League Rule Change Effective Sept. 1, 2005

[Joy_IBADirector]

In response to concerns of our members, the following email was sent to all league participants today.

Subject: IBA League Update

Greetings IBA League Players,

There are two important issues I would like to share with you.

League Match Forfeits:

As most of you already know, the IBA League uses a unique formula of “credits” to calculate standings within the divisions at month end. Historically, we have used a standing policy that awards 3 credits for each forfeit granted to a player and 0 credits for the player against whom a forfeit was granted.

It is unfortunate that some players have taken advantage of the current forfeit policy and it is this situation that has prompted IBA to give serious consideration to the entire forfeit concept. In the interests of fairness, and as a means of encouraging match play over forfeit requests, effective September 1, 2005, IBA League Rules will read as follows:

League Standing Credits is the unique formula IBA uses to determine IBA League standings:

Each Match Win = 3 credits
Each Match Loss = 1 credit
Each Match Forfeit = 1 credit

In the future, granted forfeit requests will be awarded one (1) league credit. There will be no credit awarded to a player against whom a forfeit is requested. The required documentation will still be necessary for any forfeit requests. It remains the IBA League participant’s responsibility to timely report any forfeit requests granted in error. You may do so by monitoring the league standings through IBA’s Member Records Center.

IBA is optimistic this new forfeit rule will please everyone as it places a greater emphasis on completing matches.

Use of NGMail for Communication:

This is a good opportunity to also acknowledge that a few of you have expressed frustration over the NgMail system. It is important for players to understand that IBA is required by United States federal law to insure the privacy of its members. NgMail provides players with a confidential means to communicate with each other and at the same time protect IBA. Should a league player elect to give out their email address and communicate directly with other players, that is not an issue; however, no league participant is required to do this (to refresh your memory the IBA League Rules pertaining to scheduling league matches, participant communication and keeping track of your opponents are included below).

Thank you all for playing in the IBA League. We value every one of you.

Cordially,

Tapper_IBA
League Coordinator
www.iba-backgammon.com


SCHEDULING LEAGUE MATCHES: At the beginning of each month, IBA League participants receive an Official League Start Up email. This mail provides the division assignment and a list of opponents. Each participant will play the list of opponents in his respective division one time. Keep in mind when you are scheduling your match that IBA members live in different time zones all around the world.

It is understandable that some IBA League matches may be scheduled spontaneously when both opponents are available at the NetGammon site. Be certain you both agree in advance that it is a League match. It is not reasonable to expect a player to halt another match in progress or withdraw from a tournament in order to accommodate a request to play a League match. Interrupting a match in progress is often perceived as rude by the player who is trying to concentrate on the game being played. Most misunderstandings can be completely avoided by scheduling all League matches ahead of time through NgMail.

For your own benefit use the entire League month to play and enjoy your matches rather than trying to complete them in the first or last days of the month.

LEAGUE PARTICIPANT COMMUNICATION: NetGammon provides IBA League participants with confidential communication through NgMail. A message can be left to schedule a match whether or not the recipient is online. Please check your NgMail whenever you log into NetGammon.

All matches should be arranged with opponents through NgMail to set a time and date convenient to both players. Players should be as flexible as possible and suggest various days at different times. Keep copies of all correspondence for the duration of the League month in case there is a dispute or problem. (see Match Forfeits)

KEEPING TRACK OF YOUR OPPONENTS IN NETGAMMON: Your monthly IBA League start up email provides you with a list of your opponents by IBA Member Name. Copy and paste this list into your Personal List of players at NetGammon. Your settings will allow you to be notified when any of your opponents come online. As you complete each match, simply delete that opponent from your list.

[freudology]

It is so nice to see a league so responsive and interested in fairness to players. Thank you Joy and all the league staff who work so hard for us.

[spacefrog]

A forfeit is now worth no more than a defeat, incentivating play in all but very special cases. The catch is, of course, that if a player were winning the table or promotion by just one point with one game remaining, and that one game just happened to be against the player one place below him, he might, if he were a little machievelical, not quite try so hard to make it for that last match. Unlikely it is, but....

Nevertheless, the move is very much a step, and a jolly big step at that, in the right direction. Thank-you Joy.

spacefrog

[Joy_IBADirector]

Thank you both so much for your positive support and feedback. I believe we will find this change will limit some of the frustrations you may have experienced and take the IBA league to the next level.

Please keep your suggestions coming. You are a part of the process and can effect it in a very proactive way.

IBA RAWKS!!

[OmegaMan]

:puter: I agree that a forfeit win should be only 1 point now (you will need to update the IBA League Rules page) but there's still something missing for the player who never responds back to your emails in trying to setup a match before the 28th of each month. As the middle of the month approaches or has passed and many of the players have already played at least 75+% of their matches, I've noticed it becomes more difficult to get your remaining matches played out because of fear from some players that they may lose ground where they are sitting in their division if there's potential that you may ascend above them. Knowing that the player against them may claim a forfeit and win 1 credit, this may be to their advantage then potentially playing out the match and losing. If we really want EVERYONE in each division to have the desire to finish their matches regardless of their standing that month, I feel that if a forfeit is granted the one requesting it should get their 1 credit as it is now but the one they are requesting it against should get 1 credit taken away. They may still act based on their standing that month but at least for a few of those players who are either near the top two positions or near the bottom four, it may not be so difficult in trying to schedule and complete matches in the latter half of the month.

[memaxx]

undefinedI agree with the new rule on forfeits BUT FOR ONE THING.....it is extremely frustrating to ng mail someone 11 times with no reponse. the person who is not playing should loose more than ONE point. perhaps if they were to loose 3 points for every forfeit against them, it might stop. undefinedundefined :confused: :confused: