Wesco Bylaws:

Wesco League Coaches:

I have posted the bylaws on the website. Please read them and go over them with your players.

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WESCO CHESS LEAGUE

League Match Rules

2000-2001

1. Eligibility: To be eligible for match play, a player must be a full
time enrolled student at the school he/she represents, or a freshperson
at the appropriate junior high school, if the high school is composed of
only three grades.

2. Schedule: Each match should be played as indicated on the WESCO
League schedule. Matches may be played on alternate dates, PROVIDED
that the team wishing the alternate date has the approval of the
opponent coach. Inclement weather or emergency circumstances will be
grounds for a postponement, and mutual agreement is not a requirement.

3. Equipment: It is the responsibility of the home team to provide
equipment, which includes sets, boards, clocks, score sheets, and
pencils. However the visiting team should bring equipment along in case
there is a shortage. Sets must be of Staunton design with a size such
that the king is 3 3/4" high. Boards must be composed of 2 1/4"
squares. The player playing BLACK will have their choice of sets. Should
the above requirements not be available from EITHER team, substitutions
may be made provided BOTH coaches agree. Players may play on other than
the required sets assuming BOTH players and BOTH coaches agree. If
there are not enough clocks available, those which are available will be
placed in order, starting with the highest boards. However if a player
personally owns their own clock, they may use it in their own game
regardless of the board.

4. Matches: A match shall consist of five boards with one game
played per board. The strongest players from each team shall play the
first board position, the second highest ranking players shall play the
second board etc., continuing in order until all five boards are
paired. Prior to the match, team coaches shall exchange official score
sheets with their respective players listed by board position. The
visiting team will have white on the odd numbered boards, while the home
team will have white on the even numbered boards. In the case of a
postponement, or change of site, original colors will be used. Matches
shall begin no later than 4:00PM. An earlier starting time may be
arranged by mutual consent of the coaches. In the event a team/team
member has not arrived at the match site by the starting time, the late
team/team member's clock(s) shall be started. Upon arrival, the late
team/team member shall have the remaining time to complete the game,
PROVIDING the player(s) arrive within one hour of the starting time (by
5:00 PM). However, a team lacking team members may elect to: (1) await
the team member's arrival as noted in this rule or (2) move the boards
up to fill in the position of the missing player, and commence play.
NOTE: If, in the event a team chooses option (1) above (awaiting an
absent player above board 5), and play begins on the other boards, the
late player(s) must arrive within the allowable hour, or their board(s)
and all varsity boards below the vacant board are forfeited.

5. Stacking: Players shall be considered "stacked" if ANY players are
listed more than two board positions higher or lower than the previous
week. It should be noted that if a new player joins the team mid-season,
that player may play his/her FIRST match anywhere in the roster without
being considered "stacked". Also, if one or more of a team's regular
players are absent from a match, or leave the team, lower boards may
move up IN ORDER the appropriate number of positions without being
considered "stacked", and the vacant positions are not counted as part
of the two board position move limit. If there is an objection to an
opposing team's line up, a protest should first be made to the opposing
team's coach. If the opposing coach does not agree to modify the
lineup, the match should be played "under protest". When the match
concludes, BOTH coaches should submit a written statement to the League
Director for a ruling. If a ruling is made in favor of the protest, the "stacked" board and all boards below will be forfeit. However, if a protest is not made prior to the beginning of the
match, then that team is considered to have waived any right to a later
protest based upon boards being "stacked".

