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Difference between revisions of "Tournaments"

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(major copy edit, part four)
(Added SOWPODS links; also formatting/capitalization changes.)
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please email the committee.
 
please email the committee.
  
== What is a Tournament? ==
+
== What is a tournament? ==
  
 
At a tournament, NASPA [[members]] get together to play several rounds
 
At a tournament, NASPA [[members]] get together to play several rounds
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hold at least one big tournament each year.
 
hold at least one big tournament each year.
  
== Playing in Tournaments ==
+
== Playing in tournaments ==
  
 
Tournaments are organized by NASPA-sanctioned [[Directors]] and
 
Tournaments are organized by NASPA-sanctioned [[Directors]] and
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[[Player Resources]] page.
 
[[Player Resources]] page.
  
== Finding Tournament Results ==
+
== Finding tournament results ==
  
 
If your tournament director is using correctly configured modern tournament
 
If your tournament director is using correctly configured modern tournament
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website to our partner site [[cross-tables.com]] on an hourly basis.
 
website to our partner site [[cross-tables.com]] on an hourly basis.
  
== Scheduling a Tournament ==
+
== Scheduling a tournament ==
  
 
In order to have a tournament sanctioned (added to the [[calendar]]
 
In order to have a tournament sanctioned (added to the [[calendar]]
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# be a NASPA member in good standing, with your membership paid up to the end of your planned event
 
# be a NASPA member in good standing, with your membership paid up to the end of your planned event
 
# be [[director certification|certified]] as a [[tournament director]] or [[tournament coordinator]]
 
# be [[director certification|certified]] as a [[tournament director]] or [[tournament coordinator]]
# contact the [[Tournament Committee]] at [mailto:naspa-tourney@yahoogroups.com naspa-tourney@yahoogroups.com] to request sanction, in advance of the deadlines listed below. The [[Media:Tournament_Listing_Information.pdf|tournament listing form]] may be used to gather information about your tournament for sanctioning.  If your tournament will use the [[Collins]] lexicon, be sure to say so.
+
# contact the [[Tournament Committee]] at [mailto:naspa-tourney@yahoogroups.com naspa-tourney@yahoogroups.com] to request sanction, in advance of the deadlines listed below. The [[Media:Tournament_Listing_Information.pdf|tournament listing form]] may be used to gather information about your tournament for sanctioning.  If your tournament will use the [[Collins]] (SOWPODS) lexicon, see the page on [[directing SOWPODS tournaments]] for the additional information required.
 
# ensure that a certified [[tournament director]] will be present throughout your event.
 
# ensure that a certified [[tournament director]] will be present throughout your event.
  
== Kinds of Tournaments ==
+
== Kinds of tournaments ==
  
 
We currently recognize four different kinds of rated tournaments:
 
We currently recognize four different kinds of rated tournaments:
  
* An Open Rated Tournament (ORT) is open to anyone and is fully rated.
+
* An ''open rated tournament'' (ORT) is open to anyone and is fully rated.
* A Local Club Tournament (LCT) is open to anyone but one-third rated.
+
* A ''local club tournament'' (LCT) is open to anyone but one-third rated.
* A Team Challenge is restricted to members of specific clubs or residents of specific regions, and is fully rated.
+
* A ''team challenge'' is restricted to members of specific clubs or residents of specific regions, and is fully rated.
* A Championship is restricted to members of a specific club or residents of a specific region, and is fully rated.
+
* A ''championship'' is restricted to members of a specific club or residents of a specific region, and is fully rated.
  
The following table (excerpted from the [[Directors Manual|Director's
+
Any of these types of tournaments may also be played using the [[Collins]] (SOWPODS) lexicon (see [[directing SOWPODS tournaments]]).
 +
 
 +
The following table (excerpted from the [[Directors Manual|Director’s
 
Manual]] and expanded) describes the different kinds of tournaments
 
Manual]] and expanded) describes the different kinds of tournaments
 
in more detail.
 
