TD GUIDELINES

	TIME SLOTS
	Only GIN is to be hosted on the hour - other games can be hosted at :15 / :30 or :45 Please keep tourneys that are booked 15 min prior to a special event (i.e.: Gin Cup, Rank, Richman/Poorman) as "quickie" tourneys (low points)
	TOURNEY FORMATS
	ANYTHING GOES! No limit to tourney style or point or entry fee. TD's can host any style/type of tourney they wish. There is no specific time for tags / Swiss / de's or point limits on tourneys - unless previously organized by Special Events (ie: Swiss & DE Quarters on weekends). TAG TOURNEYS Tag Tourneys - There will be no timers placed on a team if ONE of the members of the team is missing/frozen. If one of the tag team players is MIA/frozen or booted, then the remaining team member can continue to play alone until partner returns or tourney is over. A timer will only be placed on a team when BOTH members are missing/frozen or booted and a timer is placed on the TEAM NAME. If one member returns before timer is up they can continue playing as a one person team until their partner returns or tourney is over. No one can sign another person up for a tag. PASSWORD SHARING IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED! If tag table is set as rated ( where players cannot stand & change positions) in error, the table is remade as UNrated and the points accumulated at previous table follow the pairs and the game is carried on with those points from previous table in place. The TD MUST be invited to the table to verify the points to be carried over. Tags have a 5 minute grace period to start, but no more. By 5 minutes past the scheduled tourney start time the tag MUST be closed, or moved. If any tag team member kibitz's at their table or sits in wrong seat, whether intentional or not, that team is DQ'd from tourney Tag team names are to be tasteful. The TD hosting the tag has the right to remove the team from the tourney and ask the team to remake with a new name. TD decisions are final.
	SETTING UP TOURNEYS
	LOCATION LINE When creating a tourney, please remember to include the lobby as well as the basic rules of the game. This helps the members using the calendar know what the game is, but also helps other td’s to offer a variety of games when creating their own tourney. If there is a discrepancy in the rules page, lobby spam or location line rules --the LOCATION line rules will take precedence. EXAMPLES: ~WR (or Walrus Rock) 100 Okie ~WR Swiss (or True Swiss) 78 Gin Only ~WR DE 99/69 Reg Gin ~WR Tag 125 red/black Gin For All other games… Please Specify Doms, Naval Command, Cribbage, Canasta, Pool etc. the room name and their basic rules. ROUNDS Single & Double Elimination tourney rounds must be set to maximum number of rounds
	SETTING UP TOURNEYS
	Rules page: A. YOU SHOULD POST FULL LEAGUE RULES ON YOUR TOURNEY PAGE AS WELL AS GAME SPECIFIC RULES FOR EACH TOURNEY. B. When you put the rules on the rules page, click the "default" option and thereafter you will only have to change the table settings for follow up tourneys. C. It is imperative that corresponding tourney rules be on your tourney pages and that they match the location and title line of the main tourney page D. IMPORTANT: The TDM team checks EVERYONE’S rules pages every day… If the rules are not complete or if the rules and location line do not match, the TDM team will send an email to the TD to please fix the rules as specified here in the TD guidelines…. SAMPLE TOURNEY PAGE RULES: ~~ GAME SPECIFIC RULES ~~ 98 REG GIN ~ KNOCKING IS ALLOWED ~~ GENERAL TOURNEY RULES ~~ PLEASE MAKE TABLES RATED AND PROTECTED INVITE ME TO TABLE FOR ANY PROBLEMS TIMERS IN TOURNEY ARE SET AT 5 MINUTES FOR SINGLE ELIMINATION SWISS & DOUBLE ELIMINATION (MULTIPLE ROUNDS) HAVE 2 FIVE MINUTE TIMERS TOTALING 10 MINUTES PLEASE ASK FOR TIMERS IN LOBBY NO WATCHING OR TABLE HOPPING ALLOWED ~ UNLESS BOTH PLAYERS AGREE NO LEAGUE OR NON LEAGUE GAMES DURING TOURNEY WINNERS REPORT IN LOBBY LIKE THIS <<<<< DEF (NAME OF OPPONENT) IN THE 930 PM 20 MINUTE TIME LIMIT ON GAMES TD WILL REPORT ALL WINS AND LOSSES ALL TD DECISIONS ARE FINAL TAG RULES: (to be added to above rules) No timers will be used in tags unless both players of team are MIA/frozen or booted. Tables are unrated & protected for