I wrote a memo with a similar title about 4 years ago, where I attempted to include advice to "new" directors on all the general administrative aspects of directing at our Club.

This memo is somewhat different inasmuch as it tries to express my personal thoughts about relationships between the Director and the Club playing member. I think that the first priority for a Director at our Club is not to apply the Laws, but is to maintain happy and friendly relationships with all the players at all the tables. Do not get me wrong: we still want the Laws applying, but only when they are done in a friendly manner. Over the last year, I have been made aware of "incidents" between the Director and several different players and I find this totally unacceptable.

With all our Directors, I would expect them to follow the guidelines set out below :-

1. Always take a Law book with you when you are called to a table. This lets a player know that you are going to refer to it if necessary.

2, The Committee has laid down a few Rules and these should always be applied :-

a) Never give an average to a slow pair unless that specific pair has been warned for slow play at a previous table. This could lead to a slight hold-up and this just has to be accepted. A Director should instinctively know when to give a warning for slow play.

b) Immediately after a warning for slow play, the offending pair must be allowed the full time to complete the next round from when they start the round. The hold- up here is inevitable and must be accepted.

c) Play should finish so that the "slower" pairs finish before 10.45pm (on a Monday and a Thursday). Sometimes, play will end about 10.30pm ( eg. when playing 24 boards), but there is no particular merit to be gained by finishing early.

d) Should you have reason to award an average, then it will be an average minus or an average or an average plus.

If the pair is not in any way at fault, then award them an average plus. Similarly, if they are at fault, then award them an average minus. The general policy is not to award an average minus to any pair on the first occasion that they offend.

e) Should there be an appeal against your Ruling, then this should be decided at the end of the evening by another Director. At least one member of the pair making the appeal must remain to present his/her case to this Director or the appeal becomes invalid. The decision of the second Director is final.

3. The Director should always go to a table and deal with the situation in a friendly way. However much the provocation from a player, I would always expect an initial friendly word (eg. "how can I help you ) and never, ever an abrupt word, an aggressive attitude or a semi-argument whilst at the table. Please use the points below as guidelines when you are called to a table :-

a) Take a Law book with you.

b) Immediately ask "who called me" and "how can I help you? "

c) Listen to every player in turn and make sure that a player is not interrupted before he finishes speaking.

d) Most decisions at our Club will be made on the spot, so let the players know your Ruling.

e) In a friendly way, do not allow any player to question your ruling (eg. orally or with the aid of their own Law book etc). Inform the player that there is to be no further discussion on the matter and that he may appeal if he informs you immediately and that you will get another Director to "judge" the appeal at the end of the evening. If he appeals, then inform him of the procedure (see para 2(e) above ).

It is crucial to proceed in this manner – once a Director allows a debate to start on his Ruling or tries to justify it, the Director is on a downward slope.

4. It may be that you see something "wrong" happening at a table whilst you are Directing. Common occurrences at our Club (despite reminders in newsletters, memos etc) are :-

Boards not kept in, or near, the centre of the table all the time.

Players removing the cards from the boards after the hand has been played in order to discuss the hand.

You should not appoint yourself as a corrector of "incidents". A quiet word at the end of the evening may be in order, but do not try to right these wrongs unless you have been called to the table for that specific purpose.

5. There may be a need for a Director to be called to your own table. Never take it upon yourself to act as a Director at your own table; call instead for the services of another Director.

Similarly, if an incident occurs at your table (as in para 4 above), it is not for you to comment on it during play. If you feel the necessity, then you should call on the services of another Director.

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I would be only too happy to speak to any Club Director who has a problem with any part of this memo. Nothing in this memo is a direct criticism of a Director; it is an attempt to achieve a common purpose in Directing.

Because of the inter-relationships between Directors and members of our Club, I have made this memo available to all Directors and to all Club members and there are copies in the carousel.

The primary responsibility for a pleasant evening rests with the Director. Nevertheless, all players have an important part to play in this scenario and should go out of their way to accept a Director's Ruling, realising that they have a right to appeal if they wish.

Peter Dawson 9/9/2001