No team events at PCCs this year???

[Piranha]

Say it ain't so!?! Can anyone confirm or deny this? If it's true I am going to be severely bummed, as that is one of the hight points of each year in my book;-).

[notalent]

Say it ain't so!?! Can anyone confirm or deny this? If it's true I am going to be severely bummed, as that is one of the hight points of each year in my book;-).

The plan is to hold SR and JR PCC at CSULB, team will not be held unless we can come up with a venue to hold Jrs on a different weekend.
I am currently trying to find a venue either in Los Angeles or Vegas. CadetVet will be listing the finalized listing of events sometime this week.

[TrojanMD]

The plan is to hold SR and JR PCC at CSULB, team will not be held unless we can come up with a venue to hold Jrs on a different weekend.

So, what is PCCs as an event if the team competition is removed - just another qualifier?

[RITFencing]

So, what is PCCs as an event if the team competition is removed - just another qualifier?

Yes, it is a qualifier and also the sectional championship.

[notalent]

Yes, it is a qualifier and also the sectional championship.

I think that TMD was implying that PCCs without teams is a run of the mill sectionals. Oiuyt remarked on the strength and intesity of the event when he was here last season. That was a combined event which certainly drained the strength of the team events.

[Dev]

I think that was partly because Summer Nationals were in San Jose that year, and everyone and their dog were out to qualify for D1A or Junior. That probably only inflated the middle-to-lower third of the draw, though.

[Mr.MightyMouse]

have not PCC team events been held since 20's, and names like Faulkner, Nadi, DeJong and Okawa are on some of the trophies?

[notalent]

have not PCC team events been held since 20's, and names like Faulkner, Nadi, DeJong and Okawa are on some of the trophies?

Yes , which is part of why I am trying my best to make them happen this season.

[CadetVet]

Folks:

As you might guess, there are a number of competing points of view with regard to the team event (or lack thereof) this year. Let me offer the explanation as to why it is this way (and, I am working with NoTalent to address the issue).

1) Venue issues. I am a firm believer that fencing should be on a wood floor or raised strips. The PCC's in Pasadena (concrete covered by carpet) took out three fencers - two that I personally know. One was out for about 4 months, the other for nearly 8. The section does not have (nor does it have access to - I tried to rent them from the USFA) raised strips. Thus, the standard convention center-style facilities were generally unacceptable.

I know that many disagree with this as a priority, but to me this was the #1 priority. The safety and long-term health of our fencers - particularly the junior fencers - is critical (before you suggest that I'm doing this for my kid, note that she won't fence the Junior qualifier - she's auto-qualed).

2) Cost. Venue costs are rising quickly (or at least, they were pre-crash when we developed this plan and made the venue commitments). To run an event that is financially successful (which to me means a modest "profit" for use by the section next year), costs have to be controlled. The venue (which is a little smaller) at CSULB is 1/2 the cost of the Pasadena venue. Some of this money will get plowed back into operations (bout committee/armorers/referees). But estimating the event size - particularly with the market crash and nationals in Dallas - is a bit of a dark art. We simply are not in a position to deficit spend (we have no excess money).

3) Inability to merge the Junior and San Jose SYC events. Without getting into detail, we tried to run the junior events with the San Jose SYC event. That didn't work out. We have to run a Junior qualifier, we can't afford to bring refs/bout cte/armorers in twice, and therefore, we couldn't really create a wholly separate event.

4) Obligations versus options. Running the Div 1A and Junior qualifiers are obligations. They have to be done first, and done right. Anything else that tags along with the event is optional.

5) Low Participation. Participation in the team event is very uneven. Some weapons attend well, others poorly. In essence, this event has served only a portion (a vocal one at that) of the fencing community in the years that I've been in the section.

While I know that many disagree with my perspective on this, I hope that providing an explanation as to the underlying reasons will at least provide some comfort that the decision was not capricious.

Best,

Gary.

[notalent]

Currently we can get a venue at Monre High in LA on mothers on mothers day weekend. Now it is a matter of making the economics work.

[Mr.MightyMouse]

IMHO the following thread mentioned 3 options :

Pacific Coast Discussion Forum

"...Second, we are considering several possible tournament formats for the PCC's next year. They are as follows, and I'd appreciate honest, constructive input.

1. Youth/Cadet/Junior PCCs on one weekend; Senior/Team/Div II PCCs on another weekend
2. Junior/Senior/Team one weekend; Youth another weekend
3. Junior combined with the March SYC; Senior/Team/Div II/Vet on another weekend; Youth/Cadet separately


Of course, there are other options - feel free to make suggestions!

