6 Man Teams

[False dawn 2,298]

No, it's not that old chestnut about reducing teams to 6 riders.

 

It's more by way of an analysis of what's happened this year.

Now let me say straight away that this is not an exhaustive analysis, rather it's a breakdown of 95 meeting results that I had "readily to hand".

To date there have been about 270 league meetings (Premiership and Championship) so my sample is significant, representing as it does, about a third of the total.

 

My interest is in the number and frequency of the use of guests and rider replacement.

 

Of the 95 meetings. 19 had no guests or rider replacement. Not a brilliant statistic as this means that 80% of all meetings had at least one guest or RR.

At the other end of the scale there were 2 meetings when there were a total of 7 riders missing (1 with 5 guests and 2 RRs and 1 with 6 guests and 1 RR). I hope these represent a record and not one to be repeated or beaten.

 

I hesitate to quote averages but I do believe they indicate something.

A total of 121 guests were used or 1.27, on average, per meeting.

Rider replacement was used on 73 occasions or 0.77, on average, per meeting.

Or to put it another way, on average, there were just over 2 riders missing or 1 per team for every meeting.

 

Therefore, in a way, we already have 6 man teams.

[The White Knight 9,039]

No, it's not that old chestnut about reducing teams to 6 riders.

 

It's more by way of an analysis of what's happened this year.

Now let me say straight away that this is not an exhaustive analysis, rather it's a breakdown of 95 meeting results that I had "readily to hand".

To date there have been about 270 league meetings (Premiership and Championship) so my sample is significant, representing as it does, about a third of the total.

 

My interest is in the number and frequency of the use of guests and rider replacement.

 

Of the 95 meetings. 19 had no guests or rider replacement. Not a brilliant statistic as this means that 80% of all meetings had at least one guest or RR.

At the other end of the scale there were 2 meetings when there were a total of 7 riders missing (1 with 5 guests and 2 RRs and 1 with 6 guests and 1 RR). I hope these represent a record and not one to be repeated or beaten.

 

I hesitate to quote averages but I do believe they indicate something.

A total of 121 guests were used or 1.27, on average, per meeting.

Rider replacement was used on 73 occasions or 0.77, on average, per meeting.

Or to put it another way, on average, there were just over 2 riders missing or 1 per team for every meeting.

 

Therefore, in a way, we already have 6 man teams.

When you put it like that it does seem logical.

 

An interesting take on those statistics.

[Theboss 727]

I like 6 man teams and these stats prove why they work.

 

Good job

Edited September 10, 2017 by jchapman

[steve roberts 9,243]

Obviously six man teams have been tried before but judging by the observations above may well be the time to re-introduce the concept.

Edited September 10, 2017 by steve roberts

[phillwhitewasmad 1,487]

Six man teams 5 rides each has to be the way forward as stated the majority of meetings are run with this format. If a rider gets injured the rider above or below can take his rides, if it's the lowest averaged rider injured the rider above or a nominated number 7

[Humphrey Appleby 13,952]

No, it's not that old chestnut about reducing teams to 6 riders.

It's a self-fulfilling prophecy that if you reduce team sizes, you reduce opportunities and the pool of available riders will shrink. It might address a short-term shortage, but unless it goes hand-in-hand with developing new riders, then it just creates a downward spiral.

 

It also doesn't reduce costs except removing the travel expenses of one rider, as the other riders have to take more rides to cover the heats, and I suspect it's likely that it won't solve the injury issue as the other riders are statistically then more likely to be get injured. In fact, it would then make things even worse as there's now one less rider per rider to take R/R rides etc...

Edited September 10, 2017 by Humphrey Appleby

[ch958 2,395]

It's a self-fulfilling prophecy that if you reduce team sizes, you reduce opportunities and the pool of available riders will shrink. It might address a short-term shortage, but unless it goes hand-in-hand with developing new riders, then it just creates a downward spiral.

 

It also doesn't reduce costs except removing the travel expenses of one rider, as the other riders have to take more rides to cover the heats, and I suspect it's likely that it won't solve the injury issue as the other riders are statistically then more likely to be get injured. In fact, it would then make things even worse as there's now one less rider per rider to take R/R rides etc...

 

seems to work elsewhere

and you save more than travel costs as would think all riders have a guaranteed fee however small so you will lose that too

I thought the only reason this was being considered was to make up a perceived shortfall if du/dd was restricted or abolished

myself I believe there is no shortage and that there are juniors and foreigners to utilise

[Humphrey Appleby 13,952]

seems to work elsewhere

Where else?

[ch958 2,395]

I believe the Danes operate five man teams - clearly thats not six but nor is it 7!

[Humphrey Appleby 13,952]

I believe the Danes operate five man teams - clearly thats not six but nor is it 7!

Yep, but the Danish League is a shadow of its former self, hence arguably it's not working.

 

Okay, in its heyday the Danish League did have 5-6 rider teams, but that was in a 4TT format so not completely comparable.

[Triple.H. 1,985]

Six man teams 5 rides each has to be the way forward as stated the majority of meetings are run with this format. If a rider gets injured the rider above or below can take his rides, if it's the lowest averaged rider injured the rider above or a nominated number 7

We can't get the powers that be to say with a 7 rider team if you use R/R that you have to name a number 8

IMO they won't name a number 7

[Perton Wolf 396]

Good points in the original post about the ridiculous number of R/R and Guest appearances this season but I'd rather Premiership teams look at trialing/implementing a squad system before moving to 6 riders. Try squads with 7 and see what happens.

[moxey63 1,785]

When six-man teams were introduced in the late 90s, sides still had a tendency to rely on guests and rider replacement.

[steve roberts 9,243]

When six-man teams were introduced in the late 90s, sides still had a tendency to rely on guests and rider replacement.

I'm guessing that it was introduced to save costs but only lasted the one (?) season if I recall.

[The White Knight 9,039]

When six-man teams were introduced in the late 90s, sides still had a tendency to rely on guests and rider replacement.

This will continue unless we can conjure up more Riders from somewhere. That is one of the reasons that I believe that we cannot (as much as I would like to in certain cases) get rid of the Aussies. That would further denude our Clubs (not Teams, it is arguable if they exist any more) of badly needed Riders.