These rules (1-9) apply across all competitions unless otherwise stated

1. OBSERVANCE OF LAWS

All games played under the auspices of the Association shall be played in accordance with the Laws of Chess as recognised by the Federation Internationale Des Echecs (FIDE) and as modified by the English Chess Federation (ECF), excepting as otherwise laid down in these rules.

2. ALL COMPETITION ENTRIES

All entries shall be made on the Competitions Entry Form to be supplied to associate clubs by the General Secretary not later than 1^st June.  The General Secretary shall receive all entries not later than 1^st July.  The Executive Committee or the General Secretary shall have discretion to waive this requirement in exceptional circumstances

No club may compete in MCA competition in a future year until fees from prior years have been paid.  No individual player who has failed to pay his due ECF registration in a previous year may compete in any MCA competition until his membership fee from the prior year has been paid.

3. NON TRANSFERENCE

A player shall not play, in any season, for more than one club in the League Tournaments or for a different club in the Knock-Out Tournaments. See Lightning Tournament separate rules.

4. LISTED AND INELIGIBLE PLAYERS

1. These rules applies to  League and John Ripley competitions only.  Also see Rules Governing The Knotty Ash Knockout Tournament and The John Ripley  tournament.

2. The playing of one or more ineligible players in a match shall be penalised by reducing the score of the offending team in that match by a game point for each ineligible player so played and in addition such ineligible player or players shall be deemed to have lost their games.

3. The penalty in the preceding paragraph shall apply to a club’s first contravention and in the case of a further contravention by that club in the same season, the appropriate Competition Controller may refer the matter to the Executive Committee who may impose a more severe penalty or remove the offending team from the Competition.

4. Any dispute as to the eligibility of a player may be referred to the Executive Committee whose decision shall be final. 

5. All players competing in MCA competitions are expected to be NMS members or have other ECF membership. Membership must be completed before any player has played more than three games.  Any non-member playing a fourth or subsequent game will be ineligible and the penalties provided for in the relevant competition rules will apply.

5. ALTERATION OF VENUE

Where travelling facilities are inconvenient the match venue may be altered by mutual agreement.

6. HOURS OF PLAY

In the absence of any previous arrangement by the clubs concerned, play at a match shall commence at 7.15pm and shall conclude at 10.15pm. 

If the visiting team is present and play has not started by the agreed starting time, the visiting team will normally request the home team to concede time on its clocks to ensure the match  finishes three hours after the agreed starting time. 

If such a request is made, it must be accepted.  If the home team fails to comply, the match will be forfeit. 

7. TEAM DECLARATIONS

The Captains of the opposing teams shall, before the commencement of a match, exchange lists of their teams arranged in board order, which shall also be in the order of playing strength.  The Captains shall then draw for colour; the team winning the draw shall take white on board one and the colours on the remaining boards shall alternate accordingly.  One or more reserves may be substituted for any players who have not arrived within thirty minutes of the agreed starting time, otherwise the game(s) shall be forfeit.

If one team is not represented at the agreed starting time it will be assumed that the team present has won the draw and has white on the odd boards.  This will enable to the match to start at the agreed time.

At the start of play any Captain who knows that he will be unable to field a full team will be obliged to default on the lowest board or boards.

Any team which defaults on any other than the lowest board or boards will have one point deducted from its match score unless it can satisfactorily explain the default to the Controller.

If the Controller is not happy with a team’s board order he may ask the club to justify its order.  Any team deliberately violating the board order rule or any other part of this rule may be deducted a match point at the recommendation of the Controller and confirmed at a subsequent executive meeting.

8. RATE OF PLAY

Every player shall keep a record of the moves in each game.  Any player may demand that their game be played with a chess clock in which case they must provide a proper chess clock.  It is the duty of the home team to provide sufficient clocks to complete its fixture (including adequate reserve clocks in case of failure on the match night).  If the home team fails to notify the away team (no later than five days) before the fixture that there are insufficient clocks, the away team can claim the match (if no clocks are available) as a defaulted win.  If the home team informs the away team before the fixture that it has insufficient clocks, then the away team can be asked to fulfil the match without prejudice.

The rate of play shall be 35 moves in 1hour 15mins followed by 15mins to complete the game.  The first player whose flag falls shall lose, excepting if his opponent has insufficient material for checkmate, when the game shall be drawn.  A player may also claim a draw if the position is such that no other result is reasonably possible.

If the captains agree all games may be played in an hour and a half for all moves without any intermediate time control. 

9. NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS

Both score cards with players’ names and initials, signed by both match Captains, shall be received by the Controller from both clubs, within fourteen days of the match. it is important for the opposing team to claim the game through the Tournament  Controller.