Minimum Grades
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 11:55 am
The thread on membership outcomes has turned to the subject of Junior grades. As it stands at present, there is a floor of zero. The practical effect of this is to support grading levels in the 0 to 50 range. But suppose you created a standalone system exclusively for junior only events. To differentiate this from the adult system, add, say 500, so that zero becomes 500. You then have the potential to have grades of 450 being the players that lose to the 500s. This would give rankings to those currently "not good enough", but is it desirable? The problem coming being provided the players graded 450 improved, they could push the players they beat down to 400.
Frequent recalculation by treating most or all players as newcomers can presumably reduce the potential downward spiral, but also reduces the credibility that there's continuity from one year to the next.
It might be better to stay clear of Elo ranges as well, and add five thousand. The number after the 5 then becomes the potential adult equivalent, so a Junior grade of 5099 would be eligible for an under 100 tournament.
Frequent recalculation by treating most or all players as newcomers can presumably reduce the potential downward spiral, but also reduces the credibility that there's continuity from one year to the next.
It might be better to stay clear of Elo ranges as well, and add five thousand. The number after the 5 then becomes the potential adult equivalent, so a Junior grade of 5099 would be eligible for an under 100 tournament.