UPDATE: Potential new USAPA ratings system
Subcommittee established to examine potential ratings system for USAPA
Author: Chris Thomas, USAPA Ratings Chair
In the inaugural edition of the Pickleball Magazine in January, 2016, there were two brief articles on the subject of a new rating system. My purpose here is to bring the USAPA members up to date on recent progress and next steps.
The New System Ratings Subcommittee is composed of: Chris Thomas, Mike Stahl, Steve Paranto, Paul Porch, Linda Einsiedler, Ford Roberson, David Zapatka and Mark Friedenberg. This subcommittee is charged with developing the initial system requirements for an automated, computer-based system. The system would objectively rate sanctioned tournament players on the basis of their actual match scores against similar rated players.
The subcommittee’s other key tasks are to develop an FAQ that would explain the purposes and operation of a new system, and to identify several potential soft-ware vendors. I am happy to report that all of these goals and tasks have been completed.
The next step is to forward the new system proposal to the Ratings Steering Committee composed of: Chris Thomas, Jeff Shank, Brian Staub, Jim Hackenberg, Linda Einsiedler, Mark Friedenberg, Pat Carroll, Priscilla Scott, Rocky Clark, Roger Workman and Tom Burkhart. Once this Committee has completed their work and approved the proposal, then the proposal will be presented to the USAPA Board.
While no ratings system is perfect, a computer-based system will have multiple advantages over the current USAPA systems. These advantages include: transparency, objectivity, responsiveness, self-correcting process and precision. Tournament players will have three separate ratings: Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles.
On system cut-over, the new system will utilize sanctioned tournament match results (target is 12 months) to determine the player’s rating. In just 26 of the sanctioned tournaments in 2015, there were an estimated 14,000 matches. Thus, the new system will have substantial data to determine a player’s rating.
There is still much work to be done. Although a vendor may have some data on their web site now, the decision to select a potential vendor is down the road. The subcommittee has made no recommendation of a specific vendor.
I will keep members and players advised via both Pickleball Magazine and the USAPA Newsletter of any significant developments regarding this critical project. Please send any questions or comments to me at: ratingschair@usapickleball.org.
