SPLIT SQUADS

A new rule was introduced to the rulebook in 2006. As the lure of the NCT grows ever greater players may develop "creative" ways to get their teams included. While Fast Plastic never wants to discourage playing, at the same time we want to maintain the true TEAM concept in our style of play.

Rule III.5 reads: NO Split Squads are allowed. A Split Squad is defined as two or more groups of players from different locations playing under the same team name with little or no effort of playing together as a true team in an attempt to take advantage of the Fast Plastic regional locations. This will be seen as an attempt to circumvent the Fast Plastic style of play and will not be tolerated. Any team caught under this rule will lose any points, FP3 and/or regional, and will be subject to expulsion. Fast Plastic will handle any infractions on a case by case basis.

A "true team" is defined as a group of players playing together all or most of the time.

An example of a Split Squad would be Team XYZ has three players playing in Los Angeles and another three players playing in New Jersey. By doing this Team XYZ accumulates points in several different regions while really never playing together as a true team. By doing this they have virtually assured themselves an invitation to the National Championship Tournament.

The above example demonstrates a team playing together out of geographic convenience. Playing together to take an unfair advantage of the FP3 system by building their team based on the locations of Fast Plastic regions. While this is an extreme example of a Split Squad, other more subtle variations can exist and will fall under the rule. If your team is made up of players from different regions it is a good idea to contact Fast Plastic to ensure you are not playing as a split squad.

A split squad is not the same thing as a short squad. Teams may still play without their full rosters present just as they have in past years. It also does not mean players from different areas can't join forces to create a team. They can as long as they play together as a true team.