B.06.1 – FIDE Regulations for the Titles of Arbiters

1.      General provisions

1.1      The titles for award are:

1.1.1      FIDE Arbiter (FA): the entry level of international title for arbiters.

1.1.2      International Arbiter (IA): the advanced level of international title for arbiters.

1.2      These regulations describe the qualifications required and the process by which a title can be awarded.

1.3      The titles are valid for life from the date awarded or registered.

1.4      The judging unit is the FIDE Arbiters’ Commission.

1.5      The Council may confirm titles under 1.1 after consultation with the Arbiters’ Commission chairman.

1.6      The Commission may recommend a title by correspondence or online voting.

2.      Arbiter Norms

2.1      A certificate evaluating an arbiter’s performance may be obtained from a FIDE rated event. Such a document is named an “Arbiter Norm”.

2.1.1      The official certificates of Arbiter Norms to be produced are:

FIDE Arbiter Norm Report Form (FA1)

International Arbiter Norm Report Form (IA1)

2.1.2      Norms have to be issued by the Chief Arbiter immediately after the tournament.

2.2      Applications for FA titles shall include 4 norms. Applications for IA titles shall include 5 norms.

Articles 3 and 4 describe requirements for these norms and criteria to be respected for the corresponding events.

2.3      Types of events acceptable for norms are:

2.3.1      FIDE Rated Events:

Events registered under the following “Systems” on the FIDE Rating Server may be used for arbiter norms:

Swiss

Round Robin

Double Round Robin

Team (League)

Knockout

Others – subject to review by the Arbiters’ Commission

2.3.2      Hybrid chess FIDE rated events:

Only events previously endorsed by the FIDE Qualification Commission and the FIDE Arbiters’ Commission may be used to deliver arbiter norms.

2.3.3      Seminars according to 3.7 and 4.7.

2.4      General Provisions about events

2.4.1      When a minimum number of players is defined as a requirement, players in individual tournaments will be counted only if they miss at most one round (excluding pairing allocated byes). In team events players need at least one played round to be counted.

2.4.2      Unless stated otherwise the events need to have standard time control.

2.4.3      Unless stated otherwise the events are individual events.

2.4.4      Events where the applicant is only mentioned as Assistant Arbiter are not counted.

2.5      Two (2) different systems of events shall be included as norms in the applications for both FA and IA title.

2.5.1      An application containing only Individual Swiss System events may be accepted where at least one (1) of them is an international FIDE rated chess event with at least 100 players, at least 30% FIDE rated players, and at least 7 rounds. This exception may also be valid for chess festivals grouping several tournaments, provided they respect this quota of rated players.

2.6      Events according to 2.3.1 and 2.3.2 might be of different levels:

2.6.1      World or Continental

Events organized by FIDE or one of the four Continental Chess Associations.

2.6.2      International

In order for an International FIDE rated chess event to be valid as a norm for the IA title, it must have participants from at least three (3) federations.

2.6.3      National

Events of any level where only participants from the organizing federation take part.

2.7      There is a limit to the number of norm certificates that can be issued in one event, except in the case of 2.6.1.

2.7.1      For all events except (Double) Round Robin events: one (1) certificate per 25 players, or part thereof.

2.7.2      For all (Double) Round Robin events: a maximum of two (2) certificates in total.

2.8      All norms have to be signed by the Chief Arbiter and the federation responsible for the event.

2.8.1      The certificate for an IA or FA norm must be signed by:

a) for an IA norm by an IA

b) for a FA norm by an IA or FA

2.8.2      When the applicant is the Chief Arbiter of the event, then a physically present supervisor, who may be the Organizer or a Federation Official, may sign the certificate after checking the applicant’s performance.

a) for an IA norm the supervisor must hold the IA title

b) for a FA norm the supervisor must hold the FA or IA title

2.8.3      If the Chief Arbiter is not an IA or FA, he may not sign any certificate for FA or IA and is the only arbiter in the event allowed to get a norm as in 2.8.2.

2.8.4      If the Chief Arbiter is not physically present at the playing venue (in case of hybrid/decentralised events), then a supervisor as in 2.8.2 who may be the Local Chief Arbiter may sign the certificate in consultation with the Chief Arbiter.

2.9      The following criteria shall be respected:

2.9.1      Arbiters requesting FA norms shall be properly registered as National Arbiters by the FIDE Arbiters’ Commission.

2.9.2      Arbiters requesting IA norms shall be properly registered as FIDE Arbiters by the FIDE Arbiters’ Commission and be active as defined in the Regulations for the Classification of Arbiters.

