Guidelines for Captains
Convention cards: All players should have a completed convention card. Not providing a card is discourteous and creates unnecessary suspicion and ill feeling. The opposing team is entitled to delay the start of the match until such a card is completed, if none is produced. However, tolerance is expected when, on occasion, a pair has only one convention card.
Match dates: The dates given with the fixtures list are suggested ‘play on’ dates and are not in any way fixed until agreed by both captains. They must be discussed by the teams as soon as possible, preferably in October when the fixtures list is sent out. If either team cannot make a particular date, there should be negotiation between the teams to agree another that is mutually acceptable. This should be done well before the suggested date. All matches should normally be played by the end of June.
Communications and contact details: Communication between captains can be by e-mail, phone or post, but whatever the means, captains should respond promptly, even if only initially to acknowledge receipt of the message. Do not give e-mail addresses if you don’t check your e-mail regularly. Make sure you can be contacted at the phone number(s) and address you provide.
Holidays/absences: If you are going to be unavailable for several weeks, particularly if close to a suggested or agreed date, contact the other captain(s) involved before you go away and provide contact details for somebody else in your team who will available during your absence.
Cancellations: In the real world, some cancellations are inevitable but every effort should be made to minimise them e.g. by the use of reserve players. If a match has to be cancelled, both sides should make every effort to reschedule. If this is not possible before the end of June, both teams should notify the league organiser of the circumstances in detail and the LMBA Committee will decide on appropriate awards or penalties. Note that, if an away team makes a last minute cancellation, it is expected to reimburse the home team for any out of pocket expenses (e.g. food).
Standard practice in this league is that, if a match is not played, the best score that a team can achieve is the better of their average score in matches played or the average scored against their opponents. Depending on the circumstances reported to them, the Committee may then deduct VPs from one or both teams. Captains should endeavour to keep all e-mails concerning arrangement of matches until the end of the season so that the Committee can be given a full record of any problems.
The aim is to play bridge: To sum up, every effort should be made to play the matches between October and the end of June. Cancellations and rescheduling should be dealt with in a spirit of cooperation and goodwill. Where that is not possible, a report should be submitted by each captain involved, so that appropriate action may be taken by the Committee.
Match dates: The dates given with the fixtures list are suggested ‘play on’ dates and are not in any way fixed until agreed by both captains. They must be discussed by the teams as soon as possible, preferably in October when the fixtures list is sent out. If either team cannot make a particular date, there should be negotiation between the teams to agree another that is mutually acceptable. This should be done well before the suggested date. All matches should normally be played by the end of June.
Communications and contact details: Communication between captains can be by e-mail, phone or post, but whatever the means, captains should respond promptly, even if only initially to acknowledge receipt of the message. Do not give e-mail addresses if you don’t check your e-mail regularly. Make sure you can be contacted at the phone number(s) and address you provide.
Holidays/absences: If you are going to be unavailable for several weeks, particularly if close to a suggested or agreed date, contact the other captain(s) involved before you go away and provide contact details for somebody else in your team who will available during your absence.
Cancellations: In the real world, some cancellations are inevitable but every effort should be made to minimise them e.g. by the use of reserve players. If a match has to be cancelled, both sides should make every effort to reschedule. If this is not possible before the end of June, both teams should notify the league organiser of the circumstances in detail and the LMBA Committee will decide on appropriate awards or penalties. Note that, if an away team makes a last minute cancellation, it is expected to reimburse the home team for any out of pocket expenses (e.g. food).
Standard practice in this league is that, if a match is not played, the best score that a team can achieve is the better of their average score in matches played or the average scored against their opponents. Depending on the circumstances reported to them, the Committee may then deduct VPs from one or both teams. Captains should endeavour to keep all e-mails concerning arrangement of matches until the end of the season so that the Committee can be given a full record of any problems.
The aim is to play bridge: To sum up, every effort should be made to play the matches between October and the end of June. Cancellations and rescheduling should be dealt with in a spirit of cooperation and goodwill. Where that is not possible, a report should be submitted by each captain involved, so that appropriate action may be taken by the Committee.