Logos, Banner by KaitlinB and Tom45.

Steering Committee members:
      Permanent Members:  DaveTheRook (chair), bmw2002. chesskix, Kingofknights, rgadoury, BosqueVerde (Emeritus)
      General Members: charles-allen, fledermaus, Invicta-knight, VictorRed

Standing Subcommittee (Rules):
      rgadoury (chair), chesskix, Invicta-Knight, VictorRed

Standing Subcommittee (Technology):
     bmw2002 (chair), chesskix, DaveTheRook, fledermaus, rgadoury

The role and purpose of the Steering Committee is to manage the affairs of the league, to set its direction and expansion, see to its advertisement and management, write the Constitution, Statutes and Handbooks, and review the rulings of the previous Oversight Committee. This is the ultimate governing body of Team 45 45 League with all rights and responsibilities. (Article III of the League Constitution)

League Members may stay informed of potential rules changes by watching this page. Prior to voting results being displayed here, members may make their comments known by notifying any Steering Committee member, who may choose to forward your comments to the Steering Committee. The Committee members will not disclose any details of the Committee discussions. 

Item 1.  T65 Tournament Parameters -  Approved

Item 2.  Replace “showing up for” with “starting” in the 24 hour rule - Approved

Item 3.  Establish proper ruling when an offer contains a day and an incorrect corresponding date. - Option 2 (invalid until clarified) approved

Item 4.   Add league contact (questions) to Section 18.D and FAQ 22 - Not approved. Remove part of FAQ 22 for consistency.

Item 1. T65 tournament parameters

T65 Jun 2 - Aug 18, 2015

Time Control: 45 45
Sections: 6 (U1200, U1400, U1600, U1800, U2000, U2200)
Rounds: 6 - (possibly 7) followed by Playoffs

May 5, 2015 Ratings “fixed” and Profiles Open
May 12, Team entries open
May 26, Team entries close
June 2, Round 1 starts
August 18, End of Playoff 4

Count of team RR reductions (if any) precedes board removal tiebreak.
Tiebreak board removal rules start with board 1 this tournament

Playoff rounds may be delayed, section by section, for late finishing games and outstanding appeals.

No Adjournment week during playoffs.

Note.—Per Administrative Rule 13, all Tuesday (and Sunday) deadlines are 17:00 ICC time.

Playing dates:  See schedule

Item 2. Replace “showing up for” with “starting” in the 24 hour rule

The rule: Section 10.C.vii.a defines the rights and obligations of both players when a game is accepted less than 24 hours from game time. It protects the offering player from being surprised by a late acceptance and the accepting player from having his legitimate game disqualified because the offering player had not officially confirmed the acceptance prior to playing the game.

Problem: The key phrase in the statute is “showing up for the game”. When the statute was written it was presumed that if the offering player was present, logged in to ICC, at game time, he intended to play the game. In other words, the offering player’s protection ends with his presence, and he is required to play the game or suffer appropriate penalties.

Objections have been raised to that criteria. The argument is made that the player, unaware that the time had been accepted, might be logged in automatically for hours but not actually paying attention, or involved in a blitz tourney thinking his offer had not been accepted,  or just “checking in”, with no plans or expectations of playing a league game at that time.

Solution: Rules Subcommittee agrees with those arguments, and is recommending a single change to the statute, replacing “showing up for” with “starting”. With this one change, the offering player will now be assumed to have confirmed the late acceptance by actually starting the game, accidentally or not, and must accept the outcome of the game under all applicable rules.

Recommendation: Revise Section 10.C.vii.a to read (striking “showing up for”, inserting “starting”)

If an offer that was made more than 24 hours from game time is accepted less than 24 hours from game time, the time must be confirmed by the one who made the offer. (This means, if I make an offer and you accept it less than 24 hours before the game, I must confirm your acceptance, or I cannot be held to my initial offer). This rule applies only to the player who made the offer, as the player who accepted it within the 24 hour period has already confirmed the time by accepting it. The time is considered confirmed either by making a post or by showing up for  starting the game within the grace period.¶ SC 56-57

Approved 12 May 2015 8-0 One not voting

Item 3. Establish proper ruling when an offer contains a day and an incorrect corresponding date.

Problem. The chair of Oversight Committee has asked that we address the problem that arises when a player, in making an offer, gives the day of the week (day) and a corresponding calendar (date) that does not match. EG, “I offer 1900 Friday, June 8, 2015”, when Friday is actually June 6. The problem arises when responder accepts the day or the date (which in this example would be Sunday June 8), when the offerer was intending the other.

Three members of Rules Subcommittee felt that when there is a conflict between a stated day and an inconsistent date, that preference be given to the Day. One member felt an inconsistent offer should be voided entirely (acceptance of neither the day nor the date would be binding on anyone).

Solution. One of the following two options be incorporataed into the statutes as Section 10.C.i.d (New)

Either 1 or 2

1. Should an offer contain both a day of the week and a corresponding date that does not match, precedence shall be given to the “day”. Responder could accept the “day”, and it will be binding on both players. Acceptance of the “date” by responder shall not be binding until the offerer acknowledges it and agrees.
2. Should an offer contain both a day of the week and a corresponding date that does not match, such offer shall be considered void until offerer corrects the inconsistency. Acceptance of either the day or the incorrect date prior to clarification shall not be binding on either player. Added to text after approva, by request of OC chairl: Until clarified, voided offers do not count towards satisfying any deadlines or  other mandatory scheduling provisions.

Submitted by Rules Subcommittee in response to Oversight Committee request.

Option B approved 9 June 2015 by a vote of 8-1

Item 4.  Add league contact (questions) to Section 18.D and FAQ 22 

Problem. A player noticed that FAQ 22 regarding reporting of cheating includes a statement to contact league managament, but Section 18.D does not.

Solution. Add a contact address to both elements.