Third, I will be putting together a structure for the "designated divisional" tournaments. Under this plan, each division will be asked to select one of their normal events to be a designated event. Section fencers can earn points in such an event (probably 250 or so) and can count up to three or four of them for their sectional point total. The underlying goal is to bolster a divisional tournament and get folks to travel a little within the section. Expect more on that in the near future..."


So which # option is being discussed so far 1,2, or 3?
Should all of events be penciled in?

[notalent]

IMHO the following thread mentioned 3 options :

Pacific Coast Discussion Forum

"...Second, we are considering several possible tournament formats for the PCC's next year. They are as follows, and I'd appreciate honest, constructive input.

1. Youth/Cadet/Junior PCCs on one weekend; Senior/Team/Div II PCCs on another weekend
2. Junior/Senior/Team one weekend; Youth another weekend
3. Junior combined with the March SYC; Senior/Team/Div II/Vet on another weekend; Youth/Cadet separately


Of course, there are other options - feel free to make suggestions!

Third, I will be putting together a structure for the "designated divisional" tournaments. Under this plan, each division will be asked to select one of their normal events to be a designated event. Section fencers can earn points in such an event (probably 250 or so) and can count up to three or four of them for their sectional point total. The underlying goal is to bolster a divisional tournament and get folks to travel a little within the section. Expect more on that in the near future..."


So which # option is being discussed so far 1,2, or 3?
Should all of events be penciled in?

As it stands, !r/SR PCC will be held at CSULB the first weekend of April. No team events at all. no cadet no youth. If we go to a split event we can hold either Jr. Jr team on the second weekend or Jr and Cadet. I can get 18 strips at Monroe in 2 rooms about 100 yards apart, not Ideal but doable. CV feels that we would Loose money this way. I think we can make quite a bit of money when you factor in the revenue from both events. Numbers will be crunched this weekend. we do need to get this decided by the end of the month.

[teacup]

As it stands, !r/SR PCC will be held at CSULB the first weekend of April. No team events at all. no cadet no youth. If we go to a split event we can hold either Jr. Jr team on the second weekend or Jr and Cadet. I can get 18 strips at Monroe in 2 rooms about 100 yards apart, not Ideal but doable. CV feels that we would Loose money this way. I think we can make quite a bit of money when you factor in the revenue from both events. Numbers will be crunched this weekend. we do need to get this decided by the end of the month.

Scheduling the U19 qualifier and a U19 team event may be problematic for a strong turnout on Mother's Day weekend due to the fact it is in the middle of AP exams.

[Mr.MightyMouse]

As it stands, !r/SR PCC will be held at CSULB the first weekend of April. No team events at all. no cadet no youth. If we go to a split event we can hold either Jr. Jr team on the second weekend or Jr and Cadet. I can get 18 strips at Monroe in 2 rooms about 100 yards apart, not Ideal but doable. CV feels that we would Loose money this way. I think we can make quite a bit of money when you factor in the revenue from both events. Numbers will be crunched this weekend. we do need to get this decided by the end of the month.

can lb time be extended.

[notalent]

can lb time be extended.

We have to be out by 11pm, The primary issue will be the number of strips. If we could get 20 strips we could do Jr Sr and team if we have the expected drop off due to economy and distance of SN.

I understand that AP exam would have an impact on attendence over MD weekend. Frankly I would prefer not to host a sepeate event at this late date. The only other alternitive would be to hold a team tournament at some date TBD afterwords. I can see away to make profitable if it were held at a cheap venue perhaps with a local open somewhere close to SN as a warmup for SN.

[misha]

Have you looked at the venue where Long Beach Invitational had been held?


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[Purple Fencer]

Have you looked at the venue where Long Beach Invitational had been held?


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It's the same place....so...yes, they have.

[notalent]

Have you looked at the venue where Long Beach Invitational had been held?


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That is where it is being held. I am going to swing by there this weekend and look at the gym space again. The east gym has strips painted on the floor so that room is set. the west gym could possibly be laid out with 12 strips , but that will leave little room to manuver

[Mr.MightyMouse]

I thought CadetVet wanted to add Cadets to PCC's; isn't it 1 of the ways to qualify for Nats as well?

[Mr.MightyMouse]

We have to be out by 11pm

I meant an extra day, sorry.