What is the spectator policy?
Effective immediately, the playing halls at scholastic events organized by US Chess will be open to the following people while games are in progress:
- Players with games in progress in that room
- Tournament staff
- Press and other attendees with badges authorizing their access
- Other persons directly authorized by the US Chess Director of Events
What does this mean?
Parents, coaches and other attendees who do not fall into the four above categories must leave the playing hall before the tournament director in charge of the playing hall will begin play. Once a player in that room has reported a result, that player must leave the room for the remainder of that round. Parents and coaches should instruct their players who have completed games not to go back into the playing hall, even to check on teammates’ or friends’ still-active games.
Penalties for violating this policy are at the discretion of the chief tournament director.
What events are impacted?
US Chess organizes the following scholastic events that are directly impacted by this policy.
- National Elementary (K-6) Championship
- National Junior High (K-9) Championship
- National High School (K-12) Championship
- National K-12 Grades Championship
Why is US Chess implementing this policy?
Closing the floor virtually eliminates accusations of cheating, especially electronic cheating, that are often raised by spectators. Tournament directors spend an inordinate amount of time on this during the round, which prevents them from efficiently answering player questions, resolving disputes and observing players with games in progress. The more that directors can focus on the players, the easier it is to observe, prevent and/or resolve any problems.
Also, spectators will frequently use their Internet-enabled devices in the playing hall, even when tournament staff post signs and make pre-round announcements stating that this is not permitted. As spectators have consistently proven they will not adhere to US Chess rules for these devices, this step becomes necessary to protect the competitive integrity of our major scholastic events.
Most importantly, players have expressed almost universal preference for closed floors, and this has been consistent for years. It lessens pressure on them, which in turn increases their enjoyment of the game.
Is this a brand new policy?
This policy is not entirely new. The K-1 and K-1 Under 500 sections of the National Elementary (K-6) Championship, as well as the Grade K and Grade 1 sections of the National K-12 Grades Championship, have long had their playing floors closed. We are now extending this to all sections of all scholastic events organized by US Chess.
What can I do to ensure my child finds me after a game?
The hallways in front of main playing areas must permit foot traffic to flow through them. Groups cannot set up seating areas in those hallways. US Chess has reconfigured its event setups to move all exhibits and vendors out of those specific hallways, maximizing available space for parents and coaches who choose to wait there.
US Chess will designate exits from each playing hall for certain grade levels or sections. Those exits will be clearly marked with signage, both inside and outside the playing hall. Players will be reminded before each round and after reporting their results which exit to take when finished playing for that round. The designated exits will also be reflected before the tournament on the appropriate tournament website. Handouts detailing the exit designations will be available at Chess Control for each event.
Each tournament website has links to maps of the tournament venue, including playing areas, skittles area, bookstore, special-event rooms, and team rooms. Parents and coaches are strongly advised to review those maps with players before the event. When possible, arrive early enough to walk through the tournament venue and become oriented with the locations of various areas.
Attendees are strongly encouraged to make use of the skittles area, both as a waiting room and as a meeting place after each round. Most exhibits and vendors will be housed there. US Chess is taking steps to ensure, when possible, that wireless Internet is available in those rooms at no cost to attendees. (This may not always be possible.)
Team rooms are available for national events, but availability is limited, and there is both a cost and a specific procedure for reserving one. Please review the team room information linked on the tournament website for more information. If team room information is not linked for a particular event, it is still under development.
I still have questions. Where can I ask them?
Questions about this policy may be referred to Boyd Reed, US Chess Director of Events, at Click here to show email address or 931-787-2244.
Categories
Archives
- October 2024 (8)
- September 2024 (23)
- August 2024 (27)
- July 2024 (44)
- June 2024 (27)
- May 2024 (32)
- April 2024 (51)
- March 2024 (34)
- February 2024 (25)
- January 2024 (26)
- December 2023 (29)
- November 2023 (26)
- October 2023 (37)
- September 2023 (27)
- August 2023 (37)
- July 2023 (47)
- June 2023 (33)
- May 2023 (37)
- April 2023 (45)
- March 2023 (37)
- February 2023 (28)
- January 2023 (31)
- December 2022 (23)
- November 2022 (32)
- October 2022 (31)
- September 2022 (19)
- August 2022 (39)
- July 2022 (32)
- June 2022 (35)
- May 2022 (21)
- April 2022 (31)
- March 2022 (33)
- February 2022 (21)
- January 2022 (27)
- December 2021 (36)
- November 2021 (34)
- October 2021 (25)
- September 2021 (25)
- August 2021 (41)
- July 2021 (36)
- June 2021 (29)
- May 2021 (29)
- April 2021 (31)
- March 2021 (33)
- February 2021 (28)
- January 2021 (29)
- December 2020 (38)
- November 2020 (40)
- October 2020 (41)
- September 2020 (35)
- August 2020 (38)
- July 2020 (36)
- June 2020 (46)
- May 2020 (42)
- April 2020 (37)
- March 2020 (60)
- February 2020 (38)
- January 2020 (45)
- December 2019 (35)
- November 2019 (35)
- October 2019 (42)
- September 2019 (45)
- August 2019 (56)
- July 2019 (44)
- June 2019 (35)
- May 2019 (40)
- April 2019 (48)
- March 2019 (61)
- February 2019 (39)
- January 2019 (30)
- December 2018 (29)
- November 2018 (51)
- October 2018 (45)
- September 2018 (29)
- August 2018 (49)
- July 2018 (35)
- June 2018 (31)
- May 2018 (39)
- April 2018 (31)
- March 2018 (26)
- February 2018 (33)
- January 2018 (30)
- December 2017 (26)
- November 2017 (24)
- October 2017 (30)
- September 2017 (30)
- August 2017 (32)
- July 2017 (27)
- June 2017 (32)
- May 2017 (26)
- April 2017 (37)
- March 2017 (28)
- February 2017 (30)
- January 2017 (27)
- December 2016 (29)
- November 2016 (24)
- October 2016 (32)
- September 2016 (31)
- August 2016 (27)
- July 2016 (24)
- June 2016 (26)
- May 2016 (19)
- April 2016 (30)
- March 2016 (37)
- February 2016 (27)
- January 2016 (33)
- December 2015 (25)
- November 2015 (23)
- October 2015 (16)
- September 2015 (28)
- August 2015 (28)
- July 2015 (6)
- June 2015 (1)
- May 2015 (2)
- April 2015 (1)
- February 2015 (3)
- January 2015 (1)
- December 2014 (1)
- July 2010 (1)
- October 1991 (1)
- August 1989 (1)
- January 1988 (1)
- December 1983 (1)