DISTRICT THREE
2011-2012 GRAND NATIONAL TEAMS CHAMPIONSHIP
CONDITIONS OF CONTEST
The following regulations apply to the Grand National Teams. Additionally,
the ACBL Conditions of Contest, available from the District Coordinator,
apply. If there is some part of the Conditions that is not clear to
you, please consult the Tournament Director or the Grand National Coordinator.
The Grand National Teams Coordinator is Betty Ann Smith, 22 Crest Drive
South, Cresskill, N.J. 07626. (201) 567-6047. bettyann225@optonline.net.
The District 3 GNT will be held Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the St.
Gregory’s Armenian Church, 1131 North Street, White Plains, N.Y.
10605, Betty Ann Smith’s cell: 201-394-5754.
The winning team from each flight becomes the District 3 2011-2012 Grand
National Team Champions from that flight and advances to the National
Championships to be held at the 2012 Summer NABC in Philadelphia, PA.
District Three will pay entry fees for the National Finals for the District
winners in all flights for as long as they remain in the event and will
also give each team $500 towards expenses.
GENERAL CONDITIONS
1. The Event will be run in four Flights: Championship Flight with no
masterpoint restrictions: Flight A, limited to players with no more
than 5000 recorded masterpoints as of ACBL’s September 2011 masterpoint
cycle; Flight B, limited to players with no more than 2000 masterpoints
as of ACBL’s September 2011 masterpoint cycle; Flight C, limited
to non-Life Masters who have not more than 500 masterpoints as of ACBL’s
September 2011 masterpoint cycle. Teams may consists of 4, 5, or 6 players.
2. All Flights will compete at the District Level only.
3. A player desiring to play in the event must join the ACBL and be
a resident of one of the units of District Three: The Adirondack Bridge
Assoc., Capital District Bridge Association, Hudson Valley Bridge Association,
New Jersey Bridge League, North Jersey Bridge Association, Westchester
Contract Bridge Association, and the Dutchess County Bridge Association.
A. For Championship Flight… all players must actually live in
District 3. Exceptions may be granted by the Credentials Committee of
the ACBL Board of Directors.
B. For all other Flights: If a player is a member of District 3, and
does not live in District 3, he needed to have received permission of
the District Director from District 3 and also the permission of the
District Director from where he actually lives. This permission needed
to be requested by July l, 2011. There are no exceptions to this requirement.
4. COPIED INTACT FROM THE ACBL 2011-2012 GNT CONDITIONS OF CONTEST
APPENDIX I (Board Resolution of 2008)
2011-2012 Grand National Teams Conditions of Contest
District Membership – (Board Item 082-36)
The North American Pairs and Grand National Teams were created
initially with the expectation that players would play in and represent
the districts in which they lived.
For the GNTs: A member's principal physical residence as of September
1 of the year prior to the National Final shall establish the district
in which said member is eligible to participate beyond the club qualifying
stage. For the NAPs: A member's principal residence as of June 1 of
the year prior to the National Final shall establish the district in
which the member is eligible to participate beyond the club level.
The expectation is that exceptions to this rule will be rare, especially
in the top flight of the GNT. A player seeking an exception must obtain
permission in writing from the ACBL District Director representing the
district in which the member has a principal residence and from the
ACBL District Director representing the district in which the member
wishes to play. Both District Directors must approve the request for
the exception to be granted. Further, any exceptions in the top flight
must also be approved by a BOD Credentials Committee. The expectation
is that District Directors will approve and forward requests to the
Credentials Committee only in very special cases (see below). There
is no appeal from the Credentials Committee decision.
The Credentials Committee (CC) is also responsible for clarifying which
district a player is allowed to play in when said player's eligibility
is in question. When a challenge to one's eligibility from a unit final
stage or later stage has been made, the CC may request documentary evidence
from the member whose eligibility is in question. If a member is unable
to verify to the CC's satisfaction that he or she is playing in the
district of the member’s principal residence, the CC shall automatically
disqualify the member and his or her partner. When a member is disqualified
by the CC, the matter will be referred to the ACBL President who may
choose to make charges to the ACBL Disciplinary Committee in accordance
with section 2.2.3 (d) of the ACBL Code of Disciplinary Regulations.
Guidelines for Exceptions:
As noted above, the expectation is that exceptions will be rare. Following
are three situations where an exception may be considered:
• “Snowbird”. A member with seasonal residences
who spends more than half of the GNT (September 1 – February 28)
qualifying period in a district other than the district of his principal
physical residence may play in the district of seasonal residence. If
he chooses to do so, he must play in that district’s district
finals to be eligible to play in the national finals. Such a player
will not be eligible to be added to a team from the district of his
principal residence.
