CHESS CLUB
Middletown Elementary School
Jefferson County, Kentucky

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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHESS LEAGUE

RULES AND REGULATIONS

FALL 2007

League Charter

To develop chess at the Elementary School level. The league is open to any public, private, or parochial school in the Louisville Metro area that can organize both a K-3 and K-5 team.

League Participation

Admission into the league is not automatic, but will be based on past participation, willingness to travel, and geographic location. A $30 fee will be collected from each school to cover trophies and awards.

League Rules

  1. The league will be played with a semi-competitive nature, in that, only the top 4 boards in each Section (8 total) will count toward overall won-loss-tie outcome of the Match. All remaining matches will be played and scored in accordance with USCF rules, but the outcome of these matches will not count toward the overall final score. After the top 4 boards are paired, players should be paired based on similar skill level and abilities regardless of Grade/Age. Players do not need to be members of the USCF to participate in the league.

  2. The league’s intent is to provide an inexpensive, semi-formal chess forum for tournament and non-tournament type players. It is the league’s hope that this forum will encourage non-tournament type players to take a deeper interest in chess and participate in USCF sanctioned events. It is also hopeful that this league will provide tournament players meaningful competition, thereby improving their level of play.

  3. At the conclusion of the League, every participating school will receive a school trophy based on their overall finish. In addition, the school with the best overall record in the K-3 and K-5 Sections (in each Division) will be awarded a Plaque recognizing their accomplishment. In the case of ties, the tiebreaking rules in Rule #4 below will be followed. The league will not award trophies to individuals.

  4. The league is set up as a round-robin, in that, every school within a division will play every other school once. Overall standings in each division will be based on the school’s won-loss-tie record. In the case two or more schools tie at the end of the regular seasons within a division, the following tiebreaker rules shall be followed to determine Playoff Seedings:

1st - Head-to-head competition
2nd - Most individual boards won. Maximum would be 24 (8 x 3 matches)
3rd - Least individual boards forfeited
4th – School with the most road matches. Maximum would be Two (2).
5th - Flip a coin

Note: If there is still a two team tie for the #2 seed only when applying tie breaker rules #1 through #4 above, and the implication is a flip of the coin will decide who becomes the #2 Seed and eventually plays for the League Championship, then in lieu of a coin flip and if both coaches agree, a one match (Team vs. Team) tie-breaker can be played to determine the #2 seed. However, this match must be played before the last week of the league so as not to press the #1 seeded team into a hastily scheduled match. If the tie-breaker match is not played before the last week of the league, then a flip of the coin will determine the #2 seed

  1. At the conclusion of the Regular Season, a 1-Match Playoff will be played pairing each Division’s respective finishers against each other. The outcome of this Playoff will determine the school’s overall finish in the league. Each School will be Seeded within their Division based on the criteria and tiebreaker rules outlined in Rule #4 above. Schools will then be paired in the Playoffs based on the following procedure.

  1. The two #1 Seeds with the best won/loss/tie record will be paired against each other. In case of ties, the tiebreaker rules outlined in #4 above shall apply. These 2 schools will be playing for the #1 & #2 Overall Place finish in the League.

  2. The remaining #1 Seed will be paired against the #2 Seed with the best won/loss/tie record. In case of ties, the tiebreaker rules outlined in #4 above shall apply. These 2 schools will be playing for the #3 & #4 Overall Place finish in the League.

  3. The remaining two #2 Seeds will be paired against each other. These 2 schools will be playing for the #5 & #6 Overall Place finish in the League.

  4. The two #3 Seeds with the best won/loss/tie record will be paired against each other. In case of ties, the tiebreaker rules outlined in #4 above shall apply. These 2 schools will be playing for the #7 & #8 Overall Place finish in the League.

  5. The remaining #3 Seed will be paired against the #4 Seed with the best won/loss/tie record. In case of ties, the tiebreaker rules outlined in #4 above shall apply. These 2 schools will be playing for the #9 & #10 Overall Place finish in the League.

  6. The remaining two #4 Seeds will be paired against each other. These 2 schools will be playing for the #11 & #12 Overall Place finish in the League.

Match Rules

  1. Each school should bring a minimum of 4 players in each section, K-3 and K-5 (8 total). Since this is a developmental league, it is encouraged to bring as many players as possible. However, you should coordinate this with your opposing school to ensure it doesn’t present an unmanageable mis-balance of players. An ideal number to bring would be between 15 to 25 total.

  2. The Match shall begin with the top 4 players, from each school, playing each other. Other Matches should begin simultaneously. It is hopeful that 25-50 games can be played during the allotted time frame. It would be typical for kids to play 2-4 games during the Meet. However, it is not necessary for all players to play the same number of games.

  3. The lineup for the top 4 players (i.e. boards) from each school in the “Competitive” Round should be set in order of relative strength with the strongest player on Board 1, the next strongest player on Board, 2, etc. (i.e. highest to lowest). It is the coach’s obligation not to deliberately play a stronger player below a weaker player(s) in order to gain an advantage.

  4. An Unrated player can play on ANY board keeping in the spirit of Rule #8. It is recognized that a player’s USCF rating may not be reflective of their current playing level so a Coach may place a player with a high USCF rating below a player with a lower USCF keeping with the spirit of Rule #8. Any objections to a lineup should be resolved between the coaches BEFORE the Match begins. Once the match begins, no changes shall be made even if an error in rating is discovered. By Coach’s signature on the Scorer Sheet, he or she has attested that this rule has been followed to their best knowledge.

