Submitted by Marilyn Holladay, USAPA Tournament Points System Chair

How can players win a Gold Medal in a tournament, but get Second Place USAPA Tournament Points?

This sounds like an error was made somewhere, but that is not the case. In some tournaments, players receive medals based on their age group (50-54, for example) even if that group is combined with another age group for play.  This is a decision made by the organizing group or Tournament Director.  For USAPA Tournament Points, however, awards are based on the results of the combined bracket.

For example, there might be two players in 50-54 and six in 55-59.  The Tournament Director might combine the eight players into one bracket for purposes of better competitive play in the tournament.  The Tournament Director might then look at the results to see which of the two 50-54 year old players did better and award Gold and Silver medals in that age group accordingly, then do likewise to award Gold, Silver and Bronze medals within the 55-59 group.  However, USAPA Tournament Points would be awarded to the first, second and third place winners only within the combined group, despite the mixed age categories.

The above means there were 2 Gold Medals, 2 Silver Medals, and 1 Bronze Medal awarded, but the total points awarded were one each of first, second and third places.  If you would like to see an example of this, go to the results of the July Michigan Senior Olympics.  Look at the MX 50-54, MX 50-54, 55-59, and MX 60-64.  In this table, "MSO" in front of a player/team name indicates that a medal was awarded, but Tournament Points were awarded differently. The MX 50-54, 55-59 line, which is the combined bracket, indicates who received first, second and third place points in the USAPA system.

One last item relative to points awarded:  by USAPA Tournament Point rules, there must be at least one more competitor than the number of places awarded.  Hence, if there are 3 players in a bracket, only the first and second will get Tournament Points. The Tournament Director may still award medals to all three competitors.

Further questions?   Email mhollada@gmail.com

___________________________________________________________________________________________