• A player with multiple domiciles should apply to the
Credentials Committee for a one-time choice of district in which he
wishes to play. This player may be asked to document his time in each
of his residences. The player must spend at least three months each
year in a district in order to have it considered as a domicile possibility.
Once a player chooses a district in which to play, he must play only
in that district until he no longer has a domicile in that district.
A participant who is a full-time student, a member of the
armed forces or whose
employment requires temporary relocation may play in the District in
which he
temporarily resides.
• In rare cases, a player who is a member of a unit in
a district in which he does not reside may seek permission to play in
the district in which he has a unit membership. Such an exception will
be considered only if all of the conditions below are met:
o Lives sufficiently close to the district borders
o Has been a member of the unit in which he wishes to play
for at least 5 years continuously prior to the start of the competition
in the year for which the exception is being requested
o Must not have played in the GNT or NAP in another district
for that period of time.
o Must have been actively involved as a volunteer in the Unit
or District in which he wishes to play for at least two years. Possibilities
include, but are not limited to: Unit or District Board Member, Chair
of NABC or major NABC Committee, District or Unit Recorder, Tournament
Chair, or Club Manager.
Note: Simply playing bridge in the other District/Unit or having
a regular partner who resides in the other District is not considered
sufficient reason for an exception to the “play where you live”
rule.
Any player seeking an exception for this reason must document the reasons
why an exception should be considered and send it to both District Directors
involved, as described above. The District Director of the District
in which the player is a member must confirm the fact that the player
has been an active volunteer in the District (or Unit) where the player
does not live before forwarding such requests to the Credentials Committee
(top flight only).
Should an exception be granted for this reason, the player
is eligible to play only in that district and may not change unit affiliation
unless the player’s principal physical residence changes.
.
5. Electronic devices, excluding health-related equipment, capable of
sending or receiving communication, including but not limited to, headphones,
earphones, cellular phones and minicomputers shall not be turned on
in the playing areas, adjacent hallways, restrooms or accessible break
areas and shall not be used during a session. These restrictions shall
apply to all to all members of the team, captains, coaches and kibitzers.
A violation of this policy shall result in a 6 IMP penalty and a second
violation will result in disqualification from the event. Kibitzers
violating this policy will be removed from the playing area for the
remainder of the event.
.
6. Extreme slow play is a breach of proper tournament conduct that should
be reported to the Tournament Director for proper disposition. The Grand
National Teams Committee has the right in cases of extremely slow play
to recommend to the District Disciplinary Committee disciplinary action
against teams or individual players. It is the responsibility of the
players to notify the Director when their opponents are playing very
slowly. If it can be determined that one side is responsible for the
slow play, the Director may remove boards from play and impose IMP penalties.
If it cannot be determined which player(s) is responsible, the Director
must notify the Tournament Committee of District 3 for possible action.
7. Kibitzers will be permitted but must remain at one table. Any player
may ask the Director to remove one kibitzer from his table without assigning
any cause. Fifth and sixth members of a team may not kibitz their own
team.
8. SUBSTITUTION, REPLACEMENT, (ALL FLIGHTS) DURING DISTRICT EVENT.
A. The DIC or the District GNT Coordinator or his designee may approve
a substitute in an emergency. Only one substitute is permitted at any
time and no substitute is permitted if four or more team members of
record are available. A substitute may not appreciably strengthen the
team.
B. The replacement of a member who, for cause, cannot continue in the
event is permitted only with the permission of the District Director
or GNT Coordinator or his designee. The replacement must be a resident
of the District who has not played in this year’s GNT, does not
appreciably strengthen the team, and can only be made to bring teams
up to four members.
C. A permanently replaced player leaves the event with all masterpoints
already earned and the replacement continues in the event earning masterpoints
thereafter. Play percentage requirements may apply to the replacement.
D. A team becomes ineligible to continue in the event when fewer than
three original team members can continue and meet the play percentage
requirements.
9. REPLACEMENT AND AUGUMENTATION FOR NABC FINALS.
A. After the District Final and prior to the National Final a replacement
will only be permitted if the replaced player agrees and, in the opinion
of the District Director or GNT Coordinator, the replacement maintains
or enhances the strength of the team.
B. A fifth and/or sixth player may be added to a team after completion
of the District Final. Any such player(s) must be a resident of District
Three. Augmentees will only be allowed if, in the opinion of the GNT
Committee, the addition(s) is an attempt to maintain or improve the
playing strength of the team.
