Minutes of the League Management Committee Meeting at Syston on Wednesday 17 January 2007

Present: Alan Jex (AJ, Chair), Jim Miller (JM, Secretary), Iain Dodds (ID), Sean Hewitt (SH), John Pattinson (JP), Mike Thornton (MT), Steve Wylie (SW).

1. Apologies

Jim Bingham, John Dawkins, Peter Harrison, Cyril & Julie Johnson.

2. Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 November were approved.  There were no matters arising.

3. League Report

JM reported that (a) Because of unavoidable illness problems Oakham School teams were having grave difficulties in fulfilling their D2 and D6 fixtures.  It was agreed that these fixtures ought to be played wherever possible: in cases where neither fixture between two teams had been played, a double-header match result would be accepted if both teams agreed.  JM would inform the clubs concerned.  (b) A dispute had arisen over the D6 match between Melton and Uppingham.  Melton had not been prepared to play this match on the date in the League Handbook, as the Web fixture list had accidentally omitted it: however Uppingham in turn were not prepared to accept any alternative date even though one or two dates seemed from the fixture list to be suitable.  It was agreed that every effort should be made to get the teams to play – but in the event of their failure to do so the match should be declared void, i.e. neither side could reasonably expect to acquire points from it.  (C) ID reported that the integration of the former DSS team into the League as Wigston team 4A in D4 seemed to gone smoothly.

4. Summer Cups 2007

In an extended discussion of the four Cup events it was agreed that (a) The Chapman and Birstall Cups should proceed as in 2006.  It was suggested by SH that we should consider a Swiss format for these events, but it was felt that, in view of other changes being made to the summer events, this idea should be held over for this year at least.  Minor rule changes summarised by JM after earlier consultations were agreed (the main ones were no adjournments; toss for colours for all rounds).  To deter any speculative entries, clubs entering teams and then withdrawing them should be charged the entry fee, plus the match fee for any rounds in which they were entered.  (b) The Harrod Cup would have five rounds rather than four, and the grading rules would be simplified so that the total grades of the four players should be 399 or less, with no other grading restrictions except that un-graded players would be assigned a grade of at least 50.  (c)The Wylie Cup should be in the same format as the Harrod Cup but be open to players of all grades.  JM agreed to emphasise to clubs that assigned grades could be changed during the events in the light of new results and information; and that an "E" Rapid Play grade would be used for a player whose normal play grade was also at the E level.  January 2007 Rapid Play grades would be used.  In all Cups away fixtures would be guaranteed if necessary.

5. League Rule Changes for 2007-8 re Barred Players, etc.

It was noted that the subtle contradictions in the rules had, apparently for the first time, caused formidable problems with one or two clubs at the start of the season.  It was accepted that any discussion would only be a preliminary one, and the issue would have to raised again at the next LMC meeting, prior to the AGM and the summer consultation period with clubs.  It was agreed unanimously that the number of barred players per team should not be affected by the number of teams a club had in a given Division, and that the present clear contradiction between Rules 10 and 16 should be removed to ensure the validity of the "order of strength" principle.  It was also suggested that (a) the number of matches referred to in Rule 16 (iii) might be two rather than three, and that match points penalties would be considered for teams who breached Rules 16 (i) and 16 (iii).  Further consideration should also be given to the "cascade effect" whereby a club with several teams in the League might have to re-organise a number of barred players if a change occurred in the barred players of one of the higher-rated teams.  JM agreed to try to write a draft of the relevant Rules to include all these ideas.

6. Any Other Business / Date of Next Meeting

There was no other business and the date of the next meting was not fixed.

JNM – 3 July 2007