Competition Task ForceCompetition Task Force20062006

Objectives - April 2003Objectives - April 2003

• Put competition into Put competition into ALL AREASALL AREAS of of tournament skiing. tournament skiing.

• Create an integrated rating/ranking Create an integrated rating/ranking system with a meaningful nomenclature system with a meaningful nomenclature from beginner to world class levels.from beginner to world class levels.

• Create a Create a REASONREASON for increased for increased competition in tournamentscompetition in tournaments

Why Change Our System?Why Change Our System?

• Current system places too much focus on ratings. Current system places too much focus on ratings. Ski and your done. Ski and your done.

• Local level competition needs more skiers to make Local level competition needs more skiers to make an event. Age-based, rating system is individual-an event. Age-based, rating system is individual-focused. focused.

• Need a system that uses a similar structure from Need a system that uses a similar structure from top to bottom, not just at the advanced levels.top to bottom, not just at the advanced levels.

• Establish a format for a “National System” of Establish a format for a “National System” of ability-based competition. ability-based competition.

The Initial ProposalThe Initial Proposal

• Concept was tailored to the existing base of tournament Concept was tailored to the existing base of tournament skiers because competition was limited at the local level.skiers because competition was limited at the local level.

• Nationals, Regionals and States were already Nationals, Regionals and States were already competitive so they would fit nicely in a placement-competitive so they would fit nicely in a placement-based strategy.based strategy.

• CTF suggested changing the qualification process for CTF suggested changing the qualification process for Nationals to an Advance By Placement (ABP) system. Nationals to an Advance By Placement (ABP) system.

• PROPOSAL FAILED – In part because the change was too PROPOSAL FAILED – In part because the change was too dramatic from the existing system.dramatic from the existing system.

Additional Steps TakenAdditional Steps Taken

• Rankings web site (TRA) became operational in Rankings web site (TRA) became operational in September 2005 and provided a framework for a September 2005 and provided a framework for a more interactive system of rankings and more interactive system of rankings and qualifying.qualifying.

• CTF took direction from the AWSA Board to CTF took direction from the AWSA Board to consider an alternate approach that would use a consider an alternate approach that would use a rankings approach and limit the impact on the rankings approach and limit the impact on the National qualifiers.National qualifiers.

CTF 2006 New ObjectivesCTF 2006 New Objectives

• Establish a Nationals qualification system based upon the Establish a Nationals qualification system based upon the AWSA Official Ranking List (i.e. “12-Month Rolling”).AWSA Official Ranking List (i.e. “12-Month Rolling”).

• Utilize the current Ratings Committee procedures and Utilize the current Ratings Committee procedures and percentages for establishing the projected number of percentages for establishing the projected number of qualifiers. qualifiers.

• Create new methods of Nationals qualification to encourage Create new methods of Nationals qualification to encourage tournament participation and enhance Regional tournament tournament participation and enhance Regional tournament competition, including “Advance By Placement.” competition, including “Advance By Placement.”

• Support the implementation of “Zero Based Scoring” in Support the implementation of “Zero Based Scoring” in slalom to promote a nationally-recognized system for slalom to promote a nationally-recognized system for ability-based competition with built-in handicapping. ability-based competition with built-in handicapping.

The ranking list dynamicsThe ranking list dynamics• Web based, 12 month rolling list on HQ’s website, constantly updated as Web based, 12 month rolling list on HQ’s website, constantly updated as

tournament data is receivedtournament data is received

• Displays all skiers that have skied in a tournament including NSL events Displays all skiers that have skied in a tournament including NSL events and ranks them by state, region, and nation and ranks them by state, region, and nation

• Divided into 10 ability levels with levels 3-8 being equivalent to the Divided into 10 ability levels with levels 3-8 being equivalent to the performance percentages previously used to determine the 5 rating levels. performance percentages previously used to determine the 5 rating levels.

• The CTF is still decided when changing divisions, if the parameters of the The CTF is still decided when changing divisions, if the parameters of the skiers new division do not change, if scores will roll over from year to year.skiers new division do not change, if scores will roll over from year to year.

• A skier’s rankings list average in each event is an average of his top 5 A skier’s rankings list average in each event is an average of his top 5 Slalom, top 3 Jump or top 3 Trick scores achieved at any Class C or above Slalom, top 3 Jump or top 3 Trick scores achieved at any Class C or above tournament within the last 12 months. tournament within the last 12 months.

• The current penalty system that has always been used for seeding still The current penalty system that has always been used for seeding still appliesapplies

• All tournament scores class C and above, including regionals and nationals, All tournament scores class C and above, including regionals and nationals, will be equally weighted.will be equally weighted.

Rankings List ChampionsRankings List Champions

•Rankings list champions will be Rankings list champions will be crowned based on the calendar crowned based on the calendar year in each division for slalom, year in each division for slalom, tricks, jump, and overall with tricks, jump, and overall with recognition via certificate, and recognition via certificate, and acknowledgment on the website acknowledgment on the website and magazineand magazine

National QualificationNational Qualification

All skiers ranked level 8 in any event or overall the All skiers ranked level 8 in any event or overall the Wednesday 3 weeks prior to nationals (cutoff date) will Wednesday 3 weeks prior to nationals (cutoff date) will receive an automatic invite to nationals. receive an automatic invite to nationals.

At that time the rankings average of the last ranked skier in At that time the rankings average of the last ranked skier in level 8 in each divisions/event will be established as the cut level 8 in each divisions/event will be established as the cut off average (COA). off average (COA).

