League Rules

LANARKSHIRE CHESS LEAGUE
RULES FOR LEAGUE COMPETITIONS

1. Duration of Season
1.1 League competitions comprising one or more divisions shall be held in each season. For this and other purposes “a season” is defined as the period commencing on September 1st in one year and terminating on May 31st in the following year.

2. Constitution of Divisions and Match Fixtures
2.1 There shall be no more than fifteen teams in each division.
2.2 New teams shall enter the lowest division.
2.3 Each team within a division shall normally play one match with each of the other teams therein during the playing season. However, if a division contains fewer than nine teams then each team shall play two matches with each of the other teams.
2.4 When a club has more than one team in the same division the teams shall play each other at the start of the season. If such matches have not been played by December 31st. and neither team has claimed a default then it shall be deemed to be a double default.
2.5 The Junior League is restricted to players under seventeen years of age on September 1st. and with a grading of not more than 1500. Players playing in the junior league may play in the adult league under the normal rules. Junior league Rules for League Competitions and Rules of Play to be similar to the adult league. The junior league will be treated differently from the adult league.

3. Scoring
3.1 The individual games of a match shall be scored, one game point for a game won, half a game point for a game drawn, no game point for a game lost.
3.2 Based upon the aggregate of individual game points gained by each team the results of a match shall be scored, 2 points for a match won. 1 point for a match drawn, no points for a match lost.

4. Games Lost by Default
4.1 One match point shall be deducted from a team’s score at the end of the season for every four games lost by default.
4.2 If 50% or more of a side is prevented from attending a match by some unforeseeable event the Management Committee may, at their discretion, rule that the defaults so incurred be excluded from the total for the purpose of this clause.

5. Team Withdrawals
The following action shall be taken if a team withdraws from a division during a season.
5.1 Match results will be cancelled if fewer than 50% of matches have been played, or
5.2 Match results will stand if 50% or more of matches have been played - unplayed matches to be scored as wins for the opposing teams.

6. Promotion and Relegation
6.1 The Divisions and the League shall function on the following promotion and relegation basis.
a) The two teams in divisions 2 and 3 securing the greatest number of match points shall be promoted to the next higher division
b) If, after promotion, the number of teams in division 1 should exceed the specified number then the extra team or teams with the smallest number of match points shall be relegated to Division 2. Should this relegation, in turn, cause the number of teams in division 2 to exceed the specified number then the extra team or teams with the smallest number of match points shall be relegated to division 3 and so on throughout all the divisions except the lowest division.
c) If, in the course of the application of the relegation process, a division is found to be under strength then the vacancy or vacancies shall be filled by the leading placed teams in the next lower division.
d) When the lowest division is divided into two or more sections the Management Committee shall arrange play-off matches to decide the promotion issue.
6.2 If two or more teams concerned in promotion or relegation are equal in match points then the issue shall be resolved by applying the following rules in their order of numbering.
i) The teams shall be placed in the order of the total games-for points scored.
ii) If the issue remains unresolved then those teams tied on total games-for points after applying rule i) shall be placed in order of match points scored in the game or games between the teams.
iii) Should the issue still be undecided then the matter shall be resolved by the playing of a match or series of matches between the teams that are tied on match points after the application of rule i). These matches shall be played on dates and at venues arranged by the Management Committee.
iv) In the event that any match played under rule iii) is drawn then result shall be decided as follows; the score at each board shall be cancelled board by board, beginning at the bottom board, until one team has a majority of games-for points.
6.3 Other than when it would result in a club having more than three teams in one division promotion will normally be obligatory. However, in exceptional circumstances the Management Committee may use discretionary powers in favour of a club(s) applying to forego promotion to a higher division.
6.4 Should a club, following relegation, have more than three teams in one division then the lowest team(s) of the affected club shall be relegated to the next lowest division.
6.5 A team in any division except the lowest division defaulting two or more matches during the season shall be relegated to the next lower division unless a satisfactory explanation is given to the Management Committee within 21 days of the scheduled match, Similarly, teams in the lowest division defaulting two or more matches during the season without satisfactory explanation shall be ineligible for promotion.

7. Constitution of Teams
7.1 A team shall consist of four players.

8. Player Eligibility
8.1 No player shall be eligible to play for more than one club during the season.
8.2 A player shall be tied for the remainder of the current season to that division in which he/she first plays unless registered for a lower division. However, he/she may play a total of three times in higher divisions. A player may play once for a higher team in the same division. A player may not play for more than two teams in the same division.
8.3 Any dispute as to the eligibility of a player shall be referred to the management committee whose decision shall be final.

