As amended by the AGM on 16 July 2025
1. Governance and Entry Fees
2. Format
3. Teams
4. Playing Times
5. Ratings, board order and eligibility
6. General Match Rules
7. Points Scoring
8. Rearranged Matches
9. Defaults
10. Disputes and Appeals
Roger Goldsmith Rules
1.1 The League will hold an Annual General Meeting each summer. The Administrative Secretary will give at least six weeks’ notice of the date to the member clubs and the League Executive.
1.2 If a club or officer wishes to include an item on the AGM agenda they should notify the Administrative Secretary at least three weeks before the meeting. This includes any proposal to change the rules, which should specify the proposed wording, though amendments may be considered at the AGM. The Administrative Secretary will circulate agendas and papers at least seven days before the AGM.
1.3 At the AGM each club is allowed one vote plus a further vote for each of their League teams in the previous season. Votes must be cast individually, i.e. a representative of the club and a representative for each team (but not necessarily a member of that team) must be in attendance to secure maximum voting rights. The Chairman may not vote as a club representative, but has a casting vote. Other officers of the League may vote only as club representatives.
1.4 The AGM shall elect Officers as members of the League Executive. Offices may vary from one season to another.
1.5 Any club which has not provided an Officer will be invited to send a representative to participate in meetings and decisions of the Executive.
1.6 For a meeting to be quorate, and therefore capable of making decisions binding upon the League, the proportion of the League Executive present must be at least two-thirds (rounded downward if this is not a whole number). The Executive will normally meet in the Spring to prepare for the AGM. The Executive will also consider such matters and take such decisions as may be necessary for the running of the League between AGMs. The Executive may take any of its decisions by communicating without meeting.
1.7 The AGM will set the entry fees for the League annually. Fees are due by 31 October. Any charge on the League made by the English Chess Federation in respect of non-ECF members playing in League competitions will be passed on to the clubs at the end of the season.
2.1 The number of divisions and teams within each division will be decided by the AGM. Should the number of participating teams change between the AGM and the start of the season the Chairman (in consultation with the Match Secretary and the clubs concerned) may alter the distribution of teams in the divisions to maintain as far as possible an equal number of teams within each division.
2.2 At the end of the season the bottom team in each Division (except in the lowest Division) will normally be relegated and the top team in each Division (except in Division 1) will normally be promoted. However the AGM may, exceptionally, vary this arrangement, either at the request of the clubs affected, or because the AGM considers that the additional relegation of the team which finished second to last may be desirable. No team which has won the right to promotion may be denied it against the wishes of the Club concerned.
2.3 A team withdrawing from a division will count as the one relegated.
3.1 Teams will consist of four nominated players who should play in rating order (subject to rule 5.1). Any substitute must be rated not more than 100 points higher than the player being replaced.
3.2 Only club members may represent a team. Nominated team lists must be notified to the Match Secretary and Internet Officer before the start of the season.
3.3 No person may be nominated for more than one team and all nominated board ratings must relate to specific members of the club.
3.4 Clubs should add new players to their player list in the ECF League Management System. Ideally this should be done before their first game.
3.5 A club can re-nominate a team at any time throughout the season by informing the Match Secretary, the Internet Officer, and the Captain of the first opposing team to be affected, no later than two days before that match.
3.6 A player may play for different clubs if the teams represented are in different divisions. A player may not play for different clubs in the same division of the league unless they have genuinely changed clubs, do not play for the former club that season, and have the permission of the Match Secretary to do so.
3.7 A player may play for the same club as part of several different teams. However, where the teams complete in the same division, only one of the teams may be represented more than three times.
4.1 Matches will start at 7.30 pm.
4.2 It is the responsibility of the home team to provide clocks and to ensure that they are started at 7.30 pm. Home teams will lose the appropriate number of minutes if they fail to be ready to start the clocks at 7.30 pm.
4.3 Digital clocks allowing increments should be used. The time control is 70 minutes plus a 15 second increment per move. In the lowest division, if agreed by captains at least a day before the match, the teams may play to a time control of 60 minutes plus a 10 second increment per move.