tag tourneys. If one of the tag players isn't playing due to MIA/frozen/booted, then the remaining partner can continue to play alone in tag until partner returns or tourney is over. If tag table is set as rated (where players cannot stand & change positions) in error, the table is remade as UNrated and the points accumulated at previous table follow the pairs and the game is carried on with those points from previous table in place. If any tag team member kibitz's at their table or sits in wrong seat, whether intentional or not, that team is DQ'd from tourney Examples of these are...... Reg Gin - “Knocking Allowed” Gin Only - “NO Knocking Allowed” Oklahoma - “Up Card determines the amount of deadwood you may knock with”…. Red/Black - “Red up card means you play Gin Only / Black up card means you play reg gin” True Swiss - “3 rounds… Play all three rounds ~ Get bux for each win” Regular Swiss - “Keep playing until there is ONE undefeated player” DE - “Uppers points are ??/Lowers points are ?? ~ You MUST lose twice to be out of tourney” First to Gin Wins - “Tables set to 40 points, first player to have GIN wins - if score is less than 40, opponent forfeits” Vertical Gin Only - “AAA, 222, 333, etc… NO Knocking Allowed” Horizontal Gin Only - “A23, 456, KQJ, etc NO Knocking Allowed” No Touch - “ You MUST NOT pick up from the discard pile” No Faces - “You MUST NOT have any face cards in your hand” Suicide Gin - “You MUST uncheck all blue lines when your opponent knocks”
	HOSTING TOURNEYS
	You NEED to be prepared and in the lobby 30 min PRIOR to the start of your tourney. You may begin to advertise your tourney AFTER the previous TD has run their pairings and started their tourney (usually 15 min prior). All lobby spam should be kept as short as possible… 1- 2 lines for info and a simple design on top and bottom to set it apart from normal lobby chat is fine. You MUST start your tourneys ON TIME!! Starting late makes the next tourney late and so on…. However…If you need an additional few minutes to spam and get that fourth, do so…. BUT, at five minutes past your start time, if you still do not have four players registered, announce that in lobby and DELETE THE TOURNEY.... do not move it to a later date on the calendar. Spam your rules in lobby about 3 minutes before you start your tourney and get pairings… (sample spams below) We have no policy that dictates that the first in pairs is to do the inviting. When giving your pairings ...please do not state that one is to invite the other. Simply copy the pairings as they are on the tourney page. (exception will be in "inviters choice" & "cup"tourneys) Timers begin when tourney is CLOSED on td page - not after pairings are given. Missing/ Frozen players - Timers in tourneys are set at 5 min for single elimination. Swiss & double elimination (multiple rounds) have 2 five minute timers totaling 10 minutes. TD's have final say on timers. (i.e.: single elim tourney - player times out after 5 min and is out of the tourney. Double elim / Swiss - player times out in round 1 - their opponent advances. The player on timer is put on another 5 min timer for next round - if not returned after the 2nd 5 min timer , then the player on timer is out of tourney) If a player times out and the game has already begun, the opponent gets the yahoo win. This means that the timed out player receives a force forfeit in yahoo. They can call the TD to the table to assist if needed. Gin game time length is 20 minutes per game, in order for tourneys to keep moving along. It is up to the TD to call the game at that time and the TD decision is final. For tourneys with games that have 200 or more points - the game time limit is extended to 30 minutes. If a player is DQ’d for any reason then the game is Forfeited NOT canceled!!! Announce in lobby that so in so made it to finals and say IWI (I will invite) In finals please Welcome them both and announce that you will report the winner… and tell them both GL Announcing the final winner does not need to include how many bux each player gets. The tourney page will post the bux awarded when the td closes the tourney. Example of closing: WTG RAINMAN ON WINNING THE 9PM TOURNEY AND A GREAT SECOND TO FREE2CHOOSE04… TY ALL FOR PLAYING.
