Chess Scotland Adult Selection Criteria

[andyburnett]

@Matt
There are a huge number of countries who use a set 'minimum game' criteria for selection, so this is not some random idea with no basis behind it. The selectors will still have a free hand to compare and discuss and decide from those players who have met the criteria - just as they do at the moment.

Andy, I have never said that having a minimum games criteria is a random idea.  I, and I think everyone else, supports what you are trying to achieve.  You've argued very persuasively why the numbers that you decided upon are correct.  If a situation arose where, for example, Keti had failed to play the requisite number of games then I would be perfectly OK with her not being selected.  So, we agree on everything - well not quite.  There is a selection committee and you as ID are effectively a first among equals.  Put in place your guidelines and selection criteria and put your case for who you think should be selected, by putting in place an absolute rule you are preventing alternative points of views.   I don't believe that is sensible, necessary or desirable.

Hi Matt, Sorry, I never meant to imply that you considered it a random idea - my bad! I guess I just used your post to counter the argument that concrete 'games played' criteria was somehow bizarre or outrageous, which I know wasn't your point of view - though perhaps others'.

To your second point, any set/strict criteria prevents 'alternate points of view' - this isn't the only one. This flexibility has caused some problems in the past and is seen by many as unnecessary and not producing the results which allow Scottish international chess to progress/grow. As ID, I have to implement what I feel are positive steps to redress this, and this one has a lot of support both publicly and in private. Some people don't like to post on the forum, but I hope to convince them that it is preferable to having their voice heard only by me, or by their friends.

I asked earlier for tweaks to the new criteria without changing the basic idea of 'set minimum number of games played', and have yet to hear anything much back from people, certainly nothing detailed. It's not 'all or nothing' from my point of view, but I'm becoming worried that it is from some others :/