Rules of the Derby & District Chess League

Proposed Rules Amendment

Lichfield Chess Club have some suggestions about rule changes for next year. If you have any opinions or comments about the issues below please contact David Short at Lichfield.

" Clubs have been taking advantage of the Derby League’s weak rules concerning registrations to field very strong teams in Divisions 3 and 4. Our view at Lichfield is that the lower divisions should be used to give playing opportunities to weaker players but at the moment it is impossible to do that and remain reasonably competitive.

"Our view is that least four players should be registered to each team and that players can play up but not down.

"At Lichfield we will be considering proposing a rule amendment for next year, but in the meantime it would be interesting to have an exchange of views.

"In the Birmingham League at least six players have to be registered to each team and there are similar rules in the Wolverhampton League."

RULES OF THE DERBY & DISTRICT CHESS LEAGUE

(Revised August 2001 – updated May 2008)

1. The League shall consist of Clubs and schools which meet the requirements of membership as laid down by the Constitution of the League.

2. The League shall be divided into Divisions by reference to the playing strength of the teams.

Divisions are to be linked by promotion and relegation such that the bottom two teams of the upper division and the top two teams of the lower division shall change their divisions for the following season as appropriate. In the case of a team dropping out before the season has started, two teams are promoted and only one relegated.
There shall be eight teams in each Division playing home and away. The bottom two divisions may be formed to have other than eight teams to play and to play each other only once if the Executive so decides. In view of the unpredictability of the number of teams wishing to enter or withdraw from the League, this rule may be changed for the coming season by a simple majority at the AGM or Council Meeting.
Any new team whether from a club or school already a member of the League or from a club or school newly admitted to the League, shall be placed in a Division subject to there being a vacancy in that Division which the Executive Committee (or sub committee appointed by the Executive Committee), shall deem to be suitable according to the playing strength of registered members of the team.
If a team feels that the journey time presents a problem, they can request of the Controller to play both matches at a neutral venue. The final decision on this request rests with the Controller. But if the difference between clubs is more than 30 miles, the away team has the right to organise the match at a neutral venue.

3. Registered members of League Clubs may take part in any competition organised and run by the League, subject to compliance with the rules of the competition.

4. The fixtures for the year made at the Council Meeting shall be firm and binding as far as possible.

5. Any team failing to keep a fixture shall forfeit the match except where the reason is acceptable to the Competition Controller and provided that he is notified of new date within 14 days of the scheduled date by both teams.

6. Each team must submit entry forms, fees and registration lists of its players in accordance with the requirements of the League: Team entry fees must be paid at or before the Council Meeting and registration lists must be submitted with the entry fee.

7. All league matches between teams from the same club shall be completed before 1^st March in that season.

8. In all divisions the number of players in a team shall be FOUR.

9. NO player can play for more than one club or school in any one competition of the League in any one season. In this context, divisions 1, 2, 3, 4 etc. of the League are deemed to be one competition but the Team Knockout Trophy is deemed to be a different competition.

10. All players are registered by playing a league game.

11. Each club shall register a minimum of players on the registration list before the start of the season numerically equal to four times the number of teams entered into the League by the club.

12. A player who has played three times on the top three boards of any club becomes ineligible to play for any lower team of that club during the rest of that season in that competition. In this context, divisions 1, 2, 3, 4 etc. of the League are deemed to be one competition. The Knockout Trophy is a separate competition. In Division 1 only, if a club has more than one team, a player may play for only one of those teams.

13. The secretary of the home team shall be responsible for arrangement of venue and other facilities where necessary. Clubs that might select a disabled player for any of their teams and clubs that cannot cater for disabled players, without making special provision which may include switching the venue and date of a fixture, should inform the League before the start of the season. This information will be included in the Club List circulated by the League. Any team that requires a club, which has to make special provision, to cater for a disabled player should inform the club at least 4 weeks before the match. Any team not following this procedure is liable to the loss of the relevant game in that match.

