked like crap!

--
bikepolo.com.au
urbanbicyclist.org

Mon Nov 30, 2009, 10:11am

#37

Sveden

Minneapolis Hardcourt Bike Polo

Congrats Australia. Onwards and upwards to Australian Hardcourt.

Minneapolis Bike Polo dot Com

Tue Dec 1, 2009, 08:12am

#38

prawza

cheers fellas. looking forward to Brisvegas2010

PISS CORNER!

Tue Dec 1, 2009, 08:12pm

#39

virginia

Sydney Bike Polo

Overall a great tournament Melbourne.. I really enjoyed getting to meet so many people and play some fantastic games (Panthers v PCP in torrential rain and Sydney v Brisbane 6 on 6 were my highlights).

One thing that I would like to know is why the first days results were scrapped. Even though the rounds were incomplete, it seems like it would have provided a good basis for seeding for the double elimination.

Tue Dec 1, 2009, 08:12pm

#40

Leigh

I'm not exactly sure, though I assume it may have had something to do with not having enough time to get through all the rounds and therefore making seeding kind of irrelevant. I'm sure one of the others will chime in with a more definitive answer.
Overall, yeah it was a success. Congrats to you personally for beating my team on a flooded court - some great goal defence you had going on there. I am definitely a dry weather player, which in a way makes absolutely no sense at all, seeing as much of my initial learning to play was spent in the in the drizzle of Victoria, BC.
The 6 vs. 6 games were great fun to watch. Never before had there been so much chaos on one court!
Thanks for making it down.

Tue Dec 1, 2009, 08:12pm

#41

virginia

Sydney Bike Polo

Thanks for that Leigh.
My team really seemed to play better in the rain for some reason.
Congratulations on winning the tournament - your final goal was amazing!

Thu Dec 3, 2009, 05:12am

#42

scottles

Melbourne

A majority of people decided we needed to play to 5 goals instead of 3. My game time estimates were based on shorter games, but people were adamant we should play to 5. We tried to keep things moving and cram the rounds in as predicted, but the round robin ran a little overtime and had to be rethought. Another lesson learned from this was the amount of slack time to allow in between games should be quite large. Even though we were warning teams before their match to get ready, some courts were still empty for a long time. Time estimates were for 10 min games with 1 min slack. Extra slack time could be swallowed up by short games to average out at 11min games. This obviously didn't happen, and was probably wishful thinking in hindsight. It didn't help that the people organising the games also had to play and the ordered calm would be lost again. The Saturday results weren't scrapped, they were used to create the seeding for the double elimination on the Sunday. The Saturday results are recorded on a clipboard somewhere which may have been swept away in the rain/chaos/cleanup. I know my team didn't record a loss on Saturday, just two draws ;)
6vs6 was awesome fun. maybe our next local tournament => fixed vs free, 6 vs 6?

Thu Dec 3, 2009, 06:12pm

#43

virginia

Sydney Bike Polo

I would definitely come down for 6v6! As long as we can hose the courts down first to add that extra level of fun.

Fri Dec 4, 2009, 05:12am

#44

Dingo

Melbourne

This is a rather generous interpretation of what happened.

You told us your game time estimates were based on 10 min games.

Perhaps you should have googled seeding _before_ the tournament...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seed_%28sports%29

"A seed is a preliminary ranking that can be used in arranging a sports tournament. It is called a seed because of the analogy with plants where the seed might grow into a top rank at the end of that tournament, or the seed might instead wither away. Players/teams are 'planted' into the bracket in a manner that is typically intended so that the best don't meet until later in the competition."

--
bikepolo.com.au
urbanbicyclist.org

Sat Dec 5, 2009, 12:12am

#45

virginia

Sydney Bike Polo

Hey Damon
I thought my team had a bullshit draw for the double elimination, but in hindsight, your team got it so much worse. I don't understand how Top Centre and Bush League (both likely finalists) were drawn to play each other in the first round.
Anyways enough complaining from me (for now). Hope to see you in Sydney for our dirty Waitangi Day tournament 6 February, BYO Kiwi and chilli bin bro

Wed Dec 2, 2009, 10:12am

#46

kev

Toronto

nice photo of the scene... http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2522/4149557788_72e3f9d1df_o.jpg

Fri Dec 4, 2009, 07:12am

#47

mossko

Melbourne

Here is my 2c. Names withheld to protect the innocent.

RR of 16 or more teams is unworkable and many of us organisers said so but it was retained. 10 minute games are 10 minute games, whether they are 3 or 5 goals. It's bad maths to count on games finishing early, which was proven.

The decision to go Double Elimination was decided not by the majority but by a few.. The first I heard of it was when it was announced the evening of the first day.

