Questions you may have regarding the new ranking system and the events offered by the club:

1. Why do we need a new system? – As the club has grown, the spread of abilities has got much wider – from new members and beginners, right up to people who have been playing for 6 years ( and who play 4 times a week, take every opportunity for drills and coaching, and who compete at high levels externally). 

From the survey of members in April 2024, there was a clear request for more seeded play as members enjoy games with players of a similar level, and improve their game when they play with more advanced players.

The previous system of seeded playlists has been down to the individual opinion of hosts, and the Advanced invite list has not had a clear definition. The club therefore needs a transparent ranking system.

2. How has my initial ranking score been determined? – In order to determine an initial ranking score the Committee has taken into account the following criteria:
   1. Your existing DUPR score, if you have one;
   2. How your DUPR score was achieved – If your score is based mostly on internal play, it is likely to be slightly inflated. The more external events you have participated in, the more accurate your DUPR is likely to be;

• Committee / Coaches assessment of your ability;

1. Recent improvement – Your progress over the past few months; and
2. Attendance at club events – Consistent participation at club events, which helps to assess you over a number of events.

The committee has considered very carefully how to do this, and like all clubs, we have found it the most difficult of issues. It has almost proved too difficult to resolve,  but we believe we must press forward, knowing that no system is perfect, but that we will review and adjust as best we can. 

3. What if I don’t agree with my ranking? – Please send an email to  fleetaces@gmail.comand a committee member will be in touch to discuss how the decision was made, and how to improve if appropriate/wished.

4. What events will the club run that will give me the opportunity to change my ranking score ? – From September 2024 the club with run two events a month (Ladders and Crazy 8s); the results from the games you play will be recorded and the scores used to calculate any change in your ranking score. The number and format of events run that impact your ranking score will be regularly reviewed.

5. What is the method being used to calculate a change to my ranking score? – Please refer to the appendix in this document. This contains the methodology the club will be using to take the results from the Ladders / Crazy 8s and how your ranking score will change.

6. Why should the Advanced players get their own sessions when they get lots of chances to play at other clubs and tournaments? – Providing opportunities for our advanced players to play strong games keeps them engaged with Fleet Aces – without this, we risk losing them to other clubs.  Many of this group contribute to the club as coaches and also attend mixed ability sessions, to the benefit of the club as a whole.

We realise that it was unfair when it was only the advanced players who had a session on Wednesdays, which is why we now run two sessions on the same evening ( ie one at Yately school and one at Frogmore). 

7. Why don’t you just put everyone into 3 fixed groups – Advanced, Intermediate, Improver – and give them individual sessions so they all have a fixed day? – From the survey, members like the mix of sessions we have, and that we are always trying out new formats.

We also think it is important to recognise that members improve, and also sometimes become weaker, eg when returning from injury, or not playing so frequently, or not keeping up with the overall improvement in a group, so the list needs to be reviewed each month.

8. Would it be better if we stopped being all inclusive? – We have never had any minimum requirement for skill level or ratings  – we are aware that some other clubs require basic levels of hand/eye coordination before being allowed to join, or insist on reaching 3.0 before being offered full membership.

Fleet Aces is committed to being all inclusive, and this has been discussed and agreed at the AGM every year.

9. Will guests continue to be invited? – Yes, as at present, members will be invited to sessions 2 weeks in advance, and appropriate guests will be invited 1 week in advance if there is space available.

10. Why do guests get invited to the advanced session, instead of other members being allowed to fill the spaces? – The purpose of the advanced session is to allow our strongest players to play high level games within our club set up.  If lower level players attend, this changes the session into a mixed ability session.

Also, our very top members never get the chance to play with someone better than them within a club session, unless we invite external players. 

11. What will happen if this new system upsets lots of members? – We are trying very hard not to upset anyone,  but we realise that we have to take that risk otherwise we will never manage to move forward as a club.  We do need members to give us feedback directly, so please do be open with us and we will deal with it as best we can. 

12. How will the new system be reviewed? – Your committee meets every month – usually for 2-3 hours and we discuss all aspects of the club. Ratings/ rankings  have always been the most hotly debated issues, and we are in no doubt that they will continue to be so.  We plan session formats a month at a time, so they will quickly be changed if they don’t seem to be working. 

Appendix – Scoring Methodology