Rules of the London Scrabble ® League:

Fixtures Rules

Arranging these fixtures is a daunting task. The following should be noted so that the enjoyment of the many will not be spoiled by the thoughtlessness of the few.

1. A member who is unable to attend a fixture, listed or otherwise, must contact the host or hostess as soon as possible. A minimum 48 hours' notice of cancellation should be given, except in the case of absolute emergency.

2. The cancelling player must not arrange for a substitute to arrive unannounced at the match. The host/hostess may choose to find his/her own substitute, or request the cancelling player to find one.

   NB A CANCELLING PLAYER SHOULD NOT REFUSE TO UNDERTAKE THIS TASK.

3. A player who does not arrive at a fixture, having failed to inform the host/hostess at all, is liable to the penalties set out in Rule 15 below.

4. Fixtures, once started, must be completed except in the case of illness.

5. Except by prior arrangement, members should not arrive for fixtures before 7.20pm.

6. If for any reason a player finds that he/she is going to be late for a fixture, he/she should endeavour to contact the host/hostess. Fixtures start at 7.30pm and every effort should be made to complete the three games by 11.15pm at the very latest.

7. Three-player League evening

   If more than 20 minutes late with no prior notice, a player is deemed to be a non-attender (see Rule 3). If ALL players agree then one of the following options can be chosen. If all three players do not agree the fixture is abandoned:

   Option 1: (When you do not want to play Option 2 - i.e. 2 boards at once)
   

   Round 1: A plays B with C sitting out
   Round 2: A plays C with B sitting out,
   Round 3: B plays C with A sitting out.
   

   The sitting out players A, B and C are credited with 1 win (4 points) with their average score taken from the latest League Table published in the current Newsletter (or check the current table) and used to calculate their final accumulative three-game totals. It is then scored as a normal League evening as per current results sheet. High game points are awarded to an actual game played and not an average score. The player who has not turned up (player D) is noted on the score sheet, and gets 0 points.

   Option 2: Three rounds are played, one player playing the other two simultaneously, ie

   A plays B and C, 
   B plays A and C, 
   then
   C plays A and B.
   

   Scoring

   Each win	......	3 points
   1st place	......	6 points
   2nd place	......	4 points
   3rd place - according to aggregate score ­
   1400 and over	......	3 points
   1200 - 1399	......	2 points
   1000 - 1199	......	1 point
   less than 1000	......	0 points
   For the two highest individual game scores	......	1 point

   Two-player League evening

   1. It will consist of 3 games
       
   2. Each win = 4 points: (draw = 2)
       
   3. Based on the overall totals the additional points will be:

      750- 899	......	1 point
      900-1049	......	2 points
      1050-1099	......	3 points
      1100-1199	......	4 points
      1200-1299	......	5 points
      1300-1399	......	6 points
      1400-1499	......	7 points
      1500 and over	......	8 points

   4. Only one match per month will be permitted by the same members.

   5. If only two are present they can both check challenges.

   6. Both  players must be fully paid-up League members.

   7. No points are given for high scores.

8. Although games should take up to approximately one hour, each player should make their own moves within 30 minutes. Where a player is perceived by others at the fixture to being excessively slow over several moves it is reasonable to ask that player to speed up. Where the player does not speed up it is reasonable to ask the player to make their move within a specified time (say 3 minutes - check watch or clock). If they do not make a move it counts as a pass.

9. Tournament tiles are those which are smooth on one side (indicating letter or blank) and with a moulded indentation on the reverse. Such tiles, which come in a variety of colours and designs, can be easily taken out of the tile bag and placed face down on the table without there being any doubt as to which is the face and which is the reverse. Tiles which do not meet these criteria (i.e. tiles which are smooth on face and reverse, or where the face indicating the letter is raised) should only be used as a last resort. Players who visit a host who uses such tiles are entitled to bring their own set of tournament tiles, and insist on these being used.

10. Members needing a lift after the match should arrange this beforehand. (Members who use public transport should take this into consideration when filling in their venue forms.) Asking for a lift at the fixture itself may put a member under an obligation that he/she is not willing or able to meet.

11. Once matches are completed, the results are sent to the Results co-ordinator.

    Once matches are completed, the results should be sent to the Results Co-ordinator, Moira Conway, via the myscrabbleapp.com program. It is essential when completing the score sheet that the host's name is listed first and the other three players are listed in the order the host has played them. If no-one present uses the app, then the result sheet can be posted, emailed (please do not send PDFs) or telephoned to Moira Conway. (Please see the current members' Address List for full contact details). If posting please write clearly on the envelope ‘Scrabble results’.

    Whenever the table is produced it shows the average points scored by each player first. These average points are the player's points added up and divided by the number of fixtures they have played. In the event of the average points being the same the program lists the players in order of their average game score starting with the higher.

    A copy of the results should be kept in case the original goes astray.

12. If any member is unable to play for all or part of any month he/she should use myscrabbleapp.com to indicate on which dates they cannot play or by notifying the League Fixtures Organiser at the start of the month before. The precise deadline is stated at the end of each month’s Fixture List. (For example, if unable to attend fixtures in June, notice to be given by 7 May.)

13. Members should notify the Membership Secretary of any change of address, telephone number, mobile number, e-mail address or other contact medium in advance wherever possible.

14. Any member wishing to complain about breaches of the London Scrabble League's Rules, or any other matter, is asked to WRITE, except in case of Rule 3 above, where a telephone call is sufficient, to the Complaints Officer.

15. Players in breach of the Fixture/Games Rules are liable to suspension; persistent offenders may be expelled from the League.

16. A minimum of ten matches per season must be played to qualify for any of the League prizes of which six must be pre-arranged fixtures from the monthly fixture lists. The Committee reserve the right to review the award of prizes claimed in dubious circumstance and in this the Committee's decision is final.

A) Weekday afternoons
B) Saturdays    
C) Sundays    
D) Public holidays (inc. Dec 20-Jan 2 approx.)