I think there needs to be rules regarding changing the format of an event during the course of the event. For example, after a round that has been specified as the final round of an event has been completed, it should not be allowed to have an additional round added to the event. I also feel it would be unfair if a round that is declared as a "best of two" (and not part of a combined round) to be changed to "average of five" after the first two solves, since competitors may have based their strategy of those first two solves based upon the best of two format and not the average of five format. I'm not saying that no changes to the format of event can be made after the event starts, but I think there needs to be rules as to what type of changes can be made and at what time so as to be fair to all competitors.

Isn't the strategy always to go as fast as possible? I don't see how this makes any difference except perhaps in a high risk puzzle such as magic, which has always been an average of 5 anyway.

[quote="Bob":jpkub82i]Isn't the strategy always to go as fast as possible? I don't see how this makes any difference except perhaps in a high risk puzzle such as magic, which has always been an average of 5 anyway.[/quote:jpkub82i] No, strategy to get a really fast single and a best average may be different. And going really fast could result in puzzle "exploding" resulting in a DNF which which you might not want to risk when going for an average. However, when going for a fast single, it may be a risk you're willing to take.

1c) The WCA delegate for a competition is responsible for: 1c6) Approving all events and event formats of a competition, before the competition starts and when changes are needed during the competition. This seems to handle it. If someone is adding a round after the "final" round, I would hope the delegate wouldn't approve unless it was agreed by all competitors that could be affected.

[quote="BryanLogan":39ykyu8u]1c) The WCA delegate for a competition is responsible for: 1c6) Approving all events and event formats of a competition, before the competition starts and when changes are needed during the competition. This seems to handle it. If someone is adding a round after the "final" round, I would hope the delegate wouldn't approve unless it was agreed by all competitors that could be affected.[/quote:39ykyu8u] I would disagree that the current regulations are sufficient. I think a competition needs to be run in a way that does give rise to possible complaints of the organizers/delegate being biased for/against certain competitors. And what if a competitor feels that a format change unfairly puts him/her at a disadvantage? I don't see that the rules are providing much of a safeguard for the competitor from such format changes. The rules don't require the delegate to check if competitors agree with a proposed change. For example, let's say a round is best of 3, and a competitor gets times of 15s, 45s, and 48s. Then the delegate announces that everyone in the round gets two more solves and it will be average of 5 instead of best of 3. The competitor might feel that the change in format could have been intended to eliminate him/her from proceeding to the next round. Also, at the time of the 2nd and 3rd solves by the competitor, the competitor may not have felt it necessary to get good times on those solves, and not put the same effort into those solves. I think once a round has started, the rules determining who advances to the next round should not be changed. (Perhaps the number advancing could be reduced if absolutely necessary due to time constraints, but should be discouraged.) Once an event has apparently been completed, an additional round should not be added. In my opinion, these types of changes may lead to complaints by competitors of being treated unfairly.