ACF Regionals 2012 @ UIUC on 2/18/12

[Papa's in the House]

This is an announcement for the ACF Regionals mirror held at UIUC on February 18, 2012. Please see here for a general description of the tournament.

Location
This tournament will be held in David Kinley Hall (DKH). The full address is:
1407 W Gregory Dr
Urbana, IL 61801

Campus map available here

When will this tournament start?
I plan to have the first round start at 9:15 am sharp (yes, I will start reading without you if you haven't contacted me letting me know you'll be late). You will lose the arriving on time discount if you do not check in with me by 9:00 am. Check-in will be in 114 DKH.

Who can play this tournament?
Anyone who meets the ACF rules for eligible players (you must submit a packet if required; see the original ACF Regionals announcement for more details)

What kind of difficulty can I expect?
The name says it all

Costs and other discounts
Base fee: $120
Buzzer discount: -$5 each
Moderator: -$10 each
Travel: -$10 if over 200 miles one-way as determined by Mapquest
Arrive on time*: -$20
Solo players**: -$25
Minimum fee***: $50

All other ACF discounts will be honored (such as the -$25 for new to ACF teams).

Contact Information
If you wish to attend this tournament, or if you have any questions about it, you can e-mail the Tournament Director, me, at martinc0711@gmail.com or the Assistant TD, Billy Busse, at busse4@illinois.edu. Please inform us as to the number of teams, buzzers, and moderators you intend to bring, as well as whether or not you believe you qualify for the travel discount.

Periodic updates will be made (as necessary). For a list of teams intending on attending, see the post below this one.

*You can still obtain this discount if you call me before the start of the tournament with a good reason (i.e., your car broke down) for why you're late.
**If you are sending multiple teams from one school, you won't be eligible for this discount.
***If finances are an issue, contact me and we'll work something out.

[Papa's in the House]

Attending
Northwestern (2 teams, 2 buzzers) [-$50 from packets]
Chicago (3 teams, 1-2 buzzers) [+$330 from packets]
Notre Dame (1 team, 1 buzzer) [$0 from packets]
Michigan State (1 team) [$0 from packets]
Michigan (1 team) [+$25 from packets]
Purdue (4 teams) [$0 from packets]
Kansas State (2 teams, 1 buzzer) [-$25 from packets]

Total: 14 teams

[Cheynem]

Nitpicky, but NOT everyone can play this tournament assuming you are not just making up ACF eligibility rules.

[Papa's in the House]

Nitpicky, but NOT everyone can play this tournament assuming you are not just making up ACF eligibility rules.

No, I certainly don't intend to. The original post has been updated with a link to ACF eligibility requirements.

[Papa's in the House]

Only 7 teams have registered for this tournament as of today. Since this tournament is less than 4 weeks away, I strongly hope that people will register in the next week or so so I can get a better handle on if I need to find outside moderators and other logistical issues.

[Inkana7]

The site we attend will depend on how many teams we are bringing, so if another team scraps together and writes up a packet, please put down OSU as being interested in attending with 2 teams. Otherwise, if we only have one, we'll be going to Buffalo because of the allure of free lodging.

[Madagascar Serpent Eagle]

We are coming here with one team, as currently planned.

[Ringil]

We'll have 1 team for sure, maybe 2.

[cornfused]

Word is that Lawrence is sending two teams, one of which is writing a packet. I'll double-check.

EDIT: Any teams they're sending will be going to Minnesota.

[Papa's in the House]

I would really like this tournament to end no later than 6 pm, but in order for that to happen with 20 teams, I will need outside staffers. Please consider bringing a staffer with you for a $10* moderator discount and faster rounds. We provide lunch (and dinner, if necessary) to all staffers.

*If it really becomes necessary that we need outside staff, I will consider increasing this discount or paying the staffer.

[Alliance in the Alps]

We're not going.

[Papa's in the House]

Michigan, Kansas State, and Lawrence, can you please confirm the number of teams you are bringing to this mirror. I would very much like to determine if I should consider bringing in outside staff.

[Ringil]

Michigan, Kansas State, and Lawrence, can you please confirm the number of teams you are bringing to this mirror. I would very much like to determine if I should consider bringing in outside staff.

We can get a confirmation by Wednesday night.

[cornfused]

Michigan, Kansas State, and Lawrence, can you please confirm the number of teams you are bringing to this mirror. I would very much like to determine if I should consider bringing in outside staff.

I suppose my edit was too sneaky, sorry; LU's going to the Minneapolis site.


Though I'll talk to them about this, considering the disparity in field size. Put Lawrence down for 0 teams, but I can tell you that the absolute maximum they'd bring anywhere would be one.