  5. If a school does not bring 4 players in a particular section, the lowest(s) boards shall be forfeited. However, since the league’s intend is primarily to develop players, every attempt should be made to bring at least 4 players in each section, regardless of their skill level.

  6. On the competitive boards (i.e. top 4 in K3 and top 4 in K5, first round only), the Visiting Team shall play White on boards #1 and #3. The Home Team shall play White on boards #2 and #4. On the non-competitive boards, the youngest kid in age shall play White.

  7. The Coaches of each school should contact each other at least 1 week prior to the Match, to coordinate the date/time of the Match. The Coaches names/numbers are provided on the League schedule as a point of contact. The Home Team gets to set the date/day of the Match, but consideration needs to be given to the start time based on commuting distances of the Visiting team. The Match is generally set on the day the Home Team has their normal club practice, but is not required nor should the Visiting Team assume this and show up without calling. Matches shall not be played before school, on weekends, or on a day when one of the two schools is not in session, unless agreed to by both Coaches.

  8. School Matches should start within 30 minutes after school is dismissed. For public schools, this would be by 4:30pm. No new individual matches should start after 5:30pm. Individual matches that are in play at 5:30pm, can finish, but should be completed by 5:45pm. Deviations to this core time should be agreed to by both schools. When long commutes are necessary, the traveling school should consider leaving school early under the school’s Field Trip guidelines, with their Principal’s approval. If this is not possible, a later start time or evening matches are an option, but should be agreed to by both schools.

  9. Any player may choose to quit before the Match is over, especially when commuting situations prevail.

  10. The home school is responsible for providing boards and chess pieces.

  11. The home school is responsible for providing a Score Keeper. The results of all Matches, whether competitive or non-competitive should be reported to the Score Keeper. This will give the players the feeling of a real sanctioned tournament, while documenting won/loss records of players. This information will be used to pair players during the Match and provide coaches historical information on how well individual players performed.

  12. The playing area is to be considered as a quiet area. It is the responsibility of the coaches to keep disruptions to a minimum. The Home school should provide some kind of Skittles area for the standby players to group.

  13. Parents are encouraged to attend and watch the Matches. However, parents should not approach the board to assist in the Match. Kids will make illegal moves, but it is up to the kids to catch it, not the parents.

  14. Coaches are encouraged to move about the playing area observing the matches. They should not coach or correct moves during a Match. They may serve as unbiased officials and provide direction only if players raise their hand and request it.

  15. Players may take restroom breaks during a Match. All other breaks in play should be avoided.

  16. Food, snacks, or beverages shall not be allowed in the playing area. The Home School sets the policy whether or not consumables will be allowed in the Skittles area. If you are traveling to a Match, please contact the other school to see their school’s policy on bringing food. Food/snacks do create a mess if not properly supervised.

  17. Every Match should begin and end each with a handshake. This will encourage good sportsmanship. Both players should report the outcome of the Match to the designated Scorekeeper.

  18. All Matches will be played by the touch move, in that, once a chess piece has been touched, a legal move must be made. If an player touches an opponent’s piece, a capture must be made, if possible.

  19. Chess notation is not required but encouraged.

  20. Timeclocks are not required but encouraged during the regular season matches (Rounds 1 through 3). Timeclocks are required during the playoffs if either opponent requests it. If timeclocks are used, they should be set at Game/30 (i.e. 30 minutes for each player without time delay) and shall follow USCF rules/guidelines.

  21. The coaches will interpret all rules and make final determination on any situation not previously addressed. The League Officers will interpret rules on appeal.

  22. The Home school is responsible for emailing all match results to the League Director (rlkincaid@aol.com) or faxing them to 899-7310 by 10:00 pm Friday night. Results shall include the respective Section, the match score, and BOTH PLAYERS’ names and schools, with the winner highlighted or noted in some manner. The Home school’s Coach shall copy the opposing school’s coach on the email.

General Rules

  1. A copy of "The Official Rules of Chess" should be in your school reference library.

  2. If INCLEMENT WEATHER prevails, Matches shall be automatically rescheduled 1 week later (i.e. Wednesday to the following Wednesday). However, if both schools agree, the makeup can be scheduled during the current week or a different day of the following week (i.e. Wednesday to the following Monday). If the Match is not made-up during this time slot, the Match can be made-up at a later date, if agreed to by both Coaches. If a Match was postponed due to inclement weather, and the Match is not played by the final regular season Match, it shall be entered as a tie. The League Director should be contacted when matches are rescheduled due to tnclement Weather.

  3. In the event a school needs to re-schedule a Match due to some other conflict, the other school’s coach should be notified a week in advance otherwise the Match shall count as a forfeit (scored 8-0). The League Director should also be contactedby the school that has the conflict. All attempts should be made to keep the league on schedule. If emergency situation occurs, the two (2) coaches may reschedule the Match without a forfeit.

  4. 29. If both coaches agree that both teams are at mutual fault that a scheduled match and re-scheduled match was not played, then the match shall be recorded as a 4-4 tie.

___________________________________________
Rick Kincaid - League Director
LCC/St. Matthews Elementary

___________________________________________
Chip Eskridge – Rules and Schedule Coordinator
Middletown Elementary

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