10. A team that fails to seat a complete team at gametime may request
permission to start the match with a substitute. The Director in charge,
and/or the GNT Coordinator may allow the use of a substitute if the
available substitute meets the proper requirements as outline in 8A
above. When the team member arrives, he shall begin playing the match
at the conclusion of the board in play at the time he arrives. A substitute
may play no more than 50% of the boards a team is scheduled to play
that day. A team which fails to seat a complete team within ten minutes
of the announced starting time (and does not wish to use a substitute
or no substitute is available) will be penalized five IMPs in the net
score of that match and a further IMP for each minute thereafter. Penalties
for tardiness shall not be added to the score of the non-offending side
and, in addition, the DIC or the GNT Coordinator or his designee, at
his discretion, may remove boards from a match starting late in order
to make up for the lost time. For each board removed the non-offending
team will be awarded 3 IMPs.
If a full team (four players) is not seated within 25 minutes of the
announced starting time for a Swiss Team match or a one-session match,
that team will forfeit the match in question. The winner of the forfeited
match will receive the greatest of the following up to that point for
pairing purposes.
1. 12 Victory Points.
2. Its average Victory Point score for all other matches.
3. The average Victory Points won against the forfeiting team in all
other matches.
4. If Win/Loss, a full Win.
In a Swiss or round robin, the award for a forfeited match will be recalculated
as stated above at the conclusion of the event. The loser will receive
zero Victory Points or a loss. Disciplinary penalties may also be assessed
against teams or individuals if the situation warrants.
If a full team is not seated within 1 hour of the announced starting
time for a 2-session match, that team will forfeit the match. If a full
team is not seated within 45 minutes of the agreed starting time for
the 2nd session of a two-session match, that team will forfeit the match.
The IMP or forfeiture penalties of this section may not be waived.
11. If any table is unable to complete all the boards of a given match,
the results of that match will be determined by comparison of the boards
completed at both tables. If, in the opinion of the Director, one side
was responsible for not completing the boards, an award of three IMPs
per board for each board that cannot be compared will be given to the
non-offending side.
12. Each player must play 50% of the boards (not including tiebreak
boards) or one-half the sessions of the event. A player who does not
play 50% of the boards or one-half of the sessions is ineligible to
go to the National Final. In Knockout competition each player must also
play at least 50% of the Final Match in order to compete at the National
Final.
13. 24, 28 and 32-board matches will be played in halves and 56 and
64-board matches will be played in quarters. If both teams agree, a
match may be played in thirds.
14. Each match in Knockout competition will consist of a “seeded”
team and an “unseeded” team. The Captain of the seeded team
designates whether his team will be seeded in the first or second half
(or the first and fourth quarters) of the match. If he does not do so
he will be deemed to have taken his rights in the first half. The Captain
of the unseeded team positions his players first. North/South at his
home table, East/West at the opponents’ table. The Captain of
the seeded team has the final choice in placing his players. For the
other half (or the second and third quarters) of the match, the unseeded
team inherits the privileges accorded the seeded team. There will be
no restrictions preventing any team playing whatever lineup it wishes
in each segment, even if replays result. If a match is played in thirds,
the seeded team may pick either the first or second segment and the
seed in the last segment will be decided by a coin flip.
15. No team may withdraw without seeking and receiving the permission
of the Director-in-Charge. Permission will be granted only if the withdrawal
will not seriously inconvenience the running of the event.
16. For Semifinals and Finals to be played at later dates, the GNT Coordinator
or his designee will give the teams a “Play By” date and
location for the Semifinal and a “Play By” date and location
for the Final. Semifinal and Final results must be reported to the coordinator
not more than 24 hours after the completion of the match. The teams
may agree to an earlier date and site with the approval of the GNT coordinator
or his designee. The same entry fee as for the rest of the event will
apply to the Semifinal and Final matches.
17. Scoring will be by IMPs in all Flights. In Knockout matches, a margin
of one IMP constitutes a win. Should any match end in a tie, one-session
matches will have a 4-board playoff and two-session matches will have
a 6-board playoff. These will be followed, if necessary, by continuing
4 board matches until the tie is resolved. There will be no seeding
rights in any playoff.
In the case of a 5-team round robin, ties will be broken as follows:
A. Net IMP’s in the match(s) between the tied teams
B. Total number of wins for the session (win=1, tie=1/2, loss=0)
C. Net IMP’s for the session.
18. The score correction period for player and scorer errors expires
thirty minutes after the completion of the segment, at the start of
play at either table of a playoff, or at the announced starting time
of the next match, whichever is earlier.
