Today I received an email from the Chairman of FIDE's Arbiter Commission – Mr. Panagiotis Nikolopoulos, providing the commissions approval for a FIDE Arbiters Seminar during the World Amateur Chess Championship.
This will be the first time that a FIDE Arbiters Seminar will be held in the United States!
The North American Chess Association is the first chess organization to bring a FIDE Arbiters Seminar to the United States!
SEMINAR INFORMATION:
Organizers: North American Chess Association and the FIDE Arbiters Commission
Dates: March 22 – 25, 2010
Venue: Holiday Inn Hotel, Skokie, IL USA
Lecturer: International Arbiter Stewart Reuben (ENG)
Assistant: International Arbiter Sevan A. Muradian (USA)
Language: English
Regulations to be discussed:
FIDE regulations. The US rules will only be discussed for comparison to international practice
Schedule:
| Dates |
Time |
Topics Discussed |
| 03/22 |
9am – 2pm |
Laws of Chess
Tournament rules, Tie Break Criteria
|
| 03/23 |
9am – 2pm |
Use of Electronic Clocks
System of Games: Round Robin, Swiss System, Pairing Rules
|
| 03/24 |
9am – 2pm |
Titles (all titles) and rating regulations
Application procedures
|
| 03/25 |
10am – 1pm |
Examination
80% or better required to pass
|
General Notes:
Participation fees: $250USD. Fee includes lunch served each day along and FIDE examination fee. The lecturer maintains the right to alter the schedule of discussion as long as all topics listed above are covered.
Why is this important? Because part of new requirement for you to achieve your FIDE Arbiter title is the successful completion of the courses and examination of a FIDE Arbiters Seminar. Here are the guidelines from FIDE's website on the requirements of the title of FIDE Arbiter:
http://www.fide.com/component/handbook/?id=14&view=category
3. Requirements for the title of FIDE Arbiter (FA).
All of the following:
3.1 Thorough knowledge of the Laws of Chess, the FIDE Regulations for chess competitions, the Swiss Pairing Systems.
3.2 Absolute objectivity, demonstrated at all times during his activity as an arbiter.
3.3 Sufficient knowledge of at least one official FIDE language.
3.4 Skills to operate electronic chess clocks of different types and for different systems.
3.5 Experience as chief or deputy arbiter in at least three (3) FIDE Rated events (these can be either national or international) and attendance of at least one (1) FIDE Arbiters' Seminar and successful passing (at least 80%) an examination test set by the Arbiters' Commission.
FIDE rated event valid for a norm is considered any tournament with minimum 10 players in case that it is played with Round Robin system, with minimum 6 players in case that it is played with Double Round Robin system and with minimum 20 players in case that it is played with Swiss system.
3.6 The title of FIDE Arbiter for each of the IBCA, ICSC, and IPCA shall each be equivalent to one FA norm.
3.7 For a candidate, being a match arbiter in an Olympiad is equivalent to one FA norm. No more than one such norm will be considered for the title.
3.8 Being chief or deputy arbiter in official World and Continental Rapid Championships shall be equivalent to one (1) FA norm. No more than one such norm will be considered for the title.
3.9 Attendance of one (1) FIDE Arbiters' Seminar and successful passing (at least 80%) an examination test set by the Arbiters' Commission, shall be equivalent to one (1) FA norm. Not more than one (1) such norm will be considered for the title.
3.10 Applicants from federations which are unable to organize any tournaments valid for titles or rating, may be awarded the title on successful passing an examination test (at least 80%) set by the Arbiters` Commission.