Qualifiers from the ranking list as of the CO Date are Qualifiers from the ranking list as of the CO Date are protected. A “qualified” skier cannot become “unqualified,” protected. A “qualified” skier cannot become “unqualified,” even though that skier’s ranking value may drop below the even though that skier’s ranking value may drop below the COA, due to scores posted on TRA after cut-off date or older COA, due to scores posted on TRA after cut-off date or older scores dropping out of the skier’s ranking value. scores dropping out of the skier’s ranking value.

Last Chance Qualifying Last Chance Qualifying

After the cutoff date any skiers who did not receive an After the cutoff date any skiers who did not receive an automatic invite can still qualify for nationals through automatic invite can still qualify for nationals through last chance qualifying methods (LCQ’s).last chance qualifying methods (LCQ’s).

• Last Chance #1 – Skiers may qualify for Nationals by Last Chance #1 – Skiers may qualify for Nationals by improving their ranking value above COA, at any time improving their ranking value above COA, at any time during the period from CO Date to Nationals.during the period from CO Date to Nationals.

• Last Chance #2 – Skiers may qualify for Nationals by Last Chance #2 – Skiers may qualify for Nationals by scoring at or above the COA at the Regional scoring at or above the COA at the Regional tournament. tournament.

Qualification By PlacementQualification By Placement

• Qualify By Placement # 1 - Top 5 Qualify By Placement # 1 - Top 5 placements in each event and overall at placements in each event and overall at “Regional Tournament” qualify for “Regional Tournament” qualify for Nationals, regardless of rating or Nationals, regardless of rating or ranking. ranking.

• Qualify By Placement # 2 - Top 5 Qualify By Placement # 2 - Top 5 placements in each event and overall at placements in each event and overall at “Previous National Tournament” “Previous National Tournament” qualify, regardless of rating or ranking. qualify, regardless of rating or ranking.

ComparisonComparison

• AWSA Board directed CTF to compare any new proposal to the AWSA Board directed CTF to compare any new proposal to the existing system to insure the impact on the numbers of people existing system to insure the impact on the numbers of people qualifying for Nationals was neutral. qualifying for Nationals was neutral.

• Current system produces 2,083 national qualifiers. Of those, Current system produces 2,083 national qualifiers. Of those, 1899 qualify by EP rating and 187 by regional placement.1899 qualify by EP rating and 187 by regional placement.

• Proposed system would produce 2,099 Nationals qualifiers, Proposed system would produce 2,099 Nationals qualifiers, with with 1,8601,860 qualifying by ranking list and qualifying by ranking list and 239239 by regional by regional placement.placement.

• 137 new skiers would qualify for nationals that previously 137 new skiers would qualify for nationals that previously didn’t while 165 skiers who previously qualified via ratings didn’t while 165 skiers who previously qualified via ratings would not have made it via our proposal however, only 8 would not have made it via our proposal however, only 8 percent of those actually attended the Nationals last year percent of those actually attended the Nationals last year anywaysanyways..

Qualifiers in Current & New Qualifiers in Current & New SystemsSystems

DIVDIV

MT MT

TOTALTOTALSKIERSSKIERS

865 865

QLFYQLFYW/W/

EP’sEP’s

247 247

QFLYQFLYVIAVIAREGREGPLCPLC

44 44

TOTALTOTALQFYQFY

RATINGSRATINGS11°°

291 291

QLFYQLFYBYBY

RANKINRANKINGSGS

244 244

QLFYQLFYVIAVIAREGREGPLCPLC

69 69

TOTALTOTALQFYQFY

RANKINGRANKING11°°

313313

EPEPSKIERSSKIERS

OUTOUT

1212

NEW NEW SKIERSKIER

SSININ

1818

MS MS 2,721 2,721 910 910 28 28 938 938 838 838 40 40 878878 107107 3838

MJ MJ 648 648 164 164 35 35 199 199 195 195 45 45 240240 33 3737

WT WT 413 413 154 154 29 29 183 183 145 145 37 37 182182 9 9 9 9

WJ WJ 229 229 77 77 20 20 97 97 95 95 23 23 118118 22 1919

WS WS 910 910 347 347 28 28 375 375 343 343 25 25 368 368 32 32 16 16

Tot Tot 5,786 5,786 1,899 1,899 184 184 2,083 2,083 1,860 1,860 239 239 2,099 2,099 165 165 137 137

Important BenefitsImportant Benefits

• Promotes competition every weekend Promotes competition every weekend between skiers across the country.between skiers across the country.

• Focus on web-based ranking list means Focus on web-based ranking list means increased interaction between skiers and increased interaction between skiers and USA Waterski. USA Waterski.

• Individual tournaments are more Individual tournaments are more meaningful, since scores will be used in meaningful, since scores will be used in ranking value throughout the season.ranking value throughout the season.

• Enhances importance of Regional Enhances importance of Regional tournaments.tournaments.

Additional BenefitsAdditional Benefits

• Increased tournament participation.Increased tournament participation.• A first step toward a true competition based A first step toward a true competition based

system.system.• Rankings (vs Ratings) provide a more Rankings (vs Ratings) provide a more

understandable format for new participants.understandable format for new participants.• The rankings list itself will provide value to USA The rankings list itself will provide value to USA

Waterski, as well as its sponsors and Waterski, as well as its sponsors and advertisers.advertisers.

• Structure promotes alternative formats, such Structure promotes alternative formats, such as handicapping, ability-based groupings, etc.as handicapping, ability-based groupings, etc.