Fleet Aces Player Evaluation Process (Proposed)

Why?

The aim of the Fleet Aces Ranking Sub-Committee is to place players in groups that best reflect their current ability, ensuring everyone enjoys competitive and rewarding games. Every player, regardless of group, wants to playwith others of a similar or slightly higher level – it’s how we all improve and stay motivated.

How?

Players are initially grouped according to current skill and ability and play in an environment where improvement is encouraged and supported.

The Rankings Sub-Committee oversees this process. Since its creation, it has evolved gradually – learning, adapting, and refining. It’s not a perfect science (and pleasing everyone all the time is impossible!), but we are committed to fairness, transparency, and continuous improvement.

We are finalising clear, measurable criteria for each skill level and group which will allow players to self- assess and to request assessment by others using consistent benchmarks. The criteria will be available inSpond and all are welcome to use it for self-evaluation or ask an assessor or coach to evaluate them purely to identifyareas for development, not for promotion.

What Makes a Good Player?

There is a common misconception that a “good player” is simply one who wins often. In reality ability is about far more than win/loss records.

A good player is one who shows skill, adaptability, consistency, good sportsmanship and anunderstanding of the game – not just a good win record.

Moving Up

If a player feels ready to move up to a higher group, they can:

• Complete a self-assessment using the published skill

• Request assessments from four independent assessors (from the official list).

When all five assessments (including self-assessment) are complete the Ranking Sub-Committee will reviewthem within 14 days ideally:

• As part of this process, players will receive feedback highlighting strengths and areas for
• If the player’s average score in each skill category – and overall – is 4 or higher out of 5, they can beconsidered for

This process is player-initiated, empowering individuals to take ownership of their progress.

Moving Down

Players rarely lose ability unless due to injury, time away, or the natural passing of time. More commonly, others simply improve faster or a group’s overall standard rises.

In such cases, the Rankings Sub-Committee may identify players who might benefit from reassessment. Four assessors will again complete evaluations (confidentially where appropriate). If the average score fallsbelow 4, the player will be notified respectfully of the outcome, provided constructive feedback, and moved to agroup that better matches their current level.

This process is usually initiated by the Rankings Sub-Committee, though player input is always welcomed ifthere are genuine concerns.

If, after the assessment, the Ranking Sub-Committee decide to move a player to a lower group, said player will be able to request movement back to the higher group once the identified areas for development have been addressed using the moving up process.

The Ranking Sub-Committee acknowledges and appreciates the sensitivities that player rankings can cause, however we aim to operate as fairly as we possibly can to ensure that FAPC continues to operate and thrive.