in more detail.
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|- style="font-style:italic; color:green;"
 
|- style="font-style:italic; color:green;"
 
|
 
|
| Open Rated Tournament (ORT)
+
| Open rated tournament (ORT)
| Team Challenges or Championships (TCC)
+
| Team challenges or championships (TCC)
| Local Club Tournament (LCT)
+
| Local club tournament (LCT)
 
|-
 
|-
| Advance Notice/ Sanctioning
+
| Advance notice/ sanctioning
|colspan=2|6 Weeks with no exceptions
+
|colspan=2|6 weeks with no exceptions
| 10 Days with no exceptions
+
| 10 days with no exceptions
 
|-
 
|-
| Tournament Calendar Listing
+
| Tournament calendar listing
 
|colspan=3| All rated events must be listed on [{{SERVER}}/tourneys/calendar.html NASPA calendar]
 
|colspan=3| All rated events must be listed on [{{SERVER}}/tourneys/calendar.html NASPA calendar]
 
|-
 
|-
| Rating Method
+
| Rating method
 
|colspan=2|fully rated
 
|colspan=2|fully rated
 
| 1/3 rated
 
| 1/3 rated
 
|-
 
|-
| Frequency/ Geographic Restrictions
+
| Frequency/ geographic restrictions
 
|colspan=2|''Multiday tournaments:'' no other multiday event occurring within two weekends and 200 miles of your proposed tournament; no other one-day event on the same day as one of your tournament days.<br>''One-day tournaments:'' No other tournament on same day within 200 miles.<br>''Tours/cruises'' with similar itinerary need 90 day separation.<br>''Exception:'' If the organizers of conflicting tournaments mutually agree, NASPA will sanction both.
 
|colspan=2|''Multiday tournaments:'' no other multiday event occurring within two weekends and 200 miles of your proposed tournament; no other one-day event on the same day as one of your tournament days.<br>''One-day tournaments:'' No other tournament on same day within 200 miles.<br>''Tours/cruises'' with similar itinerary need 90 day separation.<br>''Exception:'' If the organizers of conflicting tournaments mutually agree, NASPA will sanction both.
 
| Must be sponsored by a NASPA-sanctioned club.  No more than one event per club, per month.
 
| Must be sponsored by a NASPA-sanctioned club.  No more than one event per club, per month.
 
|-
 
|-
| How Many Games?
+
| How many games?
 
|colspan=2|At least 4 games
 
|colspan=2|At least 4 games
 
|At least 3 games
 
|At least 3 games
 
|-
 
|-
| How Many Players?
+
| How many players?
 
|colspan=3|At least 4 players in each division, at least 2 rated players in each division
 
|colspan=3|At least 4 players in each division, at least 2 rated players in each division
 
|-
 
|-
| Membership Requirements
+
| Membership requirements
 
|colspan=3|All players must be current NASPA members
 
|colspan=3|All players must be current NASPA members
 
|-
 
|-
| Player Restrictions
+
| Player restrictions
 
| None permitted
 
| None permitted
 
| Entry restricted by club/region (for team challenge) or club/region/rating (for championship).
 
| Entry restricted by club/region (for team challenge) or club/region/rating (for championship).
 
| None permitted
 
| None permitted
 
|-
 
|-
| Participation Fee
+
| Participation fee
 
|colspan=3|$.50 per player per game
 
|colspan=3|$.50 per player per game
 
|-
 
|-
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tool should Google Maps be deemed unreliable.
 
tool should Google Maps be deemed unreliable.
  
== Web Coverage ==
+
== Web coverage ==
  
 
Major events, such as [[Championships|national championships]], are webcast on this website,
 
Major events, such as [[Championships|national championships]], are webcast on this website,
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games where you can follow along at the top board in real time.
 
games where you can follow along at the top board in real time.
  
== Sponsorship Policy ==
+
== Sponsorship policy ==
  
 
Tournament sponsorship is permitted with the prior approval of the [[Tournament Committee]].  In pursuing sponsors, please remember that we are licensed users of a registered trademark for a board game which is primarily marketed to families, and that sponsors should be appropriate for that demographic.
 
Tournament sponsorship is permitted with the prior approval of the [[Tournament Committee]].  In pursuing sponsors, please remember that we are licensed users of a registered trademark for a board game which is primarily marketed to families, and that sponsors should be appropriate for that demographic.

Revision as of 20:33, 12 December 2010

Tournament SCRABBLE® play in Canada and the United States is administered by NASPA and its Tournament Committee. If you have questions about tournaments that are not answered here, please email the committee.

What is a tournament?

At a tournament, NASPA members get together to play several rounds of SCRABBLE according to tournament rules under the supervision of a tournament director. The player who wins the most games usually wins a prize, and the results of the event are submitted to NASPA to update everyone’s rating. There are several tournaments each week somewhere in the United States and Canada, and most clubs hold at least one big tournament each year.

