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Team 45 45 League
Serious Chess and Team Spirit on the ICC
Players’ Handbook

Welcome to the largest team chess league in the world!  We are pleased to welcome you as one of us and wish you many competitive games, with the added bonus of new friends and team camaraderie.  Before joining, read each part of this handbook     Lee esta guía en español

Full enjoyment of the league requires your enthusiasm, commitment, and civil conduct. Before you join, please see if you can answer “YES” to all these questions.

Enthusiasm - Personal satisfaction:

• A highlight of my week is playing my long (2-4 hours) league chess game.
• I understand that my game has meaning and significance to my team, and to other teams.
• The knowledge that my opponent feels the same way challenges me to play well.
  

Commitment to my opponents and my team - What others are expecting each round:

• I will get to the forum quickly to start scheduling my games.
• Scheduling my game can be difficult. Do I have enough flexibility in my time to play someone half way around the world, 12 hours off from my time?
• Could I with confidence make time offers like this?: “The player . . . shall specify three or more distinct times to play on at least two different days within the one-week playing period of the round. . . (Section 10.C.i of the statutes)”
• Can I be relied upon to show up at the agreed upon time to play my game?
• If any of the above will be difficult next week, I will tell my captain now that I cannot play in that round.

Member Conduct - We strive to maintain a friendly atmosphere for our members. If you join, you will abide by these standards (in addition to ICC's atmosphere policy) in all League activities:

• Statute 3.B: "Each participant shall behave in a friendly and courteous fashion in all communications associated with Team 45 45 League.."
• We welcome players of all ages, male and female, from all corners of the globe.  Keep your communications in line with a family-friendly atmosphere.
• Statute 3.D: "All participants shall treat our volunteers with respect..."

Eligibility Requirements: 

• Play a minimum of 20 rated standard games to establish your ratings.
• Not permitted are designated computer accounts, those who have ever had a (C) or a computer use apology in their finger notes.
• Just as you may choose to join or not, the League reserves the right to choose whether to admit you or not.  

That’s it. If playing 45 45 games that count for something sounds exciting, and you can be depended upon to follow the rules, Welcome aboard!

2. How to Join the Team 45 45 League

Before a team captain signs up his/her team to play in a tournament, each member of the team must have previously completed the following process to participate in the League.   Any player who already has a Game Forum password has already completed step 1, and can begin at step 2 (Update your Profile).   Your Profile will need updating for each new tournament in order to enable your captain to enter you on the team.

     Step 1 - Get a League PASSWORD, if you don't yet have one.

• Players’ Pages - Click on “Player Menu” in the left side menu of this page.
   
• Password -  Fill in your ICC Handle.  If you never have played in the League, click the last button, "Create".   Within seconds, you will be sent an ICC message containing your League password.  If you have messmail set to 1, it will also be sent to your  e-mail address.  Make sure you don't have the League bot (team4545) censored, so that you can receive the message.

     Step 2 - PROFILE to Update your info and intentions for the current tournament.

• Players Login - Now that you have a password, you can fill in the top form “Players Login."  "Click on "Login." 
   
• Profile - After you log in, click on the Profile button, and you will see a longer form, on which you provide information necessary to serve you.
   
• IPP - Want help finding a team? - If you don’t yet have a team, and want team captains to consider inviting you to join their teams, be sure to select “YES” to “List me on the Interested Players Page,” and indicate for which sections you wish help in finding a team.
   
• Read and Accept the Rules -  Each player must know what s/he is committing to, so you must select “YES” to “I have read and accept the Team 4545 League procedures,” indicating that you have read the Players’ Handbook.
   
• Update – To submit the information on the Profile form, click on “Update”.   You may return to this form at any time to update your information and wishes.  Be sure to update if you get a new e-mail address.

     Step 3 - Find a Team, and Choose a captain.

• Now, your captain can enter you on a team to play in the current tournament, following the instructions in the Captains' Handbook.
   
• How do you find a team?  If you don't already have a team, see FAQ #3. New-Player probationary period:  If this is your first tournament, you may be on only one team.
    
• When a captain enters a team with you as a member, you will receive an e-mail stating the team members and their e-mail addresses. Save this so that you can communicate with your team.

The Basics:  At the start of each round (Tuesdays 22:00), the pairings are posted on the website, and paired players are sent emails announcing their games and opponents.  But don't wait for email (funny things can happen to email while travelling the internet.).  Check the pairing page and/or the Game Forum to see if you have been paired in the current round. 

Sign into the Game Forum, read any posts that are already there.  Then click "Reply," and tell your opponent some times you would like to play your game. Offer at least three specific and distinct times, preferably including a span of a few hours on weekend (Saturday and/or Sunday).  If your opponent has already made offers of game times, click "Reply," and either accept one of his offers, or make at least three offers of your own.

Continue replying promptly, until an agreement is reached.  Once agreement is reached, it is a binding agreement, and cannot be rescheduled unless both players agree. Use the "Post Agreed Game Time" button to enter the time to the automation.

4.A - Effort.  Do your best to schedule your game; in particular, make your first offers as soon as you can after the pairings go up.  Since we have players in every time zone on the globe, this takes prompt communication, and compromise.  If your game does not get played, the TD will evaluate the effort shown by each player in the Game Forum.  The only official way to schedule your game is by communicating on the Game Forum.  Server tells and messages are not approved ways (unless also promptly documented by copying into the Game Forum).  

4.B - Know The Time.  The orderly flow of the event depends on everyone knowing ICC time.

• Type the command  ' date ' on the server to compare your time to ICC server time.
   
• Speak in Server Times.  Scheduling is much less confusing if all parties refer only to "server time" in Game Forum conversations.  It is the player’s responsibility to know the server time.
   
