Region V Tournament

Sent 2/4/04

• You must have a current United States Chess Federation (USCF) membership.  If you do not, you must get one or renew on the registration form.  It is too late to go through the USCF directly.  They won't get the information back to you in time.  Include $13 (no magazine) or $25 (magazine) with your registration payment.

• None of us (that I know of) have Texas Chess Association (TCA) memberships.  You must pay at least the $1 fee.  Of course, you are welcome to join the TCA for $7.50 and get their newsletter.  This will also save you $1 on the State Meet.

• Playing Groups:  The following are our recommendations regarding which sections to sign up for.  If your rating on the February 2004 Supplement (check here) is below the JV (junior varsity or lower rated players) cutoff for your grade level, it is still your option to play in the JV section despite our recommendation.  If your rating is over the cutoff, you must play in the open section.

• We recommend that the entire Middle School Team play in the Middle School open section.  Most of you have to because your ratings are above the 900 cutoff.  We feel the rest of you should play there as well because:
  • you are ready and capable of doing it,
  • you will get better faster playing challenging opponents,
  • you don't have enough players for a U (under) 900 team, so you might as well concentrate your strength in one section.
• 4th and 5th graders play in the elementary sections.
  • Ace Isidro - Elementary Open
  • All other 4th and 5th graders should play in the U-800 section.
• 2nd and 3rd graders play in the primary sections
  • Jim Jenkinson, Joseph Lee, Thomas Kuncewicz, Michael Cai, Tommy Williamson, and Ayush Sharma should play in the Primary Open
  • All other second and third graders should play in the U-600 section
• All Kindergartners and 1st graders should play in the K-1 section

• Parental Responsibility 
   

  • These are all day events.  Parents of younger children and first time attendees should plan on being there for the entire day.  As kids get older, not every parent needs to be there all day.  But if you will not be there, you must make specific arrangements with another parent who accepts responsibility for watching your child.  You may not just drop your child off and leave.
  • Be sure to bring other activities for your child or other non-chess playing siblings.  Gameboys, magic or yu-gi-oh cards, and books are popular.  For very young children, it is a good idea to bring a change of clothes "just in case."   I have not been to the Baytown school, so I am not familiar with the facility.  However, at large tournaments such as this, you may want to bring folding chairs in case they run out of seating.  (Think Bellaire High School last year.)

• We would like the entire team wearing the team T-shirt at this event.  Parents can wear them too.  If you do not own them, you can purchase them through the club for $10 each. 

• While you are responsible for mailing your own registration materials in, please email me the following information:

• Child's name and grade:
• What section are they playing in:
• Will they need to borrow a chess set?
  • a clock?
  • a score book?

• Transportation - Please tell me which of the following apply:
   
  • I will be driving my own child and staying.
  • I could give another child a ride and would be willing to watch them.
  • I have made arrangements with _____________________________  to bring and supervise my child.
  • I am desperately seeking a carpool.

Finally, don't forget Chess Camp registration opens to the public on the day of the Regionals.  Space is limited, so if you want your child to participate, you need to get the stuff to me as soon as you can.  We already have 9 registrations.  Information and registration materials are on our web site here.

Martha