Competing in Division 1
With my recent promotion to Division 1 of Memory League, I will now be competing against the best in the world, and if I plan on staying in Division 1 I will need to take my abilities to the next level. As of writing (July 15th) I have exactly 2 months to the start of Season 25 (September 15th) so here goes nothing!
PS: Matteo crushed me, but I got the forfeit win somehow… (SEND in your videos Matteo!!)
Step 1
My first step is identifying what targets do I need to achieve to compete in Division 1.
I.e. What are the standard requirements to win at the Division 1 level. These will become my Progress Metrics or KPI’s to aim for.
I will then assess my current level, identify which areas I am furthest away from and put a plan together to reduce those gaps, and hopefully be ready for the big times!
Progress Metrics
In order for these Progress Metrics to be most effective I am only picking 1 to 3 key metrics per event. They need to be simple to understand, easy to track and directly correlate with increasing my probability of winning in Division 1.
I’ve split them up based on Accuracy events and Speed events.
I describe accuracy events, as events in which scoring a perfect score will more than likely lead to a win and typically use a review (double look). These include – Words, International Names and Names. The rest – Numbers, Images and Cards are speed events, in which you must assume your opponent will get a perfect score and thus you have to go faster to win. Although, at the highest level there are all speed and accuracy events.
Accuracy events:
- My main metric I’m looking at is increasing my probability of achieving winning scores. This would be a perfect score for events in which that is achievable or a high score that is likely to win.
- Secondly, decreasing my average time
- Thirdly, increasing my baseline – Which is the lowest score I can reasonably get barring some unforeseen circumstances. Practically what I get 95% of the time or better. This is a good measure of consistency and reliability.
- Lastly, increasing my average score. This will inevitably happen if the top 3 are achieved. Thus, for me it’s more of an afterthought. However, I do use average score and time for my Practice Drivers as there is more variance and I am unlikely to get a perfect score (more on that later).
If you’re looking for the simplest Progress Metrics, average is your best bet. But, they may be skewed by a couple of off days or bad attempts and don’t necessarily reflect your probability of winning or consistency, which is why I look at % above.
Accuracy events – Targets (Division 1 standards)
With that said, here is my targets for each event based on the Progress Metrics defined above and what I believe are the standard scores for Division 1
Words: Improving my % scoring above 46, 48 and 50
- Targets
- 46 + : 80% of the time or better
- 48 + : 65% of the time or better
- 50 + : 25% of the time or better
- Baseline: 45
International Names: Improving my % scoring above 22 and 20
- Targets
- 22 + : 50% of the time or better
- 20 + : 75% of the time or better
- Baseline: 18
Names: Improving my % achieving a perfect score
- Target
- 30 : 70% of the time or better
- Baseline: 28
- Average time: ~ 47 to 53 seconds
Name’s is an interesting event because the line between speed and accuracy is blurred. The best players seem to be almost as consistent at getting 30/30 as Images, Cards or Numbers and they have started to really challenge the speed. We’ve seen this out of Matteo, Naser, Vishvaa, Alex, Enrico, Katie, Don and more and more players are pushing the speed in Names even in matches.
I believe Name’s is quickly turning into a speed event, and Words will follow. Thus, I am more focused on lowering my average speed in Names than the other accuracy events.
Speed events:
- My main metric is increasing my % getting a perfect score in the “winning” time ranges for Division 1 or “Match Pace”
- Secondly, decreasing my natural speed or “Natural pace”
- And lastly, increasing my probability of getting a perfect score in my “Natural pace”
*** Paces defined at the end* ***
Speed events – Targets (Division 1 standards)
Numbers target range: 17 to 22 seconds
- Perfect score: 90% or better in Target range
- Reduce Natural Pace to ~ 14 to 16 seconds
- Perfect score: 60% or better in Natural range
Images target range: 11 to 13.5 seconds
- Perfect score: 90% or better in target range
- Reduce Natural Pace to ~ 9 to 10.5 seconds
- Perfect score: 50% or better in Natural range
Cards target: Getting back to my current level with my NEW 2 card system (~ 40 to 45 seconds)
My goal for cards is different from the rest as it is unrealistic to aim for the Division 1 standard which is probably between 21 to 25 seconds while I just switched to a new system.
As of writing this I am around 2 weeks into learning my NEW 2 cards system with mostly doing cue card conversions. I have only memorized 2 decks and my best was 39 in 157 seconds…. So if I could get back to my current level in 2 months while learning a WAY more complex system that would be a big success!
Practice drivers
Practice Drivers are the KEY to actually achieving these results. I define them as:
What I do in practice that drives my progress forward. Such that, if I progress in the practice driver then I should progress and hit my main Progress Metrics. Ideally, there should be a 1 to 1 correlation. But, most of what I do is experimentation, so I will track, evaluate and reiterate.
The metrics I look at for my Practice Drivers are simply increasing my average score and decreasing my average time. I don’t set “targets” for these as I am just trying to continuously get better. So long as I’m trending in the right direction, then all is well!
