EPSCA ECF membership requirement: Gold or Bronze?

[John Upham]

I have seen an email from Nigel Dennis informing Team Managers that for the upcoming EPSCA zonals in March that ECF Junior GOLD membership is required and that Junior Bronze in insufficient.

Obviously if is it free it matters not a jot but if is a renewal then it does matter and it will become so at renewal time in 2026.

Is Gold the correct category for ECF rated junior events?

[IM Jack Rudd]

Aren't they team events? Team events are normally bronze, unless they're FIDE rated.

[John Upham]

Aren't they team events? Team events are normally bronze, unless they're FIDE rated.

Quite Jack and thanks for confirming.

However Our Nige' insists on Gold for a junior team event for primary school aged children who have not played in a rated event previously.

[Neill Cooper]

Is ECF membership needed for such a team event? (So long as they play less than 8 rapid play games.)

[John Upham]

Is ECF membership needed for such a team event? (So long as they play less than 8 rapid play games.)

Let's say, for example, that some of them have already played other rated games without being an ECF member and the March games trigger the admin fee from the rating team?

[Neill Cooper]

No, the team event counts separately. The limit is not total number of games but games within a particular context.

[John Upham]

No, the team event counts separately.

Can you point me to where this is documented please Neill?

[Gallowayalex]

Sorry what tournament is this for? Not the primary schools championships (I hope...)?

[John Upham]

Sorry what tournament is this for? Not the primary schools championships (I hope...)?

Specifically the EPSCA county U9, U11 and U11 girls zonals in March 2025. I believe that this season will be Nigel's swansong for the EPSCA zonals before much needed format changes championed by Alex H. and others come into force.

March 8th, March 15th and 22nd are the dates in my diary.

[John Upham]

Here is the recent missive from Our Nige:

"Dear x,

Silver membership has been discontinued. Junior Gold is now required as games go for ECF rating.

Nigel"

[Neill Cooper]

No, the team event counts separately.

Can you point me to where this is documented please Neill?

https://www.englishchess.org.uk/members ... 024-25-v1/
Section 2 – Leagues and other team events (including jamborees) which are not FIDE-rated

In particular "It applies to all games played within events organised by a particular league, in whatever division, in whatever league format, or in a league’s team knock-out or jamboree events if any. However, it is not aggregated across leagues, so a player can play three games in the Eastshire League and three in the Westshire League without fee; " (3 here as it is standard play)