Note: In general, no exceptions will be made to advance notice guidelines. However, in extraordinary cases, the Executive Committee has the right to grant sanction to a tournament that does not meet the guidelines.
== Game Clock Requirements ==
Generally, all rated games must be played to a 25-minute per side clock length. However, pursuant to an Advisory Board ruling, effective as of August 12, 2014, Directors may offer sanctioned tournaments that include early bird and/or late bird events with shorter clocks, subject to the following:
* Clock length of the shorter clock games must be no less than 20 minutes per side.
* Clock length may not be longer than 25 minutes per side (subject only to accommodations granted for additional clock time).
* The shorter clock games must be as part of an early bird or late bird to a main event with regular, 25-minute per side games.
* The number of 25-minute per side rounds at the main event tournament must exceed the number of shorter clock rounds (at all early birds, late birds, night birds, etc.) by at least one.
== Unrated Events and Newcomer Divisions ==