Basic Proposal and Amendments
I
Except where they are inconsistent with the rules below, the current regulations shall continue to apply.
II
The league shall be replaced by separate Open and grade limited competitions.
The Open shall be for 5 board teams.
Three grade limited sections shall be established with team grade limits of 650, 550 and 360 for respectively 5, 5 and 4 board teams.
These limits apply to the team fielded in each match. When calculating a teams total grade minimum counting grades of 100, 80, 60 will apply respectively to the 3 grade limited tournaments - any player with a lower grade will be counted as having the minimum counting grade, as will defaults.
There are no grading restraints in the Open section.
Amendment IIa
...
Three grade limited sections shall be established with team grade limits of 650, 440 and 360 for respectively 5, 4 and 4 board teams. These limits apply to the team fielded in each match. When calculating a teams total grade minimum counting grades of 100, 80, 60 will apply respectively to the 3 grade limited tournaments - any player with a lower grade will be counted as having the minimum counting grade, as will defaults. ....
For: It will make it easier for current third division teams to play in what is in effect an average u110 section.
Against: All the reasons we prefer 5 board teams.
Amendment IIb
....
Two grade limited sections shall be established with team grade limits of 650 and 400 for respectively 5 and 4 board teams. These limits apply to the team fielded in each match. When calculating a teams total grade minimum counting grades of 100 and 70 will apply respectively to the 2 grade limited tournaments - any player with a lower grade will be counted as having the minimum counting grade, as will defaults. ....
For: Makes it less likely that one of the sections is small.
Against: The bigger grading gap between sections may make it harder for teams to find an appropriate section, or to move between sections at a later date.
Amendment IIc
No minimum counting grade shall apply to the section with the lowest grading limit.
For: Encourages clubs to give games to their least experienced members.
Against: It would allow a team with grades say 110, 110, 110 and 20. Board 3 graded 110 hardly fits with the idea of an average under 90 contest. Note that by doing the arithmetic this argument against is seen to be stronger if considering removing the minimum counting grade from other sections.
Amendment IId
Add
The Competitions shall be known as the Open Division, Division 2, Division 3, etc
III
No player may play for more than one team within any section, but otherwise may play without constraint in as many sections as they choose.
Amendment IIIa
There are no constraints on the use of players graded under 80. No other player may play for more than one team within any section, but they may play without constraint in as many sections as they choose.
For: Clubs whose members are all of modest playing strength may otherwise find it difficult to avoid fielding one of their teams in a section where they are out of their depth.
Against: Starts to undermine the principle that in each section the competing teams should be distinct entities.
IV
As far as possible matches in the Open and 550 sections will be arranged for different weeks than those in the 650 and 360 sections.
V
An ineligible side is one that breaches the grading limit for the competition. The penalty for fielding an ineligible side is that the lowest board whose grade exceeds the minimum counting grade by more than the teams excess over the limit has their game automatically scored to the opposition.
In effect look for a board that could be defaulted to make the team legal, and default it.
(NB this is for match score purposes only. For grading the result of the game as played stands.)
If no such player exists two points are deducted from the teams match score.
Amendment Va
Add:
Where it is known at the start of the match that a team is ineligible, the player so identified may be required to play on bottom board.
For: Protects a team against allegations of fiddling when it is a high board that is effectively defaulted.
Against: Another complication.
Amendment Vb
The penalty for fielding an ineligible team is to deduct one point from the match score for every 25 points or part thereof that the teams total grade exceeds the limit.
For: Simpler
Against: Can be more severe than the original, which sometimes results in no deduction, and so may increase the number of defaults.
VI
Ungraded players for whom the grading officer is unable to give a provisional grade shall be given an estimated grade by their club.
Should an ungraded player later be assigned a grade, or a graded player given a corrected grade, the new grade will not be applied to games already played for the purposes of deciding eligibility of teams.
Amendment VIa
.... Should an ungraded player later be assigned a grade, or a graded player given a corrected grade, the new grade will not be applied to games already played for the purposes of deciding eligibility of teams, and need not be applied to any game played upto 10 days after the new grade is announced.
For: Clubs need notice of the need to change a team if a players grade is increased.
Against: Someone needs to keep track of the time lags.
Introduction
Procedural Proposal
Objections
Whats wrong with Prom and Rel?