RULES FOR NCBA INTER-CLUB “TEAMS OF EIGHT” ONLINE LEAGUE
Issued August 2023
The League is under the management of the NCBA committee and administered by an appointed League Secretary. All players are expected to ensure that matches are arranged and played for mutual convenience and enjoyment. Where problems arise captains are urged to consult one another to resolve matters to mutual satisfaction. The League is the county’s qualifying stage of the Garden Cities Trophy; the League Secretary will advise clubs of the EBU’s current rules for the qualifying stage.
Postponement of matches causes problems to all and every effort should be made to complete fixtures on the dates agreed.
General
1. The entry fee for the league is payable before the start of the season.
2. Any club wishing to enter or withdraw a team must let the League Secretary know before the advised date.
3. All differences and disputes that cannot be settled between teams shall be referred to the League Secretary immediately; so timely action can be taken or settled by the NCBA Committee, whose decision shall be final. For any breach of any of these Rules or any other irregularity, the Committee may impose such penalties either by way of deduction of points or otherwise as it may think fit.
4. If at the end of the season a team has played less than half of their matches then the results for the matches they have played are cancelled. If the offending team has played half or more of their matches then their results stand and the other teams in the division that have not had the opportunity to play against the offending team are awarded VPs along the following lines:-
The non-offending team receives
(a) 12 VPs or
(b) its average score in VPs for the season or
(c) 20 minus the offending team's average score in VPs for the season, whichever is the greatest.
5. New teams entering the League will start in the lowest division.
Eligibility
6 (a) The League is only open to teams from EBU clubs affiliated to NCBA. Players must be bona fide members of that club, which means that players must play regularly at the club or for the club, or contribute regularly in some other way.
(b) Teams in the top division are competing for entry into the regional stage of the Garden Cities Trophy. They must therefore comply with the current EBU rules for the qualifying stage of the Trophy.
( https://www.ebu.co.uk/competitions/garden-cities )
For the 2023_24 season clubs may only play those who have been club members since June 1st 2023; failure to comply could impact on their entry to the Trophy should they qualify by winning Division1.
7 No player may play for more than one club within the League in any one season.
8 There is no limit to the number of players who can represent any one team.
9 Where a club enters more than one team:
(a) For each team apart from the lowest ranking1, four players must be nominated who will only play for that team or a higher ranking team.
(b) Nominated players must play at least half of the matches during the season, and for the team for which they are nominated. For example if the team is in a 10 match division, at least 5 matches to be played for the team for which they are nominated. If an 8/9 match division, at least 4 matches.
(c) The names of nominated players must be sent to the League Secretary by the 31st December. These names will be published on the NCBA website.
(d) No player may take part in more matches altogether than the largest number of matches played by a team that he/she has played for.
(e) Subject to the above, a player may play for different teams against the same team.
10 To encourage participation, in the lowest division only, a team may include a non EBU/NCBA member on two occasions only (i.e. two such non-members in the same match, one in two different matches, or two in one match each). Their names must be clearly identified on the result sheet.
11 A team found to have played an unauthorised player is not allowed to win that match. The team has failed to field a complete team of eligible players so will incur an adjusted score in line with a conceded match under Rule 20d. Unauthorised players include those who:
(a) Have been nominated for a higher ranking team.
(b) Have already played the maximum permitted number of matches.
(c) Have previously played for another club in the same season.
(d) Are not EBU/NCBA members, subject to Rule 10.
Matches and Results
12 Matches are to be played on the BBO platform. Only if both Teams agree can they be played on RealBridge or Face to Face (F2F) Matches should start by 7.00 p.m. and players should make every effort to finish no later than 10.45 p.m. Earlier times are acceptable if both teams agree. The Home team are responsible for setting up the matches, but may ask their opponents to if they so wish. BBO IDs of the away pairs must be sent to the home captain 24 hours before the match. If matches are played on RealBridge the host club is responsible for any payments. If played F2F this must be in accordance with current government/EBU Covid guidance.
13 a) Matches are to be played over 24 boards with imps scoring. Where 24 boards cannot be played (for whatever reason) the same victory point scale should be used. At least 18 boards must be played for the match to be valid.
b) Matches must be set up in line with EBU guidance. No kibitzing and no barometer scoring. The same as applies in F2F play. No undos are strongly advised to avoid any disagreements and exchange of information. c) If there is a voice and mic option captains should agree beforehand to use it. Captains should be made aware of any players who do not have that facility, or do not wish to use it.
14 If a ruling on the laws of bridge is required, the captains of both teams should make contact at the end of the Round, and they should attempt to agree on a ruling. (For help contact the League Referee: details at the end of the Rules). All irregularities should be reported to the League Secretary either at the time of the occurrence, or with the result sheet. The result sheet is to be emailed to the League Secretary, and copied to the opponent’s team captain, within 7 days of the match. The opponents have 3 days to dispute a score line with the League Secretary. No appeal will be considered once this time period has relapsed. If a F2F match the result sheet should be signed by both captains. Captains are advised not to sign a score sheet if they have a dispute that could not be solved on the night.
