28th September 2012

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RULES OF MATCH PLAY PAGE

League's Rules for the Conduct of Matches




Divisions 14 Teams entering competitions shall be divided into divisions at the AGM.
Points 15 Points shall be awarded on the results of matches, being two for a win, one for a draw and nil for a loss.
Championship 16 The League Champions shall be the team with the highest number of points scored in the division concerned. In the event of a tie, game average shall decide. If a team should retire during the season its results for any incomplete cycle of matches against all opponents shall be ignored in the final results table for that division.
League Season 17 All matches shall be completed by the end of April, except at the discretion of the Committee.
Register of Club Officers 18 Club secretaries shall inform the League Secretary of the names, addresses and telephone numbers of its officers by the end of June. The League Secretary shall circulate a register of all the officers of all League teams to club secretaries before the start of the season.
Transfer of Players 19 A player shall not be eligible to play in the league matches for more than one club in any one season except with the consent of the League Committee.
Play in more than one division 20 Teams may call on players from lower divisions for reserves but on playing more than two games on any board or boards higher than bottom board in the next higher division in which the club is represented (any board in first division teams for this purpose being regarded as higher than board four in the second division) then any such player shall be deemed ineligible to play in the lower division for the remainder of the season.

The Fixtures Secretary shall check the eligibility of all players in more than one division and shall adjust the results of matches in which ineligible players played.
Teams in the same division 21 If a club enters more than one team in the same division then: - As soon as a player has played for one of those teams he is ineligible to play for the other (or others) for the rest of the season. The first violation of this rule shall result in the forfeiture of the game in which the violation occurs. Any further violations shall be referred to the League Committee who will decide what further action is appropriate.
Number of Boards 22 The number of boards in each division shall be decided at the AGM.
Colours to be played 23 Visiting teams shall play white on odd numbered boards.
Equipment 24 The home team shall be responsible for the provision of sets and boards and for arranging for clocks to be made available.
Results 25 Both teams shall notify the Fixtures Secretary of the result of the match within fourteen days of the conclusion of the match. Where a team consistently fails to report the result this failure shall be referred to the committee who will decide on appropriate action.
Match start time 26 Matches shall commence at 7.30 p.m. prompt. If only one player is present at the time he shall start his opponent's clock. Any player not arriving by 8.30 p.m. shall forfeit the game.
Alterations to Fixtures 27 Both captains and the Fixtures Secretary shall agree any alterations of match dates. Any team wishing to postpone a match shall inform the opposing team captain at least ten days prior to the date of the match: exceptionally the League Committee may authorise a shorter period of notice. In the event of a postponement the home team shall, within ten days of the original date of the match, offer four dates excluding weekends during the fifty-six days following the match date. If the other team fails to accept one of these dates the match shall be lost by default. The Fixtures Secretary shall be notified of any altered match dates.
Team Cards 28 Captains shall exchange team cards simultaneously before the start of play. Teams shall play in strength order.
BCF rules 29 All matches shall be played under the Laws of Chess. For the accelerated finish the ECF Rapid Play Rules apply, subject to the qualifications which are stated in the Additional Rules for Rapidplay or Quickplay finish events which do not have an arbiter
Score of the game 30 Each player shall keep a score of the game, as provided for by the Laws of Chess, until he has less than five minutes on the clock. After the first time control is reached a player with an incomplete score sheet shall then bring it up to date. Moves may not be recorded on a digital electronic device without the agreement of the opponent.
Time Limits 31 Thirty-five moves shall be completed in one and a quarter hours and all the moves in one and a half hours. If a player exceeds either of these time limits his opponent shall be awarded the game.
Mobile Phones 32 Without the mutual consent of both captains, a player is forbidden to have a mobile phone or other electronic means of communication in the playing venue, unless they are completely switched off. If any such device produces a sound, the player shall lose the game. The opponent shall win. However, if the opponent cannot win the game by any legal series of moves, then he/she will get half a point, the offender zero. (This rule is mandatory and cannot be waived by a generous opponent.)
Individual Championship 33 In games played in the Individual Championship the time limits shall be the same as in League matches. If the first and second games are drawn the result shall be decided by subsequent half-hour games.
Knock-out Cup 34 In the knockout cup if the matches are drawn the result shall be decided by board elimination.
KO cup eligibility 35 Players may only take part in knock-out cup matches from round two onwards provided they have played a minimum of 2 games in ordinary league matches.
Disputes 36 Any disputes that cannot be resolved at the time by the team captains shall be recorded in detail, signed by both captains and referred to the League Committee, whose decision shall be final.