[bluesdjben]

It looks like we will have enough to send two teams from K-State, but we're still waiting on a couple of members' work and class schedules. By the way, what is going on that weekend that has all the hotels filled up?

[Ringil]

Michigan, Kansas State, and Lawrence, can you please confirm the number of teams you are bringing to this mirror. I would very much like to determine if I should consider bringing in outside staff.

We can get a confirmation by Wednesday night.

We're bringing 1 team.

[Dominator]

Is there still room in this field. I may know of a team that would like to play.

[Papa's in the House]

Is there still room in this field. I may know of a team that would like to play.

Yes, actually. Please have that team send me an email tomorrow with buzzers and staffers they are bringing and a cell phone number of at least one member on that team (in case of emergency, I would like to be able to contact them).

[Dominator]

Is there still room in this field. I may know of a team that would like to play.

Yes, actually. Please have that team send me an email tomorrow with buzzers and staffers they are bringing and a cell phone number of at least one member on that team (in case of emergency, I would like to be able to contact them).

Nevermind. A clarification from the IHSA indicates that its member schools may not compete against colleges. Sorry.

[Christ, I Know]

Would it be too late to register a team later tonight or sometime tomorrow? I'm interested in bringing a team and two buzzers but I'm not sure yet if I can go.

[Papa's in the House]

Would it be too late to register a team later tonight or sometime tomorrow? I'm interested in bringing a team and two buzzers but I'm not sure yet if I can go.

Please contact me by 5p tomorrow.

[Horned Screamer]

Is there still room in this field. I may know of a team that would like to play.

Yes, actually. Please have that team send me an email tomorrow with buzzers and staffers they are bringing and a cell phone number of at least one member on that team (in case of emergency, I would like to be able to contact them).

Nevermind. A clarification from the IHSA indicates that its member schools may not compete against colleges. Sorry.

I thought IHSA notably approved of this. Did they reverse their rules?

[Papa's in the House]

If a 15 team tournament is run, a RR will be played and 2-3 packets will be left for finals. If there are 3 packets, ties will be played off to the best extent possible (hopefully half-packets will not need to be used). If there are 2 packets, PPG will be used to break ties (since all teams will face common opponents).

If an 18 team tournament is run, 2 brackets of 9 will be rebracketed into 3 brackets of 6 (prelim performance carries over) for a total of 12 rounds. Ties will be played off for finals berths.

[Christ, I Know]

It turns out I actually can't go to this. Sorry.

[jonah]

Is there still room in this field. I may know of a team that would like to play.

Yes, actually. Please have that team send me an email tomorrow with buzzers and staffers they are bringing and a cell phone number of at least one member on that team (in case of emergency, I would like to be able to contact them).

Nevermind. A clarification from the IHSA indicates that its member schools may not compete against colleges. Sorry.

I thought IHSA notably approved of this. Did they reverse their rules?

They're changing interpretations and stuff. There will probably be something about this in the Illinois subforum when things become clearer (hopefully by the end of this week).

[Sam]

Chicago will be bringing three teams rather than four.

[Papa's in the House]

Quick schedule update:

With 14 teams, we will run 2 brackets of 7 teams for prelims. We will rebracket into 6/4/4 in the afternoon. Prelim matches against opponents in your playoff brackets do not carry over. Ties will be played off when they matter (i.e., if 2 teams are tied for 3rd, we will play the tie off; but if 2 teams are tied for 2nd, the team with the higher PPG* will receive the higher seed). Finals will be played as necessary.

If you have questions, please email me. If you are attending this tournament and would like my phone number to get a hold of me in case of emergency, please see any email I have sent you.

*I'm using PPG because each team in a bracket will have played common opponents.

[aestheteboy]

Hi Charles,

Is it correct that each team will play only 6 + 3 games?
I like quizbowl, and those figures seem a bit low, especially considering the number of packets that you presumably will have from ACF.
I would be grateful if you could consider a format that would allow more games.

Thanks!

[dtaylor4]

Hi Charles,

Is it correct that each team will play only 6 + 3 games?
I like quizbowl, and those figures seem a bit low, especially considering the number of packets that you presumably will have from ACF.
I would be grateful if you could consider a format that would allow more games.

Thanks!

Also, doesn't ACF mandate at least 11 games?

[Papa's in the House]

Also, doesn't ACF mandate at least 11 games?

Your R right. Since I would prefer to avoid byes* in the afternoon, prelim games will not carry over to playoffs (6 prelim games + 5 playoff games in top bracket; 6 prelim games + 3 playoff games in bottom brackets). The lower brackets will play a second playoff round against the team that was not in their morning bracket to reach 11 games.

