The Ranking System!

MyLeague has one of the simplest ranking systems ever used for competitive play. The concept was adopted from the ranking system used on the official Case's Ladders. We call it a "Ladder" because each member holds a unique rank or "rung" that represents their standing among other members. The highest-ranked member holds the #1 Ladder position; for example, someone ranked #2 is ranked below the #1 member. The goal is to "climb" the Ladder all the way to the top!

• When you first join, you are placed in an "Unranked" category on the League.
• You become "Ranked" after winning your first League match. (Unranked members may play each other, and the winner becomes ranked at the bottom of the League.)
• When you defeat a higher-ranked member, you move up in rank 50% the distance between their rank and your own.
  • Example: If you are ranked #50 and you beat the #1 ranked member, then your new rank would be 25.
• Your rank on the League does not go down if you lose a match unless your opponent is ranked DIRECTLY below you.
  • Example: If you are ranked #5 and the #6 ranked member defeats you, then your new rank would be #6.
• When members ranked below you are victorious against members ranked above you, it's possible the member will jump over you in rank and you will move down one rung. This depends on the ranks involved.
  • Example(per 50% rank gain): You are currently ranked #7. If the #10 ranked member defeats the #1 ranked member, then #10 will advance to the #5 rung and you will fall to the #8 rung.

Account Rules

• League Names
  • If your League name is deemed offensive or contains profanity, your account may be removed.
  • If your League name is deemed abusive towards another member, your account may be removed.
  • You can edit your League name by using the 'My Account' tab and choosing the 'Edit Username' option. If you have problems changing your League name, please use the 'Contact Admin' link, located on the 'Support' tab.
• E-mail Address
  • Your E-mail address must be kept current at all times, in case you need to be contacted. You can use the 'Edit E-mail Address' link on the 'My Account' tab to edit your E-mail address.
• Password Security
  • You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password.
  • You are not permitted to share your password with anyone for any reason.
• Inactivity
  • In order to keep the League as dynamic as possible, your account will be automatically deleted if you are inactive for 255 days. However, one of the features of our Premium Membership Program is never being deleted for inactivity. Information regarding our Premium Membership Program can be found here.
• Multiple Accounts
  • Only one account is allowed per person. There are no exceptions to this rule.
  • It is forbidden for more than one person to use or share the same account.
  • Multiple accounts from the same location will be investigated and possibly removed.

Challenges

Note: Please consult the Admin staff regarding whether or not League challenges are permitted for this League.

A challenge is defined as a request for a match with a higher-ranked member. Whether you are the challenger or the one being challenged, there are some rules that must be followed. Violating these rules may result in penalties. If you notice anyone violating these rules, please contact the Admin staff.

• Chat
  • The best way to find League matches is to announce in chat that you are looking for a League match so that other members will know you are interested in League-play. You can also directly challenge a specific member in chat.
• Formal Challenges
  • Most Leagues permit the use of Formal Challenges. A complete overview of the Formal Challenge system can be found here.
• 1 time(s) Per Day
  • You may play the same member 1 time(s) per day. However, you may play as many different members as you would like on any given day. A "MyLeague" day begins at 12:00 a.m. Pacific Time.
• Verify Information
  • We recommend you ensure a potential opponent is also a member of the League before starting your match. You can do this very easily by searching for your opponent using the 'Search for Players' tool.

Playing a Match

Once you are ready to start playing a League match, there are some guidelines governing game play that you should keep in mind.

• Opponents
  • You are not allowed to report losses to another member that also plays from the same computer as you. Our security software will detect this activity if it is attempted, and participating accounts may be penalized or removed.
• Sportsmanship
  • The same rules that apply to behavior in chat (covered in a later section) also apply during matches.

Reporting the Match

Once your match is completed, the loser of the match is responsible for reporting the loss immediately. You can report your matches using the 'Report Loss' button located on the 'Standings' tab. Please note the 'Report Loss' link should only be used for League matches and not for tournament matches; you should consult the TD with any questions regarding reporting tournament matches. If you have any problems reporting a loss, you should contact the Admin staff and request assistance.

• Reporting the Loss
  • In one-on-one matches, the loser of the match reports the loss to the winner.
  • In partner matches, each member of the losing team reports a loss to both partners of the winning team. At the end of the match, you would either gain two wins or report two losses.
  • In "free for all" matches (matches in which multiple opponents are competing against each other without partners), each loser of the match must report a loss to one overall winner.
  • When playing matches with more than one opponent, it is important for losses to be reported in the proper order if rank will be affected by the order of report. You must report to the better-ranked opponent first in those cases. It is your responsibility to make sure you report in the correct order when necessary. Not doing so may result in penalty.
• Unreported Matches
  • If your opponent does not report their loss within one hour after completing the match or prior to starting another match, you should click on the "Contact Admin" link and then use the "Unreported Match" form.

