Question About Local Tournament Director Certification

Running Chess Tournaments
1

I have a question about The Local Director rule 26a on page 247 of the 5th edition of The Official Rules. Specifically, my question is about the requirement of that rule that one performs as a “TD or assistant TD of two additional Category D tournaments of at least three rounds which total 50 or more entrants.” I assume that the clause, “which total 50 or more entrants,” is referring to the number of total participants in the rounds and not the Category D tournament itself, because a Category D tournament, by definition, consists of 50 or less players?

Also, is this the correct venue for obtaining an answer to this question, or do I need to address it to someone in the TD department?

I am new at trying to decipher the rules and want to fully understand the requirements for advancing from Club TD to Local TD.

2

The “50 or more” refers to the total of the tournaments, not to each tournament.

So 3+ round swiss tournaments of 20, 15 and 15 would suffice, as would 16, 14, 12 and 8.

3

Contact Phil Smith (psmith@uschess.org). He has a FAQ document regarding TD certification. It has not been proof read so has not been published. He just got married and is currently not in the office so be patient if you ask him for that document.

4

Thanks for the replies. I would not have figured this out.

5

Many of us feel that the best way to prepare for the local TD exam is to work as an assistant at an event run by a more experienced TD.

6

I can’t say that there is anything wrong with that suggestion. I am certain it is the best way to learn the job.

7

Agreed. To which, I’ll just add “the best way to take the local TD exam”.

Every question on the Local TD Exam is answered in black-and-white in the rulebook. This is not true of higher-level TD exams, but it is true of the Local TD exam.

You take the Local TD exam open book. One way to interpret this is that the only thing the Local TD test tests is “do you own a rulebook, and do you know how to read?”.

To take the exam:

a) take the exam “closed book”. Do this on a scratch piece of paper. This is just for warm-up. Do not send these answers in for grading.

b) read the book, cover to cover, with a highlighter in hand.

c) highlight everything that “surprises” you.

d) take the exam “open book”. Even if you are sure you know the right answer, LOOK IT UP. On a separate piece of paper, copy out the relevant rule from the rulebook that supports your answer. On the Local TD test, there will probably be only 1 short paragraph that covers the correct answer.

e) compare your answers in a) with your answers in d).

for the Senior Exam - modify this to:

d) look up the answer and find three different rules that apply - exercise judgement and figure out how to strike the best balance between competing concepts.

For the NTD Exam - modify this to:

d) look up the answer, explain why the rule is stupid, suggest a modification to the rules so that Senior TDs will get it right, and explain how you would actually rule and how you would justify your (clearly incorrect, according to the rulebook) ruling.

8

And what about the ANTD Test? (o;

9

Based on the first time I took the ANTD test, that is when you explain how you would handle penalties where no specific penalty was mentioned, have the grader fail you while wondering what you were doing making up rules, and then have that same grader include your suggested penalties (very close to what is now called the standard penalty) when he writes the new (current) version of the rulebook. At least I can tell myself that the first-time failure actually aided the rules process more than if I had initially passed, and since I’ve been an NTD for a number of years I can laugh about it.

10

You make my point. ANTD’s (and below) are not licensed to “make up modifications to the rules”.
NTD’s are expected to do this. Senior TDs (and even ANTD’s) are supposed to make the correct ruling based on a reasonable interpretation of the actual, current, written rules - even if that ruling
is somewhat suspect for some reason. They are charged with enforcing the rules, as written. This is even more true of Local TDs - the difference between a Local and a Senior (and even an ANTD) is that Locals are allowed to be a little confused when the situation is not covered SPECIFICALLY in the rulebook - the other two are expect to solve somewhat harder problems, but still follow the rules.

NTD’s on the other hand, are licensed to “be creative” - when necessary.

I know that you have seen several situations in real events where:

a) the Local TD makes a ruling
b) the Senior TD Section Dhief overrules the Local TD
c) the ANTD Floor Chief overrules the Section Chief
d) the NTD Chief TD overrules the Floor Chief

and all 4 rulings were “correct”!

And, if Singletary is involved, all bets are off. He might simultaneously affirm AND overturn a lower TD’s ruling!

11

Thanks for the guidance, Kenneth. It is useful information.

12

And people wonder why the ratings system has the ability to accommodate situations such as:

A plays B. For rating purposes, treat A as having won the game and treat B as having drawn the game.