· FIDE laws of chess apply.
· No smoking in the playing area.
· All players must be members of the club they are representing.
· All players must be BCF or NMS members.
· All games are BCF game fee graded

· If captain’s find they have fixture clashes with other leagues, they should ensure that matches are re-arranged before the start of the season.
· If a team captain wishes to postpone a scheduled match in extreme circumstances (but not because their best players are not available), he has to contact and make know this postponement or cancellation with the opposing team’s captain or representative at least 1 week before the original agreed fixture date.
· Failure to comply with this minimum time limit will enable the opposing team captain to claim the match.

· All matches are played over five boards unless otherwise agreed by both captains prior to the match.
· Time control is 35 moves in 75 minutes, then the players receive a further 15 minutes each to finish the game.

· All matches are scheduled to start at 7:30pm. (Skelmersdale 7.46pm at home)
· Choice of colours will be decided by toss of a coin, if a team arrives late then they will automatically lose the toss.
· Clocks can be started at 7:30pm if a player arrives late.
· Any player who has not started their game by 8:00pm may forfeit the game, if the opposing team’s player wishes to claim it.

· Grading limits are based on teams of 5 boards, defaults as per ungraded limits.
· Any team that fails to comply with the grading limits shall be defaulted 5-0 unless both captains agree to allow these rules to lapse. The grading officer – to whome results are sent – shall require confirmation of such changes.

· The BCF grading list should apply for grading players.
· Division 1 – Unrestricted
· Division 2 – Total board grades MUST NOT exceed 650 (ungraded players count as 100).
· Division 3 – Total board grades MUST NOT exceed 550 (ungraded players count as 90).
· Grading limits are based on teams of 5 boards (defaults as ungraded limits).

· Birchall Trophy – unlimited.
· Vaux Tankard (for losers in round 1 of the Birchall Trophy cup competition) – Total board grades MUST NOT exceed 650 (ungraded players count as 100).

· Players can only play in one cup team during a season.

· Please make every effort to follow these rules for the league to run smoothly.
· Captains and players are asked to exercise discretion in the ethos of the competition.