Making PDGA Competition Fair

[Ransom]

Here's Mike Kernan's first proposal on strengthening the PDGA Rules of Play:

"To play at the professional level in ball golf, one must qualify for the tour. I'm not sure exactly what is involved in getting a ball golf touring card, other than demonstrating in a qualifying event/series that you've got the ability to play with the best, but I'm willing to bet that the player has to sign some kind of legal agreement that says something like they won't dishonor the sport, will play fairly, or something in that vein.

Of course, in disc golf, you don't have to demonstrate any ability to play pro, and we don't have any requirements to play pro at our best events. I think the time has arrived when the PDGA should make some minimal requirements for pros to play at our best events, that is the Majors and NT events. (and I'm willing to say maybe not the NT's just yet...this plan may take a while to implement)

One of the requirements to play in Majors should be a demonstration that the player knows the Rules of Play. If more players had to study the Rules of Play in depth required to pass a test on them , they would know that "Disc golf is a game that expects high standards of etiquette and courtesy. Among the basic considerations of etiquette are such things as concern for spectators and other players and respect for plant life on the course. These rules have been designed to promote fair play for all disc golfers.

Of course some of you know that statement comes from the Rules Of Play #700, but how many disc golfers understand what it means? Ball golf stresses that honor is paramount, so much so that we've seen ball golfers call rules infractions on themselves. I believe that one of the PDGA Rules Committee's most heinous mistakes is that they seem to hide from the players, and they aren't out there stressing the importance of honor and fair play. While Carlton Howard's 18 years of service as a volunteer on the RC is honorable, one can not help but lay the blame at his feet for the unfortunate situation you describe in regards to "rules nazis". Unfortunately, when a rules infraction is correctly called, it certainly changes the tone of discourse in a tournament group. That is a shame. If the PDGA were to demand that players play with more honor, the rules nazi would be admired, not hated.

So, now that I have been elected to the PDGA BoD, I will propose that anyone playing at the 2008 PDGA Majors be required to pass a test on the Rules of Play. This test will introduce to some, and reinforce to others, the importance of playing fairly, and the importance of the requirement to call rules infractions on others because we can't yet afford to have a marshall walking with each tournament group. In addition the test will clarify in player's minds exactly what the Rules of Play say and mean.

The players who play at Majors are the ambassadors of the sport. By instilling in these ambassadors the notion that the PDGA is getting serious about fair play and the importance of the rules, the Rules of Play will become more respected, and we'll get closer to the day when disc golfers have the same sense of honor and respect for golf as ball golfers demonstrate. These ambassadors are our heart. Make sure they know what's expected of Major-level players, and you will see them spread the word in person as the PDGA will be spreading the word through its newsletters, magazines, and message boards."

Let's Discuss, shall we?

[discette]

So, now that I have been elected to the PDGA BoD,..



I didn't know the election was over. Where are the results posted?

[Ransom]

From a similar thread at sndg.org we have our first ingenious suggestion on how to implement this rules test at the majors:

Posted by: SplendidOne
Date: June 14, 2007 11:56AM


I like this proposal a lot. With on line registration, it would not be all that difficult to have the registration process segue into a 10-question, multiple choice rules test which must be passed before registration could be completed. (Anything requiring written responses would cost way too much volunteer or staff time to deal with.)

Making it happen for majors also makes sense, because imposing this - which might cut down on registrations at first - would be something that many TDs might object to. There is no reason that those who are registering who fail cannot take it over and over again, actually, and a computer program could serve up a random ten questions each time, from perhaps a bank of 40-50 questions.

Very interesting.

[rhett]

A better idea is to have a "Certified Rules Knower" test that must be passed prior to being allowed to register for Majors and NTs, and certification lasts for a year. Being "Professionals", it certainly would not be too much to ask for the professional disc golfer to take care of this and get certified prior to registering for any tournament that required certification. That way the TD would only have to verify that the registrant is on the certification list, similar to checking PDGA membership status.

A yearly certification makes much more logistical sense.

But back to your basic premise......."The PGA Tour" is so much different from the PDGA Tour it's not even funny. "The PGA Tour" offers so much financial reward for the Tour Card holders that entry must be restricted. The PDGA Tour, on the other hand, needs every single unqualified donator it can find to sign up at $100+ a pop to fund the purse for the True Pros. If you start turning willing donators away at this point in time, you will see the Open Pro purses decline even further, which is the exact opposite of what everyone seems to be looking for.

[Greg_R]

I think the time has arrived when the PDGA should make some minimal requirements for pros to play at our best events, that is the Majors and NT events. (and I'm willing to say maybe not the NT's just yet...this plan may take a while to implement)

Completely disagree for the exact reasons that 11k talked about.

However, I think the idea of enforcing rules knowledge at a certain level of competition is a good idea but may be hard to enforce (in terms of taking the test). How would you handle 30+ people renewing their memberships during sign-ups (very common during early-year tournaments)? Having the player sign a sheet declaring their intent at the tournament would be easier to do (IMO). It would go something like this:
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I, ___________ hereby promise to uphold and enforce the rules of play in an honest and courteous manner for the _____ tournament. I acknowledge that I have read and understood the PDGA rulebook and Tour guidelines. I also acknowledge that by not following and enforcing the rules I am demeaning myself and the sport of disc golf and can be subject to suspension or probationary actions by the PDGA disciplinary committee.

Signed _____________________
Date _______________________
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