For a somewhat large scholastic/elementary tourney using a G/30 d/5 time control, is the best option to just forfeit any players after 30 minutes? I know of some who would prefer something like a 10 min forfeit time, and possible repairing somewhat randomly all players whose opponents did not show up. I’m pretty skeptical of something like this but thought I’d throw it out to the group.
If you have a fairly tight round schedule, re-pairing for the no shows is a sure recipe for errors, even if you manage to corral all the kids involved. In GA, we always used a 10 minute forfeit time (the TD would announce when players should claim their forfeits) when I was involved (it has been about five years). Making kids sit for 30 minutes is cruel and unusual punishment.
However, most of these events were not USCF rated, so I can’t speak to the legality of that under USCF rules or for events under the auspices of the Scholastic rules.
I took two different approaches depending on various factors.
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Just forfeit the game and move on to round 2.
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forfeit after about 15 minutes and then set up extra rated games for the kids who wanted to paly one. that eliminates a bad pairing made quickly. The kids who want to get experience without impacting their points or their team’s points in the event.
Either of these methods will work fine. Re-pairing is also quite workable, and to my mind the best solution IF you have good and experienced people working both the floor and the computers. If you don’t have these you’re liable to create problems for yourself, and are better off not trying this.
I used to repair more frequently - but that got about as many complaints as anything. The extra rated games approach tends not to get much backlash.
Creating ERG’s doesn’t tend to generate complaints from those getting the byes, and the ERG’s, you’re right. However, in scholastic team events where this is used it does tend to cause complaints from coaches of other teams who don’t like to see two players each getting full points when they could have been matched against each other. You can’t please everybody.