15 Results of matches must be returned to the League Secretary within 7 days of the match.
16 The head-to-head matches between teams from the same club must be played at the beginning of the season, or when advised by the League Secretary. If the match is not played at the due time the result will be recorded as 0 – 0.
17 Matches must be played by the date given by the League Secretary at the start of the season; unless prior permission has been given for a later date. Matches not played by then will be recorded as 0 – 0, unless there are exceptional circumstances. Those teams in the top division who are competing for entry to the Garden Cities Trophy may be required to complete their matches by an earlier date than those of lower divisions.
18 It is the responsibility of the home team to contact opponents to arrange fixtures. Fixtures must be agreed by the date advised by the League Secretary at the start of the season.
19 An agreed match date may be re-arranged at any time without penalty only by mutual consent. However in asking for a re-arrangement, or cancelling a match, a team is agreeing to concede if their opponents do not wish to rearrange, or a new date cannot be agreed. It is advisable for Teams to make sufficient allowances for last minute non availability of players. In the event of poor weather conditions it is reasonable to agree to cancel a F2F match.
20 Non or late arrival of players
(a) Players should log on at least 15 minutes before the start time and immediately report any problems to their captain. If players are unable to join a match, or to continue playing, for technical reasons the match may be delayed for 1 hour at the start, or for 30 minutes after the start of a match. If at least 18 boards (See Rule 13) have been played by all tables the match can be considered as completed. If less than 18 played then the match will be rescheduled.
(b) If playing online or F2F penalties for non arrival or late arrival of one or more members of teams, and conceded matches is as below:
All of one team is present
(a) If no members of the offending team are present / logged on 45 minutes after the scheduled start, then the match is considered as conceded by the offending team.
(b) If some members of the offending team are present
(i) After 30 minutes of failure to log on or late arrival the match is reduced by 2 boards and for each extra 15 minutes a further 2 boards. A total of 18 boards must be played. For each board not played 3 imps is awarded to the non-offending team.
(ii) The match cannot be abandoned until 1 hour 30 minutes has elapsed from the scheduled starting time. After which the offending team concedes the match (Note: This period of time may enable the team to be completed either by the logging on or arrival of the player(s) or by replacement player(s) being found).
Neither team is complete at the scheduled start
(c) The team which is completed first is the non-offending team and Rule 20 (b) applies.
Conceded match
(d) The offending team is penalised by 6 VPs and the non-offending team awarded 12 VPs or its average score for the season or 20 minus the average score of the offending team whichever is the greatest.
21 As a matter of course, any team not completing the full fixture list by 17th April is not eligible for promotion to another division, irrespective of their position in the league. Applications for exceptions to this rule should be made in writing to the League Secretary as soon as possible, and each case will be considered by the NCBA Committee.3
22 At the end of each season, provided that the structure of the League remains the same, within each division the two teams with the most VPs will be promoted to the division above and the two teams with the least number of VPs will be relegated. In the event of a tie the team that won most VPs in the head to heads will take precedence. In the event of that being tied it will be decided by a draw of a card by the NCBA Committee. In the event of a team withdrawing from the league before the constitution is set the protocol is the teams are still relegated and promoted as agreed at the end of the previous season. The gap left is filled up the divisions by the third placed team in the lower division/s"
Rules of Play
23 If F2F Computer dealt hands may only be used with the prior agreement of both teams. Prior being when the match is confirmed and again, for the avoidance of doubt, before the match starts.
24 Any artificial call at any level, or any call that would normally be alerted or announced in a F2F game should be explained by the player making the call using the Alert box with an explanation. At no time should a bidder’s partner be able to see the explanation. If F2F all pairs must have matching convention cards (see note 4). Failure to do so will mean that when any bidding dispute or ruling on the laws of bridge is required (see Rule 14 above) players without convention cards may be disadvantaged.
25 If F2F any form of paper or electronic scoring, such as Bridgemates and BrIan, may be used, but only with the agreement of both teams. It is essential that these systems do not at any time show hands which have already been played.
26 The EBU laws and regulations as set out in the Blue and White rule books.
Alongside the Sky Blue book which refers to online competitions. https://www.ebu.co.uk/documents/laws-and-ethics/skyblue-book.pdf
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Notes:
1. The comparative ranking of teams is determined by the divisions that the teams are in, and if in the same division their final standing from the previous season.
2. If one team is entirely at fault, (including withdrawal from the league after the half-way point) that team receives 0 VPs. The non-offending team receives
(a) 12 VPs or
(b) its average score for the season or
(c) 20 minus the opponent's average score, whichever is the greatest.
Matches may be played after the end of the last playing period with the prior permission of the League Secretary.
3. Only teams that can demonstrate beyond doubt that their failure to complete their fixtures is through no fault of their own may be exempted from this rule. The Committee's decision is final.
4. All players are recommended to have convention cards; otherwise they may be disadvantaged in the event of a bidding dispute or ruling. Convention cards can be downloaded from the EBU http://www.ebu.co.uk/laws-and-ethics/convention-cards and customised to individual pairs' systems.
League Secretary:
Jane Hall Telephone: 0115 965 2595 (janehall151@btinternet.com)
Referees:
For issues concerning the Laws of Duplicate Bridge contact the County Tournament Director. If they are not available the NCBA will nominate an experienced senior Director.
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