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"They have limited access to the game for foreigners . . ."

Posted By: Daniel Murphy
Date: Friday, 30 July 2010, at 4:52 p.m.

In Response To: "They have limited access to the game for foreigners . . ." (lenny)

Larry, alluding to the ABT's English-only rule, accuses the "powers that be" of attempting to "eliminate" foreigners who do not understand English.

Lenny, citing international participation in bridge and poker, says backgammon is "stunningly parochial," which suggests that either he also thinks that insular and provincial attitudes of "powers that be" discourage international participation, or, misunderstanding the meaning of "parochial," incorrectly thinks that the relative lack of foreigners participating in backgammon events in the U.S. and in Europe is evidence that organized backgammon is "parochial."

As useful as comparisons of backgammon to other games such as bridge and poker can be at times, I'm sure that any reader with a few moments thought about organizationl formality and longevity, prize monies, prestige, and media promotion can come up with many reasons to explain why more foreigners travel to attend bridge and poker events than to attend backgammon tournaments.

In any case, the ABT's "English-only" rule is hardly particular to backgammon. In bridge, English is not only the official language of the American Contract Bridge League, but the "international language of bridge":

English is the international language of bridge. The ACBL recognizes that its membership is multilingual. Every effort will be made to accommodate our membership. However, once hands are removed from the boards, all calls, questions and plays will be in English. Exceptions may be made if both captains, in a team event, or all four players at the table, in a pair event, agree to use some common language understood by all four players. Should problems arise please call for a Tournament Director.

That said, an examination of the rules and procedures of other games can certainly be an inspiring source for those "powers that be" who are interested in improving the rules, procedures, decorum and participation at backgammon events. For example, here is the ACBL rule regarding the accomodation of "players with special needs":

Tournament directors shall make every reasonable effort to accommodate players with special needs (such as but not limited to players with physical disabilities). The director in charge (DIC) shall, in his opinion, ensure that no such accommodation provides a special advantage to such a player or significantly impedes the orderly progress of the event. Tournament directors in providing an accommodation must do so in a manner that is reasonably consistent with the intent of the conditions of contest for the event. Except for minor accommodations (e.g. stationary positions), the DIC of the tournament or event must be notified in advance in order to ensure that an accommodation can be provided.

Perhaps a similar rule needs to be part of the ABT rules set. But I suspect that all ABT organizers are already inclined, if "notified in advance," to "make every reasonable effort" to accomodate players with special needs, as long as that can be done without giving such players a "special advantage," and as long as such players will not "significantly impede the orderly progress of the event."

I must say, however, that from all I have heard, the problem with slow play is not clock rules, and not unaccomodated "special needs," but simply that some players play too slow and, as a result, too often spoil an event for many of their fellow competitors.

Larry doubts that backgammon "can draw enough new players to remain viable." Lenny wonders if backgammon is "shriviling." I wonder if the backgammon "powers" might adopt the ACBL's "Zero Tolerance Policy" of:

"badgering, rudeness, insinuations, intimidation, profanity, threats, or violence; negative comments concerning opponents’ or partner’s play or bidding; gloating over good results; constant and gratuitous lessons and analyses at the table; loud and disruptive arguing with a director’s ruling."

... not to mention -- hah -- the ACBL's outright ban on onsite wagering on the outcome of tournament events -- I imagine most of us would think that a "bridge" too far.

Messages In This Thread

• "They have limited access to the game for foreigners . . ."
  lenny -- Friday, 30 July 2010, at 6:23 a.m.
  • "They have limited access to the game for foreigners . . ."
    Rodney Lighton -- Friday, 30 July 2010, at 6:27 a.m.
    • "They have limited access to the game for foreigners . . ."
      lenny -- Friday, 30 July 2010, at 6:35 a.m.
      • "They have limited access to the game for foreigners . . ."
        Leonardo Jerkovic -- Friday, 30 July 2010, at 7:42 a.m.
  • "They have limited access to the game for foreigners . . ."
    Steve Mellen -- Friday, 30 July 2010, at 3:09 p.m.
    • "They have limited access to the game for foreigners . . ."
      John Stryker -- Friday, 30 July 2010, at 3:53 p.m.
  • "They have limited access to the game for foreigners . . ."
    Daniel Murphy -- Friday, 30 July 2010, at 4:52 p.m.
    • "They have limited access to the game for foreigners . . ."
      lenny -- Friday, 30 July 2010, at 10:44 p.m.
      • "They have limited access to the game for foreigners . . ."
        Daniel Murphy -- Saturday, 31 July 2010, at 12:26 a.m.