Rules of the League for Teams of Four: The Brown Cup 2008-2009

1. The League.

1.1. The League is a multi-division League for teams of four players. It is known generally as the League of Four, but is referred to in these rules as “the League”.
1.2. The League is directed by a League Secretary who is appointed by the Association’s Committee and reports to the Association’s Competitions Committee. Unless otherwise specified, the term “the Committee” in these rules means the Competitions Committee.

2. The Season

2.1. The season runs from August to April 30 of the following year.
2.2. All matches should be completed by the end of the season.


3. Eligibility

3.1. Only paid up members of the Berks & Bucks CBA are eligible to play BUT players who are not members of the Association or the EBU may play in the lowest division for one season, but must become a member in order to play in any subsequent season. For the purposes of this rule appearances not exceeding two in any one season are not taken into account. Anyone who has been an EBU member in the previous two years cannot qualify as a non-member.
3.2. No player may play in more than one team in any season.

4. Composition of Teams

4.1. A team consists of up to six players; only four names need to be registered at the time of entry.
4.2. Normally four players will represent each team in any one match. A fifth player may play with the prior agreement of the opposing captain, who will have choice of seating rights for the first half of the match: the fifth player will replace a pre-nominated player for the second set.
4.3. In principle the teams shall be known by the Captain's name. If the captain changes between seasons then the former captain’s name will be included in brackets.
4.4. In exceptional circumstances a seventh player may be added to a team to allow the last match of a season to be completed. Prior approval should be given by the League Secretary.

5. Composition of Divisions

5.1. Each season the League is divided into a number of divisions so that each team plays 5 or 6 matches per season
5.2. Normally at the end of the season relegations and promotions on a two up, two down from divisions of 7 or more teams, and one up, one down from divisions of 6 or fewer teams are applied and then a single ranking list is produced. However, the Committee reserves the right to use a different scheme of promotion and relegation, particularly when the structure of the League has changed from the previous season. It may depart from the normal allocation to divisions in response to special circumstances.
5.3. Any teams withdrawing are taken out and new entrants added at the end of the list (in random order) unless a new team requests a place in a higher division and, in the Committee’s view, merits a higher place. To ensure this has no impact on promotion and relegation from the previous season, that division may contain one more team than would otherwise have been the case. At the end of the season the normal procedure will be followed to create a suitable structure for the next season.
5.4. In the case of major changes in the composition of a team between seasons the committee will use its discretion to allocate the newly formed team into the appropriate division.
5.5. Divisions of 7 or 6 teams (playing each other once) or 4 teams (playing each other twice) are formed. Where there are a number of division sizes the higher divisions will have the larger number of teams. This gives the following breakdown: -
 

6. Venues

6.1. The home captain should provide details of the venue to the away captain when offering dates. If the home team are unable to offer a venue then the away team may choose to become the home team.
6.2. If the visiting team gives the home team reasonable notice that it will, or is likely to, include a disabled player with special requirements, the home team shall be required to provide a venue which is able to accommodate those special requirements. If the home team is unable to do so, the venue of the match should be switched to one provided by the visiting team at its own expense.
6.3. If there are time constraints on the venue so that matches have to be completed by a given time the home captain must notify the visiting captain.
6.4. Unless both captains agree to waive the requirement, matches must be played at a venue within ten miles of a club affiliated to B&BCBA.
6.5. All venues are non smoking unless both captains agree otherwise, in advance.

7. Arranging Matches
N.B. Each team is strongly encouraged to use email as the means of communication.
The email address should belong to the captain.

7.1. The League Secretary will determine the home and away team for each match. A suggested order of play will be issued.
7.2. Match dates are normally fixed by informal discussions but the minimum requirement is that the home captain shall offer the away captain four dates, not more than two of which shall be in the same week or on the same day of the week. Suggestions for dates should be given as far in advance as possible but in no circumstances should notice be less than two weeks.
7.3. Both captains have responsibility for keeping the League Secretary informed if there are any major problems arranging matches.
7.4. Teams must play at least two matches before 31 December in order not to put undue pressure on the other teams. Failure to do so, without clearance from the League Secretary, will trigger a 2 VP fine for each match not played.
7.5. If a match date is agreed but the match cannot be played on that date, Captains are expected to use their best endeavours to arrange another match date. The captain of the team that was not responsible for the cancellation shall have the following options:
7.5.1. initiate informal discussions to fix a new match date
7.5.2. offer a minimum of four new dates, as in (7.2) above
7.5.3. require the opposing captain to offer a minimum of four new dates, as in (7.2) above
7.6. Under normal circumstances, the committee expects all matches to be played before the 30 April but, if this proves impossible, the Committee may, at its discretion, either:
7.6.1. allow an extension beyond the normal closing date or
7.6.2. judge the match drawn or lost according to the circumstances.
7.6.3. matches played after the end of the season, without prior approval from League Secretary, will each incur an automatic 2VP penalty.
7.6.4. no extension will be allowed beyond the Sunday prior to the AGM.