2.9.3      Arbiters requesting FA norms must be at least 18 years old.

2.9.4      Arbiters requesting IA norms must hold the FA title.

2.10  The dates of the tournament norms shall not overlap or connect directly to each other. No more than one (1) norm can be achieved from the same festival.

2.10.1    Tournaments lasting longer than 30 days are exempt from this restriction.

3.      Requirements for the title of FIDE Arbiter

All of the following are required:

3.1      Thorough knowledge of the Laws of Chess and fair play regulations, the FIDE Regulations for chess competitions, Swiss Pairing Systems, the FIDE Regulations regarding achievement of title norms and the FIDE Rating System.

3.2      Absolute objectivity, demonstrated at all times during their activity as an arbiter.

3.3      Sufficient knowledge of at least one of the following languages: Arabic, English, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish; plus knowledge of chess terms in English.

3.4      Minimum skills at user level to work on a personal computer, knowledge of pairing programs endorsed by FIDE, word processing, spreadsheets and e-mail.

3.5      Skills to operate electronic clocks of different types and for different systems.

3.6      The National Federations are responsible for assessing the overall fitness of candidates based on 3.1–3.5 and any other available facts to the best of their knowledge upon submission of the application.

3.7      Attendance of one (1) FIDE Arbiters’ Seminar and successfully passing (at least 80%) an examination set up by the Arbiters’ Commission.

3.8      Experience as an Arbiter in three (3) events, in accordance with 2.3 – 2.8, valid for a norm is considered when the following is satisfied:

3.8.1      Swiss System event, with a minimum of 20 rated players.

3.8.2      Round Robin event, with a minimum of 8 rated players.

3.8.3      Double Round Robin event, with a minimum of 6 rated players.

3.8.4      Team event with a minimum of 20 rated players.

3.8.5      Knockout event with a minimum of 20 rated players.

3.9      Each of the following options may be used maximum once (1) in an FA application:

3.9.1      Being an arbiter in at least five (5) rounds of the highest division of the National Team Championship; whereby the following requirements are met:

a) a minimum of four boards per team;

b) a minimum of 10 teams (6 in case of a Double Round Robin);

c) at least 60% of the players are FIDE rated.

3.9.2      Being Arbiter in any FIDE rated Rapid or Blitz events, with a minimum of 30 rated players and nine (9) rounds.

3.9.3      Being Arbiter in any hybrid chess FIDE rated events of the level of an over the board FA norm, endorsed by the FIDE Arbiters’ Commission.

3.9.4      Being a match arbiter in an Olympiad.

3.9.5      Holding a title of International Arbiter for each of the IBCA, ICCD, IPCA.

3.10    The norms must include events according to 3.8 and 3.9 with at least seven (7) rounds.

3.10.1    Only one (1) event with five (5) or six (6) rounds may be accepted.

3.11    There is no restriction on the number of norms from events of National level presented in an FA application.

3.12    All norms which would be valid for an IA norm are also valid for a FA norm.

3.13    Applicants from federations which are unable to organize any events valid for titles or rating, may be awarded the title on passing an examination set by the Arbiters’ Commission.

4.      Requirements for the title of International Arbiter

All of the following are required:

4.1      Thorough knowledge of the Laws of Chess and fair play regulations, the FIDE Regulations for chess competitions, Swiss Pairing Systems, the FIDE Regulations regarding the achievement of title norms and the FIDE Rating System.

4.2      Absolute objectivity demonstrated at all times during their activity as an arbiter.

4.3      Obligatory knowledge of English language, minimum at conversation level.

4.4      Minimum skills at user level to work on a personal computer, knowledge of pairing programs endorsed by FIDE, word processing, spreadsheets and e-mail.

4.5      Skills to operate electronic clocks of different types and for different systems.

4.6      The National Federations are responsible for assessing the overall fitness of candidates based on 4.1–4.5 and any other available facts to the best of their knowledge upon submission of the application.

4.7      Attendance of one (1) International Arbiters’ Certification Seminar with a positive readiness evaluation.

4.8      Experience as an Arbiter in four (4) events in accordance with 2.3 – 2.8. which meet any of the following requirements:

4.8.1      The final of the National Individual (adult, open or women) Championship (maximum two (2) norms).

4.8.2      All official FIDE events and matches.

4.8.3      International events where the competing field is such that a player may theoretically achieve a norm as defined in the FIDE Handbook B01.

