AGM

[Phil Thomas]

Steve has given me an amendment to change the language slightly. I think it is fair to say we are angling for option 2 and the AGM to endorse the recommendation. FTP is down at the moment. I will publish the amended motion as soon as I can get it going. Basically where it says shall, it now says should!

My suggestion for amended motion for CS controlled events follows.
Noting that
(1) For FIDE rated events I see no option but to retain their wording verbatim.
(2) For independent events the best option seems to be to recommend the version in force for CS events.
(3) The FIDE words are too wordy and frequently inappropriate for example why would CS tell CS organisers

" It is recommended that each national chess federation appoints an officer for matters regarding disabilities and communicate the contact details to FIDE".


Suggested wording to apply to CS controlled events

CS GUIDELINES – Proposed for CS organised events.

1 These guidelines shall be used for all tournaments run by Chess Scotland

2. No one has the right to refuse to meet either a disabled player against whom he has been correctly paired nor an able bodied player against whom he has been correctly paired

3 All chess venues should ideally be accessible to all. Failing that an acceptable alternative venue with full supervision for those who cannot access the nominated venue would be acceptable.

4 The entry form and website listing(s) should ask whether any potential competitor has an impairment that will require special circumstances. The competitor should inform the organisers about any special circumstances as soon as possible before the start of the event. The less advance notice given to the organiser, the less the competitor can expect cooperation.

5. No disabled player shall be penalised in accordance with the Laws of Chess because of disability.

6. Arbiters shall be particularly aware of those articles in the Laws which impinge on disabled players. These include 4.9, 6.2e, 6.5, 8.1e, 8.4, 11.3b, 12.2f, Appendix D.

7. Any disabled competitor, who reasonably requests in time the placing of their equipment in a particular seat or orientation, has the right to do so - provided that this does not disadvantage his opponent or other competitors. The event organiser must ensure the needs of both players are catered for.

8. In any events solely for disabled players there should be a tournament physician, if possible

The tournament director and the chief arbiter shall address sympathetically any requirements (preferably stated well in advance) for assistance with
• Accessing refreshments
• Pressing the clock
• Size of print on official notices.
• Size of scoresheets
• Any other assistance required by the disabled player.


Frequently these requirements will be addressed by the disabled player supplying his own assistant.

However, if the opponent is acting as an assistant the arbiter may decide to give him extra thinking time.

9. After making the pairings the Arbiter shall decide manually on which board each player shall play: Visually impaired players should always play at the same board as unless they request otherwise. Players in wheelchairs require a larger space but not necessarily 3 m wide aisles throughout the venue as implicated in the FIDE guidelines.

10 Assistants should
• Have at least a minimum knowledge of chess.
• Know the name of the pieces in the disabled player’s language.
• Inform the player when they are leaving the chess board temporarily.
• . Where necessary record the moves: This can be a useful tool for the arbiter.




11 Time Trouble
In a a time trouble situation featuring a visually disabled players the arbiter should bear in mind that the opponent, if not disabled, can reply almost immediately.

The competition rules should state: If a visually disabled player has less than five minutes left at any stage of a time control, then he does not have to keep score, even when there is an increment of 30 seconds or more. After the time trouble, he must then update his scoresheet.