Metropolitan Secondary Schools Competition
Rules

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1.         COMPETITION

The Metropolitan Secondary Schools Competition is played in three separate grades (there is no Open Grade this year). Players must compete in the grade which corresponds to their school year. Exemptions from this rule will only be granted in exceptional circumstances, and with the approval of the NSWJCL Council. These grades are as follows:

                Grade                                  School Years      

                SENIOR                                 11 and 12

                INTERMEDIATE                     9 and 10

                JUNIOR                                   7 and   8

Teams are divided into regions which, where necessary, are further divided into divisions for the preliminary rounds. Division winners, and sometimes second place teams, at the discretion of the Regional Convenor, will progress to the finals to determine the Regional winners. Trophies will be awarded to divisional and regional winners. Regional winners will then compete for the Premiership trophies awarded for each grade in the Competition.

2.         TEAMS

(a)           Players: Each team consists of four players from the same school. Teams do not have to field the same four players for every match (although this is desirable). In the preliminary divisional games, a player may only play for one team in any particular round. For teams progressing to the finals, new players may not be introduced into the team, and players should have competed in at least fifty per cent of that team's preliminary matches.

(b)           Board Order:  Within each team, players must be ranked in order of playing strength. It is strongly recommended that where players have NSWJCL ratings, these be used to determine board order, but the rating order may be overridden where a school has determined that the ratings do not reflect the current relative playing strengths of the players. [Permission of the Secondary Schools Coordinator is no longer required to field players out of rating order.] However, where players are blatantly fielded out of strength order (for example, by sacrificing the weakest player on Board 1 in order to improve the chances of winning on the lower boards), then forfeits may be incurred.

Before the commencement of each match the team captains should present result cards nominating the board order of their players and listing their correct ratings.

(c)           Forfeits:  If one team is incomplete and no reserve is available, that team will normally forfeit the board on which the absent player usually plays. For example, if the Board 2 player is absent, it is not necessary to move the lower board players up and forfeit on Board 4 as this would be a double penalty. In this example Boards 1, 3 and 4 should be played and Board 2 forfeited. It would not be permissible to move the Board 1 player down and play Boards 2, 3 and 4, forfeiting Board 1.

Note:  Every effort should be made to avoid forfeiting games. If forfeits are unavoidable the opposing team should be notified beforehand to avoid unnecessary travel and time wastage. Repeated forfeits without notifying the opponents may lead to the team being removed from the competition.

(d)           Penalties:  A player who plays in a team for which he or she is not eligible (for example, the incorrect grade for his or her school year) will lose any points scored. Playing out of NSWJCL rating order (without permission) may lead to forfeiture of the higher rated player's game.

3.         MATCH CONDITIONS

(a)           Pairings: The draw for your region is included separately. The draw for the finals will be advised at the conclusion of the preliminaries.

(b)           Colours: In the draw the first numbered team is the home team, and plays White on Boards 2 and 4.

(c)           Starting Time:  4.00 p.m., unless otherwise agreed. Forfeiture time is 60 minutes after the agreed starting time. Where chess clocks are used the clock of the absent player may be started 30 minutes after the agreed starting time.

Note: Visiting teams sometimes encounter unexpected delays in travel - please make allowance for this, particularly when the visitors have to travel long distances or where traffic delays are likely. Visiting teams expecting to be late should contact the host school beforehand to request a later start.

(d)           Directions: Where directions to the playing room are not clearly set out in the competition booklet, a representative of the home team should meet visiting players at the main entrance and escort them to the playing room.

(e)           Equipment: The home team is required to provide standard (Staunton Pattern) competition sized sets and boards for the match, plus materials for adjournments.

(f)            Clocks: Use of chess clocks is highly recommended grades. Either player may insist on the use of a standard chess clock, if available (visiting teams may take their own clocks). Each player shall have 60 minutes for the first 30 moves, after which each player shall have 15 minutes added (to any time still remaining) for the rest of the game. Shorter time limits may be allowed if agreed to by both players and the match supervisor. Clocks may be used at the resumption of an adjourned game, even if not used in the previous session: the time limit in this case shall be 60 minutes each for the rest of the game.

(g)           Telephone: Access to a telephone at all times is mandatory (for emergency and other reasons).

(h)           Supervision: Home teams are required to provide an adult to supervise the match.

(i)            Result Cards: Both teams must post a completed result card to the Region Convenor as nominated at the front of this book. Cards should be posted on the night of the match or, at the latest, on the next school day. The match may be scored 0-0 if results are not received within seven days of the due date for the match.

Score a win as 1, a loss as 0, a draw as ½, a win by forfeit as 1F, a loss by forfeit as 0F, an unfinished game as X. Illegible, incomplete or late cards may incur a forfeit. The Regional Convenors process thousands of cards, and cannot be expected to continually refer to the draw or other documents to check details on incorrect or incomplete cards. Please also ensure that names are spelt correctly (and written legibly) so that the results can be processed correctly by the Ratings Officer.

4.         POSTPONED GAMES

(a)           When postponement of a match or game is necessary, prior contact must be made. It is not sufficient just to leave a message at the School – the message might not be delivered, or the requested postponement might not be convenient.

(b)           A later starting time or an alternative date may be agreed between teams, but any such arrangements should be made well in advance to ensure that all parties concerned can be advised in time. Claims of altered arrangements cannot be considered if the opposing Teacher in Charge of Chess was not informed.

(c)           Games may not be postponed more than one week after the due date. Note, however, that games may be played at any time earlier than the due date, on any day of the week.

5.         UNFINISHED GAMES

(a)           Where a chess clock is used, the time limit should ensure that the game is finished in at most two and a half hours. Where a chess clock is not used, if any games are unfinished after 2 hours (this is a guide only) of play, or less by agreement between captains or on the direction of the Teacher in Charge, they may be either adjourned, if a suitable date and resumption time can be negotiated between parties, or sent for adjudication.

(b)           In the case of adjournment, the procedure is as follows: The home team should provide adjournment stationery (paper and envelope). The player to move writes his move on the paper provided and seals it in the envelope (this is called "sealing the move"). This move is not played on the board, and the written move should not be shown to the opponent. The following information should be recorded on the outside of the envelope: the players' names, the position immediately before the sealed move, the name of the player whose turn it is to move, and, if clocks are used, the time used by each player and the number of the move sealed. Both players sign the back of the envelope across the seal. The envelope is put into safe keeping and, when the game is resumed, is opened in the presence of the player having to reply to the sealed move. If no impartial party is available to hold the envelope, it should be kept by the player who did not seal the move. If the envelope cannot be produced on resumption, the player who sealed the move may make any legal move.

If no envelope is available at adjournment time, sealing a move is not possible; the game should be adjourned after the home player has played a move on the board. Resumption should be at the home venue unless otherwise agreed by both players, or as otherwise directed by the Regional Convenor or Secondary Schools Coordinator. Resumption time, date and venue should be agreed on by the players before they separate, and should be written on the envelope. If unable to agree on these points, both players must contact the Regional Convenor, who will make the final decision for them. Players may agree to a result before the scheduled resumption. Failure to appear for the resumption of an adjourned game without prior notification (thereby resigning through non-appearance) is considered highly unsporting.

(c)           In the case of adjudication, the position and relevant details (including which player is to move) must be faxed within three days of the game to:

                The Adjudicator

                NSW Junior Chess League

                Fax: 9410 0609

An official Adjudication Form may be downloaded and printed from the NSWJCL website. It is also printed in the competition booklet, and should be photocopied (enlarged to A4 size) and used whenever possible.

(d)           Result cards should be sent in without delay, with any unfinished game indicated by an X. When the game has been completed, the Regional Convenor must be notified of the result immediately.

6.         BEHAVIOUR

(a)           Players are forbidden to distract or annoy their opponents.

(b)           Players and spectators must remain silent during play. Players are forbidden to have recourse to the advice or opinion of a third party, whether solicited or not.

(c)           If at any time during a match a player feels that he/she is being deliberately annoyed or harassed, the game must stop and the matter be brought to the attention of the supervisor. If the matter cannot be settled immediately, proceed with 7 (a). Supervisors should report any conduct problems to the Regional Convenor or Secondary Schools Coordinator.

(d)           Note that the Laws of Chess provide that infractions of the rules relating to the behaviour of players may incur penalties, even to the extent of the loss of the game.

7.        DISPUTES

Procedure:

(a)           In the case of an unresolved dispute, the player to move shall seal his move and stop the game. Within four days, both players and any witnesses must report in writing to the Regional Convenor, giving complete details.

(b)           Following the Regional Convenor's decision, the school representing either player who feels genuinely aggrieved has the right to appeal to the Secondary Schools Coordinator. The appeal must be lodged in writing within 7 days of the Regional Convenor's decision.

(c)           An appeal against the Secondary Schools Coordinator's decision may be made to the Appeals Committee appointed by the NSWJCL Council. The appeal must be lodged in writing with

                The Secretary

                NSW Junior Chess League

                1208/200 Pitt Street

                Waterloo  NSW  2017

within 7 days of the Secondary Schools Coordinator's decision. The decision of the Appeals Committee is final.

(d)           Special rules will apply for the finals to expedite settlement. In such cases, the Secondary Schools Coordinator will make the decision, together with the Appeals Committee; their collective decision is final.

8.         RECORDING OF MOVES

(a)           The recording of moves is not compulsory but is recommended, particularly in the Senior grade and in the finals of all grades. A sample recording sheet is printed in the competition booklet and may be photocopied (enlarge to A4 size).

(b)           Claims for a draw by repetition of position or the 50-move rule can only be claimed where it can be demonstrated from a scoresheet.

(c)           Where a chess clock is used, a win on time cannot be claimed at the first time control (60 minutes) unless the moves have been recorded.

9.         LAWS OF CHESS

(a)           The FIDE (World Chess Federation) Laws of Chess¹ shall apply, unless specifically modified for this competition. (Note that all such modifications have been detailed above).

(b)           Please note in particular the FIDE rule for castling:

·         When castling, the king should be touched first; if the rook is touched first, the opponent may insist that the rook only be moved.  (When the king is touched first, it is evident that castling is intended, as the king move by itself is illegal).

¹   The FIDE Laws of Chess may be found on the FIDE website, www.fide.com – click on “Info” then “Handbook” then “E.I Laws of Chess”.]

10.       FINALS

All matches played after the Divisional (preliminary) rounds are called finals. Each region (Metropolitan North etc.) will produce its own regional champion team in each grade and this team will then play off against the winners of the other regions. The finals will commence at the beginning of third term and will generally be played in knock-out format. Finals matches must be played on (or prior to) the dates scheduled, but not later. (This is particularly important in Senior grade as the finals must be completed before the HSC).

Starting time for Finals: 4.00 p.m., unless otherwise agreed. In arranging the starting time, adequate allowance should be made for the longer travelling time for teams from other regions.

Chess clocks are highly recommended for all finals.

If a match between teams in the knock-out finals results in a tie then the match is to be replayed with colours reversed. If the second match is also tied then the result is determined by weighting the board scores of both matches with weighting factors of 4, 3, 2 and 1 for boards 1 to 4 respectively. If the teams are still tied then the results from Board 4 are discounted, then if necessary Board 3.

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