The seeding was done overnight and the games had started the next morning before we had a chance to draw up the brackets. That is the beginning of the problem. Then, people who were not organisers started to make changes to our brackets and made the situation far, far worse. Better communication and more information would have gone a long way there to create a fair bracket system and avoid a similarly messy situation next time.

In retrospect, the best teams should have played the worst teams to give an advantage to the best teams (earned the advantage), whereas I think we seeded the best teams with the best teams, which was unfair to them and they lost their advantage of playing well in the first rounds.

I wholly apologise to Top Centre who were bumped out of the Championships early due to our blunder, and vow to ensure that this never happens again.

Melbourne Bike Polo
http://www.bikepolo.com.au/

Sat Dec 5, 2009, 12:12am

#48

Donald

Apart from the problems with the draw, the main problem I found as a ref was when i went up to report the score was that there was a different person to report to or that there was no one there that knew what was happening on the scoreboard. I think, looking back, we can all see where the problems where and that can only lead to success in the future.
Regardless of any issues, thank you so much Melbourne. The first Nationals were always going to be the hardest and you have made it easier for everyone that follows.
I take my hat off to you guys - well done!
love and kisses
donald

Sun Dec 6, 2009, 07:12pm

#49

Dingo

Melbourne

Thanks Donald,

I think you have hit the nail on the head. We had no official Officials. (not players and not 'gome to get beer' officials)

It's probably sitting there in all the (US) "how to run a tournament" thread's that we never read.

I'd mainly focussed writing the rules up to cover gameplay and only be a written version of what we have all already decided as a group. (i.e. I'm not deciding the rules, just writing them up clearly and circulating them to all) Thing is we've never had officials, and I felt like writing that into the rules was overstepping the task of writing the rules.

What brackets and games would be played and how this would have been decided should really have been a short paragraph of text included in the rules, as it was widely circulated, posted, discussed and available. The brackets were a bit of a mystery till the last minute.

We've been approached by Queenstown Bike Polo to use the rules for their next tournament, so I'll make a few notes based on what we've learnt so that we have a better document to work from in future.

--
bikepolo.com.au
urbanbicyclist.org

Mon Dec 7, 2009, 05:12am

#50

Polo Camo

Christchurch Hardcourt Bike Polo Inc.

urbanbicyclist wrote:

We've been approached by Queenstown Bike Polo to use the rules for their next tournament, so I'll make a few notes based on what we've learnt so that we have a better document to work from in future.

--
bikepolo.com.au
urbanbicyclist.org

Christchurch Bike Polo actually...is anyone still playing in Queenstown? Thanks for letting us use your rules sheet and we'll let you know how it all goes!

Mon Dec 7, 2009, 06:12am

#51

mossko

Melbourne

** EDIT **
Also, due to the number of teams (18) leading to an odd number on the brackets, we had to run two extra games to even out the brackets.

I have just reviewed the brackets and found that T.C. did not play in the first 2 rounds.

The first 2 rounds should have been the 4 lowest teams, whereas it was almost randomly chosen while trying to sort out the brackets in under 5 minutes.

Melbourne Bike Polo
http://www.bikepolo.com.au/

Mon Dec 7, 2009, 01:12am

#52

>>You told us your game time estimates were based on 10 min games.

yes they were, with a small break between. with the 'addition' of having 3-goal games finishing early to buy more time for change-over.

>>Perhaps you should have googled seeding _before_ the tournament...

why? we went into this tournament without seeding, what need did we have for it?

>>I thought my team had a bullshit draw for the double elimination,
there is no doubt we all feel this was an undesirable outcome. but it was still luck-of-the-draw who the teams were, or at least if the seeding from the first day was used, then it reflected the games we did play that were based on luck-of-the-draw. We went into this tournament without seeding.. everyone had equal opportunity(prior to start time), all this talk of Top Centre/Bush League unfairly getting shafted is bullshit, it could (and likely did) occur to several teams with just the same non-seeding-ranking.. To include public `opinion` about a teams quality has no place in this discussion. frankly i find it rather disrespectful to be making quality judgments about teams in the context of this discussion.

>>It's probably sitting there in all the (US) "how to run a tournament" thread's that we never read.

zomg... i'm likely masturbating wrong! where do i go to learn how to do it properly?

'we' put on a tournament. 'we' screwed some of it up, 'we' learned lots. 'we' had fun. 'we' had the chance to experience it all, that is what 'we' did.

Tue Dec 8, 2009, 03:12am

#53

virginia

Sydney Bike Polo

>>To include public `opinion` about a teams quality has no place in this discussion. frankly i find it rather disrespectful to be making quality judgments about teams in the context of this discussion.

Are you serious? Disrespectful to who?

