A Suggestion for next season

[a Joe]

Hello!

For next season, I'd like to suggest that subforums be created under the "regular season tournaments" header for each region or, better yet, state to post tournaments in. This way, it'll be much more organized and it will be easier for teams that aren't super-connected to find events. I think it would make this forum much more useful than the disorganized mess of tournaments it is now.

I do believe that this forum was created when there weren't all that many good Quizbowl tournaments, so there weren't pages and pages of them like there are today. I think we're due for a change.

Thoughts?

[Auks Ran Ova]

Not a bad idea! I'm certainly all for making it easier to use the forums; are you thinking something like how the HS comparison/discussion forums are currently set up?

What do others think?

[Atlashill]

I agree that a series of regional subforums would keep things more organized, and mirroring the setup of the current regional discussions would be the best approach.

I'm not sold on each state/territory/province/equivalent political subdivision needing its own subforum. To wit, the Missouri Quizbowl forums have been in regular use since February 2004. Usually, I've only posted a Missouri-hosted tournament here when I'm seeking to bring in a multi-state field, with the caveat that I'm more likely to post updates in the thread on our state's forums. Ergo, I'd suggest any subdividing of the forums also include a pinned thread noting (or maybe even redirects to, if permissible in phpBB?) established state & regional boards.

(addendum) Even if these don't proceed, at the absolute least it should become standard practice to use postal abbreviations when mentioning tournament sites, hosts, and teams on first reference. Making sure the location is in the title of a tournament announcement may help teams looking for events within their reach. Further, mentioning teams' state on first reference would certainly help provide a better context of their strengths and potential, as well as what they've had to contend with in their local circuit. Case in point: the most recent MSNCT prediction thread is a prime example of where such context could be very helpful. It's really difficult for someone who isn't as involved in the national middle school scene to follow the thread, especially as school names can be replicated several times within a state.

[a Joe]

Not a bad idea! I'm certainly all for making it easier to use the forums; are you thinking something like how the HS comparison/discussion forums are currently set up?

What do others think?

Yep! I was thinking something along those lines. Just something that would make it easier to find relevant tournaments.

[AKKOLADE]

I feel ambivalent on regional forums. My greatest concern with them is that a border state would miss out on an event because they don't look in all of the subforums they should be looking in. Also, almost all tournament announcement threads rapidly sink off the first page of this subforum once the event is over.

States would be entirely too unwieldy. There'd be something like 55 subforums, and all but maybe 5 would have no more than two active threads at a time.

[a Joe]

Also, almost all tournament announcement threads rapidly sink off the first page of this subforum once the event is over.

I disagree. I find that lots of tournaments get buried under completed events, and the threads either constantly have to be bumped or they just disappear into the aether. There are also a huge number of completed events at any given time, which can be quite confusing to those less involved with their circuits and casual browsers who might be interested in a tournament or two.

I'm really thinking of the less active teams here, remember; the more active and experienced ones will be able to find all the events their heart desires, but new teams need that guidance.

[AKKOLADE]

In my opinion, making https://hsquizbowl.org/db/tournaments/ more prominent is going to do a better job of serving those needs than adding subforums.

[a Joe]

Just wanted to revive this idea as the season is getting closer; any more thoughts would be appreciated.

[Stained Diviner]

It's probably too late for 2023-24. Maybe this will happen in time for 2024-25.