When you first start playing in tournaments, it can be hard to figure out the culture and norms. Where do you stand during a game? When are you allowed to talk to your opponents? How do you make sure you don’t interrupt the flow of the tournament? This article will help you decode these elements so that you can feel more confident taking part in tournaments.
Where do I stand?
The hardest thing to figure out is where to stand while your opponents are playing. Your instinct is likely to watch your opponents play to learn tips and strategies, but you also need to be respectful of their space. How do you find that balance?
The general recommendation is that you should stand behind your opponent, out of their peripheral vision (even if the game is at the end of a row), and a respectful distance away. That probably feels like a very vague description, so let’s take a look at some visual aids:
No. This is way too close to your opponent. They would likely be acutely aware of where you’re standing and be distracted while they play.
Still no. Now you’re even closer AND you’re in their peripheral vision. Just because it is on the end of a row doesn’t mean you get to stand right next to the game.
Definitely not. Just…no.
This is the goal. A respectful distance away, behind your opponent, and not in their peripheral vision.
It might seem silly to stand so far away, especially if you want to see them play, but there are some good reasons for it. First and foremost, you want to be respectful of your opponent and not encroach on their space. They want to be able to focus on their game so they can play to the best of their ability. If someone is standing right next to them, that can be very distracting and can take away from them performing well.
Another great reason to stand with some space between you and your opponent is because some players kick while they play. It often isn’t intentional, and they might not even be aware that they’re doing it. Just in case you are playing against someone that kicks, it is smart to leave some space so that neither of you get injured. (It’s rare but it happens.)
When can I talk to my opponent(s)?
When you come to a tournament, it’s natural to want to talk to the people around you. Getting to know each other, discussing game strategy, and general small talk is common and welcome at tournaments. However, you want to make sure that you’re still being respectful by following these rules:
- If your opponent is playing: No talking to them, including sharing callouts or observations about their game. (Even if you want to applaud them for doing a good thing!)
- If you are playing: Try to keep talking to a minimum so that you can focus and minimize distractions for other players that might be playing around you.
- Coaching: Coaching in competitive pinball is NOT ALLOWED. That means that you can’t share game knowledge with your opponents while they are playing, and they can’t tell you what to do while you’re playing either. Even if you’re not in the game you are not allowed to share game knowledge or strategies with the person actively playing.
When you and your opponent are not actively playing, defined as neither one of you are standing in front of the machine, you’re free to talk about whatever you want. This includes game strategy, small talk, etc. In general, it’s best not to talk to your opponents while they are playing and not to talk at all when you’re playing.
How do I keep up the flow of the tournament?
Depending on the format, the flow of a tournament can be very different. Some formats move faster than others, some have defined rounds that everyone follows, and still others have continuous play for a set amount of time. (For more information on common and uncommon tournament formats, check out the corresponding articles.) How do you make sure you aren’t holding things up while still taking care of yourself?
The best way to make sure that you’re maintaining the pace is to create a free account on Matchplay and use it to follow the tournament progress. Matchplay is the software that is used to run most pinball tournaments. Finding the tournament in Matchplay is how you will know if you’re in a match, in the queue, or if you’re waiting for the next round to start depending on the format that you’re playing in.
The general rule is that if you’re playing in a match, stay with your game and opponent(s) until the game is completed. Wandering away or not paying attention to when it is your turn is disrespectful to others that are in the game. If they repeatedly have to come find you to play your turn, it will hold up the tournament and not provide a good experience to others. If you have to step away for the bathroom or anything else, try to do that when you are not actively in a game. Pay attention to Matchplay while you’re away so that you know when your next game begins. If you’re not sure if you’ll be back by the time your next game is up, let someone at the tournament know where you’re going so they can report to the TD if necessary.
In conclusion…
It’s easy to feel awkward at your first couple tournaments if you aren’t sure where to stand, when to talk, or how to keep up the pace. But with these tips, and observation of those around you, you’ll quickly learn the norms of a successful tournament.