Hello parents!
Attached is a short guide, "From Club Player to Tournament Player," for the 2026 Fall – 2027 Winter session of our program. It explains everything about our upcoming USCF-rated 4-round Swiss tournament (Week 9: Competition Preparation, Nov. 15). Please read it together with your child — it's written in plain language for them.
⭐ Important program requirement (in effect since 2017): As part of our program, we register your child for USCF-rated tournaments for you. Please do not sign your child up separately — we handle tournament registration for every enrolled student.
Before the day:
Read the attached guide together.
Pack the night before: pen or pencil, a water bottle, a small snack, and a chess set/clock if the tournament asks for it.
Plan to arrive early so we can check in and find their board.
What to tell your child:
Play all four rounds — win or lose, every game makes you better.
Shake hands, be kind, and always say "good game."
A loss is no big deal — a rating is just a progress score, never a grade.
Most importantly: have fun! This is their day to enjoy chess with new friends.
After the tournament:
We submit the results to the USCF, and your child's rating updates within a few days — track it at uschess.org.
We can't wait to see them across the board! ♟️
— New Jersey Chess Club
