Sections:
     How do I know which Section to select on the registration form?

USCF:
     What is a USCF membership and why is it required?
     How do I get a USCF membership?
     How much does a USCF membership cost?
     How do I know if I have a current USCF membership?

Payment Options:
     What's the best way to pay tournament entry fees?
     What other payment options do I have?
     
 Other Registration Questions:
     When does registration open for a particular tournament?
     When does registration end for a particular tournament?
     What happens if I miss the advance registration deadline for a tournament?
     What's the best way to avoid missing the advance registration deadline for a tournament?
     How can I be sure you have my registration recorded correctly?
     How do I get directions to the tournament site?
     What time should I plan to arrive at the tournament?
     What should I do when I get to the tournament?
     How much are my entry fees for the current tournament?
     Where can I find more information about things like pairings, standings, teams, byes and tiebreaks?

VSCA tournaments are organized into different sections to allow players to play against others of approximately the same age.  Most tournaments include 4 sectons: K-3 (Kindergarten through 3rd Grade), K-5 (4th and 5th grade), K-8 (6th through 8th grade) and K-12 (9th through 12th grade). Players will be placed in the lowest section in which they are eligible to play unless they request to "play up" to a higher section.  For example, kindergarteners will be placed in the K-3 section, 4th graders in the K-5 section, etc.

The USCF is the United States Chess Federation--the official, not for profit, membership organization for chessplayers of all ages and levels from beginners to grandmasters!  Among other things, the USCF maintains the official rating system for all scholastic tournaments and requires that all participants in these tournaments maintain a current USCF membership. To learn more about the USCF, please visit their website at www.uschess.org.

The VSCA is an affiliate of the USCF (United States Chess Federation) and all VSCA tournaments are USCF rated events.   

You may join the USCF through their website: www.uschess.org. Membership information may be found by clicking on the link marked "Join or Renew" at the top of their home page. You may also join by phone or at a VSCA tournament. Please join or renew at least several days before a tournament so that we will have time to verify your membership.

Mail Payment is the preferred method of payment as it reduces the number people who need to pay on the morning of the tournament.  Instructions for mail payment are provided on the website and via email as a part of the online registration process. Payment by mail must be postmarked by Monday before a tournament so please register early to ensure adequate time to mail your payment.  

If mail payment is not possible, payment may be made by cash or check the morning of the tournament (credit card payments are not accepted). VSCA tournaments are popular events with an average attendance of over 100 players. Mail payment is encouraged whenever possible to keep the check-in lines short and help us to start the tournaments on schedule.

Online registration for most tournaments is available approximately 2 weeks in advance of the tournament date.

Advance registration for VSCA tournaments closes at 7 am on the Thursday preceding the tournament date.

If a player is unable to register for a tournament prior to the Wednesday registration cutoff date, he/she may still play as a "walk-in" registrant. Walk-in registration is from 8:00 to 8:45 am on the morning of the tournament. Registration fees for walk-in registrations is $14. USCF membership is required. Walk-in registrants should register before 8:30 am to guarantee that they will play in the first round. If there are a large number of late registrations, players registering later than 8:30 may receive a "half-point bye" for Round 1.  

A schedule of tournament dates and locations for the current school year is listed under Tournament Announcements on the VSCA website. We also mail a monthly newsletter to all players who register for a VSCA tournament, advising them of upcoming tournaments and registration deadlines.
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A "List of Registered Players" for the next upcoming tournament, including each registered player's name, rating, section, school, USCF expiration date and VSCA expiration date is available on the VSCA website. This list allows for easy sorting alphabetically or by school to help you find your information and it is a good idea to check this listing after registering to be sure that it is correct. Expired USCF memberships are noted in red and a missing USCF ID indicates the player has not yet joined the USCF. This list is updated daily, please allow 24 hours from the date of your registration before your information appears.
 

Addresses and general driving directions for each tournament location are located on the Tournament Announcements page on the VSCA website. We recommend that you consult an online service such as Mapquest or Google Maps for door to door driving directions.
 

The registration desk is open from 8:00 am until 8:45 am the morning of the tournament. All players should plan to be onsite to check in with the registration desk prior to 8:45 am.

If you have planned to pay onsite, we request that you arrive early as lines at recent tournaments have been long and all players must be checked in by 8:45 am. If you are paying onsite and also need to fill out USCF forms, we request that you arrive "extra early".

If you have mailed your fees by the deadline of Monday before the tournament, then you should plan to arrive by 8:45 am in order to check in with the registration desk. If you are a new or renewing USCF member and need forms, please pick those up at the registration desk when you arrive. Thank you for your consideration in paying your entry fees early.
 

This is dependent mostly on whether or not you have mailed your entry fees or will be paying onsite.

Players who need to pay fees or fill out forms should enter the line at the registration desk upon immediately upon arrival. Players who have mailed their entry fees simply need to let the registration desk know that they have arrived and may then proceed to the skittles area.
 

For players who register online using our tournament registration form, the entry fee is $7. Players who do not register online may register the morning of the tournament as a "walk-in registrant". The entry fee for walk-in registration is $14. Additional fees may apply if you do not have proof of USCF membership. See "How Do I Get a USCF Membership".
 

Information on these and other tournament related items can be found on the Tournmament Results FAQ List.
 

Didn't find the answer to your question? Ask a question about registration.