Huddersfield & District Chess Association

 

Constitution & Rules

 

 

Secretary

President

Treasurer

 

 

 

WF Lumley

A Ward

D Firth

44 Swincliffe Crescent

7 Heycliffe Road

10 Hare Park Drive

Gomersal

Holmfirth

Liversedge

Cleckheaton

Huddersfield

W Yorks.

W Yorks.  BD19 4BD

HD7 1XD

WF15 8DH

 

 

 

01274 876195

01484 684627

01274 242848

 

 

 

Handicap/Competition Committee

WF Lumley

E Priestley

AG Midgley

PH Jackson

G Peake

 

 

Affiliated Clubs

Brighouse

Chartist

David Browns

Dewsbury

Holme Valley

Huddersfield

Netherton Family

Wakefield

 

 

CONSTITUTION

 

1.       The Association shall be called ‘The Huddersfield & District Chess Association’.

2.       All local chess clubs shall be eligible to apply for membership.

3.       Officers

          These shall consist of the President, Vice Presidents, Secretary and Treasurer.

4.       Election of Officers

Officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting from candidates nominated by the General Committee or by the A.G.M. All Officers shall hold office for one year but may be nominated for re-election. A list of nominees shall be circulated with the A.G.M. Agenda to all Club Secretaries.

5.       Committees

General         Shall consist of the Officers, plus one representative from each Club.

Executive      Shall consist of President, Treasurer and Secretary.

Handicap/Competition Shall consist of five members, including a Chairman and Secretary.

                    Election shall be at the A.G.M.

Sub              Sub-Committees may be appointed for any special purpose by the General Committee or by a General Meeting.

6.       Resignations

If any Officer resigns or is unable to carry out his duties, the General Committee may take any necessary action to appoint a replacement until the next A. G. M.

7.       Meetings

a.       General Committee Meetings

These shall be convened when necessary.

b.       A.G.M.

The date and venue shall be determined by the Executive Committee. Clubs shall be  given 14 days notice.

c.        Extraordinary General Meeting

These may be called at any time by the President or at the request of two Clubs.

8.       Voting

Any registered player may attend and vote at the AGM or at an EGM.

9.       Trophies

The Watkinson Trophy, Littlewood Shield, Examiner Trophy, The Team Challenge Trophy, the FW Brown Trophy, the Bill Lumley Trophy and the Individual K.O. Cups, shall be the property of the Association and may not be won outright. Winners shall hold them for one year.

10.     Fees

Affiliation fees and competition entrance fees shall be decided at the A.G.M.

11.     Alteration to Constitution or Rules

This may only take place at a General Meeting with a two thirds majority of votes cast.

Notice of proposed changes must be sent to the Secretary 21 days in advance.

 

 

ASSOCIATION RULES

 

(A)     COMPETITIONS

 

1.   Both scratch and handicap competitions shall be organised.

2.   Watkinson Trophy       Shall be held by winners of Division 1 Scratch.

3.   Littlewood Shield        Shall be held by winners of Division 2 Scratch, or when  one                                           division only operates, by the runner up in that division.

4.   Examiner Trophy         Shall be held by winners of Handicap Competition

5.   Challenge Cup              Shall be held by the winners of Team Knock-Out, which shall be a                                   Handicap Competition

6.   Bill Lumley Trophy      Shall be held by the winners of the Rapidplay competition

7.   Individual K.O. Cups    Shall be held by the winners of the 3 Individual Knock-Out                                             Competitions. The two finalists in each section shall also receive                              individual prizes.

8.   F W Brown Trophy       Awarded to winner of the annual Rapid Play Competition.

 

 

(B)     PLAYER REGISTRATION

 

1.   Each Club Secretary shall submit a list of players for registration before the start of  the season.

2.   Additional players may be registered on the appropriate registration form which should be sent to the League Secretary. This information may be sent by email or telephoned.

3.   New players will not be eligible to play until confirmation of handicap is received from the League Secretary.

4.   A player may only play for the Club which holds his registration.

5.   A player may only play for one team in any one season in the Examiner Handicap Competition, Bill Lumley Rapidplay and the Team Challenge Knock-Out.

