non-uscf members / non-experience requirements

Running Chess Tournaments
1

The problem with scholastic players, when they do not understand the most basic rules of chess – during a tournament. It only hurts the chess player, and the opponent, with the parents of the chess player. Talking with adult chess players, or talking with parents of older chess players: the major reason they do not play in tournaments – as they understand they are not tournament ready. If the organizer is willing to pay for an adult tournament, and willing to wave the tournament entry fee – the adult is more willing to play. Even if they understand they are not at their best or personal level of being ready to play rated tournaments.

The reason why adults do not play in un-rated tournaments, as the quality of the players are weaker. But the un-rated tournament will have a larger field of players. If we can understand this as a fact, with adult un-rated tournaments. Would it not be true for the players in the K-3 section. The rated K-3 section, or a un-rated K-3 section: both have the same level of tournament standards. The only minor difference would be in the back room, were the director has to issue non-USCF membership ID’s and pay the rating fees. For the chess player in the K-3 section, has the same and equal risk, being in a rated or un-rated tournament.

There are very few adults, if they just started to understand the simple basic rules of how to move the pieces: willing to join and play rated tournaments. But, it is so common for the K-3 chess player, understanding chess within a week, than play in a rated tournament. It would be best, in the case of new chess players within the K-3 sections to play in un-rated
tournaments first. As the rated tournament will follow the chess player, until the chess player does understand the rules, and the correction of the rating will blend out in other events. Or, the parents and the chess player understand chess is not important within their family.

My personal theory, rated scholastic tournaments for the younger players (K-3 section), can do more harm than good. As a rated tournament before the chess player is ready to play, only drags down the average rating of the over all chess players within that group. If the organizer and more so for the director, want to have a stronger field with better skills. The director should not get any experience requirements for any K-3 sections.

If the director does not get any experience requirements for K-3 sections. It will drop the level of K-3 sections, as the members in K-3 sections are in part non-USCF members. As I find having K-3 sections, only begs the director to find more chess players. Even if the chess player does not have the basic skills. As the only person that gets the best deal of
having rated K-3 sections over un-rated K-3 sections – is the director! If the director does not get any experience requirements for the K-3 sections: than the director would demand only the best players from the coaches. As the un-skilled and total novice chess players (K-3 section) would not add or help the director with the needed experience requirements

2

Someone sent me a private message, and want to add to the posting. As I do understand a number of the regulars do take my statements out of context. Chess parents bring up the point some chess players do not understand the basic rules. Directors bring up the point a number of chess players do not understand the basic rules of tournament chess.

With the K-3 sections, it does give the players in theory a free ride to get a USCF rating. As the chess players in the K-3 section can all be non-USCF members. If the USCF had free memberships, the quality of the adult tournaments would become worse. The reason I feel the K-3 sections have the most problems, as the players do not have to pay for USCF memberships. I’m not demanding that the K-3 sections need full USCF memberships. I’m just pointing out, it would be better if the director does not get any experience requirements for non-USCF membership tournaments or sections of tournaments with non-USCF members.

Directors understand the goals or the experience requirements. For the parent of a scholastic player or just a person that is not a director, will try to give a simple answer. Directors need to have satisfactory performance, for some just to stay at their current level, for others the experience requirements needed to take the next level test. If the director is looking to become a local, or others looking to become a senior: scholastic tournaments are the best way to get at that level with little work. If to look at the senior, the director needs category C tournaments (category C, drawing 50 to 99 entrants).

If the director wants to get a category C tournament, the director could find a number of local coaches to have a tournament with 50 or more entrants. Since the K-3 sections have non-USCF members, the directors final goal is to get 50 or more players. If the director fails to get the goal of 50 entrants, the goal of the director was a failure. Since the K-3 section has non-USCF members, the director would be counting the number of players, not the skills of the players.

If the director does not get any experience requirements for K-3 sections, or any sections with non-USCF members. The director would have a better tournament with less players. For some directors, they would not be a director period, if they are not going to get any experience requirements. Still, that would be better for the players in the long run. As the director only wanted to use the players as a means to an end.