MICHIGAN CHESS ASSOCIATION
Rules For MCA Team Competitions
RULES:
US CHESS FEDERATION'S OFFICIAL RULES OF CHESS  (4th Edition) governs conduct of play in Michigan Chess Association team competitions.
TEAM:
  •  Teams are made up of four players and (optional) one alternate (see alternate).
  • Teams of three players may compete, but they must forfeit board four.
  • Scholastic team members must all attend the same school building. (Michigan High School Athletic Association definitions apply.)
  • All Team members must meet tournament requirements. {e.g.  In the High School Championship, all team members must attend the same high school.}
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    BOARD ORDER:
  • It is the intent of team competition to pair the strongest player of team "A" with the strongest player on opposing team "B."
  • Teams must arrange boards 1 through 4 in rating order, highest to lowest.
  • Exceptions to this are permitted if the player's ratings are within 25 pts., or documented evidence can justify a change in playing order.
  • The director has the final say in determining this order.
  • Boards must remain in order throughout the tournament.
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    PAIRINGS:
  •  For pairing purposes, teams are treated like individuals and paired accordingly. {e.g.  No team may play another team twice during the same tournament.}
  • Teams are assigned a pairing number by their average rating. Teams written first on the pairing sheet have White on board one.
    		•
    COLOR:
    Team members alternate color during the round.  Board one is given the color assigned by the team pairing.  If board one is white, board two would alternate color and play black.  Board three would have white {note odd number boards will always have the same color}, and board four would have black {note even numbered boards will always have the same color}.
    SCORING:
    Teams score 1 game point for each board that wins and 1 match point for each team victory over another team {more than two game points}.  Match points are used for pairing purposes.  Game points are used to determine the winner of the match.
    CAPTAIN / COACH:
    The role of the captain or coach is severely limited once the match begins.  The captain is responsible for all team members playing the right opponent on the right  board, with the right color, and filling out and turning in the match result score sheet.
    During the match, if asked by another team member, the captain may give advice on whether or not to accept a draw offer.  (The captain  cannot initiate this conversation.)  This advice should be given with a tournament director (TD) present.  This advice may only be given based on the score of the match, and not on any positional considerations. {e.g.  Third Board, "Excuse me, captain, but I have been offered a draw." Captain, "We already have two points.  If you take the draw, we win the match."}
    CONDUCT OF PLAYERS:
    At no time during the round are players permitted to converse with another player or in anyway influence the outcome of a game.  If you must talk to another player, summon a director and make sure the director is present during the conversation. {e.g.  Third Board, "Excuse me, director, but I would like to borrow a clock from my friend,  Fourth Board." Director, "I'll get it for you."}
    ALTERNATE:
    The alternate is a substitute player rated lower than the third board.  The alternate may only play on board four.  If a higher board is unable to play, the alternate plays board four and the other players each move up a board.
    SCORESHEET:
    Players are required to keep a written score sheet to the best of their ability.  Players may quit keeping score when there is less than five minutes remaining on either clock.
    MATCH RESULTS:
    Coaches / Captains must fill out the match result scoresheet completely and accurately before every round, making sure all players are playing in order according to the pairing sheet and line ups submitted.  After the match, it is the coach's / captain's responsibility to fill in the score and turn in the result to a director.  Failure to do so may result in a forfeit for that round.
    BEHAVIOR:
    Coaches / Captains / Parents share responsibility for their players and guests behavior.  You should know at all times where your players are and what they are doing.  All local building rules as specified by the tournament host apply. The following MCA rules are established, and will be enforced with removal of the player from the site.
    1.)  NO RUNNING
    2.)  NO FIGHTING
    3.)  NO LOUD OR DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR
    4.)  NO DESTRUCTION OF SITE PROPERTY
    The MCA, its directors, and organizers assume no liability for
    the safety of students.
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