If all goes well, my state will hopefully soon start having most of our scholastic chess be US Chess rated events. At least for us, part of that process will involve using the JTP program for the K-3 grades. I’d like to see us do it, but I am a bit apprehensive about figuring out ways to create membership IDs for dozens and dozens of new players. I know that once I get past the initial hurdle and to a place where most players have an ID that it will be easier, but the transition does seem a bit overwhelming, especially in light of the other concerns (not the least of which is trying to increase the numbers of US Chess certified TDs in my area). If others have experience running JTP events, I’d appreciate any advice you have to offer and also thoughts on traps for the unwary I should try to avoid.
If you have a lot of JTP memberships then use the batch upload option (from a spreadsheet) using the non-member option. Then you can review the membership cards (with an expired date) to get the USCF IDs.
Make sure you get the name (including middle initial), address and birth date. Watch out for duplications. Many parents will not remember an earlier ID. Parents with multiple children may either accidentally switch the IDs or accidentally use an ID for multiple kids. I try to do a dummy tournament validation to catch the mis-matched IDs (print a wall chart by score and compare the names).
I created a google form for people to fill out - it also made it into a spreadsheet which like Jeff said, could be uploaded.
It’s google sheets → web form and just send the URL for your players to fill out.
Props to you using JTP to get K-3 rated! In Kansas, players got their rated games before Nationals so they could play in the appropriate sections.
Best,
Acerook
I’m getting in on this thread a bit late, but I’ll add one additional point:
New memberships for people who register at a tournament don’t have to be entered until you’re ready to put in the tournament results, but I’d strongly recommend that you do it while the tournament is in progress, if at all possible. If a problem arises putting in a membership, it’s much nicer to be able to walk over and talk to the member and/or his/her family than it is to try to contact them after the tournament is over.
I once had a teenager come to a tournament and claim he was joining the USCF for the first time, but when I tried to enter his membership, the USCF computer said that it already knew of a member with that name living at that address. Because I didn’t put in the new memberships until after the tournament was over, I had to wait to put in the tournament results until I could contact the family by telephone.
Bob