It would be a good idea to have agreed ALL remaining match dates by March 31st.

8. Late Starts

8.1. The start time of all matches is 7.30 p.m. or such other time as has been agreed by the captains.
8.2. If all or part of a team is not present 60 minutes after the scheduled starting time the non-offending team captain may decide that the match cannot be played on this date and the provisions of 7.5 apply as if the match has been postponed.
8.3. If the match proceeds on the original date notwithstanding the late start, the captain of the non-offending team may elect before play has begun to shorten the match as follows:
 

8.4. If a shortened match is played, the procedure of Rule 11.2 is applied to determine the match result.
8.5. If the match is postponed then the offending team is liable for any reasonable expenses incurred by the non-offending team.

9. If a match is conceded by default:

9.1. the non-defaulting team will be awarded 14 VPs or, if higher, the average (rounded upwards to the next whole number) of its VP scores in its other matches that season, and will be awarded the number of IMPs that correspond to the mid-point of the range applicable to the number of VPs so awarded
9.2. the defaulting team will score 0 VPs and will suffer a deduction of the same number of IMPs as is awarded to the non-defaulting team under paragraph 9.1 above.

10. Licensed systems

10.1. Systems and conventions at level 4 may be used in Division 1 and 2 of the league.
10.2. In all other divisions, only systems and conventions at level 3 may be used.

11. Match Format and Scoring

11.1. Each match shall consist of 24 boards with each pair playing 12 boards against each pair of opponents. Scoring will be by IMPs converted to Victory Points on the following scale:
 

11.2. If due to time constraints a match has to be shortened the VPs shall be calculated as follows: -
11.2.1. the IMP difference is multiplied by 24 then divided by the number of boards played and rounded to the nearest IMP (half an IMP rounds upwards);
11.2.2. the IMP difference so calculated is converted to Victory Points on the basis of the scale in Rule 11.1.
11.3. If a match has to be abandoned after play has started due to illness or other emergency then the following rules apply
11.3.1. If it is before the scoring break then the teams are expected to arrange another match date, rule 7.5 applies
11.3.2. If it is during or after the break then it is treated as if the match has been shortened and rule 11.2. applies.
11.3.3. If it is impossible to rearrange the match then the match is conceded by default by the team with the emergency and rule 9 will apply.
11.4. If, at the end of the season, two teams have gained an equal number of Victory Points, the tie shall be broken (other than for the purpose of Master Points) by giving precedence to the winner of the match between the teams concerned, and if that match was drawn in terms of both Victory Points and IMPs by giving precedence to the team with the higher aggregate net IMP score. If the teams still remain tied, or if more than two teams were tied, EBU practices will be applied.

12. Submission of Results, Rulings of First Instance and Appeals

12.1. At the end of each match, both captains must sign the results sheet. The winning captain should submit the results preferably by email, copied to the other captain. The interactive results form supplied in the initial information pack (& downloadable from the web site) should be used. If this is not possible, for whatever reason, please be sure to supply ALL the information requested on this form. The Results Sheet should be retained until the AGM. Results should reach the League Secretary within five days of the match.
12.2. Where a mistake of fact (such as a mis scoring) is discovered within five days after a match, the League Secretary shall be informed by email or in writing. If the facts are not agreed, the captains shall ensure that all relevant information is sent to the League Secretary for determination.
12.3. Where a dispute arises in the course of a match
12.3.1. the captains shall cooperate to determine the outcome, this outcome is conclusive and neither team has any right of appeal
12.3.2. If a suitably qualified and independent referee is present, the captains may agree to obtain a ruling of first instance from that person. Alternatively, a ruling of first instance may be obtained by telephone from a member of the Association’s list of referees, or from some other person acceptable to both captains. This procedure applies to behavioural issues as well as to technical/bridge issues and the members of the referees’ panel have been requested to follow the EBU’s guidelines on such matters. When submitting results the League Secretary must be informed that a ruling of first instance has been obtained.
12.3.3. Otherwise, the captains should agree a result subject to ruling and sign the result sheet accordingly. Details of the hand or hands in question, and the arguments of the parties on the matter at issue, must be completed on an appeal form and sent directly to the Appeals Secretary. Compliance with this paragraph constitutes a request for a ruling. The Appeals Secretary, on receiving a request for a ruling, appoints a referee from the panel of referees to give a ruling of first instance. Experience has taught us that if the ‘Request for Ruling or Notification of Appeal’ form is not completed fully on the night and signed by the four players and the two captains, with all of them being present, much time can be wasted subsequently and/or ill feelings generated. It is appreciated that once a match is over players want to leave, but it is necessary for parties to agree all the facts.
12.3.4. If either captain wishes to appeal against a ruling of first instance obtained under Rule 12.3.2 or 12.3.3, the Appeals Secretary must be informed in writing within seven days of the ruling of first instance being communicated. Such an appeal must be accompanied by a deposit of £20. It should be accompanied by a submission containing the arguments for appeal. The opposing captain is given the opportunity by the Appeals Secretary to make a submission.
12.3.5. The decision of the Appeals Committee is notified by email or in writing to both captains. The appeal deposit is returnable unless the appeal is unanimously considered by the Appeals Committee to be without merit.
12.3.6. At all stages the League Secretary must be kept informed.

