12 August 2013

 Grading Thresholds Explained

General

In order to minimise the occurrence of defaults some players are allowed to play for teams in their own club other than their registered team. This facility to play up and down between teams of a club is not intended to be used as a tactical ploy and misuse may incur a penalty.

Attention should be given to Rule 6.3a which stipulates ‘It must be the intention that these players shall play regularly for the team for which they are registered, and players should be registered in order of strength as far as is practicable.’

Playing up

Where a player is playing up to a team more senior (stronger) than the player’s registered team it is usually the case that the opponent is stronger than one that would be met when playing for the registered team. In view of this there are no restrictions on playing up other than compliance with Rule 6.3a.

Playing down

Where a player is playing down to a team less senior (less strong) than the player’s registered team it is often the case that the opponent is weaker than one that would be met when playing for the registered team. It is plainly not desirable that a team should be significantly strengthened by playing a strong reserve from a more senior team. To prevent this occurring, players playing down must be graded below the threshold set for the division into which they are playing. Compliance with Rule 6.3a must still be observed.

Grading Thresholds

Grading thresholds are based on the previous season’s playing strength and are set to prevent the strongest two thirds of players in a division playing down into the division below. The thresholds also apply to playing down between teams within the same division.

Examples

The thresholds used in these examples are those in use for the 2009 -2010 season which are:

i2 = 158, i3 = 128, i4 = 111 and i5 = 107

1. White Knights A play in Division 1, the B team in Division 2 and the C team in Division 3, an A team player playing down to the B team must be graded below 158 (Rule 6.3g). A and B team players playing down to the C team must be graded below 128 (Rule 6.3g).

2. Black Bishops A, B and C teams all compete in Division 2, an A team player playing down to the B team must be graded below 128 (Rule 6.3h). A and B team players playing down to the C team must be graded below 128 (Rule 6.3h).

3. Red Rooks A and B teams play in Division 1 whilst the C team compete in Division 2, an A team player playing down to the B team must be graded below 158 (Rule 6.3h). A and B team players playing down to the C team must be graded below 158 (Rule 6.3g).

4. Purple Pawns A play in Division 1 and the B and C teams in Division 2, an A team player playing down to the B team must be graded below 158 (Rule 6.3g), a B team player playing down to the C team must be graded below 128 (Rule 6.3h). An A team player playing down to the C team must be graded below 128 (Rule 6.3g second sentence). This is to prevent an A team player playing down to the C team whilst a lower graded B team player may not.

LMC members will gladly answer any queries regarding Grading Thresholds.