Bottom line, just some suggestions on the topic:
1. Two months notice has already been given. People already have an idea what they can and cannot fish and if something changes, either hope a slot opens up or give your up the slot you got with as much notice as possible.
2. It's up to individuals to check the site for sign-ups on time, as soon as the tourneys are posted. Ten teams were able to make at least 10 tourneys last season and signed up on time at least 10 times. In this day and age of texts and instant emails and smartphones, we are pretty much always reachable. I get my emails and forum posts within minutes. People are going to get shut out initially, due to the small amount of slots allocated for some tourneys anyway. It happened to us at least twice last year and is a fact of life.
Whew, that is all!
3. We agreed last year that the person/team that wins a tourney has an automatic spot if they want it the following tourney. Whether or not it's a big boat tourney or car topper is no matter. Any team has the chance to win on any given week and is rewarded with the 1st place payout when they do. It's just a courtesy to give them first right or refusal for winning the week prior. If they choose not to be in the next tourney, then so be it. While we all try to extend courtesy s, nobody is owed anything overall (accept Smoke and Johnny).
4. I also think the tourney hosts are slotted a spot as well. Kinda makes sense, unless they choose to relinquish the host spot or slot or both. We all knew what we signed up for.
5. If you're an MAFF member, you should be able to PM the weekly hosts, so there is no need or worry about posting phone numbers in public for all to see.
6. If you don't make the cut for signing up on time and can definitely make the tourney, post it on the board and then put yourself on stand bye (alternate list mentioned prior). Chances are you were planning on going fishing somewhere else anyway and changing that mindset to a tourney if it is offered for whatever the reason, should be considered an awesome stroke of luck!
7. If there is a bow out, then it is up to the hosts to post it on the forum as soon as it becomes known, and check messages for takers. Again, we knew what we were getting into as hosts and Smoke and Johnny have been doing it all along, so what makes anybody else not able to do so?
8. Yes stuff (affectionately known hence fourth by the term "life") happens. There are those though that have "life" happen far too many times, be it legit or by the selfishness of locking up a slot, when you know in all probability that you wouldn't be there in the am and at the launch. Again, "life" happens unexpectedly, but not every other week. We'd all love to fish everyday if we could, but some just cannot, mostly due to family/work/other commitments and go whenever we can. If that means bowing out so that another team can fish a tourney, then man up and notify the host immediately and with as many days notice as possible! I think 3 days prior may be enough minimum notice to bow out and for the host to announce the opening and find a replacement? MAFF is growing more than ever, with a plethora (there's that word again
) of quality fishermen available.