13. Breaches of the Rules, Penalties and Appeals - General

13.1. If any rule is breached the offending team is liable to a VP penalty. The Penalty is determined by the League Secretary as follows:
13.1.1. by application of the scales set out in Rule 14
13.1.2. for breaches for which no scale is specified the League Secretary determines an appropriate penalty bearing in mind the seriousness of the breach.
13.2. All penalties are in whole multiples of 0.5 VP, and are imposed by deduction from the team’s VP total for the season as a whole (not by a reduction in its score for any particular match).
13.3. The League Secretary notifies the captain of the offending team of any penalty imposed.
13.4. The League Secretary may, if he or she thinks fit, revise upwards the score for a non-offending team affected by any breach of the rules.
13.5. If a penalty is applied under Rule 13.1.1 an appeal may be made by email or in writing, within seven days of the initial notification of the penalty, to the League Secretary who may rescind or reduce any fine. The views of the non-offending captain are sought by the League Secretary before making a decision on the appeal. The result of the appeal is notified by email or in writing by the League Secretary.
13.6. If a penalty is confirmed after appeal to the League Secretary or is applied under Rule 13.1.1, the captain of the offending team may make a final appeal by email or written notice within seven days of the notification of the League Secretary’s decision; the appeal must be by email or written notice to the Chairman of the Committee who refers the matter to the Committee. The views of the captain of the non-offending team are sought by the Committee before making a decision on the appeal.
13.7. The decision of the Committee is final and binding. It is notified by email or in writing to all parties by the Chairman of the Committee.


14. Breaches of the Rules and Penalties – Penalty Scales

14.1. A breach of Rule 3.1 by the same player
14.1.1. 1 VP for a first offence
14.1.2. 1.5 VPs for a second offence
14.1.3. 3 VPs for a third offence.
14.1.4. These penalties will be rescinded providing the subscription due is paid within two weeks from notification to the team captain of the breach.
14.2. A breach of rule 3.2
14.2.1. 2 VPs and no master points will be given to the offending player.
14.3. A breach of Rule 7.4
14.3.1. Automatic 2 VPs for each match not played.
14.4. A breach of Rules 7.6.3
14.4.1. Automatic 2 VPs
N.B. This will be applied to both teams unless one team has informed the League Secretary of the
situation and its attempts to get the match arranged.

15. Withdrawal of Teams

15.1. If a team withdraws before it has played half of its matches, the results of matches played shall be cancelled (except for Master Point purposes).
15.2. If the withdrawn team has played at least half of its matches, the results will stand and the remaining matches will be scored as described below:
15.2.1. calculate the difference in average IMPs between the teams
15.2.2. award VPs to the team that has not withdrawn using the normal conversion table from IMPs to VPs
15.2.3. if the team that has not withdrawn won the match, according to this calculation, add the IMP difference to their aggregate. Otherwise deduct the IMP difference from their aggregate

16. Master Points
16.1. Master points are awarded for matches won and drawn. The rate varies according to the number of divisions in the season and the division in which the match is played.
16.2. Ranking points are awarded to the leading teams in each division with players receiving points if they have played at least one third of the boards, normally equivalent to two matches.
16.3. Master points are directly credited to the EBU at the end of June in each season.

17. EBU practices will apply when there is no regulation in these rules.