HSCA believes that it is important that players, coaches, administrators and
parents/carers or guardians involved in our tournaments and other events
should, at all times, show respect and understanding for the safety and welfare of
others.

Chess is characterised as being a peaceful activity lacking many of the elements
in sport that can give rise to physical conflict.

• Parents shall not be present in the playing room during competitions unless
  they are directly involved in the running of the competition.
• Officials should never become involved in a query relating to their own child.
• Coaches should avoid becoming involved in a query relating to a child
  under their charge.
• Players and parents should accept with good grace the decision of the
  Chief Arbiter.
• Players and parents must never indulge in any action that would be
  reasonably be construed as demeaning to another player. The highest
  standards of fair play are demanded.
• Parents must never criticise their child’s play in such a manner that could
  cause distress.

Many disputes are easily avoided by following some general guidelines:

• Sit on your hands. Look at the position, decide what move to make and do
  it. Don’t let your hands hover over the pieces.
• If your opponent is doing anything that you find annoying stop the clock
  (clocks will only used in higher sections and boards) and put up your hand.
• If you are unsure about anything, stop the clock (if a clock is been used)
  and put your hand up.
• If your opponent makes a move that you have never seen before, stop the
  clock and ask for assistance. Some people have a very hazy understanding
  of the ‘en passant’ rule for example.
• Shake hands with your opponent at the beginning and end of the game
  (once you’ve double-checked and agree with the result). When you win be
  polite about your opponent’s play, if you lose congratulate your opponent.

The following rules shall apply at HSCA tournaments (coaches/parents should
ensure that their children clearly understand these rules)

• Remember – if in doubt – stop the clock and put your hand up and a
  board steward can clarify where possible. (Stewards will NOT help clarify whether
  a position is check mate / stale mate).
• Touch Move – if a piece is touched it must be moved if possible. If no legal
  move is possible with the touched piece, the player must make a legal
  move with another piece. (If 3 illegal moves are made and recorded by a
  steward within the last 5 minutes on the player’s clock, the offending player
  forfeits the game).
• Touch Take – Similar to touch move, if an opponents piece is touched it
  must be taken if possible.
• Time – where clocks are used. Every player will be allocated a certain
  amount of time to complete their moves – a chess clock will be used for
  this. (A player must operate the clock with the same hand that makes a
  move).
• Time – where clocks are used. It is up the player to notice whether his
  opponents flag has dropped, stewards will NOT intervene.
• Check and double check the position before you agree to a result (just
  because your opponent says it is ‘Checkmate’ or ‘Stalemate’ it does not
  mean that it is).
• Do not offer your hand when making an offer of a draw – your opponent
  might misunderstand and believe that you have just resigned!
• Once the result has been agreed the players should shake hands to
  confirm the result. Then complete the results slip. Reset the pieces and
  clocks and hand in the results slips.