Online registrations

[Scott]

Originally Posted by Sausage Fingers

Wow.

But it does make me want to take on the registration duty for RCO and make it online sign up ONLY.

I stole this quote from another thread. Instead of risking more thread drift I decided to start a new one here.

So, what about the possibility to online-only registrations? Is it inevitable? Would it be a good thing or a bad thing?

Discuss

["Over the Hill" Bob]

Originally Posted by Scott

I stole this quote from another thread. Instead of risking more thread drift I decided to start a new one here.

So, what about the possibility to online-only registrations? Is it inevitable? Would it be a good thing or a bad thing?

Discuss

It's the easiest and fastest way to register besides making it easier on a TD. IMO

Bob

[Tim]

Yeah, I'm a big fan of online registrations from both the player and TD perspective. It's quick, easy, and efficient.

The only thing is, there is a significant number of technophobic golfers out there (maybe they had a bad trip while watching "2001" back in the 70's?), and I don't think its fair to shut them out. Though if the trend leads to tournaments filling up in a matter of hours b/c of online signups, I can only be so sympathetic to those who refuse to "get with the program". Concerts sell out that way these days on a regular basis...maybe one day we'll have to deal with scalpers at tourneys?

[Jet]

I'd rather mail my entry in. I'm not a Luddite. I don't like to pay any extra online registration fees.

[smobro]

Originally Posted by "Over the Hill" Bob

It's the easiest and fastest way to register besides making it easier on a TD. IMO

Bob

It makes sense that online sign up should be the only way to register, but a couple of things should be in place first:

1) When the tournament date is established, there should be a time and date listed that Registration will start on. FI- GNO registration starts on March 1 at 12pm or somtehing like that. If events are going to sell out in a couple of days, we need to be aware of when the clock starts ticking

2) One registration site vendor. There are too many cooks in the kitchen and half the time the vendors used don't seem to work very well for some folks. Although I have only had a difficulty with one vendor one time and it was quickly resolved.

3) If it is a PDGA event, then the registration list really should be made available in as close to real time as possible.

4) Standardization of Division entry fees. Right now there are so many different fees that I never know what each event will cost until the registration info is posted.

5) There should be club and PDGA discounts for tourney registration fees so non-members have an incentive to join a local club and/or the PDGA

6) Local event TD's should have a mentor they can go to who can show them how to post scores following the event.

just a few suggestions.

[Ol' Bob]

It could wind up with cable and DSL users beating the satellite delays and dialeruppers to the cheese.

It could easily be settled with bribery.

[snap7times]

Originally Posted by smobro

It makes sense that online sign up should be the only way to register, but a couple of things should be in place first:

1) When the tournament date is established, there should be a time and date listed that Registration will start on. FI- GNO registration starts on March 1 at 12pm or somtehing like that. If events are going to sell out in a couple of days, we need to be aware of when the clock starts ticking

5) There should be club and PDGA discounts for tourney registration fees so non-members have an incentive to join a local club and/or the PDGA

.

Agreed there should be a timeline for when registration begins.
There is $10 non member fee to every pdga tournament, that is a huge incentive to join PDGA, as well as getting ratings, points, package etc.. Is that not enough?

["Over the Hill" Bob]

Originally Posted by smobro

1) When the tournament date is established, there should be a time and date listed that Registration will start on. FI- GNO registration starts on March 1 at 12pm or somtehing like that. If events are going to sell out in a couple of days, we need to be aware of when the clock starts ticking

This is what is happening for the BSF. It will be announced ahead of time WHEN registration is going to open. I can assume that the RCO will be the same since I will have my fingers in the pot so to speak.

Bob

[Sean Phillips]

If a tournament requires preregistration but doesn't have an online registration method, I'm not sure if I'd go.

CSI doesn't have online registration, but the TD can always use paypal, which Jub Jub did, so I'm going.

I haven't mail anything since I was in bootcamp.

[Sausage Fingers]

Originally Posted by smobro

1) When the tournament date is established, there should be a time and date listed that Registration will start on. FI- GNO registration starts on March 1 at 12pm or somtehing like that. If events are going to sell out in a couple of days, we need to be aware of when the clock starts ticking

No, I'd prefer a stealth posting around 3 am when people least expect it.

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!

[AchimbaProphet]

How should the following hypothetical scenario be resolved?

All of the remaining available spots for a tournament are filled by players who registered on the web. The tournament is now filled to capacity. Some registrations are received in the mail after the available slots have been taken, but which were mailed days before when there were still spots available. The money for those who have registered on the web have already paid. Those who mailed their registrations consider themselves to have paid.

Do you make space for the postal mail registrations?
Do you return the postal mail payments and indicate that the tournament filled before their registration was received and that they did not get in (because they used the postal service instead of the internet)?
Do you offer to waitlist them with the understanding that it is likely that they will not get in?
Based upon postmark dates and online transaction timestamps do you determine who registered 'first' and then tell the remainder, of which may be people from either or both postal mail or online, that they did not make the registration (even though they have paid their registration)?

I am certain such a situation will eventually be seen, or seen more and more frequently over time.

What is fair? What is right? What would Jeebus do?

