I’ve got a few issues and suggestions with the Max Matchplay format.
I’ve got a few trusted friends to help with scorekeeping and to keep the format flowing. When I briefed them I’m sure they were able to create matches on their phones. Now the button has gone.
This was really useful as our TD often plays and with this format moving so fast it’s likely for the waiting room to fill until the TD is back to hit “Create games”. So I liked having a few Scorekeepers who would regularly check the page on their phones and hit “‘Create games’” if active games drops below an advised amount.
Did I imagine the scorekeepers being able to create games? If so it would be a really useful addition.
The other solution is advising them to do it via the computer, but I worry that other players would see this (often players submit their results via the pc) and end up taking it upon themselves to click “Create games”, then you have the potential of someone ticking the safety release valve and screwing up the round robin. I know it’s unlikely but it only takes one impatient player who doesn’t understand.
Could it be possible to add the option to disable or enable the safety valve, like how you can change number of games and how tiebreaking works. It would be good to have it removed as an option when you create games as it’s not needed if doing a round robin and can eliminate the chances of someone clicking it if you’re allowing others to create new games.
A feature suggestion I think would be useful is a “pause player” button. Usually in a FF I’d use deactivate player but that won’t work in Max Matchplay.
As the format is so fast paced it would be good if a player or TD could be marked as away/paused if they need a toilet break, getting a drink or the TD who’s playing has to go deal a ruling.
It would solve the issue of a player waiting for their opponent when really they could (if available) play someone else.
The Max Matchplay format relies on players constantly refreshing, or waiting for the big screen to refresh then looking for their name. If it could announce, or jump to the newest matches once a player submits a score it would be useful.
Likewise on big screen, if the new matches could be on a top row with a header so people are drawn to them it might also help?
I also agree on the request for “recent results” in big screen.