HERTFORDSHIRE CHESS ASSOCIATION

CLOSED COUNTY COMPETITION RULES ISSUE 9 – SEP 2001

Approved Amendments

 

    1. Nominations for teams must be in order of playing strength, though some leeway is allowed ( 15 BCF grading points ) to give flexibilty for appointment of team captains, drivers for away matches etc.


    2.Nominations for teams should include players full names, DOB, BCF grading code etc.. This was going to be made compulsory, but was amended to 'should' as some people were sensitive about their DOB's being made public.


    3. A player can play up four times for any lower numbered team during the season. If he plays five times he is automatically renominated for the next higher team. A proposal to forbid players playing against their current nominated team (as happened last season in Hertford 1 v Hertford 2) was defeated. Voluntary nominations allowed by writing to league secretary before the next game, as long as they comply with playing strength restrictions above.


      4.Playing on restrictions have been relaxed, now allowed 6 weeks instead of four to play on adjournments, but league secretary must be informed by 21 days of decision on date of resumption, result of game or adjudication. If no decision has reached the league secretary by 28 days, the game is double defaulted.


    5.Team Captains or deputies must be present by 8pm, else opposing captain wins toss, and gets choice of time controls. If neither present, first to arrive gets choice.


    Stephen has a full copy of all the rule changes.


Proposed Amendments

 

    1. Games shall be conducted according to the Laws of Chess currently in use by the British Chess Federation

1.4 Disputes between two clubs, and complaints of infringement and requests for relaxation of the Closed Competition Rules shall be investigated by the Rules Committee (see Section 11), which shall have power to take such action as it sees fit.

2.1.7 If there is a tie in a division, affecting promotion or relegation, the winner shall be the team with the highest game point total. If there is still a tie, the winner shall be the team scoring most game points away from home. There shall be a play-off if the away game points are equal.

2.1.8 If there is a tie in a play-off, the winner shall be the team with the lower board count (total of board numbers of won games). If there is still a tie, the elimination rule shall apply, starting from the bottom board. If all games are drawn, the match shall be replayed as a Blitz match (5 minutes per player) with colours reversed.

      1. In the case of a postponement, the League Secretary shall be notified in writing of this fact by both team captains no more than seven days after the original match date, and of the rearranged date in writing by both team captains within twenty-one days of the original match date. The rearranged date must be before the end of May the season defined in the Fixture List. Infringement of the foregoing shall result in the double default of the match.

2.6.2 Prior to the Fixtures Meeting at the start of the season, all clubs must nominate the team for which each of their members will play. The nomination list needs to include the players’ full names, date of birth, last known grade and BCF grading code. Players must be nominated for teams in order of current playing strength.* Clubs must nominate at least five players for each of their teams. These players must play for the appropriate team during the season. If a new player joins a club after the start of the season, he must be nominated for an appropriate* team before his first match. Any deviations from the order of current playing strength (for example, to ensure a team has a captain, or someone who can drive to away fixtures) must be approved by the League Secretary, or the Rules Committee if so desired by the League Sec.(* as a guideline, a difference of 15 BCF grading points or less is consistent with "order of current playing strength". For players nominated later, the nomination list submitted at the start of the season effective determines the grading range for each team, and hence which will be appropriate for the new player.)

      1. A player may only play for his nominated team or the next any lower numbered team during the season. However he may never play against his currently-nominated team. If the player plays five times for the lower numbered teams, he may only play for that team for the rest of the season is automatically re-nominated for next-higher team he has played for.

      1. When a player is accepted by the Rules Committee for downwards renomination, the games already played that season for his original nominated team shall stand. The player will be deemed to have played up in each case and Rule 2.6.3 shall apply. If upon renomination the limit specified by Rule 2.6.3 has already been exceeded then the play-up total will be set to the maximum permitted, ie. 4 games A player may also be voluntarily re-nominated by informing the League Secretary in writing before his next game. Voluntary re-nomination must be to an appropriate team (see 2.6.2 ie. comply with playing strength restrictions), and must not result in the player having played five times for lower-numbered teams.

3.7 Players must play for a club of which they are bona-fide, registered members.

3.8 The penalty for playing a player who is not a registered bona-fide member of the club, or a player above the grading limit, shall be the default of the game.

3.12 If there is a tie, the winner shall be the team with the lower board count (total of board numbers of won games). If there is still a tie, the elimination rule shall apply, starting from the bottom board. If all games are drawn, the match shall be replayed as a Blitz match (5 minutes per player) with colours reversed.

    1. Before the time agreed for play to begin, the captains (or their deputies) shall exchange lists, agree whether Quick-Play finishes will be used (see 5.2 below), agree the time for cessation of play, and lastly toss for the move. The winner of the toss shall have white on the odd numbered boards. If a captain (or deputy) is not present by the time agreed for play to begin, the opposing captain shall be deemed to have won the toss, and also gets the choice of time controls as per rules 5.1 – 5.5. If neither captain (or deputy) is present at the start time, the first to arrive wins the toss and choice of time controls.

6.6 Once clocks have been stopped, the game is adjourned and must be settled as follows:-

a) by agreement between the players;

b) by agreement between the match captains;

c) at the request of either player to play-on. A player can only insist on playing-on provided this was stated before clocks were stopped and a sealed move was made.

d) If after twenty-one days no result has been obtained by any of these methods, and neither player is insisting on playing-on, then the game must be sent for adjudication as described in Section 8.

    1. The players must agree a date for the resumption of play within 14 days. The player who is "at home" must offer at least two dates for the resumption. The game must be resumed within 28 days 6 weeks of the adjournment or by the last week of the season, whichever is earlier. The player who is "at home" shall be responsible for providing equipment on the date agreed for resumption. The time for resumption shall be 7.45 pm unless otherwise agreed by the players in writing. The League Secretary must be informed of the date for resumption, or whether the game will be adjudicated, within 21 days of the adjournment, unless the result of the game is already known. 28 days after the adjournment, if the Secretary has not been advised how the game will be resolved, the game will be double-defaulted.

11.1 If a club wishes to request a relaxation of the closed competition rules, then the club may appeal to the Rules Committee. This appeal shall be sent in writing to the County Secretary accompanied by the appropriate fee. The appeal must be made at least 21 days before the relaxation is required, to enable rule 11.4 to be satisfied. Retrospective relaxation of the closed competition rules will not be granted by the Rules Committee.

11.7 The County Secretary shall report on Rules Committee meeting at the next Executive Committee Meeting, or the AGM (whichever is appropriate).

11.8 A club may appeal against the decision of the Rules Committee. This will be dealt with by the Executive Committee at their next Meeting, or the AGM (whichever is appropriate).