6.   A club which enters 2 teams in the Scratch Competition, shall nominate its 4 strongest players who shall not be eligible for the 2nd team. The remaining players may play for either team except that once a player has player 3 games above board 5 in the first team, he shall no longer be eligible for the 2nd team. A club which enters 3 teams, shall nominate its 10 strongest players, who shall not be eligible for the 3rd team. The clubs remaining players may play for any team, until they have played 3 games anywhere above board 5 of the 2nd team, when they will cease to be eligible for the 3rd team. This formula can be extended.

 

(C)     HANDICAPS (Huddersfield Gradings)

         

YCA Grading Range

Handicap

170+

0

155-169

1

140-154

2

125-139

3

110-124

4

95-109

5

80-94

6

65-79

7

50-64

8

35-49

9

0-34

10

 

  1. The Handicap Committee shall grade each registered player in the range 0 to 10, for ‘handicap’ purposes. The handicap of each registered player shall be determined by his/her current YCA grade according to the above scale.
  2. Handicaps may be reviewed at any time at the discretion of the Handicap Committee.
  3. If a new player has a BCF or Yorkshire Grading this must be declared when the player  is registered.
  4. If a ‘new’ player has no previous official grading, the Club Secretary must provide an estimate of the new player’s strength, based on a ‘Huddersfield’ grade (0-10), when the player is registered.
  5. Each Club shall be responsible at all times, for providing the Handicap Committee with full information on the playing experience of all its registered players in any competitive chess other than the Huddersfield League.
  6. The General Committee shall be empowered to take any necessary action against a Club which fails to meet the requirements of Rules 3 to 5 (Handicaps).

 

(D)     ORGANISATION OF LEAGUES

Scratch Leagues

  1. Final composition of Leagues shall be determined by the General Committee after the closing date for entries.
  2. Where 2 divisions operate, promotion and relegation shall be 2 up and 2 down, provided that the total number of teams in the two divisions is 14 or more. If the total is fewer than 14, promotion and relegation shall be 1 up and 1 down. Where the total is an odd number, Division 1 shall be larger than Division 2 by one team. Where the total is an even number, the Divisions shall have the same number of teams.
  3. Teams finishing level on points shall play off to determine League Championship or promotion and relegation places
  4. In the event of more than 2 teams being involved in a play off, a draw shall be made.
  5. In the event of a tie in play off games, the result will be decided on board elimination starting at board 6.
  6. If a team drops out of a League, the vacancy shall be filled by not relegating.
  7. New teams entering the League shall be placed in the lowest Division.

Examiner Handicap League

  1. The number of fixtures per team to be decided by the General Committee.
  2. If possible teams will ‘all play all’. In this case, the league winners will win the Examiner Plate.
  3. In the event of more than one team finishing level on points, they shall play off to determine the winner.
  4. In the event of a tie in play off games the result will be decided on board elimination starting at board 6.
  5. If the entry is too large to accommodate ‘all play all’, fixtures shall be taken from a 'dial' system.
  6. Teams will be allocated in a circle at random, except that, if possible teams from the same Club will not play each other.
  7. Teams will play an even number of fixtures. The total number of fixtures to be decided by the General Committee. Home fixtures are scheduled against adjacent teams moving clockwise, and away fixtures teams against teams moving anticlockwise on the dial.
  8. The top 4 teams shall play-off for the Examiner Trophy, (1 v 4 and 2 v 3).
  9. Teams finishing first and second shall play at home.
  10. The final to be at a neutral venue, unless otherwise agreed by the finalists.

Bill Lumley Rapidplay

  1. Fixtures will be arranged by the Handicap/Competition Committee.
  2. Teams will usually play 2 matches on the same evening (a maximum of 3 matches).
  3. Separate ‘Quickplay’ match rules will be sent to Clubs before the start of the Competition.

 

(E)     MATCH RULES

 

The following Rules shall apply to all games/matches (except Bill Lumley Rapidplay)

1.   All games shall played be under F.I.D.E. Laws of Chess, except where the Association Rules provide otherwise.

2.   A copy of both Association Rules and F.I.D.E. Laws of Chess shall be available during each match, provided by the Home Team

3.   Teams shall consist of 6 players.

4.   Board order must follow correct handicap sequence.

5.   Captains shall exchange team lists 5 minutes before the scheduled starting time which shall be 7.30 pm, unless otherwise agreed.