Playing in tournaments

Tournaments are organized by NASPA-sanctioned Directors and listed on our calendar. In order to play in a tournament, you must:

  1. be a NASPA member in good standing (US$15 for first-time players)
  2. be familiar with the tournament rules
  3. contact the director listed in the calendar to register for the event

If it is your first time playing in a tournament, you should make sure your tournament director knows this. Ask the director how you should prepare for your tournament; and do not hesitate to ask the director for help, if at any time during your tournament you aren’t sure what to do.

If you have special needs, our tournament directors will do their best to accommodate you, if they receive enough notice. In particular, almost all tournament venues are accessible to the physically handicapped, and players are entitled to use assistive equipment or sit at the most convenient table to accommodate a handicap.

Score sheets and other player forms are available for download from the Player Resources page.

Finding tournament results

If your tournament director is using correctly configured modern tournament software, you will probably know your new tournament rating before you leave at the end of your event. Your tournament director will then submit the results to the NASPA website, where the ratings and tournament results will be updated as soon as the rating officer reviews the results. (This can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.) Tournament statistics are copied regularly from our website to our partner site cross-tables.com on an hourly basis.

Scheduling a tournament

In order to have a tournament sanctioned (added to the calendar of upcoming scheduled events), you must:

  1. be a NASPA member in good standing, with your membership paid up to the end of your planned event
  2. be certified as a tournament director or tournament coordinator
  3. contact the Tournament Committee at naspa-tourney@yahoogroups.com to request sanction, in advance of the deadlines listed below. The tournament listing form may be used to gather information about your tournament for sanctioning. If your tournament will use the Collins (SOWPODS) lexicon, see the page on directing SOWPODS tournaments for the additional information required.
  4. ensure that a certified tournament director will be present throughout your event.

Kinds of tournaments

We currently recognize four different kinds of rated tournaments:

  • An open rated tournament (ORT) is open to anyone and is fully rated.
  • A local club tournament (LCT) is open to anyone but one-third rated.
  • A team challenge is restricted to members of specific clubs or residents of specific regions, and is fully rated.
  • A championship is restricted to members of a specific club or residents of a specific region, and is fully rated.

Any of these types of tournaments may also be played using the Collins (SOWPODS) lexicon (see directing SOWPODS tournaments).

The following table (excerpted from the Director’s Manual and expanded) describes the different kinds of tournaments in more detail.

Open rated tournament (ORT) Team challenges or championships (TCC) Local club tournament (LCT)
Advance notice/ sanctioning 6 weeks with no exceptions 10 days with no exceptions
Tournament calendar listing All rated events must be listed on NASPA calendar
Rating method fully rated 1/3 rated
Frequency/ geographic restrictions Multiday tournaments: no other multiday event occurring within two weekends and 200 miles of your proposed tournament; no other one-day event on the same day as one of your tournament days.
One-day tournaments: No other tournament on same day within 200 miles.
Tours/cruises with similar itinerary need 90 day separation.
Exception: If the organizers of conflicting tournaments mutually agree, NASPA will sanction both.
Must be sponsored by a NASPA-sanctioned club. No more than one event per club, per month.
How many games? At least 4 games At least 3 games
How many players? At least 4 players in each division, at least 2 rated players in each division
Membership requirements All players must be current NASPA members
Player restrictions None permitted Entry restricted by club/region (for team challenge) or club/region/rating (for championship). None permitted
Participation fee $.50 per player per game
Examples National Scrabble Championship, most tournaments Portland-Seattle Interclub Challenge, Texas State Championship, Can-Am, Kingston Cup One-day tournament that is created on short notice


In the above, the phrase “200 miles” in tournament distance calculations shall mean 200 miles’ driving distance from venue address to venue address, as measured by Google Maps using the default driving directions. The Tournament Committee may consider appeals for exception in the event that Google Maps is shown to be in error, and may select an alternative mileage calculation tool should Google Maps be deemed unreliable.

Web coverage

Major events, such as national championships, are webcast on this website, and web coverage is archived in perpetuity.

Web coverage typically consists of standings updates continuously throughout an event, commentary about the event’s highlights, photos and interactive games where you can follow along at the top board in real time.

Sponsorship policy

Tournament sponsorship is permitted with the prior approval of the Tournament Committee. In pursuing sponsors, please remember that we are licensed users of a registered trademark for a board game which is primarily marketed to families, and that sponsors should be appropriate for that demographic.