Tournaments

The rules for a Tournament are determined by the Tournament Director hosting the event. You will find a summary of each individual Tournament, including a Rules page, if you follow the link for that specific Tournament.

League-Specific Rules

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General Rules

Loon was established to offer a fun, competitive place to play backgammon with your friends. Note that FUN came before competitive.

Please give your TD's the respect they deserve. They are all unpaid volunteers and spend many hours every week hosting these tournaments for you, the players. It is your job to make that experience pleasant for them too.

It is important that you take time to read the complete set of rules. You can find them on the left hand side of the main Loon page under "The Ladder". While they contain the same MyLeague rules that all other ladders do, there are also some that vary from league to league and are specific to Loon.

You must keep your email up to date. You can change it in "Player Editors" on the left hand side of the front page under "Account". It is your responsibility after changing it to notify us that you have done so. Please do so by email to Bugsy. Just click on her name on the top of the main page under "Ladder Admins".

**** Your Ladder name is to be the same as you room name. Unless grandfathered in. If your names do not match you will be advised and have til the next tournament to make the correction either changing your Loon name or your room name. *******

We are all here to have fun. In that vein abusive behavior will not be tolerated. Abusive behavior includes but is not limited to:

• Foul language.
  
• Lewd or offensive comments.
  
• Continuing to argue with an admin or a host after they have made a decision.
  
• Threatening any league member, host or admin.
  
• Stalking
  

Consider this your only warning because penalties will be issued for the FIRST occurrence of abuse. The exact penalty is up to Admin and their decision is FINAL!

Tournament Rules

As a general rule, the listed start time for a Loon Tournament will be when the TD closes check-in. The tourney will normally start within 5 minutes after that. At the sole discretion of the hosting TD, either or both of these may be delayed if people are having trouble signing up, getting into the room, finding the room if we've had to move, etc. The TD will keep the other players notified.

The number of points required to win the match will be determined by the TD for each individual tournament.

Unless specified otherwise, doubling will always be allowed and encouraged. Doubling both makes the game more interesting and speeds up play. See "Doubling Hints" below.

All of our Tournaments will be ladderstats and as such you do NOT have to report your losses to the ladder. The hosting TD will do that for you.

When playing in any room that allows both rated and unrated games, all matches will be unrated unless BOTH players agree to rate the table.

After a host closes Check-In, if you refresh the tourney page and then click on STANDINGS you can follow along. This makes it easier to find out who you play next and helps the host out a great deal.

On the standings page you will notice a number next to each persons name. This is their seeding for the tourney. In the case of any dispute over table, color played etc. the person with the lowest seed number will get to set the table.

If a player is missing from the room for any reason they will have 10 minutes to get back.  Timing will begin when the TD is notified of the absent player in lobby.

The exceptions to the 10 minutes are:

• Only 5 minutes is allowed if the player is in the room, in a ladder match or playing in another tourney.
  
• Only 5 minutes is allowed between matches if the player is in the room and not responding.
  
• There will be a 10 timing if in the finals match of the previous tournament. Players must be seated and playing NOT in a waiting mode for that match.
  
• There will be NO timing if in the finals match of Tournament of Champions.
  

Players will be allowed a break up to 5 minutes between matches with the permission of their opponent. The TD must be notified in pm in the lobby. Excessive "brb's" are cause for being dq'd from the tournament.

All match results are to be reported by BOTH the winner & non-winner to the TD. We would like you to report in pm (private message)to make sure that the hosting TD does not miss a report. Since we no longer share this room with 2 other ladders effective immediately this is not mandatory.

While we are all here for fun, out of consideration for your opponent and the other members playing in the tourney please keep both room and lobby chat to a minimum. This will allow the tourney to run smoothly and help prevent long waits between matches.

The use of all CAPS during a tourney is reserved for the TD. Please turn you caps lock off when chatting.

When playing in a tourney, you must set the table to allow watchers. This is so that a TD or Admin can come in to watch the game. If either player is bothered by a watcher, other than a TD or Admin, being at their table they should ask them to leave. If they refuse to leave notify the TD to ask them to leave, if they still refuse at that point you have the right to boot them from the table.

All disputes are to be settled by the hosting TD and their decision is FINAL. If you don't like their decision, email one of the Admins with an explanation of the problem. Do not argue with the TD, at that point, even if you're right, you're wrong.

