If not accepted initially, your team can be placed on the waiting list if you request it. It is a good way to get into the event if another team drops out. This year, previous performance at events such as the MIT tournaments and nationals, as well as yankee player ratings played the biggest part in the decisions.

This year we had more applicants than slots. With a strong field of applicants it was harder than ever to gain admission this year: 1st we choose all the teams which we are confident play at the stated level. Out of region teams which are not chosen in that 1st list are immediately cut if we have in-region teams: if an in-region team does not go to nationals and achieve a positive result at the stated level for which they are applying, or have very strong seasonal results against teams universally acknowledged to be at that level, or have players rated at that level, then their admission is in jeopardy and at that point other considerations factor in when we fill out the rest of the tournament. The decision process is arduous and all involved are relieved when it is over!

One important issue that arose is that submitted results were judged based on the tournament itself. We examined the stated level of the event relative to the level of the teams and players that actually participated. In some cases, we discounted the weight of results from tournaments at the appropriate level because a majority of the teams that participated in the event were not at that level. ex. 1st place in AA was discounted because 2/3 of the teams entered were B, so it did not represent a true victory over a AA field.

One of the goals of this tournament is to produce the strongest playing experience possible for participants. Thus, selection is based on a combination of merit and timeliness of application. Decisions are typically made during the week prior to the tournament. In previous years, the list was created with the help and guidance of 4 other tournament directors and the regional commissioner. Teams that are admitted usually are either previous champions, had previous playoff results, and/or had recent successes at same or higher level tournaments. This is a difficult tournament for new teams w/o recent results to enter. In a prior year, over 55 teams applied with 2 weeks left before the tournament. Since we only have a limited number of slots for teams, we have to reject teams.