Merseyside Chess Association 2008

A team shall consist of: Eight players in Division 1; Seven players in Division 2; Six players in Divisions 3 and 4; Five players in any lower Division.

4. FIXTURES

In each Division, each competing team shall play two matches with every other team in that Division (home and away) unless arranged otherwise by the Executive Committee.

5. MATCH POINTS

A team winning a match shall score two points and in the event of a tie each team shall score one point.

6. DIVISION WINNERS

The team in a Division which scores more match points than any other team in that Division shall be the winner of the Division and shall be entitled to hold for twelve months the trophy allocated to that Division and to promotion.

If two or more teams in a Division score the same number of match points the relative position of these teams shall be decided by the total number of games won by them in the Division, drawn games counting as half the value of won games. If there is still a tie the positions shall be decided by eliminating the games played on all the bottom boards of the teams concerned and so on until a definite result is achieved.

In the event of a team withdrawing from the league having played not more than 50% of its fixtures, individual players from that team will be eligible to play for other teams in that club or other clubs during the season.

7. LISTED AND INELIGIBLE PLAYERS

Where a club enters two or more teams in the League Tournaments, the following rules shall apply:

a) The Club Secretary shall, before the first league match in which the Club is concerned, send to the General Secretary a list of seven members (listed players) for each team of eight, six members for each team of seven, five members for each team of six and four members for each team of five, who will always be invited to play for that team and have indicated that they expect to be available for the majority of games. Such listed players shall be ineligible to play in any lower team of that club during the season.

Listed players must have indicated that they expect to be available for the majority of league matches. If when 50% of the fixtures have been played a listed player has failed to play in at least 3 matches then the club will be expected to list an additional player unless it can convince the Controller that the player in question will complete his obligation. All listed players must be ECF Registered.

The General Secretary shall then send a copy of these listed players to each of the League Controllers. There is no need to send a list for the only or lowest team of any club.

b) If a club fails to send in a list of restricted players before the first league match then the players appearing in the first match shall be considered listed, ie the top seven boards in a first division match, etc.

c) The University have until 8^th November to comply with (a) above otherwise rule (b) applies.

d) Where a club has two or more teams competing in the same Division, the interchanging of players between these teams shall not be permitted. This rule is suspended for teams playing in Divisions 3 and below, where the normal rules relating to the interchange of players between a higher and a lower team shall apply.

e) Listed players may play any number of games for a higher team or teams. Other players may play any number of games for any team or teams (except as provided in Paragraph f, below).

f) Any players, whether listed or not, shall not be eligible to play in any given team if they have played a total of four times during the season for a higher teams or teams in matches where they have played on a board above the lowest listed player in that higher team or teams. Games played on boards below the lowest listed player do not count towards this total. Teams must play their boards in order of playing strength.

8. ARRANGEMENT OF FIXTURES

The dates of fixtures in the League Tournament shall be fixed by the Fixture Secretary or such other person or officer of the Association as the Executive Committee may appoint. Each club shall have the opportunity to make representations to the appointed person to indicate unsuitable dates for fixtures through such as shift working, annual holidays, etc. As far as possible, the fixtures will give effect to such representations.

The list of fixtures shall be communicated to each club not less than fourteen days before the starting date of that club’s first fixture.

9. POSTPONEMENT & RE-ARRANGEMENT OF FIXTURES

Under rule 8 clubs are asked to indicate to the fixtures secretary any dates which are unsuitable. Realising that not all arrangements can be known before the fixtures are compiled, clubs have until September 15 or 2 weeks after the fixture books are issued (whichever is later) to request postponements on the basis that team members have other prior commitments. Requests made up to September 15 shall be granted.

After 15 September a club may request a postponement at any time but the other club concerned has the right to decide whether the request is acceptable or not, that is, both clubs must agree on the postponement.

If the two clubs agree to the postponement they must agree another date before the end of the season and notify the appropriate league controller as soon as possible. If the two clubs agree to the postponement but cannot agree a new date then the matter shall be referred to the league controller.

If the clubs do not agree to a postponement then the club requesting postponement must either fulfil the fixture using reserve players or default the match. If the club requesting postponement defaults the match they may appeal to the controller. If the Controller considers that the reason(s) for the request are outside the control of the team and its players and that a default would be inequitable then they may order that the match be played or give such direction as they think fit in the circumstances. Where the controller makes such a ruling the offended club has the right of appeal within 10 days to the Executive Committee whose decision will be final.

10. NON-OBSERVANCE OF RULES

If any club fails to play a match in accordance with these rules, the matter shall be referred to the Executive Committee whose decision in the matter shall be final. If any team in any given season defaults 50% or more of their matches, all games played by that team in that season shall be declared void.

In the event of any fixture not being fulfilled on the due date both sides shall inform the appropriate Controller of the circumstances. If the fixture is still unfulfilled at the end of the season the Controller may at his discretion impose a penalty on either or both teams concerned. In the case of a further contravention by that club in the same season, the appropriate controller may impose a more severe penalty or remove the offending team from the competition.

Where a rule gives a Controller the power to impose a penalty the offended club shall have the right to appeal to the Executive Committee whose decision shall be final.

11. PLAYER OF THE YEAR

For each division of the league an award shall be made to the player of the year. The player of the year shall be the player with the greatest number of wins gained from league games played during the season. A default or forfeit win counts as a win and a draw as half a win. Where a player appears for more than one team in the same division then the player shall be considered as separate individuals for this award. The winning team must be named in a defaulted match to qualify for a point. In the event of a tie the award shall be shared.

12. DISPUTES

Any dispute under these rules shall be referred to the Executive Committee.