What USCF online playing site?
Probably referring to World Chess Live, which offers a free trial membership to USCF members. But, AFAIK, it’s not any kind of ‘official’ playing site of the USCF the way USCF Live [“US Chess Live?” memory slips…] was.
The IHSA holds a fixed-board team tournament (not USCF rated) that awards the state HS team title (any other tournament claiming to award the state HS team title would be laughed at). The IHSA does not award an individual title, so the ICA awards one at the state all-grade (USCF rated and USCF membership required - albeit sometimes allowing JTP).
The IESA tournament is for fifth through eighth grade and looks to award a team title for the 5-6 section, the grade 7 section and the grade 8 section. That leaves the ICA to do the USCF-rated (maybe with JTP) state K-1, K-3, K-5 and K-8 individual titles, and the state K-1, K-3, K-5 and K-8 team titles.
I think the goal here for USCF should be to establish some sort of name recognition etc with the children and families involved. I didn’t even know USCF existed until a year after I had started studying chess. Demanding that they change their policy to require USCF membership is of course ridiculous. As such, rating the events is not possible. However, offering TD assistance, rulebooks, discounted memberships for the kids, maybe even trophies - something, ANYTHING, that says ‘We care about kids having fun with chess’ sends a great message to the FAMILIES, not the school district, as the kids and their families are the potential ‘customer’ here, not the school district. I live in a rural area of Ohio, and offered to start and coach a elementary (3rd-5th grade) chess class free of charge, and was shown the door. If someone around here actually started a scholastic league, I’d be all over it volunteering to do whatever was needed, because I love the game, love working and playing with kids, and have free time. I don’t think USCF should just roll over and give up on such a large group of kids it is a potential large group of members there for sure.
NTD Mike Zacate and former USCF PB member Garrett Scott are some of the more recognizable of the many giving as much assistance as the IESA will take. The IESA group was already figuring that they would want to work with the people already doing that type of event (albeit the existing events may be smaller than theirs since the IESA thinks the numbers may be as high as 2500 and the record for the state K-8 is only 824).
It is as yet uncertain how this will affect the USCF-rated scholastics. More schools will be participating in chess while the participation is not USCF-rated. If the total number of participants triples and the percentage of USCF participants stays even half as high as it is now, then that will be a boost in USCF membership. This year sees tournament participation numbers that are significantly lower than previous years (comparing the same events from year to year), so it is probably good that the IESA event isn’t until next year as otherwise that might be cited as the reason for the attendance drop.
I’m not sure about OH schools but it is often VERY hard to be allowed into a school unless you have some affiliation (usually parental) with that school. Jerry Esposito (MHRIP) was a retiree living accross the street from Albright middle school and it took him quite a while to be allowed (in the early '80s) to volunteer his time to run their chess club and organize their fund-raising tournaments (he didn’t take any pay or profit). He shepherded that program for a number of years and fostered a good team spirit before he eventually had to give it up after a heart attack made him slow down.
Since then it seems like the legal issues have made it even more difficult for a school to accept unaffiliated outside help (the activity doesn’t seem to matter, though chess is the focus of your post). You might have had an easier time forming a company (maybe an NFP) and offering an after-school program that the kids might even have to pay for (a background check might be required before you are allowed in the door).
Interesting, thanks for the nice reply.