2012-2013 Online Skype Practice League General Announcement
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 1:47 pm
The National History Bee and Bowl is pleased to announce Year 2 of the Online Skype Practice League!
I will be directing OSPL throughout this year, and throughout the year, we will be offering two levels of OSPL: Novice and Expert. Novice leagues will play in odd numbered months while Expert leagues will run in even numbered months. 4 teams will play in each league each month, and each team can play with a maximum of 4 players and a substitute (see below).
Players are free to select either Novice or Expert affiliation; however, this is in all cases subject to review by David Madden and me. It is possible that a player could play in Novice in the fall, but be declared ineligible for Novice by the spring. Schools are limited to two players in each round of OSPL. OSPL is free to compete in, and sign ups work on a first-come, first-served basis. If a player is on a winning team in a round of OSPL, he/she will be ineligible to compete until the OSPL Champions League in the spring. OSPL Students will only be allowed to compete in multiple preliminary rounds of OSPL once everyone who has not yet competed has had a chance to play.
Each league operates on a single round robin schedule, meaning each team will receive three games (one per week). At the end of three weeks, when all matches have been played, the top 2 teams will play in the season final on the fourth week. That final may be advantaged if the #1 team only holds a 1 game advantage over the #2 team. If the #1 team is 3-0 and the remaining teams are all 1-2, no final will be played. If #1 and #2 are 2-1, the final will be a single game. If three teams are tied at 2-1, then #2 will play #3 for the right to play #1 based on points per bonus.
At the end of four seasons of Novice and Expert, there will be Champions' Leagues in each division. This will take place in May. The four winning teams will be invited back to compete again. The same league structure as above holds.
A few things to keep in mind for this competition year, specifically:
Once a game is scheduled, whether it be on a Tuesday or Wednesday, and whether it is the 8 PM game or the 9 PM game (all times Eastern), it will be played at the time scheduled. If no members of a particular team are signed on and ready to play when the match is scheduled to begin and after a 5 minute grace period has elapsed, the match is forfeited. If no members of _both teams_ are present, the game is declared a 0-0 tie. Teams will not be permitted to play against "empty chairs" in an effort to pad statistics.
Each team will be permitted a maximum of one substitute player on its roster. First priority will be given to players who attempted to sign up for one of the 16 open positions prior to the start of the league season, but were 17th, 18th, 19th, or 20th to sign up. If any of those players should indicate his or her unwillingness to play as a sub, then the teams may nominate a sub. I must approve the nomination before the player can play, _particularly_ in the Novice division.
Team names may not be as awesome as last year's, since I'll be coming up with them. Expect soccer references. :)
Good luck, and we look forward to receiving signups soon!
I will be directing OSPL throughout this year, and throughout the year, we will be offering two levels of OSPL: Novice and Expert. Novice leagues will play in odd numbered months while Expert leagues will run in even numbered months. 4 teams will play in each league each month, and each team can play with a maximum of 4 players and a substitute (see below).
Players are free to select either Novice or Expert affiliation; however, this is in all cases subject to review by David Madden and me. It is possible that a player could play in Novice in the fall, but be declared ineligible for Novice by the spring. Schools are limited to two players in each round of OSPL. OSPL is free to compete in, and sign ups work on a first-come, first-served basis. If a player is on a winning team in a round of OSPL, he/she will be ineligible to compete until the OSPL Champions League in the spring. OSPL Students will only be allowed to compete in multiple preliminary rounds of OSPL once everyone who has not yet competed has had a chance to play.
Each league operates on a single round robin schedule, meaning each team will receive three games (one per week). At the end of three weeks, when all matches have been played, the top 2 teams will play in the season final on the fourth week. That final may be advantaged if the #1 team only holds a 1 game advantage over the #2 team. If the #1 team is 3-0 and the remaining teams are all 1-2, no final will be played. If #1 and #2 are 2-1, the final will be a single game. If three teams are tied at 2-1, then #2 will play #3 for the right to play #1 based on points per bonus.
At the end of four seasons of Novice and Expert, there will be Champions' Leagues in each division. This will take place in May. The four winning teams will be invited back to compete again. The same league structure as above holds.
A few things to keep in mind for this competition year, specifically:
Once a game is scheduled, whether it be on a Tuesday or Wednesday, and whether it is the 8 PM game or the 9 PM game (all times Eastern), it will be played at the time scheduled. If no members of a particular team are signed on and ready to play when the match is scheduled to begin and after a 5 minute grace period has elapsed, the match is forfeited. If no members of _both teams_ are present, the game is declared a 0-0 tie. Teams will not be permitted to play against "empty chairs" in an effort to pad statistics.
Each team will be permitted a maximum of one substitute player on its roster. First priority will be given to players who attempted to sign up for one of the 16 open positions prior to the start of the league season, but were 17th, 18th, 19th, or 20th to sign up. If any of those players should indicate his or her unwillingness to play as a sub, then the teams may nominate a sub. I must approve the nomination before the player can play, _particularly_ in the Novice division.
Team names may not be as awesome as last year's, since I'll be coming up with them. Expect soccer references. :)
Good luck, and we look forward to receiving signups soon!