• 12-hour clock vs. 24-hour clock.   Understand that there are different norms around the world.  See  T45L FAQs to help avoid misunderstandings.

4.C - Seven Days to Play Each Round.   You will schedule and play your games within the 7-day period between Tuesday 22:00 ICC and the same time on Tuesday of the following week. (See also Part 9 Game Adjournments).   If you cannot play within that time frame for a given round (e.g. if you will not be available for a wide range of weekend hours), you must give your Team Captain advance notice so someone else can be scheduled in your place.   Make sure you can meet the following expectations if you tell your captain that you can play:

• There are Two Contact Deadlines
   
  1. Thursday, 22:00 ICC - First Contact Deadline.  You must make your first offers, or respond to your opponent's offers, prior to this first contact deadline. If your opponent offered game times, and you have not yet responded by this deadline, he is no longer expected to show any flexibility with you. You must accept one of his offered game times.
     
     If you make a post prior to the deadline, but the post does not meet the requirements of First Contact as defined by Statute 10.C (make three offers on at least two days, a range of three hours counting as one offer, etc), you will likely be charged with partial blame (at least) should the game not get scheduled.
      
  2. Friday,  22:00 ICC - Contact-or-Forfeit Deadline.  At this second contact deadline, if missed the first deadline, and you haven't accepted one of your opponent's offered times, you lose this game (forfeit or set game loss).  More about deadlines
      
• Continue responding to each other’s suggestions, until an agreement is reached.  If timely, those back and forth posts may continue all the way to the Game Completion Deadline.
   
• Promptness.  The sooner you make your first offers, and reply to each contact, the easier it is for both you and your opponent to coordinate this commitment with other parts of life. Each of these back and forth posts should generally be within 24 hours of the previous post.  Delaying longer than 24 hours to reply to a post leaves your opponent wondering what’s up, and may be considered partial blame if the game does not get scheduled.

4.D  -  What to say when scheduling your game:  

• Offer as many dates and times to play as possible.  Statute 10.C.i includes:

  "The player who initiates this dialog shall specify three or more distinct times to play on at least two different days within the one-week playing period of the round. A range of times, or several distinct times within a three-hour period, counts as one offer. "
  
  Be sure that you can honor each time that you offer, because once a time has been offered and accepted, is binding on both players. Your opponent can accept any offered time with the expectation that you will honor it.
   

• Be Specific.   You and your opponent are to agree on a specific day and time to play your game.   A vague “I'm available any time” is not acceptable.   Better:  “Can you play any time on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 pm?"
   
• When replying to your opponent's suggested game times, either accept one of his times, or make your own offers.
   
• If you offer a range of times (e.g. Saturday, 1 pm – 7 pm), your opponent can accept any distinct time within that range (e.g. 5 pm), with the expectation that you will honor it.  
   
• There is no need to “confirm” after an offered time is accepted.
   
• Once you have agreed on a time to play, click the "Post Agreed Game Time" button and enter the exact time agreed upon.  This tells the bot when to announce your game in channel 345, and when to collect the result.

4.E - Preventing Problems

• Accepting an Offered Game Time with Less than 24 Hours Notice.  If your acceptance of an offered time is within 24 hours of that time, your opponent must acknowledge it for it to be binding on him. In other words, a player cannot be "surprised" by a late acceptance.
   
• However, if you OFFER a time that is already less than 24 hours away, it is assumed that you are expecting to be available at that time if your opponent accepts the offer, whether you acknowledge the acceptance or not (see statute 10.C.vii).
   
• Rescheduling.  Once a game time has been offered and accepted, it is considered to be binding on both players. However, up to the end of the 30-minute grace period, a game may be rescheduled if there is both a request and an agreement to reschedule in the game forum. The opponent may either agree to the request or not, and does not need to give a reason.  
   
• Can My Captain Schedule For Me?   Yes, although we much prefer direct communication between players, your captain can speak for you on the Game Forum, for example if you are absent during the scheduling period.  Times offered or accepted by your captain are binding on you, as if you had spoken for yourself.   So, it is wise to have good communication with your captain!
   
• What if my opponent and I cannot agree on a game time?   If no game time has been agreed upon prior to the game completion deadline, the TD must adjudicate the game score.  Factors he may consider:
  • Did both players make their first offers promptly upon the posting of pairings, and continue to make prompt replies?
  • Did they make the required number of offers, according to Statute 10.C? 
  • Did each player go beyond the minimum requirements and make valiant efforts to play the game by compromising, and by offering a wide range of hours, especially weekend hours?  
  • Did one player insist on a very narrow window in which to play?  How many days did each player rule out?  
     
• Can we agree to a draw in the game forum? Yes, you and your opponent can agree to a draw, rather than play the game.  However, some cautions:
  • Make sure that both sides post this agreement in the forum before the end of the grace period.  Server tells and messages are not approved ways (unless also promptly documented by copying into the Game Forum).  
  • Players join the tournament to play.  If your opponent prefers to play, do NOT question his sportsmanship.  That only makes your own sportsmanship look bad.
  • The players might not fully understand this game's impact on the team standings.  So, it is recommended that each player consult his/her captain, and your TD will likely ask for captain approval before posting the draw. 
     
• Courtesy During Negotiations.   Sportsmanship and civility should prevail at all times.  Do not put your own sportsmanship in question by commenting on anyone else's sportsmanship.  Expressing an opinion about why someone does or does not accept something are not conducive to civility and may be in violation of Section 3.B of the Statutes.  Remember, we want to forge new friendships among the other league members.

5 - Using the Game Forum message board   Use the Game Forum to Arrange Your Game  All contacts with your opponent to arrange your match are made using the "Reply" button in the Game Forum on the league website.