4.4 A game is defaulted (if so claimed by the opposing captain or player) if a player does not arrive by the default time. If the late player has notified their captain (or another team member) before the clocks are started that they will be late, and this notification is immediately conveyed to the player’s opponent, then the default time will be 1 hour after the scheduled start of play. In all other circumstances, the default time will be 30 minutes after the scheduled start of play. After the match has started a captain may choose an eligible substitute for a player who has failed to turn up. To be eligible the player should not be rated more than 100 points above the nominated rating for that board, unless the opposing captain agrees otherwise.
5. Ratings, board order and eligibility
5.1 Throughout the season, teams should play in order of their standard over-the-board (OTB) ratings as published in the current monthly list. One week’s grace will be allowed for implementation, following the publication of each monthly rating list.
5.2 Board order is subject to a permitted tolerance of 100 rating points.
5.3 Players with a current standard OTB rating below 1375 may play in any order amongst themselves.
5.4 For the purposes of nomination and eligibility, a player’s rating will be their standard OTB rating as published in the August rating list, or an estimated rating (see 5.5).
5.5 Where a player has no published standard OTB rating, the club secretary will provide the Match Secretary with an estimated rating, which should be used for the purposes of these rules. This estimate should be based on all known data, including old ratings or grades from previous lists, as well as current rapidplay ratings and online ratings. The estimate should be used thereafter, until the player concerned receives a current standard OTB rating in a published monthly rating list. Players with a category P rating (shown in the ECF Rating Database with a “P” suffix), will be regarded as unrated and an estimate should be provided.
Examples:
A team’s nominated players have ratings of 1855, 1765, 1720 and 1675. Using the 100 point tolerance, any two neighbouring boards may exchange places.
Later in the season, the same players’ ratings are 1830, 1935, 1825 and 1690. There is no need to re-nominate the team, but the player nominated on board 2 must now play on board 1 (they are more than 100 rating points above the nominated board 1). Also, the nominated board 4 is no longer permitted to play above the nominated board 3. Board 3 remains eligible, even though they are now more than 100 points above the nominated board rating for board 3. The former boards 1 and 3 may play on either board 2 or 3 (within the 100 point tolerance).
If a substitute is required, the replacement’s initial (August) rating must be not more than 100 points above the nominated board rating (i.e. 1855, 1765, 1720 or 1675 depending on the board).
6.1 ECF/FIDE rules will apply, unless superseded by Bury Area Chess League rules.
6.2 Captains should exchange lists of their players before the match starts, with forename, surname and rating.
6.3 Away teams have the white pieces on boards 1 and 3.
6.4 Any player whose mobile phone makes any sound during play will receive a warning for the first offence and will be defaulted on a second offence in the same game. Any player who is found to be using or consulting any device capable of suggesting chess moves will be defaulted that game.
6.5 Unless both players agree otherwise, the clock will be placed at the left hand of the player with the white pieces. The clock must not be picked up by either player, nor punched forcibly. The clock button must be pressed by the hand that makes the move.
6.6 Each player must keep an up-to-date game score until less than five minutes remain on their clock. It is not necessary for the scoresheets to be signed by the players.
6.7 If a player makes an illegal move their opponent will receive an additional two minutes on the clock. A player making a second illegal move will forfeit the game.
6.8 Captains of both teams should enter or confirm the match result on the ECF’s League Management System (LMS). Where possible this should be done within two days of the fixture, and in any case within a week. On request the Internet Officer may grant other club officials permission to enter and confirm results on behalf of team captains.
7.1 Teams score one point for each game won, and half a point for each draw. In addition, a bonus point will be awarded to a team winning a match.
7.2 Results against a team which has withdrawn before completing its matches will be disregarded for scoring purposes. However, the games will count in the Player of the Year competition and they will be rated.
7.3 If teams finish level on points at the end of the season, bonus points will be disregarded in determining their respective positions. If two or more of those teams have the same number of game points their respective positions will be determined by the game points scored in all the matches between them (as if they had been the only participants in a mini-league).
8.1 Matches must be played on the date specified in the published fixture list, unless rearranged in accordance with the remaining paragraphs of this rule. However if a match is to be held within one month of the circulation of the fixture list either captain may request a postponement.
8.2 If a match has to be postponed because of bad weather, disruption to the transport system or unavailability of the venue the two captains shall co-operate in rearranging the fixture. It is not acceptable to seek postponement of a fixture because a team’s regular or strongest players are not available: rather reserves should be brought in from elsewhere in the club or a board defaulted. Should it nevertheless be impossible to field a team (for lack of a driver, for example) the captain may request a postponement, and if granted the other captain shall have primacy in rearranging the fixture on a date convenient to their team.