9. Registration of Players
9.1 All players taking part in League competitions must be affiliated to the SCA through the Leagues Registration Scheme and must be members of the clubs they are representing.
9.2 A player will be deemed registered if his/her registration is received by the appropriate division controller not later than 1st November. A player may also be registered by notifying the division controller no later than 7 days after the player has taken part in a league match.

10. Penalties
10.1 For a breach of rules 8 and/or 9 the offending team shall forfeit up to and including the match.

11. Venues and Dates for Matches
11.1 League matches shall be played on weekdays (i.e. Monday to Friday) and on dates stated in the League Fixture List. A match date may be changed, but only in exceptional circumstances by mutual agreement between the clubs concerned and provided the new date is approved by the controller.

12. Rules for Matches
12.1 All matches shall be played in accordance with these rules and with the Rules of Play currently in force.
12.2 The whole of the play in League competitions shall be governed by the S.C.A. Laws of Chess authorised by F.I.D.E., a copy of which, together with a copy of these Rules and a copy of the Rules of Play must be made available by the home teams for consultation if required.

13. Competition Management and Dispute
13.1 The Management Committee shall manage the League competitions and settle all disputes and questions arising therein. See also Dispute Procedures.

RULES OF PLAY
1. Conditions of Play
1.1 Unless agreed otherwise a team match shall commence at a starting time nominated by the home team. All clocks shall be started at this time. The starting time must be between 7.1 5pm and 7.45pm. It shall be notified to the League Secretary at the start of the season and be published with the Fixture List.
1.2 Smoking by players whilst at the board or by players or spectators in the immediate vicinity of the board is not permitted.

2. Team Declaration and Playing Order
2.1 The match captains (or their deputies) of opposing teams shall, five minutes before the commencement of the match, exchange lists of their players in descending order of playing strength.
2.2 Except for the provision laid down in clause 4, no rearrangement of player order is permitted after team lists have been exchanged.
2.3 Any blatant infringement of this rule concerning order of playing strength shall be considered by the Management Committee and may incur penalties extending as far as the loss of two match points.

3. Choice of Colour
3.1 After team lists have been exchanged the match captains shall toss for choice of move at board 1 and the move at the remaining boards shall alternate accordingly.

4. Substitutes
4.1 If a player has not arrived 60 minutes after the official starting time his game shall be lost by default unless, before expiry of this period, a substitute has been put into the team.
4.2 Any player so substituted is not eligible to play in the match in question.

5. Clocks and Rate of Play
5.1 It shall be obligatory to use clocks with flags in all divisions.
5.2 The rate of play shall be 30 moves in the first 60 minutes followed by 15 minutes each quickplay finish in all divisions.
5.3 S.C.A. Quickplay finish rules will apply.

6. Notification of Match Results
6.1 The League Controller must be notified of the result of a match by the match captains of BOTH teams within 7 days of the date on which it is played.
6.2 The notification must give the names of the players in BLOCK LETTERS with the scores achieved.
6.3 Defaulted games should be indicated with a (D) in the results column.
6.4 EACH score card must be signed by BOTH team captains.
6.5 League controllers are empowered to impose penalty match points should a team fail to report results within 28 days of the match, up to a maximum of one penalty match point for each four unreported game results.

7. Rights of Match Captains
7.1 A match captain is not permitted to intervene during play except that he/she is authorised to:
(i) Resolve any problems that might occur during the match in conjunction with the opposing match captain.
(ii) Call flag-fall if this occurs.
(iii) Advise any of his players to make or accept the offer of a draw, provided he does so in the presence of the opposing match captain.

8. Disputes
8.1 Any dispute or question arising under these rules shall be referred to the Management Committee whose decision shall be final.

DISPUTE PROCEDURE
1. In the first instance clubs should endeavour to resolve their disputes by negotiation between their nominated representatives and the League Controller.
2. Failing agreement each club must within 21 days of the dispute arising refer the dispute in writing to the League Controller. The respective club secretaries will be notified by letter of the date when the dispute will be heard by a panel of the Management Committee.
3. The panel may invite clubs to:
(i) Present their case by written submission and/or
(ii) Arrange for persons to appear before the panel to speak on matters relevant to the dispute.
4. The clubs involved will be notified in writing of the decision of the Management Committee.