NORTHWEST LEAGUE (Washington High School Chess Assocation) League Match Rules * * * * * 1999-2000 season: Same as the 1998-1999 inaugural season, with the following specifications: A. FORMAT: The format will be a four-meet eight-round Swiss. B. SEEDING: For the first round pairings, teams will be seeded in order of final ranking last year. New non-B teams will be seeded after established schools, alphabetically. New B teams will be seeded at the bottom, alphabetically. C. PAIRING: General USCF Swiss pairing rules will be followed, with the following specifications: --Pairing two schools with similar scores has clear priority over balancing colors. --If two schools are due the same color, the higher-placed school alternates colors. --NWL will not pair a "B" team with an "A" team from the same school. D. BYES: If an odd number of teams are participating in the NWL, the team due the bye as per Swiss pairing rules will receive a 2.5 point bye. --If a (new) school/team joins the NWL late, at the second meet, they will be given 2.5 bye points total for the first two rounds. * * * * * NORTHWEST LEAGUE (Washington High School Chess Assocation) League Match Rules 1. ELIGIBILITY: All high schools within Whatcom and Skagit Counties may enter the Northwest League as they become able to field a team of five players or more. To be eligible for match play, a player must be registered in grades 9 through 12 for a majority of his/her school program in the school for which s/he is playing. Students on state approved home instruction programs are eligible only if they reside within the school's attendance area. Under the public access law, a private or parochial school student may participate if his/her own school does not have a chess program, but only at the next neighboring school which does have a program. NOTE: WHSCA practices are modelled generally on those of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association. WIAA requirements may be used to help determine WHSCA eligibility in individual cases. 2. SCHEDULE: Each match should be played as indicated on the Northwest League Schedule. Matches may be played on alternate dates, -provided- that the team wishing the alternate date has the clear approval of the opponent coach. Inclement weather or emergency circumstances will be grounds for a postponement, and mutual agreement is not a requirement in these cases. 3. EQUIPMENT: The home team shall provide a quiet, well-lit area with adequate tables and chairs. The home team shall do their best to provide all the necessary equipment, which includes sets, boards, clocks, score sheets, pencils/pens. However, the visiting team should bring equipment along (extra clocks especially) in case there is a shortage. Sets must be of regular Staunton design with a size such that the king is 3 3/4" high. Boards must be composed of 2 1/4" squares. The player playing Black will have their choice of sets. Should the above requirements not be available from either team, substitution may be made provided -both- coaches agree. Players may play on other than the required sets assuming -both- players and -both- coaches agree. If there are not enough clocks available, those which are available will be placed on the highest boards, starting with board one. However, if a player personally owns their own clock, they may use it in their own game regardless of which board they are playing. A player may refuse to use a digital clock if an analog clock is available. 4. MATCHES: A match shall consist of five boards with one game played per board. The strongest players from each team shall play the first board position, the second highest ranking players shall play the second board, etc., continuing in order until all five boards are paired. Prior to the match, team coaches shall exchange official score sheets with their respective players listed by board position. The visiting team will have white on the odd numbered boards, while the home team will have white on the even numbered boards. In the case of a postponement, or change of site, original colors will be used. Matches shall begin no later than the designated starting time on the Northwest League Schedule. An alternate starting time may be arranged by mutual consent of the coaches. All games shall start simultaneously upon direction of the home coach. In the event a team/team member has not arrived at the match site by the starting time, the late team/team members clock(s) shall be started. Upon arrival, the late team/team member shall have the remaining time to complete the game, -providing- the player(s) arrive within one hour of the starting time. However, a team lacking team members may elect to: (1) await the team member's arrival as noted in this rule or (2) move the boards up to fill in the position of the missing player, and commence play. NOTE: If, in the event a team chooses option (1) above (awaiting an absent player above board 5) , and play begins on the other boards, the late player(s) must arrive within the allowable hour, or their board(s) and all varsity boards below the vacant board are forfeited. 5. STACKING: "Stacking" is not allowed. Players shall be considered "stacked" if -any- players are listed more than two board positions higher or lower than the previous league match. It should be noted that if a new player joins the team mid-season, that player may play his/her -first- match anywhere in the roster without being considered "stacked". Also, if one or more of a team's regular players are absent from a match, or leave the team, lower boards may move up -in order- the appropriate number of positions without being considered "stacked", and the vacant positions are not counted as part of the two board position move limit. If there is an objection to an opposing team's line up, a protest should first be make to the opposing team's coach. If the opposing coach does not agree to modify the lineup, the match should be played "under protest". When the match concludes, -both- coaches should submit a written statement to the League Director for a ruling. If a ruling is made in favor of the protest, the "stacked" board and all boards below will be forfeit. However, if a protest is not made prior to the beginning of the match, then that team is considered to have waived any right to a later protest based upon boards being "stacked". 