14. Clocks shall be used on all boards in main league matches.

15. The rate of play for matches shall be 30 moves in 75 minutes after completion of Black’s 30^th move; the clocks shall be set back by 15 minutes and then the players shall complete the game before the flag falls. This applies to all main League games. For the Team Knockout see separate rules.

16. Starting time in all main League and Team Knockout shall be 7-30 p.m. Players arriving more than ONE hour late shall automatically forfeit the game. Otherwise all games must be complete (except they may be drawn by agreement or any usual method).

17. At the start of each match the two captains shall first exchange team lists giving the names of their players in descending order of playing strength from Board 1 downwards. The away team will then have WHITE on the odd numbered boards. This applies to all Divisions. For the Team Knockout competition see separate rules.

18. Detailed results of all matches MUST BE SENT BY EACH TEAM to the Competition Controller within three days. Marking the result of each game with 1 for a win, 1/2 for a draw, 0 for a loss or d for a player losing by default, the result must be signed by a team official. The team captain shall indicate on his own result card which team sent it to the Controller. The team with the higher number of game points shall be deemed to be the winner of the match, or if the number of games be equal the match shall be deemed a draw.

19. All disputes shall be referred to the Divisional Controller within three days. Any dispute shall be resolved by arbitration with the relevant officer of the League in accordance with the League Rules. The decision shall be final, except that an appeal may if necessary be made, within seven days of receipt of notice of judgement, to the Executive Committee of the League for final judgement.

20. Penalties:

A team which send in more than two match cards late in a season is liable to be penalised by the loss of a league point and an extra point for each subsequent late card, at the discretion of the Controller.
Delay in sending in registration lists and/or fees: Results can be defaulted until such a date as the lists and/or fees are received.
Teams not playing at least half of their fixtures in one season will have their record deleted for that season.
A team defaulting a match will be liable to lose 2 penalty points at the Controller’s discretion.

21. Match points to determine competition positions shall be awarded as follows: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, none for a loss. The team with the highest number of match points shall be deemed to be the winner of the competition or division.

22. Ties in each competition shall be decided by comparing the total percentage game points gained by the tied teams and if this still results in a tie then their match shall be considered in the following order: a) by results; b) by board count; c) by elimination of the bottom board(s).

23. In the case where a Division Championship or promotion or relegation are concerned and a result cannot be determined by rules 21 and 22, then the teams concerned shall play to a firm decision by the above methods at a neutral venue.

24. No item may be added to or deleted from these rules. Nor any item herein amended except by a SIMPLE majority vote at an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting. Provided that a written notice of the intention to do so is given to the League Secretary, who in turn must give fourteen days clear notice of the agenda of such meetings to all clubs within the League. Except that in the case of dispute, the Council Meeting or Executive Committee may make an appropriate ruling which will be binding until formally voted on at the next General Meeting.

25. Teams shall abide by BCF rules for quick play finishes (appendix A). If a dispute cannot be settled on the night by the players and captains, an appeal enclosing a score sheet and relevant facts should be sent to the Competition Controller by both teams.

26. Note regarding Fide Rules revision of July 1^st 2005. These rules are drawn up mainly with large tournaments and top ranking games in mind, and it is generally recognised that some local variation makes sense within the bounds of common sense.

Fide 12.2.b – It is strictly forbidden to bring mobile phones or other electronic means of communication, not authorised by the arbiter, into the playing venue. If a player’s mobile rings in the playing venue during play, that player shall lose the game. The score of the opponent shall be determined by the arbiter.

The Council Meeting suggested that Team Captains should request members to switch off their phones before the match starts. If a player’s phone rings once, a warning is given and if it rings twice the game is lost.

Fide addition to 8.1 – It is forbidden to write the moves in advance, unless the player is claiming a draw according to article 9.2 or 9.3.

The Council Meeting suggested that those who play in congresses and for the County and those young people who play at top level for their age groups should be advised of this rule and get used to practising it. Team Captains should make sure that their teams are aware of this rule.