Main Line High School Chess League Charter and Rules [approved 9/25/2003]

1.       Purpose – The purpose of the Main Line High School Chess League (MLCL) is to:

1. Provide a mutually beneficial structure whereby schools (approximately) west  of Philadelphia may meet and compete in standard chess play,
2. Promote chess, particularly local scholastic chess, in a friendly manner and atmosphere, and
3. Provide an approved, extracurricular activity that is worthwhile towards college acceptance and scholarships, and promote applicable college information among the schools and players. For this purpose it is suggested that each team designate a captain or co-captains, vote for a team MVP, release info to local papers and the school, etc.

2.       League Officials - A league commissioner chosen by the schools tracks results, settles disputes, etc. The Commissioner may be supported by other league officials who perform scheduling, etc. Each school has a designated sponsor/coach.

3.       Pre-Season Meeting – The most important event of the season is the pre-season meeting (Note: past experience with this league and others show this to be a necessary activity, which promotes free discussion of league rules and face-to-face esprit de corps among the sponsors). Each school wishing to participate must have at least one representative to discuss and vote on league rules and issues. This representative may be a coach, sponsor, administrator, teacher, player, or parent. The meeting will be scheduled in the early autumn, at a time that should be convenient to most parties. At least three weeks notice will be provided for the meeting, to allow adequate time for each school to find a representative. Schools not represented at the meeting will not be scheduled, no exceptions. Also, in order to participate, at this meeting all representatives should agree to abide by these league rules (or, of course, have the rules changed to something agreeable). Rules may only be changed after the league meeting by a unanimous vote of all sponsors; sponsors not voting within 7 days of notification of the suggested change will not be counted.

4.       League Fee. At the pre-season meeting, the league may vote to have a fee to pay for team trophies, etc. If there is a fee, the league will concurrently vote on who will collect the fee, by what date it must be paid, and the penalty for non-payment.

5.       Playing Rules: Unless otherwise noted below, the MLCL will use all official US Chess Federation (USCF) rules for play (note: the rulebook can be obtained from USCF at 1-800-388-KING). If there is any dispute that cannot be resolved by the sponsors, the league commissioner will make a ruling based upon the USCF rules and this charter.  Players in the league do not have to be USCF members and games will not be rated. Example rules: all games are touch-move, and no spectator, teammate, nor sponsor can interfere with a game (call illegal moves, flag falling, etc.) without a player initiating a rules request.

The two exceptions to USCF rules are:

A.     A player does not have to keep score (although players are strongly encouraged to do so), and

B.     The claim of a draw by “insufficient losing chances” will only be enforced if a USCF TD is present

6.       Number of League Matches: Each team will play others at least once.

7.       League Schedule - The overall league schedule (including entry fee and prizes) will be determined each year in the pre-season meeting. There is usually (but not necessarily) one scheduled match a week, with possibly off-weeks for exams and a bye if the number of teams is odd. The league schedule will be decided at the pre-season meeting before the season starts and posted on the web site. The web site also will show the results of each match and the standings.

8.       Match Schedule - The onus is on the home team to schedule each match (date, starting time, change in default time limit), making sure they can host the visitors on a day the visitors can travel.  If both sponsors agree, a match can be played on a different week, so long as it is played as soon as possible, and before the playoffs are to be scheduled. When scheduling a match, the sponsors should agree on a starting time, and if both coaches agree, a time limit other than the one specified in the “Use of Clock” rule. The home team should start the clocks promptly within five minutes of the agreed upon time, unless the visiting sponsor phoned ahead and made other arrangement because their team are running late (see “Late Arrivals”).

9.       Use of Clock: If possible, games should be played with a clock.  The default time limit is G/1HR (each player has 1 hr), or Game in 55 minutes with a five second time delay if playing with a digital clock (As per USCF rule, a digital clock with time delay is preferred). Games started with no clock should finish with clock, players splitting the time remaining. Any deviation from the default time limit must be agreed upon in advance of the match by both sponsors.

10.  Late Arrivals - The “away” team should agree to show up at a scheduled time and make every effort to meet that time (sponsors: when scheduling, always give yourself an extra few minutes for contingencies.).  If the amount the away team arrives (“arrive” = arrive at the playing room) late is…:

A. less than half an hour late, the home team has the option of just continuing with clocks running and the times taken from the away team’s clocks or, preferably, splitting the missing time on both side’s clocks. The latter option should be used if the away team called to say they were unavoidably late due to traffic jam, etc.

B. more than ½ hour after the appointed time then, the home team may play the games with 45 minutes on their clock and the extra late time (time over ½ hour late) subtracted from each away team player’s clock (<45 min). 

C. not call or show up at all (or shows up more than 75 minutes late), the home team will be designated the winner by a forfeit score of 5-0. This forfeit must be reported to the league commissioner, who shall verify this with the away school.

