The APA “FUN FACTOR” System, a “Five-Star Sportsmanship Program”, has been designed to accomplish two things: (1) reward teams that from week to week are great teams to play against; and (2) identify teams that from week to week are spoiling the fun for everyone, remove from those teams the players that cause the problems, and reorganize those teams in question.
This “FUN FACTOR” system is now an integral part of all APA computer software and will give us instantaneous feedback as to where our sportsmanship problems lie. Your scoresheets have been modified slightly to allow for your weekly input. With this input, we will (at the touch of a button) be able to print out the top sportsmanship teams and acknowledge and reward them. We will just as easily be able to identify those teams that cause problems in the League.
The “FUN FACTOR” system works as follows:
Every week you will rate the opposing team. It’s simple! You only need to write a number from 1 to 5 on the scoresheet (in the section which reads "Team# xxxxx gets a _____ Star Rating this match!"). This section must be filled out in order for your team to receive your bonus point(s) for the week!
The Weekly ratings will go into each team’s Sportsmanship Table and be accumulated throughout the session. You will score the team “only” after all matches are over and “only” after both Captains have signed the scoresheet. Don’t let the opposing team know that you are giving them a bad rating, do so in private before turning in your team envelope. The rating you give them will be 100% confidential. It’s that simple.
What happens to this data? Every session, we will run reports that identify those teams that are GREAT to compete against. Once identified, they will be acknowledged on our website and sent Good Sportsmanship Certificates and patches.
On the same note, we will be able to more rapidly identify and eliminate the problem players. Every five to six weeks we will run reports identifying those teams that have been rated poorly (those teams that nobody wants to play against). Those teams will be sent a letter notifying them that their team has been placed on probation and that subsequent poor scores will result in suspension from the League. They will be given instructions on how to fix the problem. They may only need to drop a player or two; or if the problem is the Captain or Co-Captain, they may have to elect a new team leader. Players identified as chronic problem players on the team will be immediately suspended from the APA.
For now, our goal is to provide a Three to Four-Star Experience. With time, we are confident that the APA “FUN FACTOR” system will increase all your play in the APA to a Five-Star level.
The following are suggested guidelines. Please feel free to use your own judgment when rating the opposing teams.
Five-Star Rating
This is an Excellent rating. The opposing team is one of the nicest in the League. Not only do they cause no problems and are a pleasure to play, but they go beyond the call of duty to show excellent sportsmanship and make your night out feel special. Your team (win or lose) had an excellent night out. A write-up SHOULD accompany this rating! Consider contacting the League Office for a Good Sportsmanship patch!
This is an Excellent rating. The opposing team is one of the nicest in the League. Not only do they cause no problems and are a pleasure to play, but they go beyond the call of duty to show excellent sportsmanship and make your night out feel special. Your team (win or lose) had an excellent night out.
Four-Star Rating
This is a Very Good rating. The opposing team caused absolutely no problems and was a pleasure to play. Your team (win or lose) had a very good night out.
Three-Star Rating
This is an Average rating. Your team encountered no major problems. The night went well with only a few minor problems. Maybe the teams had some minor rule disagreements. Maybe someone’s attitude got slightly out of hand, yet the opposing team Captain got them in line, apologized for the infraction, and the night continued without further incident. Your team (win or lose) had a good night out.
Two-Star Rating
This is a Poor rating. The opposing team's members in no way threatened or intimidated your players, however they did cause multiple problems while the opposing team Captain did nothing to get his/her players under control, enough so that your evening wasn’t fun. Maybe the opposing team made smart or degrading remarks to your players or called you sandbaggers. Maybe they tried to manipulate our handicap system by simply banging balls around the table, or maybe they were just rude and unfriendly. Your team (win or lose) did not have a fun night out. A write-up should accompany this rating!
This is a Poor rating. The opposing team's members in no way threatened or intimidated your players, however they did cause multiple problems while the opposing team Captain did nothing to get his/her players under control, enough so that your evening wasn’t fun. Maybe the opposing team made smart or degrading remarks to your players or called you sandbaggers. Maybe they tried to manipulate our handicap system by simply banging balls around the table, or maybe they were just rude and unfriendly. Your team (win or lose) did not have a fun night out.
A write-up should accompany this rating!
One-Star Rating
This is an Unacceptable rating. The opposing team's members might have threatened or intimidated your players, or might have caused multiple “major” problems. The opposing Team Captain did nothing to get his/her players under control. Your team (win or lose) had a terrible night out. A write-up MUST accompany this rating!
This is an Unacceptable rating. The opposing team's members might have threatened or intimidated your players, or might have caused multiple “major” problems. The opposing Team Captain did nothing to get his/her players under control. Your team (win or lose) had a terrible night out.