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 Time Out PolicyOur Time-out losses have been drastically cut and we have now found our team in the number one position several times. We do still experience problems from time to time, but they are very short lived. We tried several different ways to address the issue. We would send messages requesting explanations, offer help in setting up days per move, instructions on how to limit the number of games, etc. It seemed nothing really worked. Our policy now is upon on a time out, we remove the member of the team. We leave the door open, for the individual to request team membership, but insist on them supplying a valid reason for the time out. Needless to say, we lost several members right away, but the core that we do have are dedicated to team play. We have had a couple of players who were removed and immediately offered explanation and they were reinstated. As a general rule of thumb, most simply don't come back which simply means, they probably were a hindrance to the team anyway. I offer the following Policy for all to use if they want to use it. The document is available by simply activating the link. docs.google.com This document also provides a graphic explanation with suggestions to help prevent time-out(s) on how to set days per move, team game limits and postponement vacation flag settings. Many new players find the Gameknot system difficult, so the document provides links to each area. The file can also be viewed at our Team Web Page at sites.google.com One thing one must understand about Gameknot is that the site cannot render secured sites as a click-able link. In other words, if you copy the address from your browser's address bar and try to paste it in the text editor you will receive something that looks like this: https://sites.google.com/site/yeshuasbloodwarriors/team-documents-and-policies The "https" denotes a secured site. The trick is simply to remove the "s" in the "https" and then post the link. When you remove it, it should look like http:then the rest of the address. This works for any link which uses the secured "https" protocol. You may have other secured sites which you wish to share with the readers, so hopefully this has been helpful. In order to share the Time Out Policy Document with your team, here is the actual link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vgJj2gN-c7_JO6vCz2nRWPmEecm5hHHg8ThEiIT6WUA/edit Remember, you must remove the "s" in the "https" before posting in the Gameknot editor. Blessings, Len |
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The jury may still be out on casual time outs. Also, does punishment (i.e. removal) correct the issue (assuming that there is one) or does it simply motivate players to switch teams, thereby bringing a skill level above the stated rating to an opposing team, advantaging an opponent while simultaneously not advantaging the originating team? I think if things were absolutely clear-cut, we wouldn't be discussing this issue. The fact that we does expend so much electronic text on it is another indicator that, like people, this issue is complex. Just some food for thought. |
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You bring up some good points, kneilca2 All that being said, we've still done quite well in the ladder rankings. That fact really blows my mind. So I think Kneilca2 is definitely on to something here. But the bottom line is this: I just don't have the heart to remove anyone from the team for timeouts. I just can't do it. |
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Under rated players you might want to keep are perfect for open challenges. I send our players out there with a note and usually someone finds a pretty fair match within their team |
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Personally....who cares!. |
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mervynrothwell 21-Jan-13, 04:52 |
That perennial problem of time-outs. So here is my two-cents’ worth..... I have over the years taken a firm line on timeouts, and in my experience a firm line works! I have taken the view that time-outs are unnecessary except in crisis situations, such as unexpected and urgent hospitalisation, or natural disaster such as earthquake. I always ask for the reason for every timeout. The answers usually demonstrate that players are not familiar with the use of the vacation flag, and the option of playing only 5- or 7-day team games. Computer or internet failure is a favourite! I do not accept this as an excuse, although some discretion is needed if the player is in an underdeveloped country. Modern technology (cellphone access) and the availability of internet cafes, family and friends’ computers (only needed to postpone the games, not play them!) mean that almost all timeouts are avoidable. I have played over 5000 games on Gameknot and never timed out a game. I have had computer problems and internet interruption, but always found a way of postponing games. I accept that the unavoidable does happen – that’s life! – but if players are conscientious about being part of a team, they will take care not to time out if it is at all avoidable. It is called being part of a team! – you look out for each other! My approach is to be firm but seeking to nurture a responsible approach. I will remove persistent offenders, but will try to reform before I remove. A case in point.... Not so long ago I had a team member who after I had written for his reason for timing out six games, wrote apologising saying that ..... “17 out of 42 residents have flu. Worked extra shifts to cover staff and got sick too. Sorry about timeouts.” Understandable, but not acceptable. My response was.... .....“You certainly have your work cut out. Looking after residents can be hard at the best of times, and when this sort of thing happens it will take all your effort. You have my sympathy. However, I have to address the issue of the timeouts. Gameknot have provided the means for players to stay in control even when we face unusual problems. If we are familiar with the provisions that Gameknot has provided and are conscientious to use those provisions there is no need for any timeouts other than in highly exceptional circumstances such as unexpected hospitalisation or natural disasters such as earthquake.. In almost all cases we have the five minutes it takes to postpone all of our games avoiding any possibility of timeouts. Can I ask you to become familiar with this procedure as soon as possible? Over the years I have removed a number of players from my teams for persistent timeouts, and as far as I can determine none would have been removed if they has used the measures that Gameknot have provided to help them in times of difficulty.” So to this player I have set the team standard, and he means to avoid future timeouts. Being part of a team means we have a care for our colleagues and co-operate to achieve a common aim. A baseball, football or other team player who does not care about his colleagues would soon find themselves side-lined. Why should chess be any different? In my opinion the large majority of players get the message. It also encourages them to know that the team is being managed with discipline. Just a little more food for thought...... Mervyn |
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Whose Responsibility? 1. It puts the onus on the team member for his own games and settings. 2. Just setting up fair matches is a major undertaking. Having to track down irresponsible team members is a near impossible job. Why should the captains have to babysit. 3. When you put a member on restriction, and put his ID in the "Messages to Team Captains" it makes it the opposing team captain's responsibility to keep up with your delinquent players. I have more than once got a tart reply from a team captain when I accidentally setup a match with a player on restriction. How rude! It is not my responsibility to keep up with another team's players. 4. We worked on explaining to our team how to do their settings so they won't timeout, but it did not seem to help. If a player wants to play with a team they ought to take responsibility for their own games since the captains cannot even check to see what their settings are set to. 5. A goodly number of players will not respond to messages and questions from the captain. By dismissing them from the team they are forced to respond and at least give a plausible reason for the timeouts. 6. If you put your player on restriction you still have to keep up with their restriction unless you can get them to reduce their number of team games. Dismissing them relieves some of the work. 7. If they have a good excuse they can be re-added to the team and pickup just like nothing happened. Shalom, Herb |
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Herb gave 7 excellent reasons and so far they have been very effective. We went from being a team which was barely able to make the top 20 and then boom, some player would time out. We have had a couple players who did have a valid excuse, they contacted us and they were right back on the team. As Herb says though, it puts the ball in the court of the offender. Once we weeded out those who were really not interested in Team Competition, we found our team in 1st place several times. So, our timeout policy works very well for us and I am very proud and feel blessed to have Herb as a Co. Blessings, Len |
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@johnclark |
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