6. TIME CONTROL: Time control will be "Game/45, Sudden Death" which means that each player will have 45 minutes on their clock to complete their game. Both clocks at each board should be set at 5:15 and then time will expire for each clock at 6:00. Time will expire the moment that "flag fall" occurs (i.e. at exactly 6:00). At this point it is up to the opponent of the player whose flag has fallen and -no one else- (!) to call "Flag Fall". When flag fall is called as described above, the game is over with the player who calls flag fall winning. NOTE: If any person observing the game indicates in ANY way that player X is out of time and that person is associated in any way with player X's opponent, (eg. team mate, coach, friend, parent etc.) then player X will be awarded an additional five minutes on their clock and the game will continue. During time trouble neither player may pick up the clock, both players must actuate the clock with the same hand with which they move the pieces, and hands must not remain on the clock. 7. NOTATION: Written notation in a conventional form (i.e. Algebraic or English Descriptive) -must- be kept by each player. If notation is 1) incomprehensible, or 2) not kept for more than three moves, then a claim can be make for a player being "out of notation". NOTE: Claims for notation violations must be initiated -only- by the players! Should a player observe that their opponent is not keeping notation correctly, that player should tell their own coach, who should then notify the offending player's coach who will then notify the player out of notation. The clock of the player out of notation will be kept running while they catch up on their scoresheet, but for that purpose they may use the score sheet of their opponent. If that player still does not maintain their scoresheet, a second claim may be made via the coaches. In this event, if the claim proves to be true, the result on that board will be reduced by 1/2 point -assuming- that the player in violation won or drew the game. If the player in violation loses, there is no penalty. If both players are out of notation, there is no penalty. If a dispute should occur regarding correct notation, both clocks should be stopped and the pieces on the board left untouched, while two more boards are set up and each coach attempts to reproduce the board position using their player's notation sheet. In general the player whose notation cannot achieve the board position is "out of notation". Should both sheets fail to achieve the board position, no claim can be made. NOTE: A claim cannot and should not be made based upon a small number of careless errors (i.e. 7 or less) on an opponent's sheet. Only major incomprehensibility or failure to notate at all can be claimed. NOTE: If a coach has beginning players on their team who are still learning how to notate, he/she should notify the opposing team prior to the match and no claims or penalties will occur -providing- it is one of the first three matches a player plays. In this case the beginning player must attempt to keep a correct notation. NOTE: A physically handicapped player may have moves recorded and moved by another person. In such a case, their opponent may exercise the same option. NOTE: Notation may be suspended during the last five minutes on a player's clock, with no penalties claimed by the opponent. Both players may suspend recording the game when either player has less than five minutes left. The player with five minutes or less remaining may invite another person to record in his stead. Scoresheets written by persons other than the players involved are not an acceptable basis for claims. -No one- who is associated with a player (i.e. teamate, coach, parent, friend, etc.) may remind a player that they have less than five minutes left on their clock and may stop notating. To do so will subject that player to a loss of half their remaining time. 8. TOUCH MOVE: If a player touches one of their own pieces during their turn, they are required to move that piece IF it is possible to do sounder the Laws of Chess. However, it is up to that player's opponent and -no other person- (i.e. coach, teamate, parent, friend, etc.) to enforce that rule! Only if the player denies touching the piece or refuses to move the touched piece should coaches become involved, in which case every effort should be made to ascertain what actually happened. Should a player first touch their piece then touch their opponent's piece (assuming it wasn't an accidental touching), then that player is required to capture the touched piece with their own touched piece, assuming it is possible to do so under the rules of chess. Should a player wish to adjust a piece such that it fits more correctly on its square, that player must say the word "adjust" or "j'adoube" prior to touching the piece. It should be noted that the touch move rule is in effect during the -entire- game, and is -not- suspended when a player is under time pressure. 