6.   Captains shall spin for colours. Winners shall have white on odd boards.

7.   All games shall be played with clocks.

8.   Players must record moves as prescribed by the Laws of Chess. Moves may however be recorded in Algebraic or English notation.

9.   Games shall be played at 35 moves in 70 minutes. After black’s 35th move, both clocks shall be put back 20 minutes, and the game played to a conclusion. Current BCF Quickplay Finish Rules to apply.

10.A player shall be entitled to start his opponent’s clock at the scheduled starting time.

11.The Home Captain shall be responsible for sending the match result sheet to the League Secretary within 3 days of game completion.

12.A team may request a postponement provided the opposition are given at least 8 days notice. The League Secretary must be informed immediately of the rearranged date.

13.Teams should not seek a postponement with less than 8 days notice. A team unable to fulfil a fixture during this period must:-

a. Inform opponents without delay.

b. Inform League Secretary, in writing, without delay.

c.  Concede the match.

14.In exceptional circumstances the League Secretary may approve a postponement. His decision will be final.

 

 

(F) INELIGIBLE/UNREGISTERED PLAYERS. PLAYING IN WRONG BOARD ORDER.

1.   In the event of offences under these headings, the team shall forfeit all boards affected by the infringement.

 

(G.)    RULES APPLICABLE TO HANDICAP GAMES

1.   Games won shall count 6 points, games drawn, 3 points.

2.   The total game points shall be added to the total Handicap points to give the match score.

3.   Six points shall be awarded to each player whose opponent does not arrive within 30 minutes of the scheduled starting time. The handicaps of both players shall be discounted.

 

(H.)    RULES APPLICABLE TO SCRATCH GAMES

1.   Games won shall score 1 point. Games drawn, ½ point.

2.   A player will score 1 point if his opponent fails to arrive within 30 minutes of the scheduled starting time.

(I).     RULES APPLICABLE TO TEAM K.O.

1.   The Team K.O. shall be a Handicap Competition.

2.   Clubs may enter more than one team, but a player may only play in one team.

3.   In the event of a tie in any Team KO matches, the result will be decided by ‘board elimination’, starting at board 6 (result and handicaps eliminated).

4.   The Final shall be played at a neutral venue, or by mutual consent, at venue of one of the Finalists.

(J)      RULES APPLICABLE TO BILL LUMLEY TROPHY (Rapidplay)

  1. All games are 25 minutes on each clock. See Rules for Quickplay finish.
  2. Match format is based on Examiner Competition- 6 players per team, 6 points for win, 3 points for draw-handicaps included. Other relevant ‘Examiner’ Rules apply –e.g. handicaps cancelled in event of absentee.
  3. Two points for match win, one point for draw.
  4. Trophy awarded to team scoring highest points.
  5. In event of tie between 2 teams, the result of the league match between the two teams, will decide winner, with board elimination if necessary.
  6. In the event of tie between 3 or more teams, the Committee will organise a suitable play off.

 

 

(K.)    RULES APPLICABLE TO INDIVIDUAL K.O.

  1. The Individual Knock-Out Competition shall be restricted to registered members of  the Association
  2. Players shall be placed in 3 sections:-

                                                    i.     Section 1       Handicaps 0 to 3

                                                  ii.     Section 2       Handicaps 4 to 6

                                                iii.     Section 3       Handicaps 7 to 10

  1. Match venues shall be arranged by the General Committee.
  2. Matches may be played by mutual agreement, before the cut-off date. If no such arrangement is made, the game will be played at the arranged venue, on the scheduled date at 7.30 pm
  3. Players not ready to start by 8.00pm shall be scratched from the competition.
  4. Players shall spin for colour and winner shall have choice. In case of drawn games, colours shall be reversed.

7.      In the event of a draw, a second game shall be played with reverse colours. If two games are drawn at normal rate, subsequent games to be played at 30 minutes per player, until a result is obtained. Players to spin for choice of colour at the start of the new time control.

  1. Results must be recorded on the master sheet at the official playing venue or reported to the League Secretary immediately on completion of the game.

 

The League Secretary shall be responsible for administering these Rules.

Any matters not provided for in these Rules shall be dealt with by the Executive Committee whose decision shall be final.

 

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