[AchimbaProphet]

Originally Posted by smobro

It makes sense that online sign up should be the only way to register, but a couple of things should be in place first:

1) When the tournament date is established, there should be a time and date listed that Registration will start on. FI- GNO registration starts on March 1 at 12pm or somtehing like that. If events are going to sell out in a couple of days, we need to be aware of when the clock starts ticking

I totally agree. It would be best if the registration materials are available in advance of the begin date too.

Originally Posted by smobro

2) One registration site vendor. There are too many cooks in the kitchen and half the time the vendors used don't seem to work very well for some folks. Although I have only had a difficulty with one vendor one time and it was quickly resolved.

I disagree with this. It should always be at the discretion of a tournament director as to which online vender they wish to manage the online registrations. It is an implicit necessity that any venders used be reliable and have mechanisms in place for handling customer support situations. Do not kill teh capitalism! Let the free market determine which venders are golden.

Originally Posted by smobro

3) If it is a PDGA event, then the registration list really should be made available in as close to real time as possible.

Timeliness would be nice but this might not be possible to do in near real time yet. I believe that there are two factors which affect the currentness of the registration list for PDGA tournaments. 1) The length of time it takes for the tournament director to communicate the registrations to the PDGA. 2) The amount of time it takes for the PDGA to update the registration lists. I do not think that there is a good mechanism in place to ensure that either or both of these are done with any guaranteed efficiency so as to obtain near real time registration lists.

Originally Posted by smobro

6) Local event TD's should have a mentor they can go to who can show them how to post scores following the event.

Eric Edgerton has done an extraordinary job of doing this for Washington state events. It would be great if there are many others who also know how to do this both accurately and quickly. I would go so far as to say that this should be a topic of information required for PDGA tournament officials and that it should also be standard practice for competitive professional disc golfers to know how to do this and to be able to assist as needed as a matter of professional courtesy.

just a few responses to just a few suggestions

[Chuck Kennedy]

TDs upload registrations for PDGA events, not the PDGA (except Worlds). So the TDs have the power to keep the online reg display as "real time" as they wish.

[AchimbaProphet]

Originally Posted by Chuck Kennedy

TDs upload registrations for PDGA events, not the PDGA (except Worlds). So the TDs have the power to keep the online reg display as "real time" as they wish.

Thank you for the clarification on this. Can the process be automated in such a way so that as a person is registered that they are also uploaded to the PDGA?

[Chuck Kennedy]

The uploading process is manual because TDs can get registrations from a variety of sources such as online signup services, mail or in person. They need to enter the names onto the PDGA TD report anyway. So by entering each name just once on the report, it allows the TD to upload registrations before the event and later upload scores during or after the event using the same procedures. Then the names are already there for submitting the report to the PDGA.

I don't see any benefit to a direct electronic pipe from a reg service into the online display since that would mean a process to download names to the TD report would also need to be developed to keep the Excel TD report updated. And that process would have to not overwrite entries the TD had received directly by mail or in person.

[LJ Jubner]

Your question is exactly why I have a snail mail deadline and an online deadline. With the snail I always make it three or four days ahead of the event. The other need is for confirmation. I don't assume I am in till I see my name or hear from the TD no matter how I made payment.

If the event is full normally I will call the late's and ask what they want to do. Wait list, Refund/return entry(uncashed).

Personally I don't think that instant "online results" are that important to the non attendees. You just have to have some patience. Clearly by the end of the weekend the crew has had enough from the attender's about all kinds of stuff and surly don't need or care about the ones who did not attend.(at that time)

[Bullseye]

Originally Posted by Chuck Kennedy

The uploading process is manual because TDs can get registrations from a variety of sources such as online signup services, mail or in person. They need to enter the names onto the PDGA TD report anyway. So by entering each name just once on the report, it allows the TD to upload registrations before the event and later upload scores during or after the event using the same procedures. Then the names are already there for submitting the report to the PDGA.

I don't see any benefit to a direct electronic pipe from a reg service into the online display since that would mean a process to download names to the TD report would also need to be developed to keep the Excel TD report updated. And that process would have to not overwrite entries the TD had received directly by mail or in person.

Perhaps we could set up a section in the PDGA online registration page that would list "tentative registrations" just so someone who signed up knows that at the very least the PDGA had received their request. This could end up being a "temp" reg list and people could see if their friends are on it... and let em know if they are not.

Just a thought.

[Chuck Kennedy]

The PDGA does not receive any registrations to post. PDGASignup is run by the same contractor that handles fulfillment for membership packets. They take in online registrations and send a list I believe at least daily to the TDs. PDGASignup doesn't have access to the online PDGA tournament page where the registrations can get posted. It's up to the TD to post.

[discrazy55]

Just a couple suggestions. I'm new to all of this, so if I state something that is unbelievably stoopid, well, forgiveness is divine.

1. Perhaps a lottery should be held for all the people at have signed up by a certain date - and then that way it is fair to those that use snail-mail to get in their apps. Those that didn't make it in the draw will have their money automatically refunded. You're never going to make everyone happy all the time, right?

2. Yes, I think a deadline app date for snail-mail and on-line registration needs to be posted somewhere. This forum is getting raves, so perhaps this would be a good place to do that. I'm not up to snuff on all the politics of this, so if that's not cool, well.....

That's my two-cents worth, and hope it helps to get somewhere on this subject.

[Scott]

Switching to online only registration totally eliminates the snail mail problem.