	SPAMMING
Lobby Spams 1. If a New Member Assistant has spammed the lobby plz don’t spam over it with the league spam… 2. You may spam your tourney every five minutes…. DO NOT OVERSPAM LOBBY! 3. Spam your tourney rules just before you are ready to start your tourney…. about 1-2 minutes before start time. 4. Spam pairings along with the time tourney has started and ask if anyone needs a timer… 5. Including the league URL is helpful in your spams to inform potential new member where to sign up EXAMPLES OF LEAGUE SPAM: ** FREE SIGN UP FOR GREAT LEAGUE ** http://WWW.MYLEAGUE.COM/GINISFORFUN Best Gin and Doms League Online with more games to come!! Click free sign up on left hand side ~ ask if u have any questions EXAMPLES OF TOURNEY SPAM: ******* Check in is open for the1130 AM ~~~ 69 okie ~~ Jump # 419314 ~~ Not a GIFFer yet?? Well Come Join Us @ WWW.MYLEAGUE.COM/GINISFORFUN ***** EXAMPLE OF LOBBY RULES SPAM:** RULES ARE AS FOLLOWS>>>>>> 69 okie ~ WINNERS REPORT TO ME IN THE LOBBY LIKE THIS >>>>>>>> DEF (OPPONENTS NAME) ~~ I WILL REPORT ALL WINS & LOSSES TO TRNY PAGE ~~ MAKE TABLES RATED & PROTECTED ~~ NO KIBITZING OR BE DQ’D ~~ HAVE FUN & GOOD LUCK... BRB WITH PAIRINGS........
EXAMPLE OF PAIRINGS SPAM: PAIRINGS FOR 1030 PM TRNY ~~ 98 REG GIN Match #1 florrieg37 vs bye Match #2 free2choose04 vs rainman_got_skillz Match #3 webb_city_kitty vs bye Match #4 ladyb0245 vs ginny_ange1 1030... ANY TIMERS NEEDED??? Messenger Spams When spamming for tourneys please be courteous and use good judgment. We do not want to over spam our members. Staff should be notified of openings of time slots. Please do not automatically add all new members to your YM. Wait until you see this member in gin and ask their permission. Some members do not wish to be spammed and we want to comply with their wishes. Also, if a member asked not to be spammed, please respect this. Everyone has their own reason (crashes, at work, just busy, etc.) If they do ask to not receive a spam, please be courteous and move them to a no spam list. This way they will still be on your blue list in the lobby but not receive those occasional spams. Let's watch the Yahoo Messenger spams, we should not be spamming sister leagues for gin or gin for sister leagues. (applies to pyramids) Lets all try to keep the www.myleague.com/ginisforfun on our status line of YM. That will help let others know where we are playing.
	VACATION
	Occasionally a td needs a break from the league responsibilities of hosting. If you do need or want a "vacation" from hosting, email the TDM team with the request for vacation time. Please create a few tourneys for the future so that the TDM team can pull one of these "extras" to keep you active in the league. ALSO: If you have requested a break and while on this "vacation", please do not come in the lobby and play in league games or tourneys.