9. ILLEGAL MOVES: If, at any time during the game, a player makes an illegal move, and his opponent catches it -before- moving himself, then the move is taken back and the opponent is awarded five minutes of clock time. The time should be put on the clock by one of the coaches. In addition, the player is bound to move the touched piece under the "touch move" rules if it is possible to do so under the rules of Chess. Illegal moves must be rectified back to a maximum of 10 moves if notation allows. 10. SCORING: One point is awarded for a win, one half point for a draw, and zero points for a loss. One point will be awarded regardless whether the win was due to a checkmate, a resignation, a flagfall or a forfeit based on a "no show". A coach may forfeit the game of one of his players at any time for any reason. Coaches may, by mutual agreement, declare a game drawn if the board is in an obviously drawn position. A win on time alone will not be allowed in simple book draw positions. Should neither team in a match be able to field a full 5 players, then no points will be awarded for empty boards on both teams. 11. CAPTAINS: Prior to the beginning of the match, each team should designate a single player as captain. If the coach is absent from the match or away from the playing site for a few moments, the designated captain can act in all matters in place of the coach. 12. DECORUM & ETIQUETTE: The following are considered recommended practices of good sportsmanship: Players should introduce themselves to their opponent, and shake hands before a match. Players may inform their opponent the first time the opponent forgets to punch their clock. Players are -strongly- encouraged to review the game with their opponent after its completion, time allowing, in an area removed from the remaining games in progress. From the time of the beginning of the first game of a match until the conclusion of the last game, silence shall be observed in the match area. If a player who is still playing their game finds it necessary to communicate with a teammate, they should do so in the presence of the opposing captain or coach. A coach, captain or teammate must not initiate a conversation with a player in the course of their game to remind them of these or other rules of Chess. However, if a player who has a question goes to their coach -on their own- to ask the question, the coach may answer that question only, with no other advice given. Under -no- circumstances may a player discuss chess strategy with any other person, or consult a chess book or computer, while still playing their game. To do so will subject the offending player's game to a forfeit. It should be noted that this rule also pertains to a discussion of another player's game while a player is still playing their own game. Also, players are not allowed to consult -any- printed material while in the course on their game. NOTE: The purpose of this rule is more one of respect than of concern for cheating. It makes a player ill at ease to see a group from the opposing team, including his or her opponent, off to the side whispering and pointing at the game they are playing. 13. OFFERING A DRAW: If an offer of draw is made, that player's opponent must accept or reject the offer before another move is made by either player. If a move is made without a response being made, it is assumed that the offer has been rejected. In any case, once the offer of a draw is rejected, or a move is made, the player offering the draw is no longer bound by his or her offer. If that player so wishes, he or she may offer a draw again at another time. However, if an offer of a draw is made, and that player's opponent accepts the draw before making another move, the game is over, and a draw is binding on both players. A player may not consult a coach or captain regarding draw offers or resignation. 14. ADJOURNED GAMES: Games will not be adjourned except by mutual consent of the coaches/captains, and only in extreme circumstances. 15. REPORTING RESULTS: Match results should be reported by e-mail to the league director (Randy Kaech) by the following morning. The address is randy@mediaaccess.com . The home team is responsible for reporting. 16. JUNIOR VARSITY: See separate Junior Varsity League Games document. 17. LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP: The league championship will be determined by the highest total board points for the season. Should two or more teams be tied for total board points then the primary tie-breaker shall be the match score between the tied teams. Should the result of those match(s) be a draw, or inconclusive, a secondary tie breaker shall be comparison of the "match points" of the tied teams. ("Match Points" are determined by the overall score the team as a whole achieves in an individual match; if a team wins 3 or more games, they receive 1 match point; if they win 2 1/2 games they receive 1/2 match points; and if they win 2 games or less, they receive 0 match points). It should be noted that match points will only have meaning as a secondary means of breaking ties, and will have no other significance. Should two teams still remain tied after the secondary tie break, then the tied teams shall reign as co-champions. If a team should drop out of the league without completing its schedule, any points which teams have achieved against that team will be removed from their total, and it will be treated as if all teams had a "bye" when they played the team that dropped out. 18. AWARDS: The Northwest League will provide appropriate trophies, medals, certificates and/or other awards for team and individual champions. 19. STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: At the end of the season all teams in the Northwest League will be ranked according to the total number of board points scored. The top half of the League plus one team will qualify for the Washington State High School Chess Team Championship Tournament. In the case of a tie, all tied teams will qualify for State. At State, the Northwest League Champion will be seeded in the top 7 among the other league champions (ranked by average rating); the remaining qualifiers for State will be seeded based on the average rating of their top 5 players on the entry form. 20. RULES NOT COVERED IN THE NORTHWEST LEAGUE RULES: The U.S.C.F.'s Official Rules of Chess, 4th Ed., 1993, (FIDE Laws), shall govern all match play, except where (if) they contradict these rules. Any difference regarding rules or interpretations should be submitted to the League Director in writing for a decision. March 12, 1998 Version 1.00 Randy Kaech, Northwest League Director (submitted for review to Paul Zurybida, WHSCA Director) Alteration on December 6, 1998: Section 6: Time control changed to Game/45. =========================================================================== ======================================================================== NORTHWEST LEAGUE (Washington High School Chess Assocation) Junior Varsity Section Rules All rules for the Junior Varsity section will be the same as those stated in the Northwest League Match Rules with the following exceptions, conditions and clarifications: 1. The 1998-99 Northwest League Junior Varsity section will be a eight-round tournament using Swiss-system pairings for individual students. 2. Players from the same school shall not be paired together. Exception: In the final round, the League Director may pair players from the same school if no other players are near their point bracket, and if the result would not affect the final team standings. 3. The school with the highest total board points from their top three finishers will be the Northwest League Junior Varsity Team Champions. 4. A player may not play on both the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams during the same week. A player may move from the J.V. to the Varsity team (or vice versa) in succeeding weeks as long as the stacking rule is not violated. For this purpose, players in the J.V. section will be considered as playing Board 6 for their team. 5. If an odd number of players register for the J.V. section, then the player who receives the full-point bye among the lowest scorers will be 1) the lowest rated player, or if none are rated, 2) the youngest player from the school with the most J.V. section entrants. 6. Players who enter the JV section after the first round shall receive zero points for rounds missed, but shall be paired as if they had scored 50% for rounds missed. 7. As in the Varsity section, all games shall be WSRS rated. ____________________________________________________________________ NORTHWEST LEAGUE (Washington High School Chess Assocation) By-Laws 1. Northwest League High School Chess play shall be governed by the current Northwest League Rules. 2. The "current chess year" shall be defined as beginning Sept.1st and ending Aug. 31st the following year. "Current teams" shall be defined as those teams who are participating in or intend to participate in Northwest League Chess during the current chess year. 3. Current teams are allowed one vote on all matters pertaining to the Northwest League. For this purpose, either the current coach or a player may represent their team and have voting rights. 4. Any matters put to a vote will require a quorum. A quorum is defined as one half or more of the current teams. If necessary, a quorum may be obtained by written proxy. If a quorum is not obtained, any voting is invalid, and no changes can be made. 5. The position of League Director shall be put up for election once each year. The League Director shall be elected at a league meeting by majority vote of current teams. Duties of the League Director shall include: a. Communicate with all current teams regarding match schedules, results of play, league meetings, and any other Northwest League business. b. Organize and determine awards. c. Enforce Northwest League rules and make rulings in cases of dispute between teams. d. Determine the Northwest League schedule. e. Represent Northwest League at the state level. f. Make decisions as necessary for the smooth running of Northwest League. 6. The League Director may be removed from office at any time during the current chess year for failure to complete duties. Action of this type will require a majority vote of current teams. In this case the League Director is not allowed to vote. The League Director may resign in good standing with at least one month's written notice to all current teams. 7. Changes to Northwest League Rules or Northwest League By-Laws require a majority vote by current teams. 8. There must be a minimum of one League Meeting for each chess year. Normally this meeting is called and organized by the League Director, but a meeting may be called by ANY team representative with two weeks written notice to all other teams. Every effort must be made to have a quorum for at least one meeting each year. 9. Decisions made by the League Director may be appealed and overturned by majority vote of current teams at a league meeting. The result of the voting then becomes final. This includes interpretations of rules and rulings made on disputes between teams. Notification of appeal must be made in writing to the League Director, explaining the reason for appeal. This notification must be made within one week of the cause for appeal. Should a dispute occur which involves a team the League Director is coaching, the dispute must be settled by majority vote of current teams at a league meeting. 10. The league director or a person appointed by the League Director, shall give, at least once each year, a financial report accounting for all league funds. This report shall be given within one year of the end of the current chess year.