LCU AGM

cdeb

Set for Wednesday week in the usual venue.

Last year's was four hours (!) This year's looks like being much shorter. There's only 8 motions (compared to 27 last year) -

1. Proposed by Bray/Greystones
All odd numbered LCU league divisions namely divisions 1, 3, 5 and7should take place on alternate weeks to all even numbered divisions namely divisions 2, 4 and 6.

2. Proposed by Bray/Greystones
The official starting time for Saturday matches should be changed to 11.30 a.m. otherwise team captains may agree whatever alternative starting time may suit their players.

3. Proposed by Elm Mount
The Branagan, Killane and William Brennan Competitions should be run as knockout competitions with no league sections from 2016 onwards.

4. Prosed by Inchicore
The rule that no fixtures be held between 14 December and 25 December should be rescinded.

5. Proposed by Inchicore
The LCU should publish a notice on their website www.leinsterchess.com stating that apart from this website the LCU has no responsibility for any other internet media relating to Leinster Chess (similar to what has been done on the ICU website www.icu.ie).

6. Proposed by the LCU EXecutive
All clubs shall contact the leagues controller before 31 August each year with entries or withdrawals of teams from the LCU leagues and with updated contact details for the club for a new club contact list on the LCU website.

7. Proposed by the LCU Executive
Clubs shall confirm their contact details and the contact details for each of their team captains before August 31 each year for the leagues. The captain contact details are needed by the the divisional controllers and other team captains in the same league.

8. Proposed by the LCU Executive
Registration for the knockout cup competitions shall begin in November/December each year with a view to commencing the competions in January/February (or as early as the leagues fixtures allow).

cdeb

I guess my thoughts on them to get some discussion rolling -

1) Bray consistently propose something like this - the idea is to avoid clashes between the club's subsequent teams (e.g. an Armstrong and Heidenfeld team playing on the same night). But it never really works as it doesn't allow for clubs whose subsequent teams are in divisions 1 and 3, for example. Games can be rescheduled anyway, and clashes are known in advance. No on this one, I think.

2) Interesting idea. Means an early enough start for a trip to Enniscorthy, and presumably Enniscorthy v Cavan wouldn't be at 11:30. But it does mean the match is over earlier and you have more of your Saturday. Unsure on this; tipping towards a yes as a trial run anyway.

3) I'd vote for this; the knock-out always added a bit of extra tension. What we have now is too similar to the leagues. On the flip side, the current format is handy for lower division clubs looking to play up a bit (e.g. a Bodley side taking on an O'Hanlon side), and of course the logistics of a knock-out can be tricky.

4) Would have to hear the thought behind this - no games in the 10 days before Christmas (getting towards exam time) seems reasonable to me.

5) Not altogether sure it's necessary, though can't hurt

6) I proposed this a couple of years back and it was rejected. I like the idea though - withdrawals are very annoying.

7) Don't know if this is needed as captain details are included when you declare your team. Not sure if all the captains would be known by 31 August necessarily? Some controllers sent around captain details as soon as all teams were declared (as agreed at last year's AGM) and it seemed to work well.

8) Registration needs to start earlier, but I wouldn't start the cups until after the last round of the leagues tbh.

mikhail

2) My only objection to an 11:30 start is that it means the game runs over any reasonable lunch-time.

4) I'm really opposed. People are busy, and often travelling around then.

6 & 7) The objection when cdeb proposed it is still valid. Most clubs just aren't open that early, and won't know who is playing that year until later. The composition of teams in the lower divisions often isn't known for sure until nearly October. I appreciate the sentiment, but I don't think it'll work even if it's passed.

L1m1tless

1. I would be opposed to this, We have teams in 1 3 5 7 this year so it really only helps in certain situations. I think the League Fixtures are done in a way to avoid as much as possible multiple home matches on the same day.

