I was asked by Steve to review these flyer rules for last year's tournament. I felt they were Ok, I mean tournaments need power points, so the players know the basics and what is required of them. I mean the TD will always have their specific rules of their own.
I do like the intentional foul rule, the -1-scoring rule, and the -5 score is a loss. Not a fan of the break rule, and the no jump rule.
During this time last year we were still in the process of working on the official rules. I believe this tournament and DCC influenced Steve to adjust the break rule and his jump off the table rule. I was not in agreement with either adjustment.
The break that we have is now like Pat's, a ball scored on the break is a re-rack no matter what. Interestingly things have since changed for now DCC has switched up to having a ball made on the break accompanied with a scratch is BIH-BTL for the opponent.
The jump off the table, Steve and I were working on allowing a virtual jump on the game winning ball only, providing there is a clear path to the hung ball. I went further, as long as the cb has a clear path but is situated as such that it is deemed impossible to follow it in. Such as; the cb on the foot rail and the hung ball laying up against the jaw of the foot rail. You can see it but it is deemed that it cannot be followed in, therefore allowing a virtual jump.
****I do not like that a game can be won just by hanging the game winning ball. I believe the opponent should be able to get a virtual jump as in the above scenario, and make the opponent actually score the game winning ball.
I believe between Pat Fleming, Greg Sullivan, they wanted to keep it simple, so in our official rules the game winning ball virtual was dropped.
This is my speculation, but Steve told me he was dropping it because can you imagine explaining the virtual jump to players.
The -1 scoring system. I offered up a much simple read, but it did not make on to the International OP flyer.
**** If a player has a negative score and their opponent acquires a -1 negative score, then that cancels out a -1 negative score from each player.
I believe the International OP tournament is sponsored by WPA. Correct me if I am wrong. But I think we are seeing the hand writing on the wall with this sponsorship combined with DCC going WPA, that now in the near future WPA will be adopting OP and coming out with their own rules. Then expect those rules to continually change over a few years, as they have done with the other games they govern over. Adjustments will be made to fit their tournaments needs, which is more players playing in less available time.
Whitey