Attachment 2
to Texas Ski Council Race Rules
Amended August 12, 2006
TEXAS SKI CUP CHALLENGE HANDICAP SYSTEM
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OBJECTIVE
To develop a more equitable system for Club races in which Clubs of any size will be able to
compete in their division
NEW DIVISIONS
The first aspect of the new handicap system is to restructure the race divisions based on each clubs
Average Raw Points scored during the previous five (5) seasons. The original Divisions were
amended effective as of August 12, 2006 and will be as follows:
Division I
The four (4) clubs scoring the most Average Raw Points
during the previous five years will be placed in this division. The ranking of
the clubs will be highest to lowest points scored.
Division II The next four (4) clubs with the highest Average Raw Points
will be placed in this division. The ranking of the clubs will be highest to
lowest points scored.
Division III All other clubs will be placed in this division. The ranking of
the clubs will be highest to lowest points scored.
After each ski season, the TSC Race Director will keep a record of the Raw Points scored by each
club. The Raw Points for each club will be averaged for the previous five (5) seasons to determine
which division each club will be assigned for the upcoming season.
DEFINITION
This Handicap system is based on the percentage difference between the total points of the Club with
the most points in a division and all other Clubs in that division.
HANDICAP CALCULATION
The formula is loosely based on the method in which golf handicaps are calculated. For the first year
the following procedure will be used to determine a Club's handicap.
The Club with largest total points in one division is divided by the total points of another
Club in that division. That total is then multiplied by 70%, because only one year's data is
being used. Since a handicap is usually an average of many scores, a full handicap cannot be
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given until more data can be attained. In golf, 10 scores are required to establish a handicap.
For computing handicaps with less than 10 scores, a Reducing Factor is applied to the
handicap based on the number of scores which have been attained. For 9 scores, 90% of a
handicap is given; for 8 scores, 80% is given; for 7 scores, 70% is given; for 6 scores, 60% is
given; and for 5, scores 50% of the handicap is given. This is a good guideline to follow,
however, since we are starting out with only one years data, and will only take 5 years to
attain a full handicap, I have found (after considerable research into the different scenarios
using all the different reducing factors) that the best reducing factor to apply is 70%. This
factor gives the smaller Clubs a much better opportunity to win, while still allowing the
larger clubs to have a chance to win also. Once each club's handicap is established, that
handicap will then be used for all club races during the year. This handicap is applied to a
club's total points scored during any club race.
EXAMPLE
Club A who had the most points in Division I had 200 racers and scored 4000 points
last year.
Club B in Division I had 130 racers and scored 3000 points last year
It is obvious that Club B's 130 racers are much better than Club A's 200 racers, but under the
present system, Club A would always have an advantage simply because they had more
racers. However, based on this data, a handicap will be calculated under the proposed
handicap system to adjust for the numbers of racers and for their ability. The handicap is
calculated as follows:
Divide Club A's 4000 points by Club B's 3000 points = difference of 33%
Then Multiply that 33% by a reducing factor of 70% = 23%
Club B's handicap next year will be 23%.
Now let's assume that these same two Clubs compete in the Fall Round-up next year and the
results are as follows:
Club A has 50 racers and scores 1000 points
Club B has 30 racers and scores 825 points
Since Club A had the most points in it's division last year they have no handicap, so their net
score is 1000 points.
Club B now has a handicap of 23% so their 825 points is Multiplied by 1.23 = 1015 points.
Club B's adjusted total points is now larger than Club A's, and Club B would win the trophy.
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HANDICAP ADJUSTMENT
After the first year the TSC Race Director will keep a record of total points for all Clubs in each
division. After each ski season the total points for all years that are available will be averaged for
each club. After 5 years, the most recent 5 years data will be used. The handicap will be adjusted
each year based on the difference of these averages in comparison to the club with the most points in
each division. Each year as more data becomes available, the clubs will be given a higher percentage
of their handicap; increasing in increments of 5% per year to a max of 95% after 5 years. In 1992-93
the Clubs will be given 70% of their handicap; in 1993-94, 75% will be given; in 1994-95 80% will
be given; in 1995-96, 85% will be given; in 1996-97, 90% will be given; and in all following years
the maximum of 95% will be given.
EXAMPLE
Club A Division I had 4000 points in 1991 and 3700 points in 1992.
The Average for the two years is 3850 points
Club B Division I had 3000 points in 1991 and 3400 points in 1992.
The Average for the two years is 3200 points.
To calculate the adjusted handicap for the 2 years data, Divide Club A's 3850 points by Club B's
3200 points = difference of 20%. Now, since this is the second year of data, the clubs will be given
75% of their handicap. Multiply the 20% handicap times 75% and Club B's new handicap for next
year will be 15% as opposed to 23% the previous year.
BENEFITS
Clubs will now compete in divisions more suited to their own, and will have a much better chance of
winning a trophy on a Council Trip. This means that the same clubs will not always win as in the
past.
Race participation will increase, because Clubs will now have a good chance of winning any race in
which they compete. The new system accounts not only for the number of racers competing, but
their ability as well, giving Clubs with all levels of racers an equal chance of winning. It will
probably take a few years before the handicaps become true handicaps, however, starting the new
system as I have proposed, will give all clubs a better chance of winning as compared to the current
system.
In past years, some members have expressed their dissatisfaction to the Clubs who have a large
number of racers, because they felt that they had no way of overcoming the disadvantage in their
smaller numbers. Since racing is only one part of the TSC Ski Week, it should be as much fun as the
rest of the Council activities, and not the cause of ill feelings towards other Clubs. With a fair
system in place, racing will again become a fun activity for everyone, thereby creating more
camaraderie between member Clubs rather than dividing them.
This handicap system is fair not only to the small Clubs, but to the large Clubs as well. Since the
handicap adjusts each year based on a Clubs performance, this creates an incentive for a Club to
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increase race participation, because higher participation coupled with the handicap greatly increases
a Club's chance of winning. However, the system eliminates the need for a Club to pressure anyone
into racing, because if participation is low that year, or if participation is good but the points are low,
the handicap will adjust for it and be reflected in next year's handicap.
Handicap System developed by
Ted Bergeron, 1993-95 Chairman
Texas Ski Council Race Committee
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