Michigan Cooperative Point Series - Summer

Foz Miller    August 24, 2010 at 11:25pm

FYI - The talk section of the MiCPS is open once again. With the summer session winding down and preparations for the Final event in full swing we wanted to make sure this forum for views and ideas was active once again for the Cooperative exchange of ideas and views while respecting those of other players. The key is cooperative communication - together we can achieve greater things.

Oh a Final Event info update will follow shortly and pre-reg will begin soon so we can determine how many players will be in attendance at what could be the largest Disc Golf Event in Michigan this year.

Foz Miller    June 14, 2010 at 10:40pm

All

First - sorry I have not been very active in participating in this area (the MiCPS talk section) as I like to let this forum be non-moderated and see where the players take it. There are just a few of use who have dedicated much of our very limited personal time to making this point series a reality to help grow and improve what it brings to our disc golf community. But several have brought recent events to my attention and I am compelled to post – sorry, but post fro ... more

All

First - sorry I have not been very active in participating in this area (the MiCPS talk section) as I like to let this forum be non-moderated and see where the players take it. There are just a few of use who have dedicated much of our very limited personal time to making this point series a reality to help grow and improve what it brings to our disc golf community. But several have brought recent events to my attention and I am compelled to post – sorry, but post from me tend to be a bit long – but it’s important so bare with me.

First I want to ensure everyone has some basic facts straight about points and then a bit on the motivation and purpose of the Point Series and the environment that we are luck to have to make this a reality.

Points: Singles or doubles - points are calculated based on the number of players you beat - Doubles just means 2 per team versus 1 for each singles player you beat. If you play well and beat 20 players whether doubles or singles you get the same number of points.

The situation at Whitehall is not that they are doing anything that is wrong or subverting the rules or process. It’s great that a few players consistently win over a large group of players. Congratulation to those players and this means there is plenty of motivation for the rest to continue to improve and win some points away from those players. I’m sure those players are also the ones who are playing more than others, teaching and mentoring and talking up the sport.

There are other opportunities to play this same format in other areas. Kensington & Hudson mills have the same format and large turnouts so lots of points up for grabs.

The visibility and exchange of ideas that the Point Series brings may encourage a few double leagues to start in their area and more single leagues to start in others.

One of the key goals for this first statewide point series is to bring the players and league admin together, exchange ideas to improve the disc golf community. That has been happening and I applaud all those who have provided ideas and constructive feedback. Most of us realize that these less formal methods of communication add a new dynamic to how we communicate and interact. Thanks to Pete and Disc Golf Scene that we have this place and these wonderful tools that we can use at no cost. I learned very early on with Leagues that you will never satisfy everyone and there are always some who will throw out comments just to get a rise and others who just respond quickly and not always realizing how their comments may be perceived by others. And of course there is always some how are just “negative” and I‘ll leave it at that. In an environment like this you never know who will see your posts, many who have no other insight to the background or the personalities behind the posts.

The MiCPS is free, is meant to bring players together for a COOPERATIVE effort to make playing disc golf better through visibility of what others are doing and encourage players to play different leagues at different course to see first hand all the wonderful leagues and courses Mi players have access to throughout the state.

So far all the feedback I have received has been positive; the future looks bright for bigger and better things. Those improvements will come from constructive, cooperative, interchange between all of us. Any non-constructive, negative comments, poor humor and personal attacks only jeopardize what has been achieved so far and the potential of what we all can do together.

Again I applaud the payers at Whitehall and the League admin for their achievements and I personally apologize for letting this matter build to a point that people take it beyond the course and make it a personal topic of contention.

I would view it as a significant loss and blow to the cause to see any league or player feel that they would need to no longer be associated with the point series because of misguided comments of a few.

I’d also hate to see the Talk section removed from the Point Series as it poses an amazing opportunity to bring the voices of the players to the Point Series community but if it continues to be miss used and a detriment to the mission of the Point Series then either the individuals or the mechanism will have to be removed. Every player and view should be respected and not have to fear that their involvement will have a negative consequences.

We are empowered with more methods to communicate and connect with others with a common interest, than ever before. The Point Series is a great example, it would not have been possible for a few people to, in their spare time and for no money at all, connect so many leagues, collects stats and share the results of what is going on throughout the whole state, and plan a final event/party for those who have participated, had it not been for this wonderful environment and tools (Disc Golf Scene). We are still discovering how best to utilize it and understand how we interact with close friends, versus public forums and what impact these interactions or posts have on others.

If anyone feels so strongly about a topic, that they can not post in a constructive manner then send me a private message. Your input and concerns are important. For the sake of the community and the better meant of our sport please focus on strengthening the player community and the growth and improvement of disc golf leagues in our public forum.

The potential is huge if we work and play together. There will be some issues, special situations and areas for improvements. Are we the ones who failed at this attempt to bring the players together, to improve the way Leagues are done and grow the sport or are the Michigan Disc Golf players the ones who came together, exchanged ideas, worked through the growing pains, promoted and grew their sport and demonstrated that they can be a cooperative force that can make positive improvements for our sport.

Peace - Foz