Drivers per event
Words & Names: First look Natural & Speed Scores and Time
- A first look for me is any attempt completed in around 33 seconds, since that leaves you with roughly equal time for a full review (double look).
- I believe that improving my first look will allow me to achieve my desired targets. Thus I almost strictly practice my first look. In addition I am pushing the speed of my first looks as well.
Numbers & Images: Overspeed Scores and Time
(More to come on my Numbers and Images practice strategies)
Eventually I will do Overspeed for Cards and first look for Inter Names, but right now the focus is on improving my technique for those events.
Evaluating and tracking progress
When evaluating my progress, I am only looking at my Match Pace and/or Natural Pace (for speed events). I am NOT considering my Practice Drivers (speed attempts, first looks, technique focus or experimentation).
In practice I aim to constantly push my limits and refine my technique which means I should not and do not expect to achieve perfect or high scores all the time.
Thus, I will sporadically mix in Match attempts and Mock matches to monitor progress. But, 90% of my attempts will be for improvement. That’s why I rely on progress in my Practice Drivers as indicators of progress towards my Main Targets.
(I am reserving Saturdays as Mock matches to evaluate progress and test out different pre match protocols to optimize performance)
In addition, I will do a monthly progress report and assess whether any changes to the plan are required.
How to apply this for yourself
If your goal is to compete (regardless of the division)
- Identify the standard scores or winning time ranges by analyzing other competitors in that division
- Determine where you are the weakest compared to those scores
- Identify your Progress Metrics – (Averages or % achieving winning scores)
- Track your scores
- Periodically evaluate your progress towards those metrics (ex. Monthly or Bi-weekly)
- Make adjustments based on your progress
If you are in it for continuous progress / self improvement start at step 3 and DON’T set a target or goal (unless you want). Just track that your progress metrics are trending in the right direction!
What if they are not…
What to Adjust?
- NOTHING – If you are progressing, then keep doing what you’re doing
- How you are practicing (strategy, focus, intention, quality)
- How often you are practicing (volume, frequency, consistency)
- Memory technique (systems, conversion, visualization etc)
- NOTHING again!! – Sometimes (often) you just have to be patient and trust the process. Progress is often slow and is not linear, so although you may not see the progress you like or feel like you might have regressed, stay the course. Because, the best course of action may just be to keep going. This is something you have to figure out for yourself. That’s why I recommend monthly progress reviews as you have to stick with something for AT LEAST a month to see if it’s working.
Glossary
Targets (by September 15th)
Accuracy Events
| Event | Score | % Achieved | Time | Baseline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inter names | 22+ & 20+ | 50% & 75% | Sub 60 | 18 |
| Words | 50 & 48+ | 20% & 65% | 50-60 | 45 |
| Names | 30 | 70% | 47-53 | 28 |
** Baseline: Lowest score I could get (+95% achieved)
Speed Events
| Event | Natural pace | % Perfect | Match time | % Perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numbers | 14 to 16 sec | +60% | 18 to 22 sec | +90% |
| Images | 9 to 10.5 sec | +50% | 11 to 13.5 sec | +85% |
| Cards ** | 40 to 45 sec | +60% | 45 sec | +90% |
** Goal is to get to current scores with new 2 card system
Practice Drivers
| Event | Driver | Metric 1 | Metric 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Words | First look | Increase Avg Score | Decrease Avg Time |
| Names | First look | Increase Avg Score | Decrease Avg Time |
| Inter Names | Technique | Increase Avg Score | % Achieved full review |
| Numbers | Overspeed | Decrease Avg Time | Increase Avg Score |
| Images | Overspeed | Decrease Avg Time | Increase Avg Score |
| Cards | Technique | Decrease Avg Time | Increase Avg Score |
Note on target ranges (Division 1 standards)
The winning ranges and scores that I have identified are what I believe is achievable for me and would give me a “complete” game to compete in Division 1.
It does not mean that you HAVE to achieve these scores to be a Division 1 player. Many strong and veteran competitors do not meet these standards in 1 or 2 events but still excel, and of course others crush these scores!
And I acknowledge that I may be wrong, but it doesn’t matter. The point is to have something to aim for. Some of these targets may be too easy and some too hard but regardless, they serve the same purpose and I can always adjust, nothing is set in stone 
In addition, as the level rises these targets are constantly increasing, so who knows what the “standards” will be in a year from now.
Paces defined
Conservative
- I am purposefully going slower than I am “comfortable” with to ENSURE accuracy.
- Usually based on my opponent’s PR times.
Match pace
- I’m not thinking or concerned about the time, only getting a perfect score
- Feels easy and slightly more conservative than natural pace but sometimes overlaps
Natural pace
- Going at the speed of my encodes, as soon as I have the encode I move on.
- Between overspeed and match pace.
Overspeed
- Pushing maximum speed, often times faster than I “think” I have the encoding
- Feels uncomfortable
What’s next
In the coming articles I will share my first monthly progress report and identify which areas I need to focus on.
I will then detail the plan I will (have been) following to bridge these gaps and achieve these targets. Including insights into my practice strategies and memory techniques.
Hope you enjoyed,
Spencer
so train all but as I said put more on your best 3 events !
