PROPOSED “POWER RATING” RANKINGS METHOD

With the advent of the “power rating” rankings list in the 2003 “Artistic Pool” Program, several players have expressed some “dismay” with the criteria used and fairness of position established in relation with other players on the list. In addition, the posting of a “very low” rating due to participation in only one event has created substantial objection. Therefore, in an effort to rectify this “uneasy” situation, a 6-month fact finding mission was untaken to find out the best options for “ratings” of our “artistic pool” players.

Analysis was done of other sports, including tennis, chess, bowling, auto racing, and golf, plus several billiard industry established systems. Michael Shamos, a veteran of mathematical and statistical genius, plus the APA (American Poolplayers Association), an established amateur league organization with over 200,000 players, offered the best input. The general trend was one of only posting players to a “ranking” list, if they had participated in a “minimum” number of events, games, and/or matches. The overall consensus on this was that a player had to have at least “2” event participations completed before they would be posted to a “ranking” list. This would eliminate a solo or a rogue “low” score, affecting a “power rating” posting, that might make a player look unskillful, and/or embarrass someone in an international presentation. If a person had 2 “not so good” scores, then it was felt that the player’s abilities probably justified the “power rating” attained. In other words, anyone could have a “bad” day on the table, but probably not 2 of them in back to back events.

The second point of consideration was in a “floating average” of sorts, in which a “lower” score would be deleted from the “power rating” average, as the minimum of “2” scores was completed, or more than “2”, as the player participated in more events. The APA system seemed to offer the optimum system of fairness, which keeps the “best” of so many scores until a total number of 20 scores is reached. Then the oldest score is deleted as a new one is posted…with the average calculated accordingly. This has proven quite reliable for thousands of scores over a multi-year track record.

Therefore, a proposal is hereby being made for the “power rating” rankings method of “artistic pool” as follows:

1) Players will be posted on the rankings list only after “2 or more” scores have been completed from the continental or world program events, which are available in a designated “artistic pool” tour schedule. (Per #2 below)

NOTE: Players with only “1” event score completed will be placed on an
alternate list…for “presentation” purposes only, thereby recognizing
them for their participation in “artistic pool” events. No “power
rating” will be posted for these players, with note being given to the
minimum number of events not completed yet.

2) The resultant ranking list will also consider the following “best of so many
scores” completed for the subsequent calculation of the “power rating”:

a) “Best” 1 of 2 scores
b) “Best” 2 of 3 scores
c) “Best” 3 of 4 scores
d) “Best” 3 of 5 scores
e) “Best” 4 of 6 scores
f) “Best” 5 of 7 scores

NOTE: This will cover a minimum of 7 events. Once a player has
completed 8 or more events in a designated “artistic pool” tour
schedule, the lowest 3 scores will be deleted, and the remaining
scores will be used for calculation of the “power rating”.

3) The “power ratings” calculation for the “best” scores above will be based on
the current method of: “total of all points scored” divided by the “total of all
points possible”, which will maintain the “power rating” formula.

Please consider the above proposal for the new “power rating” rankings, effective October 1, 2002. Note your vote for it below:

Accept: Yes ____ No ____(Check one)
Board Member (Typed Name) for vote above: ______________________

NOTE: (4 out of 7 voting YES will approve this item) If you do not accept this proposal, please suggest an alternate method…with reference to success cases…that might be using it in part or in its entirety.

11/ 01/ 02 Respectfully submitted, Tom Rossman, President
WPA Artistic Pool Division