	IDLE / VACATION STATUS
	The following is the GIFF policy on vacation status. This is to clarify the procedures the GIFF TDM team follows on idle TD’s as well as for anyone who might request a "vacation" from TDing for a period of time. IDLE HTDS: 14 Days Idle = Moved to TD status IDLE TDS: 7 Days Idle as TD = Letter 10 Days Idle as TD = Vacation 14 Days Idle as TD = Removal If a TD makes a tourney and for whatever reason is MIA... we will run that tourney. Concerning an idle TD (normally active) is at 10 days idle, we will grab a tourney of that TD's and host it, thus bringing him/her back to active. Likewise if a TD is idle in GIFF and known to be playing in other gin leagues or habitually is idle, we will not bring them back to active. In this case, we will remove the TD accordingly with the idle td 7, 10, 14 day rule of GIFF. There is no need to dissect these situations. We will simply cover for our loyal TD's as they deserve. For anyone who doesn't understand why we won't be prematurely placing a td on "vacation".....The reason we do not want anyone being on Vacation before 10 days is because: If a potential new member looks at our directors list, we want it to look like an active league, not having a bunch on vacation. Most new members do not know to look at days between last tourney. Only a Head Admin, Ladder Admin or TDM can remove someone from Vacation Status. So if TD1 is on Vacation at 3 days, comes on line at 2pm, wants to fill an empty slot, but no HA, LA or TDM is on line, we lose that tourney. If they are NOT on Vacation, then they can make a Tourney. For some people, Vacation Status is an insult, and we have seen TD's quit leagues because they were put on Vacation Status prematurely.
**NOTE: New TD's must complete their first 10 "freebie" tourneys within 30 days or they may be removed as TD**

VERY IMPORTANT FOR ADMIN & HTDS: THE TD STATUS LINK. DO NOT USE THIS LINK TO PLACE YOURSELF OR ANYONE ELSE ON OR OFF VACATION....You must go through the TDM team.... Thank You.

Miscellaneous
A. Multitasking In order to keep everything running smoothly, we request that you use your judgment in order to prevent “doing too much at once”. If you are unable to keep up in the tourneys you are hosting or keep the tourney moving along when you playing .. we ask that you withdraw from the tourney you are playing in and concentrate on hosting. B. When to create tourneys Please book your tourneys as far in advance as possible in order for the league members to see what games are available that will fit their schedule. C. Moving Tourneys If you are unable to run your tourney at it’s scheduled time and it is more than 1 hour prior to start time you can move it, but do not move it past the end of the next calendar month. It is each HTD/TD responsibility to monitor their own tourneys. VERY IMPORTANT: IF YOU DO MOVE A TOURNEY, PLEASE LET THE TDM’s KNOW. If they know then they can let other TD’s know that a slot has opened up. Some TD’s can’t host as much because of their schedule and thus rely on last minute tourneys. If a HTD/TD is No Show and you are a HTD, you can run the tourney. If you are a td only, please try to IM a HTD to run the tourney or move it. If there is a problem concerning tourneys of a no show TD, please IM a TDM or Ladder Admin immediately.

D. Emailing Staff If you wish to email TD’s, please arrange this with someone on the TDM team. Do not use the "email TD link" that is on the HTD menu for anything other than league business.

E. Using Someone Else’s password Seems like we have had some red flags go up lately on staff members using other staff member’s passwords to either register them into a tourney or make and run a tourney for them under their name and password. THIS IS NOT ALLOWED!!! I can not stress this enough...We CAN NOT use other peoples passwords for ANY reason. I, myself am guilty of this and I did not know that it could cause a tourney to become corrupt or that cases could "flag" us for it and possibly even suspend our league or even shut it down if this becomes a serious problem. This is not to say that you as an HTD can not run a trny for an absent TD, please do so if you can... you just can't log in with their pw is all. If a player is having problems registering for your tourney or asks you to put them in, please tell them you are sorry but you can not do this for them. CLOSING: Remember above all else… Gin Is For Fun!!! Let’s ALL do our part to work together and keep the fun there for everyone as well as ourselves. Team work is imperative. No matter what you say or do, you are always a reflection of our league. If you are having fun, it will show. If you aren't having fun, that will show too. Lets ALL have fun!! If you have any questions regarding these guidelines, please contact a TDM or a member of the admin staff. Thank you for all your dedication, time, energy, and hard work in GIFF.