Locking Match Registration

What is the purpose for locking registration in a match set up with the following relevant parameters:

1)  Minimum players set, but no maximum

2)  Start date and time set

3) NO autostart

What's the strategy being used here?  Why lock the roster when the bigger the match gets, the more points there are to be won?

Thanks!

It is possible that players with low ratings or players who have a high percentage of defeats over time do not will join!!!

With a set start date and time, the only purpose I know for locking the registration for your team before that start time is if you're deliberately trying for as balanced a match as possible (a true "friendly" match) and your own team might be threatening to be much stronger than your opponents.

When one side locks a match, they have effectively imposed a maximum on the number of players who can play in the match, correct?

Yes. Many more can join but only x amount can actually take part

Thanks blackfirestorm.

Tell me, why would admins want to have no autostart AND no start date for a match?  

From a personal perspective I don’t mind a dated auto start because both teams then have a set amount of time till the match starts. 

On the numbered auto start I refuse to accept them as they tend to favour the team issuing the challenge, especially as anyone of any rating can join. 

Teams that use auto start tend to have high rated players on hand to join them and there is almost always a huge rating differential. 

In my experience anyway. The only way I would accept an autostart match is if the rating bands were closed ie 1300-1400

Ah, I see.  You're really helping me here, blackfirestorm!  So, when there is a start date, the match will begin on that date (and time) no matter what.  Registrations don't have to be locked, autostart doesn't have to be in effect.  In other words, the set start date acts as an autostart on that date.  Correct?

Now I know why my club's challenges are never accepted.

Yeah, it looks like you want to stay away from AutoStart.  Set a start date.  Don't set a maximum number either.  That is, if you want your challenges to be attractive to the smart admins.

Exactly  

I don’t know about smart admins but the ones I chat with don’t like them. I do know La Belle France take autostart matches.

Micah it will not start on the date qualified to start if there isn't a minimum number of players on the board. Also, once you lock your registration, you can also unlock it anytime before the match starts.

Right, I knew that the minimum must be met before the start date.  What happens if it is not met?  Does the match have to be started manually, once the minimum is finally met?

If you have it set to 4+ or 10+ etc and the start date arrives but you don’t have the minimum then it won’t start till you have the minimum. However if you have it set to 1+ it will start on the set start date.

But it WILL start automatically once the minimum (say 10) is reached, even if not reached until after the start date?

Yes

blackfirestorm,

Thanks for all the help you've been to me today.  I sincerely appreciate it.  

We are all called to share knowledge so you’re entirely welcome  

A bit late to the convo, but might as well add my thoughts (without having looked at what was said previously).

In some leagues, where one must reach a minimum amount of players, some teams may have trouble reaching that requirement. So, as soon as they hit that amount, they may lock the roster in fears of anyone dropping out. I guess there's also locking roster for manipulative purposes (ex. only high rated players, making sure high timeout players don't rejoin), but I believe that last part has already been said.