11.  Forfeited Matches – Sponsors should use common sense to avoid forfeited matches.  Matches unplayed when the playoff week starts will be counted as 0-5 losses for both teams unless it can be clearly shown that one team refused to play under any reasonable conditions. It is up to the sponsor to request a forfeit win before the playoff week; failure to do so will automatically be counted as a forfeit loss.

12.  Withdrawing from League for Remainder of Season - While it is expected that every school honor its commitment to play and complete its schedule, it is also understood that once in while unexpected events occur which may prevent a team from completing its schedule. In this case the school and/or sponsor must contact the league commissioner directly via phone or e-mail within 72 hours of when it is known they cannot complete their schedule (telling another sponsor is insufficient). Failure to contact the league causes great disruption (and is really impolite and inexcusable), so any school dropping out without proper notification will be suspended for at least the following season and the non-communicative sponsor permanently barred from the league.

13.   Student Eligibility: The league will allow any K-12 student in a school’s district to play on a team.  It is up to each school to decide if they wish to allow students living in their district, but not in a league school (e.g., talented MS players) to play.  Non-high school teams may join, if allowed at the pre-season meeting.  The league encourages any policy which promotes chess and helps a team avoid forfeit losses.

14.   Number of Boards: Teams consist of five boards each.  A win counts as 1, a draw as ½, and a loss 0.  If the match ends up 2½ - 2½, it is a tie.  A forfeit loss counts as 0.  Teams with less than 5 players forfeit on the lowest boards.

15.   Reporting results: Both sponsors (or designated captains) should report all board results, including names of all players on BOTH teams, and any problems directly to the Commissioner by either phone (610-649-0750) or e-mail (danheisman@comcast.net) within 48 hours of the end of the match.  This dual reporting prevents errors and helps ensure that matches will be reported in a timely manner. 

16.   Board Order: The home team should announce their lineup first if there is a dispute.  There may be no “stacking” of boards: teams should play in approximate order of strength.  If the sponsor wishes to move a player one board to get a color, that may be allowed (except as follows).  For players with established USCF ratings (>24 USCF-rated games), a player rated >100 points over another must play a higher board (i.e., moving a board to get a color is not allowed).  Provisional (<25 USCF games) and unrated players may play any board, so long as they are in approximate order of strength compared to other players.  It is suggested that sponsors use one of the following criteria to help determine the order for provisional or unrated players: a club ladder, a challenge system, ratings from Internet play, or attendance.

17.   Color: The home team has White on boards 2 and 4; the visitors White on boards 1, 3, and 5.

18.   Protests: The league Commissioner will use common sense to enforce these written rules, and judge any unwritten situations. A sponsor may file a written (e-mail) protest for a forfeited match, changed result, etc. within 72 hours of the incident and the Commissioner will investigate and get make a ruling within one week. In order to facilitate a timely edict, any member of the league failing to respond to the Commissioner’s attempts to investigate a problem within 72 hours of a written or phone request will, at the minimum, automatically lose the protest.

19.   Playoffs: Playoff format will be decided at the League meeting. For one-division, playoffs may be either 1^st vs. 4th and 2^nd vs. 3rd, winning teams meeting for the championship, or just one round of playoffs, 1^st vs. 2^nd. The higher seeded team has choice of hosting the match or getting three whites.  If 2 divisions, playoff order is determined at the league meeting.  Teams not paying or unable to pay the league fee, if there is one, by a set fee date, may participate, but may not win team or individual trophies.  If a playoff match is tied, the higher seeded team from the regular season advances.

20.   Ties to Qualify for Playoff Spots: If there is a tie in match points to qualify for playoffs, tiebreaks are: 1) Two teams tied: First, match points (pts) between the 2 teams; Second, game pts between the 2 teams; Third, game pts against all teams; Fourth, the highest board to score a positive score in matches between the 2 teams.  2) More than two teams tied: First, match pts among the tied teams; Second, game pts among the tied teams; Third, game pts against all teams

21.   Individual Championships and Prizes: An individual/all-star tournament may be scheduled or the Greater Philadelphia Scholastic Championship’s High School section may be used.

22.   Coordinate!: - Please return all calls or e-mail in a timely manner!  Please honor your commitment to communicate and play.  Thanks!

League Champions (League MVP):

1998-1999: Harriton (Alex Graeffe/Harriton)

1999-2000: Lower Merion (Mike Glick/Lower Merion)

2000-2001: Lower Merion (Will Yu/Lower Merion)

2001-2002: Lower Merion (Alan Deckelbaum-Harriton and Igar Fuki-Lower Merion)

2002-2003: Conestoga (Zach White-Conestoga)

2003-2004: Conestoga (Zach White-Conestoga)

2004-2005: Conestoga (Adam Bildersee Lower Merion and Matt O'Connell-Conestoga)

2005-2006: Conestoga (Zach White-Conestoga)

2006-2007: Conestoga (Brian Bucher-Conestoga)

2007-2008: Lower Merion (Eric Guo-Lower Merion)

2008-2009: Conestoga (Robert Liu-Conestoga)