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 How I helped my team to avoid timeoutsMichael orkneylad send me a message regarding helping teammates avoid timeouts. He was discussing a specific scenario, but I thought I would share something a little less specific that you can post on your own team's forum if you wish. I created a post that I put on my team's forum a number of years ago that instructed them how to change a lot of these settings. I will copy and paste it below if it would help your team. Feel free to use it as you see fit, or not at all if you choose. ~Tim --------------------------------------------------------- How To Avoid Timeouts, Set Team Games To 3, 5, or 7 Days, And Set Personal Limits On Team Games Hello, Yeshua's Army - After answering several teammates on how to set your team settings, I thought I would post this and put it at the top of our team's forum. Please feel free to refer to it from time to time so you will not exceed your team limits. **To set your time limits (3-day games, 5-day games, 7-day games), go here: gameknot.com You can set your minimum and maximum limits. Make sure it is at least 3 days minimum. If you set it at 2 days maximum, we cannot pair you in team matches. We can only pair you in 3-day, 5-day, or 7-day team matches. Please do not ask to be paired in matches other than 3, 5, or 7 days. We have no control over this. You can also limit the rating range of your opponents. To keep your ratings within 25 points of your current rating, just change the "Opponent's rating must be within:" to 25 for both boxes. **To set the maximum number of team games you will accept, go here: gameknot.com If you, for some reason, desire to set your maximum team games to 0, please notify me of this desire and then set your team games to 0. I will notify our team's co-captains of your desire for a break in team games. When you are ready to accept team games again, change your limits to what you desire, and notify me that you are ready for team games again. **If you will be away for an extended period of time, please postpone your games by going here: gameknot.com Follow the instructions on that page. This is the BEST way to avoid timeouts on team games. In almost every situation, game timeouts are avoidable if you will just postpone your games. You can postpone your games for up to 30 days at a time. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I hope that helps. Thanks, ~Tim |
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that three strikes - episodes of timing out - and there will be a review by the management and you may be dismissed. We sent it to every member of the team manually. We keep track of timeouts in the notes section of the player page, We had a timeout epidemic at one time, but it's under control. We had to dismiss a few players, but if a line is not held, everyone starts thinking nobody cares. With the three strike rule, there is ample time to warn them and try to coach them back to not timing out. |
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Classica |
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that is taken into consideration. We take it on a case by case basis, and there is no one size fits all. The management team all have a say in the best course of action. If a player is causing the team tangible harm, in terms of ladder ranking or reputation - we decide together how to address the situation. |
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We consider calamities such as the recent heavy snow falls in the northern parts of the USA and across Canada, earthquakes, and other disasters. But the decision is taken by the group of senior team players, not just the captain(s). Some team members do not like to share their information with me, and I respect that. These team members do not get a text warning, though, and may be kicked off the team sooner than others who react to the text warnings I send out. |
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I am probably far too nice with my members who have timed out, I have several who have timed out through the years. Some have never replied to any messages I send, but many others have and things work out. I need to get to work on this, I do have several I need to remove who have gone inactive, but I will be sure to leave a warning first, with my email listed as well. I can't say I'd be willing to go outside of email, to me at least, email would be the easiest, but this is something I need to test with more, so perhaps I will choose something better for everyone, we shall see. |
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A while back I had two brothers on my team. They were 8 and 11. I sent them several messages over the duration of about three weeks, until a parent came online and told me that they are playing for fun, and that they have been instructed not to engage in conversation with anybody. The parents monitored these boys. So: not a single beep from either of them. I remember they were from the same town as the author Stephen King, in Maine. Bangor? I think so. Eventually they left the team and the website. Other reasons for lack of response may include physical disability (I have one such player right now), a language barrier (I have several such players right now) and the lack of appropriate technology. I am not telling how to run your team, I want to inform you about the reasons why some of my players don't speak to me. Just a thought. |
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Riaannieman I appreciate your response and your concern. Thank you. I do the best that I can to consider individual circumstances, yes. I will consider a number of clues before I remove a player who ignores my inquiries. The most obvious is the statistics, including their last login. I also consult my co-captains to see if they have any knowledge of what is going on with that player. I have a couple of other, non-cocaptain teammates who I also will consult, as sometimes they may have insight that I do not have. I have even considered consulting their current opponents. It is becoming rarer and rarer for my teammates to ignore my inquiries. Most respond quickly, perhaps because they are aware of how I handle things. Also, I leave the door open for players (most of them) who I remove from the team, stating that I am willing to consider reinstatement to the team once they contact me and we discuss. To date, few have taken me up on this, but the ones that do bring with them their explanation. If they are from a different country, I will use google translate and translate the message into the native tongue of their country of residence, as well as English, as well as whatever language they post on their profile, because most profiles have something written on them. If they respond in a different language, I will also use google translate to interpret for me. One thing of note - Gameknot has a minimum age of 13 in order to register for an account. From their rules on gameknot.com Children GameKnot does not sell products for purchase by children. We do not knowingly collect, maintain, or use Personal Information from children under age 13. If you are under age 13, immediately discontinue use of our Website. Thanks for your concern, ~Tim |
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I didn't know about that rule. Now I'm glad they are off the team- no animosity, but for the safety and integrity of the team. |
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And yeah I don't monitor my own email enough, so I can see where issues can arise, but I imagine those who don't check the team forum or their messages have a better chance of checking their email. I am curious just how much success I'll have with this. |
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Employer: How much experience do you have? Applicant: 30 years. Employer: 30 years? But you are only 21? Applicant: Overtime. |
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One other thing I forgot to mention... If a player times out a team game, I note their page with the date. If there are multiple notes over time, I take appropriate action. |
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I remove them from the team Also in our forum, I have posted a team document outlining in detail our timeout policy. When I remove a player for timeouts I leave a message asking them to correct the current situation and then reapply to the team. So far noone has reapplied. |
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Also Riaan, awesome joke, loved it |
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it gets to a point with some players that the choice to remove them is obvious and for the good of the team. |
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I love using the player notes, both teammates (team game settings primarily) and opponents. There is one player I will not match, has been years but I did accept a recent challenge including him. My note: (10/13/14) From Monkey Wrench. Do Not Pair. |
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In SWAT the most time-outs follow during/after personal crises: divorce, loss of a life partner, cross-continental move or something drastic. One player recently went on pension and started a new career, and that had an effect. I am a lenient and reasonable captain and prefer to give them the benefit of the doubt. I contact the player and ask the reason. If my attempts to make contact are ignored for three times of the period of more than a month I have to remove them for the sake of the team. SWAT team members are competitive on the team ladder and resent lack of cooperation within the team, and they quickly let me know their opinion. |