8.3 Fixtures postponed for any reason should be rearranged within two weeks of the postponement, and should be played within six weeks of the original date, and in any event by 30 April.
8.4 Team captains may agree to play a match earlier than scheduled or (with good reason) up to six weeks later than scheduled.
8.5 The Match Secretary may extend the deadlines in rules 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4 in exceptional circumstances where it is requested by both captains and the match cannot reasonably be played within the normal timescale.
8.6 Team captains shall notify the Match Secretary and Internet Officer immediately a match is postponed and when it is rearranged.
8.7 The Match Secretary will oversee the observance of these rules. In the event of breaches the Match Secretary may impose an appropriate penalty, ranging from a warning to defaulting a match.
9.1 A player in breach of any of the following rules, namely 3.1 to 3.7 or 4.6, will be considered to have defaulted that board. Where a team is in breach of rule 5.1, the player on the lower board where the rule infraction occurred will be considered to have defaulted that board. However, where the game is played the result will be rated and will count toward the Player of the Year competition.
9.2 In the event of a board default, the offending team will lose the point. All other players will play on the board for which they have been chosen. Where there is a board default by both teams, no point shall be awarded for that board.
9.3 Should any team default a match a score of 4-0 will be awarded to the opposition. No bonus point (under rule 7.1) will be awarded.
10.1 The Match Secretary will adjudicate on any dispute, if necessary seeking advice from an independent ECF arbiter. Should the dispute involve the Match Secretary’s club, another officer will be nominated, independent of both clubs, to handle the dispute on behalf of the Match Secretary. This will normally be the Chairman or Vice-Chairman.
10.2 A captain may appeal against a decision of the Match Secretary or their nominee within seven days of being notified of the decision. The Executive will decide the matter after consulting the captains involved and the Match Secretary (or their nominee). No member of the clubs involved may vote on the appeal. The Executive’s decision will be final.
Roger Goldsmith Rules
1. The format for this competition will be decided at the Annual General Meeting in the light of the number of entries. The Administrative Secretary, in consultation with the Roger Goldsmith Organiser, will adapt the rules as necessary. The fee for entry will be decided by the AGM on advice from the Treasurer.
2. Registered clubs may enter any number of teams of four players. Additional teams may be formed using players from two or more clubs.
3. The following League rules also apply to the Roger Goldsmith tournament:
Rule 5.1 (board order); Rule 5.5 (estimated ratings); Rule 6 (General Match Rules); Rule 8 (Rearranged Matches); Rule 9 (Defaults); and Rule 10 (Disputes and Appeals), with the Roger Goldsmith Organiser playing the part of Match Secretary.
Rule 4 of the League Rules (Playing Times) also applies to the Roger Goldsmith Division 1 competition, in the way that it applies to Division 1 of the League. It will also apply to Roger Goldsmith Division 2, except that in Roger Goldsmith Division 2 the time control will be 60m+10s (rather than 70m+15s).
4. Teams are subject to a maximum aggregate rating limit of 6750 in Division 1, or 5750 in Division 2, calculated in accordance with Rule 5.4 of the League Rules.
5. Any player with an actual or estimated rating of under 1300 in Division 1 shall be deemed to have a rating of 1300 for the purposes of calculating the team’s aggregate rating. The corresponding figure in Division 2 shall be 1150.
6. Should a team default one or more boards the aggregate team rating will be that of the players present plus a notional rating for each defaulted board. Where the bottom board is defaulted it will be 1300 points in Division 1, or 1150 in Division 2. If a board other than the bottom board is defaulted in either division the notional rating attaching to that board will be the rating of the player on the next lowest board. (For example, if a team defaults board 2 and the player on board 3 is rated 1700, then the notional rating for board 2 will be 1700.)
7. A team that breaches the aggregate rating limit shall normally have one game point transferred to the opposing team (subject to a maximum win of 4-0), though the game results will stand for rating purposes.
8. The placings will be determined by the number of game points scored. No bonus points will be awarded.
9. There will be two Divisions, each contested on an all-play-all basis.
10. No player may play for more than one team in the same division. A player may, however, play for a first division team and for a second division team.