4NCL - The Four Nations League - www.4ncl.co.uk/pre2010

4NCL Newsletter

Pre-Season 2006/2007

Welcome once again to a new season of the 4NCL!

It is particularly pleasing for me to see that 8 new teams have joined the League this year and consequently, despite the odd team dropping out, the League continues to grow.

Unfortunately, after winning the 1st Division this year for the third time, we have to say goodbye to the megastars of Wood Green. However a club team will still be keeping the Wood Green flag flying and it will be great to see that remarkable Captain, Brian Smith, still being involved in the League.

The first rounds take place on the 16th/17th September (Divisions 1-3) + 23rd/24th September (Division 4). There will be a prize-giving for last year at the first weekend and further details will follow later.

It is essential that any teams who have not sent in their lists to the Registrations Secretary ( Neville Belinfante) do so as soon as possible as it will then be possible to make the draw.

There are a few changes to the rules this year and a full set can be found on the 4NCL web-site here.

The important changes to note are:

1/ It will be mandatory for participants in the 4NCL to be members of the English Chess Federation (ECF) or an equivalent national federation.

2/ Team lists will now need to be in by midnight of the night before the relevant round.

3/ Once you have registered 16 players for a team any further registrations will cost Ł5 even if you deregister any of your original squad. This is intended to ensure more accurate initial team lists and to reduce administrative effort over the course of the season.

4/ In Divisions 1-3 no more than two teams in any squad will be allowed to play in the same division.

5/ A player may ask his Captain if he may offer or accept a draw. The Captain may agree, refuse or tell the player to look at the match result sheet. The Captain may not look at any game between receiving the request and giving his decision.

Meanwhile I wish you all the best for the new Season and would ask you to please send any feedback you have about the League to the Team representatives on the Board: Paul Littlewood or Mark Adams.

Paul Littlewood (4NCL Chairman)