A player CANNOT play in 2 tourneys at one time. If they are in a Loon tournament or another Ladders event they will be timed for 5 min to take their seat in the Loon tourney. If they are playing in Loon tourney and registered in another Loon or Ladder event they will either withdraw themselves or be timed in that event for the usual in room timing of 5 min. Exception will be if they already seated and playing in a finals match of a Loon tournament or another ladder they will be given a 10 min timing. If they are found to be playing in another tourney while waiting for a Loon match they will be automatically DQ'd from the Loon event. NO EXCEPTIONS. NO warnings as this is in our rules posted on each tourney page.

Ladder Match Rules

A ladder is a non-tourney match played between 2 league members to improve league rank or rating. A ladder match can have any settings but the 2 competitors should agree on them upon in advance. The LOSER reports the loss to the ladder. To do this you go to the main league page. Look on the left hand side and click on REPORT LOSS. Click there. You will then have to enter your name and password and then your opponents exact ladder name. If you the click the ad above the report box you will receive 2 ladder bux for the 1st loss you report each day.

You should report losses immediately after the game is finished. Do not start another game until you have reported the results of the prior game. If you need help ask.

Multi-Ladder ladder matches are allowed. If you and your opponent are both members of multiple ladders, you can both agree that the match will cover any or all of the ladders.

If your opponent fails to report the loss:

• Ask them POLITELY in the lobby to report. If that fails to get a result
• Send them a POLITE e-mail reminder.
• Wait 24 hours then on the main page on the left side and click on UNREPORTED MATCHES and file a report. Give the details. A copy of your report will be sent to your opponent as well as to Admin. They will have 24 hours to report the loss or to dispute the loss by replying to the report. If they fail to report Admin will report for you.
  
  

If you fail to report a loss and an Admin has to do it for you, you will be penalized.

Doubling Hints:

In Loon the Crawford Rule is always in effect. This means that when the first player gets within one point of winning the match, the cube can not be used for the next game only. For example if the match is to 3 and one player wins 2 points, the cube is OFF for the next game and can't be used. If the other player wins that next game, the match continues and the cube is ON and can be used for the rest of the match.

If you find yourself in the position of being down 2-1 in a 3 point match and the cube is ON, always double at your first opportunity. At that point it doesn't matter whether your opponent wins 1 point or 64 points, they're going to win the match. If you double and win you're going to win the match.

If you are the one being doubled in the above situation and either you've thrown a bad first roll or your opponent has thrown a very good one, you might want to refuse it and hope for a better start the next game.

When you are way ahead of your opponent but don't feel that you will gammon him, consider doubling them out (offering a double that they will have to refuse to end the game).

In the late stages of the game when you know you will beoff in 2 moves and your opponent can only beat you with doubles (they still have 3 or 4 men on the board), consider doubling. Even if all their men are on the onepoint the odds of them throwing any double is only 1 out of 6.

In all cases of course take into consideration the matchscore. It would be silly to refuse a double when your opponent is only 1 point from winning the match and you still have a mathematical chance of winning, as you've got nothing to lose.

Remember if you've been doubled, you have the option of doubling your opponent back. For example in a 3 point match you are at 0, you accept a double & then the tide turns in your favor. If you then double youropponent back and they accept and you win, you win the match.




Top Ten

The purpose of the League is to climb to the top and the competition for the rungs in the Top Ten is high. As such, we have special rules that apply for members in the Top Ten.

• Inactivity
  • Members in the Top Ten must play a League match at least once every 5 days; otherwise, you will be automatically dropped five rungs and your inactivity counter is reset. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Expected Behavior

As a member of MyLeague, you are representing the League, the Admin staff, and all other members when you are participating on a MyLeague. It's part of your responsibility as a member to act in a respectable manner within your League community.

• Avatars
  • The rules of common decency should be followed when uploading images to use as avatars. Inappropriate avatars may be removed without warning or notification.
• Cheating
  • If you believe your opponent is cheating, then you should contact the Admin staff.
• Abuse
  • It is forbidden to abuse or harass another League member.
  • It is important to remember that two wrongs do not make a right. If you are being harassed by another League member, contact the Admin staff for assistance. Do not take matters into your own hands or return the abuse, or you could be penalized as well.
• Nice Guy Rule
  • Please note that behavior guidelines govern all methods of communication. This includes chat, E-mail, message forums, instant messenger services, etc. Treat other members with respect!

Fill in the Blank

Although we have tried to be as detailed as possible, we can't cover every aspect of gaming in our rules. Please be advised that just because something is not stated in our rules and policies, then that does not mean it is allowed. Use common sense. If it is something that will adversely affect other members and you might think twice about it, then it's probably against the rules. The Admin staff will have the final say in such matters. If you have a specific question please feel free to contact us via E-mail.