2, Also Opposed to this one: Early Saturday mornings

3. Knock-outs: YES! So much more fun!

4. No real opinion on this one,

5 6.7.8 All seam reasonable but just a note on 8,

The Cups started straight away this year after the Leagues, They should be finished much earlier than previous years (Sometimes late August!) plus if they are a knock out style as proposed in 3, they would be over even sooner.

cdeb

Neo_Ninja wrote: »

The Cups started straight away this year after the Leagues, They should be finished much earlier than previous years (Sometimes late August!) plus if they are a knock out style as proposed in 3, they would be over even sooner.

I was going to contradict that, but it turns out you're right, which I didn't realise.

Last round of the leagues was 19th April, and our first cup game was 9th May.

I think the last round of the league was quite late this year, which just creates the impression the cups started late.

Still don't think they should overrun with the league. Or if they do, it should be an FA Cup style competition - everyone in the one Cup, byes for the top two divisions for the first round and one round a month from Oct to Apr.

mikhail

Neo_Ninja wrote: »

1. I would be opposed to this, We have teams in 1 3 5 7 this year so it really only helps in certain situations. I think the League Fixtures are done in a way to avoid as much as possible multiple home matches on the same day.

As an extra constraint on the league fixtures, it'd inevitably extend the season. I don't think it's worth that.

Chessrookie

Really don't like rule 2.

If I have a match on a Saturday afternoon, Saturday morning is given over to family time. For most parents Saturday morning means standing at the side of some kind of sports pitch and driving to/from events. It's a bad call to try impinge on that time. For me an 11.30 start means I just won't play. 2.30 is a much more logical time

L1m1tless

3 again: So teams can get 2 games minimum, the cups could have a losers bracket after round 1. The winner of the losers bracket play the winners of the main bracket in the final. The winners of the main bracket would have home advantage and/or win in the case of a drawn match.

EnPassant

Neo_Ninja wrote: »

3 again: So teams can get 2 games minimum, the cups could have a losers bracket after round 1. The winner of the losers bracket play the winners of the main bracket in the final. The winners of the main bracket would have home advantage and/or win in the case of a drawn match.

I think it should just be a simple knock-out. If you lose, you're out.

There aren't enough teams for complicated systems anyway eg. if a team gets a bye in the first round, do they still get a 2nd chance, etc. Maybe, if LCU finances allow, a team knocked out in their first match could get a discount on the entry fee if they enter the same competition again the following year.

The Branagan should be open to all teams, regardless of division, also. Some of the new teams in the leagues could be difficult opponents for the Heidenfeld and Armstrong teams.

mikhail

EnPassant wrote: »

There aren't enough teams for complicated systems anyway eg. if a team gets a bye in the first round, do they still get a 2nd chance, etc. Maybe, if LCU finances allow, a team knocked out in their first match could get a discount on the entry fee if they enter the same competition again the following year.

There are well-established ways to do things like this - for example, a double-elimination bracket, which sounds harder to work out than it is.

The Branagan should be open to all teams, regardless of division, also. Some of the new teams in the leagues could be difficult opponents for the Heidenfeld and Armstrong teams.

That's an interesting idea. Perhaps you could have your club put it forward next year.

Retd.LoyolaCpt

hey @cdeb,

Just a few things:
is that now Wednesday this week?

where is the venue?

Can motions still be put forward or has the time passed?

Thanks

cdeb

Wednesday 17th is the date

Venue is the United Arts Club - Dublin's home venue.

No, motions have to be submitted 21 days in advance, so deadline has passed.

cdeb

A rare occasion in Irish chess - a relatively brief (two hours) meeting which was conducted in good humour throughout!

What is the world coming to?

FWIW, the results of the motions were -

1) Defeated
2) Withdrawn
3) Defeated (with the suggestion that maybe the cups be scored on the basis of match points rather than game points for next season as the groups are so small)
4) Withdrawn
5) Passed
6) Passed
7) Passed
8) Withdrawn pending a full review of the cups by the incoming committee (the same as the outgoing committee)

It was also acknowledged that league rules were never published after last year's AGM, but they should be ready for the start of next season.