Tue Dec 8, 2009, 06:12pm

#54

Dingo

Melbourne

>zomg... i'm likely masturbating wrong! where do i go to learn how to do it properly?

Apparently from your uncle.

--
bikepolo.com.au
urbanbicyclist.org

Mon Dec 7, 2009, 06:12am

#55

mossko

Melbourne

Ah, to be fair AJ, this statement is a little off for a few reasons

>> all this talk of Top Centre/Bush League unfairly getting shafted is bullshit, it could (and likely did) occur to several teams with just the same non-seeding-ranking..

The purpose of seeding is, among other things
- To pit the Best team against the Worst team, to give an advantage to the teams that played well. This is seeding.

We seeded these incorrectly, putting the best teams against the best teams and worst against worst from the start. So the best teams lost all of their advantage from the previous day.

In addition to that, the team they played did not have all of their players present and subbed 2 of the 3 players in their team. This was something that should have been contested at the start by Top Centre, rather than the end. But again, lack of information and process caused problems.

Melbourne Bike Polo
http://www.bikepolo.com.au/

Mon Dec 7, 2009, 10:12pm

#56

Red Army Falco

East Van Bike Polo

mossko wrote:

We seeded these incorrectly, putting the best teams against the best teams and worst against worst from the start.

...and your toilet water spirals down the shitter in the wrong direction. Face it, you just have to be different don't you?

BOP: Eating Little Split Pea's shit for years.

MMMMMBOP

Tue Dec 8, 2009, 02:12am

#57

Dingo

Melbourne

That's freaks me out every time... screw this, I'm coming back...

The Falcon wrote:

Face it, you just have to be different don't you?

apparently

--
bikepolo.com.au
urbanbicyclist.org

Tue Dec 8, 2009, 03:12am

#58

mossko

Melbourne

Ah, the problem is that it wasn't intentional

Melbourne Bike Polo
http://www.bikepolo.com.au/

Mon Dec 7, 2009, 10:12am

#59

mossko

Melbourne

Here's the movie I made from stills from the tournament. check it out

Melbourne Bike Polo
http://www.bikepolo.com.au/

Tue Dec 8, 2009, 08:12pm

#60

Leigh

Yes, there were mess ups with the bracketing, but seriously, how much longer are we going to debate this? I don't disagree that TC or Bush League got somewhat "shafted" in the draw, but so did the four teams who had to play an extra game at the start just to get a chance to be at the same standing as the 14 other teams who hadn't yet played a game. Why there is no uproar over this? Or take the case of Sydney Panthers who were beaten twice, only to reappear later on in another game because they were "advanced to the wrong bracket". Again, no comment about this.
In the end it doesn't really matter. I personally think seeding is rather irrelevant - you either play teams of equal or higher "quality" at the start, or later on. Either way, to progress to finals you have to win.
Everyone, overall, had fun didn't they? That's the idea, no?

Wed Dec 9, 2009, 12:12am

#61

Dingo

Melbourne

>how much longer are we going to debate this?

Welcome to the internet.

>Everyone, overall, had fun didn't they? That's the idea, no?

Yeah we did...

And I guess all the other issues aren't here because there were so many! :) Nobody got shafted because of any one thing, it was a combination of factors.

As for you having to play extra games... I would have _loved_ to play more games :) Sub me in next time!

> I personally think seeding is rather irrelevant
Bad seeding will still find you the 'best' team but it can distort the rest of the ranking. eg, the 4th best team can end up 10th and the 12th best team could end up 7th if the seeding is not done properly.

I was pretty cranky for about a week, but now I'm over it. You are right, in the end, everyone had fun.

--
bikepolo.com.au
urbanbicyclist.org

Tue Feb 2, 2010, 10:02pm

#62

Dingo

Melbourne

This is a public apology to scott for all my bitching and whinging (particularly on this forum) after the nationals.

I was a sook and I upset people. I'm sorry.

I want people to know that I value the polo community and my polo friends more than winning tourneys (and I love tourneys because it's a chance to get together with polo friends and the polo community).

2010 Polo Resolution. In the future, if there's something that pisses me off, I will deal with it in a more grown up and direct - less internetty way and hopefully with more HTFU-HDPE-AluDrillium 7075-T6 on my part.

I love you polo family.

I also want to say that Scott built me 3 wheels last year and I think they are awesome, including my front 48h black Chukker. I hope he gets to build lots more polo wheels for polo players this year. I strongly endorse his skillz on and off the court. And I'm looking forward to seeing his new polo bike/frame it will be awesome.

(FYI Internet: Scott and I have also had a real world conversation in addition to this post.)

--
Damon/Dingo/Urbanbicyclist/Sooky-la-la

bikepolo.com.au
urbanbicyclist

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urbanbicyclist.org