19. The appeal period of a director’s ruling expires thirty minutes
after the completion of the segment, at the start of play at either
table in the next segment, or at the start of play at either table of
a playoff, whichever is earlier.
20. Championship Flight and Flight A will be seeded based on masterpoints.
If the previous year’s winning team in a flight enters that flight
with at least 2/3 of its members unchanged, that team becomes the number
one seed.
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
1. The Championship Flight will be conducted as a single elimination
knockout.
2. The ACBL Mid-Chart will apply.
3. The Final Match will consist of 64 boards.
4. If two teams enter, they will play the entire event that day.
5. If three teams enter, they will play a 56-board round robin to reduce
the field to two teams. These two teams will play the Final at a later
date.
6. If four teams enter, they will play 56-board semifinal matches that
day and the Final at a later date.
7. If five teams enter, they will play a 28-board round robin in the
afternoon to eliminate one team. The remaining four will play 32-board
semifinals at night. The team winning the round robin may choose its
evening opponent from between the 3rd and 4th place teams. The Final
will be played at a later date.
8. If six (6), seven (7), or eight (8) teams enter, there will be head
to head and 3-way matches to reduce the field to 4 teams, 28 boards
will be played. 32 board Semifinal matches will be played in the evening
session. See General Conditions #16 for details for Final match.
9. If nine (9) to eleven (11) teams enter there will be head to head
and 3-way matches to reduce the field to 6 teams, 28 boards will be
played. There will be two 3-way matches in the evening to reduce the
field to 4 teams, 32 boards will be played. The Semifinal will be 48
boards and the Final will be 64 boards. See General Conditions #16 for
details for Semifinal and Final matches.
10. If twelve (12) to sixteen (16) teams enter there will be head to
head and 3-way matches to reduce the field to 8 teams, 28 boards will
be played. 32 board quarterfinals will be played in the 2nd session.
Semifinal and Final matches will be arranged as in #9 above.
11. If 17 or more teams enter Rounds 1 and 2 will be 28 boards. Continuation
of this Event will be determined by the GNT Committee, in consultation
with the Director in Charge.
FLIGHT A
1. Flight A will be a single elimination knockout.
2. The ACBL General Convention Chart will apply. No other conventions
will be allowed.
3. Except for the number of boards played, the Event format will be
as in the Championship Flight. a. If 2 teams enter the Final will be
56 boards b. If 3 or 4 teams enter, Round 1 will be 28 boards and the
Final will be 32 boards. The Event will be concluded in one day with
4 or fewer teams. c. If 5-8 teams enter, Rounds 1 and 2 will be 28 boards.
Finals to be held at a later date will be 56 boards. d. If 9-16 teams
enter, Rounds 1 and 2 will be 28 boards. Semifinals and Finals to be
held on later dates will be 48 boards in the Semifinals and 56 boards
in the Final. e. If 17 or more teams enter Rounds 1 and 2 will be 28
boards. Continuation of this Event will be determined by the GNT Committee,
in consultation with the Director in Charge.
FLIGHTS B AND C
1. Each Flight will be run as a one-day two-session unseeded Swiss Team
event. The first overall winner in each Flight will be declared District
Champion for that Flight. There will be no Knockout competition.
2. If possible, and in consultation with the Director-in-Charge and
the GNT Coordinator or his designee, any field which consists of 24
or more teams will play eight seven-board matches. Otherwise, six nine-board
matches will be played.
3. The ACBL General Convention Chart will apply. No other conventions
will be allowed.
4. For the first match of the Swiss Teams, the Director will assign
the match pairings at random. Thereafter, pairings (who plays whom)
will be determined by Victory Point totals with teams having like total
scores playing against each other. No team shall face the same opponents
twice in the Swiss Round. There are no seeding rights. Should any questions
arise as to which players on a team face which players on its opponent’s
team, the Captain will be required to submit precise geographic lineups
to the Director. Should a team appeal a ruling by the Director, Victory
Point totals for the purpose of determining match pairings will be temporarily
scored assuming that each team will win the appeal. After the decision
of the committee, the Victory points for each team will be adjusted
according to the decision of the committee.
5. When needed, ties will be broken as follows:
A. Teams with the greatest number of wins (Win=1, Tie=1/2,
Loss=0)
B. Victory points of second (or only) session opponents.
C. Victory points of both sessions opponents, if applicable.
D. Results of match(es) between the teams using quotient, if necessary.
NATIONAL FINALS
The Conditions of Contest for the National Stage of the Grand National
teams are determined by ACBL and are available from the District GNT
Coordinator.