470 - Rethinking Solo Rankings: EUSPBA's Greatest Hits Program (Dojo Conversations Episode 140)

Ever wondered how you can really tell who the top solo pipers are across a massive region like the Eastern United States?  

This week, Andrew introduces Jim to the new EUSPBA Greatest Hits program – a ranking system that takes a bunch of measures into account, rather than just aggregating total points.   

They discuss why it matters, the challenges of ranking players across a huge geographic area, the problems with the old points system, and how the new approach brings a more fair way to rank players that could bring back some excitement and participation across the region.   

Got a topic you’d like us to cover in a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: [email protected]  

Here’s what we cover this week:
 

  • 00:23 - What is the EUSPBA Greatest Hits Program?
 
  • 02:31 - The Challenge of Acronyms & Association Names
 
  • 04:44 - Andrew’s Role on the Executive Committee
 
  • 06:36 - Why the EUSPBA is Unique (Size & Scope)
 
  • 08:46 - The Problem with the Old Points System
 
  • 13:26 - How the Greatest Hits Program Works
 
  • 15:10 - Real Examples: How Standings Change
 
  • 18:44 - New Metrics: Unique AGLs & Big Wins
 
  • 22:00 - How the System Affects Upgrades
 
  • 25:53 - Incentives & What’s Next for the EUSPBA
 
  •  29:15 - “It’s Been One of the Greatest Hits” (Outro)