State Trials: 2010 Open Doubles Round One Groups

…and a few guidelines:

While there are no timekeepers, the shot limit of 60 seconds still applies. Please be wary of this and if your opponents tend to exceed this, ask your adjudicator to time the frame.

Please be ready for your frames. If you need five minutes because you’ve been at the table for an hour straight, or if you need a smoke, ask your adjudicator for a break. (They are generally nice people, honest!) Don’t just disappear without notice.

In regards to lunch, please respect the venue you are playing in by not bringing in outside food. Of course this doesn’t include a sandwich or snack you brought from home, but again check with the adjudicator for an appropriate time to have a feed. (For the record, the bistros at Labor Club and The Maram are open between 12 and 2 and do an excellent feed, not sure about opening times for Kaleen but reports are the food is awesome there as well). With this in mind, buying your lunch from the venue is a great way to thank them for donating their venue for you to play in.

One final point before you click on the attachments (for those who actually didn’t already), let’s be honest for a second about the way doubles is played. Common practice is to confer about most shots to establish the best option for your team in the frame in question. There is nothing wrong with this as Doubles is a team game but please be sensible and trust your partner on occasion. At the same time, when you are at the table trust your own instincts rather than second guess yourself by asking your partner. Not that I’m the greatest doubles player in the world, but my theory is:

When you are at the table play the game you have decided as a pair and only ask your partner if you are really unsure. Be confident in your own option as you would have played that shot 9 times out of 10 in singles.

As the non player, only intervene when you see your partner either making a grave mistake or missing an obvious advantage shot. Don’t feel you have to give advice every shot – you chose your partner because you believe in their game as much as your own.

If you are in a tight spot that does require discussion, be realistic. There are only so many options and you have a monstrous 60 seconds to choose one of them.

I guess I am saying “don’t be the annoyingly slow pair…”. But then again, do what works for you.

Please find attached the groups and venues for round of the Open Doubles, and good luck to all players this weekend.

http://www.acteba.com.au/downloads/2010_Open_Doubles_Round1_Groups.xls

Regards

Chris Jones

ACTEBA Tournament Director