Bid and Tournament Guidelines Revised

ICA has revised its Bid and Tournament Guidelines, which are available here. Most of the changes apply only to scholastic events. While the changes are numerous, we list the highlights here. The revised guidelines will be in effect for tournaments starting in April 2012.

We’ve made more explicit our recommended procedures for the nuts and bolts of running tournaments such as signage, the routine use of PA systems, adequate staffing (including volunteers), having a central location for information and questions, and clarifying whether same-day sign-in will be required (especially if a significant number of no-shows is likely).

We’ve also amended the rules on time controls, notation, and home-schooling, and clarified that cash prizes may be allowed at youth tournaments in special circumstances.

We’ve added a provision for post-tournament reports by the Bid Committee describing the strengths and weaknesses of particular events. Creating such a history will likely be useful as we consider future bids.

We’ve also amended the rules governing the bidding process to strengthen the role of the Bid Liaison, create more flexible options for the Bid Committee when it receives a bid containing deficiencies, and to authorize the Bid Committee to tell losing bidders why they lost.

Thanks to Pattie Zinski for getting us started on these revisions, and to the Bid Committee for its assistance and suggestions.