6. Time Control: Time control will be "Game/75" (Adopted Feb 2006) which means that each
player will have 75 minutes on their clock to complete their game. Both
clocks at each board should be set at 4:45 and then time will expire for
each clock at 6:00. Time will expire the moment that "flag fall" occurs
(i.e. at EXACTLY 6:00). At this point it is up to the opponent of the
player whose flag has fallen AND NO ONE ELSE (!) to call "Flag Fall".
When flag fall is called as described above, the game is over with the
player who calls flag fall winning. Note: If any person observing the
game indicates IN ANY WAY that a player is out of time and that person
is associated in any way with that player's opponent, (eg. teammate,
coach, friend, parent, etc.) then the player out of time will be
awarded an additional five minutes on their clock and the game will
continue. (The insufficient losing chances rule is not used in Wesco League Matches (adopted 2/03))

7. Notation: Written notation in a conventional form (i.e. Algebraic
or English Descriptive) MUST be kept by each player. If notation is 1)
incomprehensible, or 2) not kept for more than three moves, then a claim
can be made for a player being "out of notation". NOTE: CLAIMS FOR
NOTATION VIOLATIONS MUST BE INITIATED ONLY BY THE PLAYERS! Should a
player observe that their opponent is not keeping notation correctly,
that player should tell their own coach, who should then notify the
offending player's coach, who will then notify the player out of
notation. The clock of the player out of notation will be kept running
while they catch up on their scoresheet, but for that purpose they may
use the score sheet of their opponent. If that player still does not
maintain their scoresheet, a second claim may be made via the coaches.
In this event, if the claim proves to be true, the result on that board
will be reduced by 1/2 point ASSUMING that the player in violation won
or drew the game. If the player in violation loses, there will be no
penalty. If both players are out of notation, there is no penalty.
If a dispute should occur regarding correct notation, both clocks should
be stopped and the pieces on the board left untouched, while two more
boards are set up and each coach attempt to reproduce the board position
using their player's notation sheet. In general the player whose
notation cannot achieve the board position is "out of notation". Should
both sheets fail to achieve the board position, no claim can be made.
NOTE: A claim cannot and should not be made based upon a small number
of careless errors (i.e. 7 or less) on an opponent's sheet. Only major
incomprehensibility or failure to notate at all can be claimed.
NOTE: If a coach has beginning players on their team who are still
learning how to notate, he/she should notify the opposing coach prior to
the match and NO claims or penalties will occur PROVIDING it is one of
the first three matches a player plays. In this case the beginning
player must attempt to keep a correct notation. NOTE: A physically
handicapped player may have moves recorded and moved by another person.
In such a case, their opponent may exercise the same option. NOTE:
Notation may be suspended during the last five minutes on a player's
clock, with no penalties claimed by their opponent. The opponent may
have more time and still be required to record moves. However, NO ONE
who is associated with a player (i.e. coach, teammate, parent, friend,
etc.) may remind that player that they have less than 5 minutes left on their clock and may
stop notating. To do so will subject that player to a loss of half
their remaining time.

8. Touch Move: IF a player touches one of their own pieces during
their turn, they are required to move that piece IF IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO
SO UNDER THE LAWS OF CHESS. However it is up to that player's opponent
AND NO OTHER PERSON (i.e. coach, teammate, parent, friend, etc.) TO
ENFORCE THIS RULE! Only if the player denies touching the piece or
refuses to move the touched piece should coaches become involved, in
which case, every effort should be made to ascertain what actually
happened. Should a player first touch their own piece, and then touch
their opponent's piece, (assuming it wasn't an accidental touching), then that player is
required to capture the touched piece with their own touched piece,
assuming it is possible to do so under the rules of chess. Should a
player wish to adjust a piece such that it fits more correctly on its
square, that player must say the word "adjust" prior to touching the
piece. It should be noted that the touch move rule is in effect DURING THE ENTIRE GAME, AND IS NOT SUSPENDED WHEN A PLAYER IS UNDER TIME PRESSURE.

9. Illegal Moves: When a player is not in sudden death and makes an
illegal move, and his/her opponent catches it BEFORE moving him/her
self, then the move is taken back.  Illegal moves must be rectified back to a maximum of 10 moves if notation allows.  If the illegal move is made in time pressure, then opponent is awarded 2 minutes
of additional clock time. The time should be put on the clock by one of the coaches. In addition, the player is bound to move the touched piece under the "touch move" rules IF IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO SO UNDER THE RULES OF CHESS.

10. Adjourned Games: Games will not be adjourned except by mutual
consent of the coaches/captains, and only in extreme circumstances.

11. Scoring: One point is awarded for a win. One half point for a
draw, and zero points for a loss. One point will be awarded regardless
whether the win was due to a checkmate, a resignation, a flagfall or a
forfeit based on a "no show". A coach may forfeit the game of one of
his players at any time for any reason. Coaches may, by mutual
agreement, declare a game drawn if the board is in an obviously drawn
position. Should neither team in a match be able to field a full 5
players, then no points will be awarded for empty boards on both teams.

12. Captains: Prior to the beginning of the match, each team should
designate a single player as captain. If the coach is absent from the
match or away from the playing site for a few moments, the designated
captain can act in all matters in place of the coach.

13. Decorum: From the time of the beginning of the first game of a
match until the conclusion of the last game, silence must be observed.
If a player who is still playing their game finds it necessary to
communicate with a teammate, they should do so in the presence of the
opposing captain or coach. A COACH, CAPTAIN, OR TEAMMATE MUST NOT INITIATE A CONVERSATION WITH A PLAYER IN THE COURSE OF THEIR GAME TO REMIND THEM OF THESE OR ANY OTHER RULES OF CHESS. However, if a player who has a question goes to their coach ON THEIR OWN to ask the question,
the coach may answer that question only, with no other advice given. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MAY A PLAYER DISCUSS CHESS STRATEGY WITH ANY OTHER PERSON WHILE STILL PLAYING THEIR GAME. TO DO SO WILL SUBJECT THE OFFENDING PLAYER'S GAME TO A FORFEIT. It should be noted that this rule
also pertains to a discussion of another player's game while a player is still playing their own game. Also, players are not allowed to consult ANY printed material while in the course of their game. NOTE: The purpose of this rule is more one of respect than of concern for cheating. Nothing makes a player more ill at ease than to see a group from the opposing team, including his or her opponent, off to the side whispering and pointing at the game they are playing.

14. Offering a Draw: IF an offer of draw is made, that player's
opponent must accept or reject the offer before another move is made by
either player. If a move is made without a response being made, it is
assumed that the offer has been rejected. In any case, once the offer
of a draw is rejected, or a move is made, the player offering the draw
is no longer bound by his or her offer. If that player so wishes, he or she
may offer a draw again at another time. However, if an offer of a draw
is made, and that player's opponent accepts the draw before making
another move, the game is over, and a draw is binding on both players.

15. Match Results: Match results should be reported by e-mail to the
League Director (Allan Shell) by Thursday morning. The address is shella@monroe.wednet.edu.The home team is responsible for reporting.

16. League Championship: The league championship will be determined by
the highest total board points for the season. Should two or more teams
be tied for total board points then the primary tie breaker shall be the
match score between the tied teams. Should the result of the match be a
draw, or inconclusive, a secondary tie breaker shall be a comparison of
the "match points" of the tied teams. ("Match Points" are determined by
the overall score the team as a whole achieves in an individual match;
if a team wins 3 or more games, they receive 1 match point; if they win
2 1/2 games, they receive 1/2 match points; and if they win 2 games or
less, they receive 0 match points). It should be noted that match
points will only have meaning as a secondary means of breaking ties, and
will have no other significance. Should two teams still remain tied
after the secondary tie break, then the tied teams shall reign as
co-champions. If a team should drop out of the league without completing
its schedule, any points which teams have achieved against that team
will be removed from their total, and it will be treated as if all teams
had a "bye" when they played the team that dropped out.

17. State Team Tournament: At the end of the season all teams in the
league will be ranked according to the total number of board points.
The top half of the league plus one team will qualify for the State
Team Tournament. In the case of a tie, all tied teams will qualify.
Teams will be "seeded" for the tournament according to their placement
at the end of the Wesco League season.

