MSL Chess Team Code 2007-2009

                                                          APPROVED MSL Activity Directors  

                                                          APPROVED MSL Board of Control  

1.         Eight team members shall play at one time.  Additional players may play if both teams have players that would like to play an exhibition match for no official score.  Substitutions may be made to a lineup, but must be done before the match starts.  Substitutions must be made in good faith to the actual strength of the players.

2.         Conference Meets

                        a.         All meets will be dual.

b.         All meets shall be played according to the MSL schedule, with make-ups being the responsibility for the team responsible for the missed meet.

c.         A no-show counts as a forfeit; with a point value of 48-20 for tie break purposes.

                       d.         The home team is assigned the “white” color, meaning that boards 1, 3, 6 and 8 are to play white.  Boards 2, 4, 5,
                                   and 7 are to play as black.  For the purpose of contests, each home team must provide digital clocks and boards.

e.         The timing for the meet shall proceed according to the IHSA Chess rulebook.  Each player is allowed one hour of time to complete his/her moves.  The time is adjusted to 55 minutes if a time delay clock is used with a delay of five seconds.  If various clocks are available for use, the time delay clock is preferred, regardless of who provides the equipment. 

f.          After any match has been completed, the equipment is to be picked up immediately.

g.         Players may not talk or go over games near the playing area if matches are still in progress.

h.         Players may watch any other games being played, but must do so from behind his/her team member.

i.          Notation must be taken by each player.  If a player’s time falls below five minutes, that player may choose to stop taking notation, but does so with the understanding that a claim of draw cannot be made based on that notation.  If a player’s opponent is in time trouble and ceases to take notation, that player may also cease to take notation.

j.          If a player’s clock falls under five minutes, he/she may ask a teammate to continue to take notation, provided that the person is not within the player’s direct sight (i.e., not sitting next to the player).  This notation is also not valid for making a claim of draw.

k.         If a player has a question regarding rules during a mach, that player is to raise his/her hand and await the coach of the home team.  Pausing the clock for this purpose is acceptable when the clock falls under five minutes.

l.          Coaches and players may not speak while match play is in progress.  The only communication allowed between coach and player is a written note inquiring if a draw can be offered or declined.  This written note is to be shown to the other coach as well.

3.         Scoring of the match shall proceed according to the IHSA Chess rulebook.

                        a.         There is a total of 68 possible points to be scored between the two teams.

b.         Point values are highest at board 1 (twelve points) and decrease one point per board so that board 8 has a value of five points.

                        c.         A drawn match splits the available points between the two teams for that board.

d.         The home team is responsible for submitting the score to the league statistician and coordinator.

4.         Conference Champions

The team conference champion is determined by overall record within the MSL dual schedule.  In the case of a tie, the IHSA Chess rulebook tie break system shall be used.the following tie break system shall be used:

                        a.         Head to Head Competition

b.         If three or more teams are tied on conference match points and Head to Head cannot determine the champion, the IHSA Team tie-Break System shall be used as follows:

For each match played, multiply a team’s match points plus ten (10), by the square of the opponent’s tournament points plus one (1), divided by one hundred (100); then add these points for each round played in the conference season. 

5.         MSL Team Tournament

            All MSL Chess Teams will compete in the annual MSL Team Tournament, usually held on the Saturday two weeks before the IHSA State
            Tournament champion.  The winning team of the  tournament is declared the MSL Tournament champion, not the MSL Conference
            Champion.

           Tournament shall consist of four 45- minute, 5-second delay rounds (Swiss pairings) with a ten minute break between rounds. 
           Between rounds two and three, there shall be a 30-minute break for lunch.

          Award winners will be determined by the best overall record from the four rounds.  In the event of a tie, the tie breaker shall consist of a five
          minute blitz ( World blitz rules) unless head-to-head competition can break the tie.

6.         Awards

                        a.         A conference champion trophy will be presented to the Conference Champion.

b.         Trophies will be given out to the first, second and third place teams of the MSL Team Tournament.

c.         The top three individuals at each of the eight boards of the MSL Team Tournament will receive medals, with first place receiving gold, second place silver, and third place bronze.

7.         Sportsmanship

All individuals involved with Chess (students and adults) are expected to exhibit exemplary behavior and sportsmanship.  Respect and consideration are to be shown to opposing team members by team members, coaches, and the audience.

Unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated.  Unacceptable behavior includes, but is not limited to, condescending laughter, unnecessary comments, talking about another player’s match while in progress, making excessive noise while matches are in progress, and distracting body language.  A player that violates the expectations for sportsmanship may be penalized according to the IHSA Chess rulebook; penalties may result in forfeit of that player’s match.

           The use of electronic devices, including but not limited to cell phones, listening devices and communication devices, is prohibited.  
           Use of such devices may result in forfeiture per the IHSA guidelines.

In the spirit of good sportsmanship and friendly rivalry, the coaches will set the example for the students.  They will abide by the rules of the IHSA, and if questions are raised, they can contact the league coordinator as well as the IHSA Chess Coordinator.

8.         Post Season Coaches Meetings:

The post-season meeting will be held in conjunction with the MSL Chess Team Tournament in January.

9.         IHSA Seed Meeting

The IHSA Chess Seed Meeting will be represented each year by two MSL chess coaches consisting of the current year MSL Team Tournament host and the following year’s MSL Team Tournament host.