ChessMama gave you the right answer. I am not sure why there is so much debate on this issue! I have directed in several National tournaments, including last year’s National Elementary. God willing, I will be directing at SuperNationals this year. I have also organized and directed my State Scholastic Championships with over 700 kids participating. We have always considered pre-schoolers as “Ks” and the USCF eligibility rules for National tournaments back that up.
At my State Championships last year, a 4-yr old finished in second place in the K-1 section and received the trophy accordingly. No one complained. It would be somewhat of a silly argument by any parent to claim that is was unfair and try to deny that “4-yr old bully” a trophy. Just kidding… This year, a week from now, actually, he is again competing in the same division. No problem!
You are giving trophies to the top 15 in that section. Those are not Class trophies, so… any pre-schooler participating should be entitled to a trophy he or she may earn. Now, if you want to do something special, what I do is I have prizes, such as chess books, tapes, etc., for the youngest player, the one who came from the farthest, etc. These are not trophies, though, but it helps to make the tournament special and the parents leave happy and glad about the decision to take their young one to the tournament. After all, you want parents to continue taking their kids to these events. My chess equipment vendor at my events donates the prizes (in addition to a percentage of the sales). But, you do not have to do this…
Thanks to all who responded! The debate has been enlightening. Being new to the forum and not knowing the regular contributors, I hope to sparring was in good nature.
The USCF Official National Scholastic Chess Tournament Regulations was just the item I was looking for.
Chessmama, I think your 3 are playing in this tournament. Are you visiting Louisville 1/29?
Its’ always in good nature ( ), for some reason do like Terry and Bill ( ). Would even break my own rule of a special prize, if Terry and Bill came to my event … would give them a scholastic pencil ( ).
Actually, I’m the one of the parents of one of the pre-schoolers in question. I just noticed this series of posts today. I doubt if any of you posting a month ago notices this, but I hope you do.
I am not offended at all that there was no Pre-K trophy. I am fine with my pre-Ker competing against K and 1’s. If he wasn’t ready for that kind of competition mentally, I would have waited till he was in kindergarten to get him started in tournaments.
I found it interesting that one poster said that it isn’t the child that wants to play, its the parent forcing them to play. Well, I don’t agree with that at all. I met the kids in Florida, the Tice triplets who one won 2nd place in State K-1. Those boys love chess as kindergarteners now and I’m sure loved chess last year as preschoolers. There parents don’t play chess at all so I doubt if they are pushing them to play any more than giving them an opportunity to start at a young enough age to be the some of the best in the nation at something.
My pre-Ker, Ian Gilchrist did finish in the top 10 in the middletown tournament with a 4 of 5 score. In his last 3 K-1 tournaments he has finished with identical 4 of 5 scores each time. I am thankful that he has been deemed ok to win trophies.
Once again, I feel no need for Pre-K trophies and expect him to try to compete with the rest of the K-1 regardless of the ages.
Thanks for your input on the subject.
Dave Gilchrist
Again, this should not be much of an issue. I am glad you are okay with your Pre-K player not getting a trophy, but why shouldn’t he? You pay the same entry fee, and in accordance with USCF National Scholastic guidelines he is considered eligible for participation, and, therefore, winning the appropriate prizes, in the K-1 section. Besides, you may be okay with your young one not getting a trophy but others may not feel the same. And…I am sure the little ones feels great about winning those trophies!
As far as you taking exception to someone saying that the parents force those kids to play, well…that person probably does not have any kids! I wouldn’t lose any sleep over comments like that.
Being from Florida I guess you know the Tice triplets too. Great players, especially Landon. What I meant was I don’t mind him not getting a trophy if he didn’t earn it by getting a high score with the K-1ers. But if he does qualify for a trophy in K-1, of course I expect him to be allowed to win it. I was the one that brought it to their attention that many other tournaments allow him to win K-1 trophies after they initially emailed me that he wouldn’t be eligible. I will be at supernationals. Ian played both Landon and Griffin Tice at Florida K-12 Championships. He went 1-1 losing to Landon and winning against Griffin. I wish they all went to the same school. It could be a powerhouse. I have another son in Kindergarten that plays too, he had 4 of 7 in the same Florida tournament. Maybe I’ll run into you at Supers.
Dave Gilchrist
), for some reason do like Terry and Bill ( 
). Would even break my own rule of a special prize, if Terry and Bill came to my event … would give them a scholastic pencil ( 
).