Players are given a handicap based on playing ability prior to the event. Player handicaps have ranged from scratch (Jeff Jansen) to a 36+ (no names needed, we know who you are). During the draft the players are placed into a "group". All groups have an equal number of participants. For example, the single digit handicap players are placed into the "A" group, while the 16+ handicappers are placed into the "D" group. Everyone else would fall into either the "B" or "C" group based on handicaps. During the draft, if a captain takes a player from the "A" grouping, the opposing captain has to select another "A" player to fill a spot on his team. This ensures that each team has an equal amount of talent. After the draft has occurred, and the captains have taken a long look at the teams, they can make a trade. This has never happened in RRC history, but it is allowed.
Once the players are drafted, the real work begins. The captains begin to set the team pairings and the pairings have to include equal talent on both sides. For example, if Captain Norman wants to send out a team consisting of a "B" player and a "C" player, then Captain Schuster has to match that pairing and send out a team consisting of "B" and "C" players. The captains have full control of the pairings, so it is conceivable that a captain could team up two "A" players forcing the opposing team captain to send out his two "A" players in that match. KEY POINT - the captains are responsible for setting pairings for the morning session and then have to reset the pairings for the afternoon session. Teams/players will typically not play with, or against, the same team/players they saw in the morning session. The draft is easy. . . setting the pairings is tough. In the past, the draft has taken anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours. The commissioner and/or assistant commissioner monitor the draft to ensure all questions are answered. Once the original pairings have been set, the captains are allowed to make any changes they see fit. Once the final pairings are delivered to the participants, no changes can be made and the smack talk begins to fly as the bets are placed.
