The NDFP Classification Know-how. The 3 W's answered and explained (Who, What and Why)
  • NDFP Classified Player List
What is the Classified Player list and why is there a need for a Classified Player List? Understanding the Philippine Event formats will provide a better appreciation of the function and role of the Classified Player List.


PHILIPPINE EVENT FORMATS


The NDFP sanctioned ranking tournaments are made up of multiple events and mainly categorized into Open and Restricted Events. The Open events do not have any restrictions and anybody can play irrespective of expertise, talent, gender and age. Examples of Open events are the Open Singles, Fix-Doubles and Fix-Four Person Team events.  Restricted Events are limited to expertise, age, talent, gender and a combination of these restrictions. Examples of events restricted to gender and age are the Seniors, Youth and Ladies events. Events with restriction on expertise and talent are the Classified Draw events. The Seniors singles is restricted to non-classified players.


CLASSIFIED DRAW EVENTS


NDFP Classified Draw events are events where drawing of partners is restricted. Players who are above average and who have attained a higher level of performance will not be paired. Ideally the purpose of classified events is to attain parity and thus to even out the playing field and to hopefully give players an equal chance to win.

In classified draw events, different organizers use different systems to classify, sort and group players who will not be paired. The NDFP’s terminology for this group of players is called Classified Players.


NDFP CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM


The NDFP system of classified players started in 2005 using the NDFP performance points earned from all NDFP sanctioned ranking tournaments. The rationale of the NDFP system is to have a continuing objective process to determine the players with current above average performance and players who have attained exceptional accomplishments to be included in the classified players list. To be fair and equitable and not to penalize forever a one time performance, the NDFP classification system is a continuing process from an average of 24 nationwide ranking tournaments a year.

NDFP Classified Player List

Permanently Classified: Players who attained exceptional performance since 2005

All National Masters (9) – players who have won three (3) national ranking tournaments

Regional Masters (8) – players who have won three (3) regional ranking tournaments Conditionally Classified: Players who have attained above average performance

All Masters – players who won regional and national ranking tournaments (less than three championships) and players who came in second in a national ranking tournament. They will be classified for five (5) years since being a master irrespective whether they are not in the top 30% with accumulated rolling 3 years ranking points.

All players who are in the top 30% of all the players with accumulated rolling 3 years ranking points.  The top 30% is the average rate of players with above performance ranking points. The computation to determine the average ranking points is to total all points earn in the time period divided by the total number of players with ranking points.

To simplify the process of determining the Classified Player List, the NDFP will update this list in the NDFP website every quarter. 

Definition of Terms

Rolling Three (3) years – total points in a period of 3 years. Example: The April accumulated total rolling 3 years will cover the period April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2014. Likewise the rolling 3 years for July 1, 2014 will cover the period June 20, 2011 to May 31, 2014.

NDFP Classified Events. Notes:
The objective of Classified Events is to attain parity – to even out the playing field and to give equal chances to all participants whether a player is hard core, novice, youth, female, senior or enthusiast to win a classified event.

Thus some players need to be classified so that “two strong players” will not be partners. This concept of giving parity to all players in an event is not an easy task to formulate but must stand scrutiny. To objectify the classification of classified players we went beyond the usual rated / non-rated classification and looked for individual performances as the basis for classification. Individual performances can be extracted from the NDFP Performance points of the Singles events. Thus the accumulated rolling 3-years performance ranking points of players is a good gauge of consistent individual performances and the top 30% of these players are being classified.

The question arises why 30% and not 50% or 10% etc... Our initial computation suggests that the average points earned is in the top 30% of all players. The average point is computed by dividing the total points earned within the time period divided by the total number of players with ranking points. We foresaw the impact of big events that may radically change averages thus we made the ruling of top 30% with ranking points or those who have earned the average ranking points as the cut-off for classified players whichever is more.

The next question arises why 3 years of accumulated points. The three year period is a better gauge to classify players based on consistency of performance for a specific time period. This also takes into consideration the decline in performance and the stripping of points earned after three years.


CLASSIFIED EVENTS IN LOCAL TOURNAMENTS


What we have discussed so far is the classification of nationally sanctioned tournaments. On the local level we see local classifications being implemented from Baguio to Sulu. Each and every organizing entity embarks on the best way to classify their local talents in order to even out the playing field. Examples of these systems are varied but the objective is the same. Thus do not expect that the classification we have enumerated above will be implemented by the local NDFP affiliates nationwide but will be the basis for NDFP sanctioned national tournaments.


TREND TOWARD FIXED-EVENTS


To further develop our top players we need to strike a balance between classified draw events and the fixed open events. Yes there are more players in the classified events but we need to generate more competitive players. Entry fee receipts should come secondary if we are to motivate our top darters. We need to create an environment conducive for excellence.

When the NDFP first started the unrestricted open Fixed-Four Person Team event we were hesitant that this will not be accepted due to prevailing practice wherein the 4 person team is composed of 2 “rated” and 2 non-rated players.

The Open-Unrestricted Four-Person Team event was launched in Mindanao and to our amazement Mindanao darters saw this as a challenge. They feel this is the best way to improve as darters - play against the best teams and the sense of fulfillment is greater when they beat teams loaded with classified players. There were no major negative feedbacks and ever since the Open Fixed-Four Person Team Event is a major fixture of NDFP sanctioned events and something darters are preparing for.

Fixed Doubles are next in our agenda and so far we have seen good participation in the Fixed Doubles of NDFP organized Darterong Pinoy, 2 Million Manny Pacquiao Darts Classic and in the recently concluded Robson Summer Dartfest.

The preponderance of the P10,000 to P15,000 weekend tournaments can be the proper venue for more classified draw events and the proper avenue to nurture our aspiring new players.


HISTORY OF CLASSIFIED EVENTS


Classified Events are uniquely Philippine phenomena. There are no classified events in all major tournaments in the world. The closest events that can approach the classified events are the handicap events in soft tip wherein the PPDA (Points Per Dart Average) are utilized.

In the early part of Philippine darts the good players consistently won and to give chances to other players the so called “rated players” came into existence as a means to classify players. The classified events started in the formative years of Philippine darts as a means to encourage its growth.

In the early part of the rating system players were rated if one becomes a champion of the 4-man draw, draw doubles and different placing in the singles event of the DCP’s Rating and Sanctioned events. Subsequently this was changed and rated players were based on the Open Singes and players who officially represent the Philippines in international competition. Additional rated players came into existence to include singles champions of the non-rated singles. Sad to say there were players who were rated due to the playing prowess of their partner in the doubles and their partners in the 4man draw.

The concept of rated players eventually evolved into a title of recognition. It is worthy to note that prior to 2000 there were DCP sanctioned tournaments that were not given a rating classification such that champions in these tournaments were never rated.

“Once a Rated Player always a Rated Player” became the drawback of the basic essence of the classified events relying on the rating system. This drawback stems from collapsing the concept of rated players into both a classification and a title of recognition. There is no argument that rated players have achieved a level of performance that needs to be recognized and given a title.

But with the passage of time rated players declined in their playing abilities and for some their long absence in the competitive arena affected their high level of performance. Further some players were rated as part of the draw events and being representative to foreign competitions. Thus, to still classify them at this time may run contrary to the essence of leveling the playing field. On the other hand there are a lot of players who are better than rated players and can be a rated player but refuses to do so in order to maintain their non-rated status. The decline of rating events further compounds the classification of good players who could have been classified.

Historically the rated / non-rated classification is the start of the evolution of the so called classified events. Present day realities dictate the search for better alternatives. There are no full-proof systems and the NDFP is still in search of a better system.