Pokemon, like other games, is a game of rules. The rules all fall under the umbrella of the basic tenent of "fair play." The tournament rules state that competitors are allowed to use "two types of randomizers during a Pokemon TCG match: coins or dice." Random means something that has the SAME probability of occurrence.
Since the coins and dice are meant to be used as randomizers, any coin, die or MANIPULATION of the coin or die that would cause less than a random result should be considered improper and in violation of both the spirit and intent of the rules requiring fair play during all matches. Further, under the TCG penalty guidelines at 7.6.4 examples of unsporting conduct:cheating are listed. Under that category, offenses such as "stacking your deck", "taking cards from your discard pile and adding them to your hand or deck" and "ATTEMPTING TO MANIPULATE A RANDOM RESULT" are listed, all with the penalty of disqualification.
My son was knocked out of the National Championships (senior division) in the top cut by an opponent whose father has admitted both verbally and in writing that he was taught how to manipulate a coin flip, conducted further research on manipulation of coin flips, and taught and practiced with his sons the techniques he had developed. There are many studies and articles on the internet that state that coin flips can be manipulated. The father fully admits that his son utilized these techniques at the National Championship in an attempt to gain favorable flips during his matches. This father has further stated that, once discovering this information was out there, "What parent wouldn't?" (make use of the information)
I wouldn't. I believe that most parents wouldn't.
As people have been discussing this situation, I have heard stories of other seniors teaching each other how to manipulate dice. Our young players need to know that random means random. To intentionally try to make a random outcome less than random is subject to disqualification under the penalty guidelines. It is bad enough that this has happened at a US National event...I certainly do not want to see our American players violating the rules at Worlds.
And yes, I am an American, and yes, I do want "want it to be fair", and I refuse to believe that I am the only one. When we go to Worlds, let's sweep, and let's do it in a way that we can all be proud of!
Since the coins and dice are meant to be used as randomizers, any coin, die or MANIPULATION of the coin or die that would cause less than a random result should be considered improper and in violation of both the spirit and intent of the rules requiring fair play during all matches. Further, under the TCG penalty guidelines at 7.6.4 examples of unsporting conduct:cheating are listed. Under that category, offenses such as "stacking your deck", "taking cards from your discard pile and adding them to your hand or deck" and "ATTEMPTING TO MANIPULATE A RANDOM RESULT" are listed, all with the penalty of disqualification.
My son was knocked out of the National Championships (senior division) in the top cut by an opponent whose father has admitted both verbally and in writing that he was taught how to manipulate a coin flip, conducted further research on manipulation of coin flips, and taught and practiced with his sons the techniques he had developed. There are many studies and articles on the internet that state that coin flips can be manipulated. The father fully admits that his son utilized these techniques at the National Championship in an attempt to gain favorable flips during his matches. This father has further stated that, once discovering this information was out there, "What parent wouldn't?" (make use of the information)
I wouldn't. I believe that most parents wouldn't.
As people have been discussing this situation, I have heard stories of other seniors teaching each other how to manipulate dice. Our young players need to know that random means random. To intentionally try to make a random outcome less than random is subject to disqualification under the penalty guidelines. It is bad enough that this has happened at a US National event...I certainly do not want to see our American players violating the rules at Worlds.
And yes, I am an American, and yes, I do want "want it to be fair", and I refuse to believe that I am the only one. When we go to Worlds, let's sweep, and let's do it in a way that we can all be proud of!