18. Rules Not Covered In The WESCO League Rules: The U.S. Chess
Federation Official Set of Rules (1987) shall govern all match play,
except where (or if) they contradict these rules. Any difference
regarding rules or interpretations should be submitted to the League
Director in writing for a decision.

Revised and adopted November 5th, 1997

Kerry Lamus-WESCO League Director

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WESCO LEAGUE JUNIOR VARSITY RULES 2000-2001

All rules for the Junior Varsity League will be the same as those
stated

in "League Match Rules 2000-2001" with the following exceptions,

conditions and clarifications:

1. The Junior Varsity team will play the same schedule at
the same time as the Varsity team from that school.

2. A player may not play on both the Varsity and Junior
Varsity teams during the same week. However, a player may move
from the

J.V. to the Varsity team (or vice versa) in succeeding
weeks

AS LONG AS THE STACKING RULE IS NOT VIOLATED. For this
purpose,

Boards 1, 2, and 3, on the J.V. team will be considered
as Boards 6, 7, and 8 overall. There is no limit to how
many J.V. players compete.

3. The captain for the J.V. team will be the same player as
the captain for the Varsity team.

4. The winner of the J. V. league will be the team with the highest winning percentage that has played enough games to
meet the qualification minimum. The qualification minimum is calculated by taking the total number of J. V. games played and dividing by the total number of teams. An example would be: at the end of a given week 72 games had been played in a ten team league, the minimum number of games needed to qualify would be seven.

(72/10=7.2, rounded to 7)

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WESCO CHESS LEAGUE BY-LAWS 2000-2001

1. WESCO League High School Chess play shall be governed by the
current WESCO League Rules.

2. The "current chess year" shall be defined as beginning Sept.
1st andending Aug. 31st. the following year. "Current teams" shall be
defined as those teams who are participating in or intend to participate in
WESCO League Chess during the current chess year.

3. Current teams are allowed one vote on all matters pertaining to
WESCOLeague. For this purpose, either the current coach or a player may represent their team and have voting rights.

4. Any matters put to a vote will require a quorum. A quorum is
defined as one half or more of the current teams. If necessary, a quorum
may be obtained by written proxy. If a quorum is not obtained, any voting
is invalid, and no changes can be made.

5. The position of League Director shall be put up for election
once each year. The League Director shall be elected at a league meeting by
majority vote of current teams.

Duties of the League Director shall include:

a. Communicate with all current teams regarding match schedules, results of play, league meetings, and any other WESCO League business.

b. Organize and determine awards.

c. Enforce WESCO League rules and make rulings in cases of dispute between teams.

d. Determine the WESCO League schedule.

e. Represent WESCO League at the state level.

f. Make decisions as necessary for the smooth running of WESCOLeague.

6. The League Director may be removed from office at any time during the current chess year for failure to complete duties. Action of this type will require a majority vote of current teams. In this case the LeagueDirector is not allowed to vote. The League Director may resign in good standing with at least one month's written notice to all current
teams.

7. Changes to WESCO League Rules or WESCO League By-Laws require a majority vote by current teams.

8. There must be a minimum of one League Meeting for each chess year.

Normally this meeting is called and organized by the League Director, but a meeting may be called by ANY team representative with two weeks written notice to all other teams. Every effort must be made to have a quorum for at least one meeting each year.

9. Decisions made by the League Director may be appealed and overturned by majority vote of current teams at a league meeting. The result of the voting then becomes final. This includes interpretations of rules and rulings made on disputes between teams. Notification of appeal must be made in writing to the League Director, explaining the reason for appeal. This notification must be made within one week of the cause for appeal. Should a dispute occur which involves a team the League Director is coaching, the dispute must be settled by majority vote of current teams at a league meeting.

10. The league director or a person appointed by the League Director, shall give, at least once each year, a financial report accounting for all WESCO League funds. This report shall be given within one year of the end of the current chess year.

Revised and adopted November 18th, 1992

Bill Bond - WESCO League Director

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