Rankings
Racquetball Canada has changed its ranking system from a "points" based system to a "skill" based system.
Here's how it works :
A player enters the system the first time the player plays a registered match.
If the player wins, the win will be recorded as the best win to date. The program also registers the match date. The next time this player wins (in the next tournament or later in the same tournament) the program checks to see if the victory was against a higher ranked player. Based on the player's current ranking, the opponent's current ranking, the player's last posted best win, and the time since that last win, the player will move up the ranking list. Note: if the player wins within the specified period, they may move 1, 15, 115 or more places up the rankings. This movement will result from their present ranking and the player rankings of their previous recorded wins.
The maximum amount of ranking positions the losing player can fall will be one (1) rank, which occurs when the winning player moves ahead of the losing player, and sometimes the losing player will not move at all. Players will very quickly rise to the appropriate place in the rankings based on their current skill level. Players who play in tournaments outside of their province and win can move up the national rankings faster than under the old system. In turn, the player's ability to win outside their province will benefit their provincial opponents when they return home. If the provincial opponents beat the player who traveled, they can move above the traveling player. To help you understand the new ranking system, the following is series of questions and answers that you might have about it.
1. What about forfeits? Forfeits count as wins or losses once the game has begun.
2. Do game scores matter? No; the ranking is compiled simply on wins and losses.
3. If I play in an age division, how will my results be entered? It makes no difference what division you play in, but simply the skill of your opponent. Everyone will have a rank from the #1 to the #10,000 player. This list can sorted to obtain a report of all players by age category, using their birthdate, from the main ranking list to compare players within an age group.
4. Will I be able to see how I rank against only players in my province? Yes, as with the age divisions, ranking reports can be generated by province. Provincial reports will be by men and women players separately, as before.
5. How were the initial rankings formulated? The rankings from the old system were used, but the new system has been applied to results of tournaments submitted for ranking since mid-February.
6. What happens if I play in both junior and adult divisions? Juniors are ranked in both junior only rankings and the overall rankings, so you'll know where you stand in both groups. This will help the tournament directors in properly seeding juniors in non-junior events. When a junior plays another junior in an non-junior event the match result is applied to both the main and junior lists.
7. Are there separate rankings for both men and women? Yes; all matches are ranked in the appropriate gender-based lists. Mixed gender matches are not ranked.
8. How will we be able to see our rankings? The new rankings will be distributed as before : on the Racquetball Canada website and to all of the provincial organizations.