*That said, if a majority of teams do not mind byes in the playoffs, I will run two consecutive 2x7 brackets where the top 3 teams from each bracket, plus the highest 4th seed by PPB, make the top bracket. This will guarantee all teams 12 games, but it will be a long day.

[Dan-Don]

So the two options are:

1. 2 of 7 into 6/4/4. That takes 12 rounds and guarantees 11 matches.

2. 2 of 7 into 2 of 7. That takes 14 rounds and guarantees 12 matches.

I would say we should definitely do the first one since it will get us out 2 rounds sooner and still be a fair format that doesn't involve a wild card.

[in on these shenanigans]

1. 2 of 7 into 6/4/4. That takes 12 rounds and guarantees 11 matches.

No, it doesn't?

[Dan-Don]

It doesn't? A 7-team RR takes 7 rounds, with each team playing 6 matches.

A 6-team RR takes 5 rounds, with each team playing 5 matches. And then Charles has some sort of system worked out to get lower bracket teams to 11 matches (see above).

Isn't that 7 rounds + 5 rounds = 12 rounds, and 6 matches + 5 matches = 11 matches?

[bluesdjben]

As the team that will be travelling the farthest, K-State avidly supports any format that will guarantee 11 matches in the fewest possible rounds. We will be leaving within an hour and expect to be in around 10:00.

I am very glad that we will get to send two teams. Props to Charles for all the extra work he has done with the late changes he has had to account for from K-State and other teams.

[in on these shenanigans]

It doesn't? A 7-team RR takes 7 rounds, with each team playing 6 matches.

A 6-team RR takes 5 rounds, with each team playing 5 matches. And then Charles has some sort of system worked out to get lower bracket teams to 11 matches (see above).

Isn't that 7 rounds + 5 rounds = 12 rounds, and 6 matches + 5 matches = 11 matches?

I misread Charles' plan the first time. We're good.

[Papa's in the House]

The third alternative is 2x7 into 8/6 where the top bracket gets 13 games in 14 rounds and the bottom bracket gets 11 games in 12 rounds, but I prefer 2x7 into 6/4/4 for a variety of reasons. If you care to hear them, please PM me.

[helios]

By the way, what is going on that weekend that has all the hotels filled up?

High school wrestling, apparently.

[helios]

Final stats for the morning rounds here. Playoff stats will be here.

[cornfused]

Final stats for the morning rounds here.

Cool, a perfect split in both brackets.


EDIT: Also cool: Purdue sending four teams to this.

[Papa's in the House]

If you're wondering why there are 2 UIUC ACF Regionals stats pages on the Tournament DB, that is because the stats found here represent the stats of a tossups only scrimmage between members of the ABT on the ACF Regionals packets played Friday night. Practice 1 was every man for himself (for the most part) with the game between Ike and Zack not played (since we only had 7 packets at the time). Practice 2 was every player playing with every other player at least once and playing against other random pairs of doubles. You can see how this worked in the attached document.

[helios]

Chicago A was disadvantaged going into the finals with Michigan, and won two rounds to win the tournament. All stats are here.

[Papa's in the House]

As Dayne mentioned, Chicago A won this tournament after starting finals with a disadvantage. I want to thank all the teams that attended and congratulate them on their performance. We even had 4 teams from a completely new quiz bowl program, Purdue, that I hope to see at future tournaments. If you did not get me a check at the tournament, please email me to get my address so you know where to send your check.

As with any tournament, this one could not have run without staff. I would like to thank (in no particular order): Mike Sorice, Ike Jose, Dayne Rogers, Will Alexander, Chinmay Kansara, Tom Brown, Austin Listerud, Zack Moser, Greg Baboukis, and Billy Busse for staffing our ACF Regionals mirror. Without their competent moderating/scorekeeping skills this tournament would not have finished nearly as quickly as it did.

I would, however, like to take a moment to point out one problem I saw today that I believe needs to be adjusted. I witnessed and received reports from several people that certain quiz bowlers were intolerable at various points throughout the day. I would like to apologize to the players that suffered through these players' behavior and, to the new players that I saw at this tournament, let you know that not all quiz bowlers act this way.

Digression aside, I hope everyone enjoyed this tournament. I know I had a blast moderating for teams and was quite happy to see new quiz bowlers getting stuff they knew.

[DumbJaques]

I would, however, like to take a moment to point out one problem I saw today that I believe needs to be adjusted. I witnessed and received reports from several people that certain quiz bowlers were intolerable at various points throughout the day. I would like to apologize to the players that suffered through these players' behavior and, to the new players that I saw at this tournament, let you know that not all quiz bowlers act this way.

Yeah, I too hope the people you did not remotely identify stop doing the mysterious behavior you have left entirely unspecified! Hopefully this is just the wake up call they need.