4.8.4      All official World and Continental Rapid and Blitz Championships (maximum one (1) norm).

4.9      Each of the following options may be used maximum once (1) in an IA application:

4.9.1      Being an arbiter in an international FIDE rated chess event with at least 100 players, from at least three (3) Federations, at least 30% FIDE rated players, and at least seven (7) rounds.

4.9.2      Being an arbiter in at least seven (7) rounds of the highest division of the National Team Championship; whereby the following requirements are met:

a) a minimum of four boards per team;

b) a minimum of 10 teams (6 in case of a Double Round Robin);

c) at least 60% of the players are FIDE rated.

4.9.3      Being Arbiter in any hybrid chess FIDE rated events of the level of an over the board IA norm, endorsed by the FIDE Arbiters’ Commission.

4.9.4      Being a match arbiter in an Olympiad.

4.9.5      Holding a title of International Arbiter for each of the IBCA, ICCD, IPCA.

4.10    The norms shall include events according to 4.8 and 4.9 with at least nine (9) rounds.

4.10.1    Only one (1) event with seven (7) or eight (8) rounds may be accepted.

4.11    The title of International Arbiter may only be awarded to applicants who have already been awarded the title of FIDE Arbiter.

4.12    All the norms for the IA title shall be different from the norms already used for the FA title and must have been achieved after the FA title has been awarded.

4.13    The submitted norms shall be signed by the Chief Arbiter.

4.13.1    These cannot be all from the same signee.

5.      Application Procedure

5.1      National federations may register their Arbiters of National level(s) with FIDE after approval by the FIDE Arbiters’ Commission.

5.1.1      Arbiters of National Level shall be at least 16 years old.

5.2      Applications for the title of FIDE Arbiter or International Arbiter shall be submitted to the FIDE Secretariat by the federation of the applicant.

5.2.1      If the applicant’s federation refuses to apply, the applicant can bring their case to the Arbiters’ Commission, who will investigate it.

5.2.2      If it is found that there is no sufficient reason for the refusal, the applicant may appeal to FIDE and apply for the title himself.

5.3      Applications shall respect the following expiry dates:

5.3.1      A tournament norm shall not be more than six (6) years old on the day of application.

5.3.2      A seminar norm shall not be more than four (4) years old on the day of application.

5.3.3      The application shall be submitted not later than one (1) year after the date of the latest event listed.

5.3.4      The application shall be submitted only after all tournaments of the application are rated.

5.4      For an FA application to be valid, the following shall be respected:

5.4.1      The application form for the FA title (FA2) shall be submitted with relevant data and signature by the Federation Official.

5.4.2      Applicants for the FA title shall be at least 19 years old.

5.4.3      Applicants for the FA title can only apply for the title after holding the NA license for at least 1 year. Alternatively, they must have at least one (1) additional FIDE-rated tournament in their FRS record that is not part of the FA application.

5.4.4      The application shall be submitted with the exact number of required FA norms as described in Article 3:

One (1) norm from an FA Seminar

Three (3) FA norm certificates from tournaments

5.5      For an IA application to be valid, the following shall be respected:

5.5.1      The application form for the IA title (IA2) shall be submitted with relevant data and signature by the Federation Official.

5.5.2      Applicants for the IA title shall be at least 21 years old.

5.5.3      Applicants for the IA title can only apply for the title after holding the FA title for at least 2 years. Alternatively, they must have at least three (3) additional FIDE-rated tournaments in their FRS record that are not part of the IA application.

5.5.4      The application shall be submitted with the exact number of required IA norms as described in Article 4:

One (1) successful attendance of an IA Seminar

Four (4) IA norm certificates from tournaments

5.6      Title fees shall be applied following the FIDE financial regulations.

5.6.1      The National Federation is responsible for the fee.

5.6.2      In such cases as described in 5.2.2, the applicant is responsible for the fee.

5.7      There is a 45-day deadline to allow the applications to be considered properly.

5.8      All applications together with full details shall be posted on the FIDE website for a minimum of 60 days prior to finalization. This is to allow any objections to be lodged.

6.      Financial and regulatory regulations

6.1      All arbiters of any FIDE rated events shall comply with the FIDE financial regulations. That includes the payment of a registration fee to FIDE (previously named “License fee”).

6.2      If article 6.1 is not fulfilled, the event may not be rated and any Arbiter’s norms shall not be accepted.

6.3      Arbiters shall comply with FIDE regulatory regulations, this includes compliance with GDPR regulations.

Annex 1

For FIDE Arbiters: FA1, FA2
For International Arbiters: IA1, IA2, IA3