Is the USCF primarily for Children ?

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chessdragonboge

um no uscf is for everyone...?

TurboFish
takeoffeh wrote:

I think Mr. Menser's letter is a caracature. Perhaps he grew tired of having his complaints ignored and for that he has my sympathy, but I don't think he's helping his case by fabricating this scenario from scholastic hell. I'm also tired of hearing old white men refer to people who complain (justifiably or not) about white privilege, racists. Reacting to racism is not racism. Racism is when you think your race is superior to another.

If you think Menser's letter was not sincere, then please read the Georgia Chess Association article linked at the end.  I included a working link, just click it.  No amount of denial or wishful thinking will make the problem disappear.  It's getting worse over time.  I've experienced it first hand, as has the OP.

TheOldReb

The rules are for everyone too . 

TurboFish
chessdragonboge wrote:

um no uscf is for everyone...?

It is for everyone ... that doesn't disrupt tournaments.

vkappag

Speaking from personal experience, most of the kids from India/China are only playing because their parents think their kids are going to be the next Vishy Anand/Ding Liren/Wei Yei.

90% of those kids would rather be doing something else like playing soccer or video games with their friends but are too respectful towards their parents to speak up.

TurboFish
umirin1991 wrote:

Speaking from personal experience, most of the kids from India/China are only playing because their parents think their kids are going to be the next Vishy Anand/Ding Liren/Wei Yei.

90% of those kids would rather be doing something else like playing soccer or video games with their friends but are too respectful towards their parents to speak up.

About 10 years ago I taught chess to beginners aged 4-10 years old as part of a summer school.  I discovered that many of these kids were not interested.  Their parents left their kids with me because it was less expensive than hiring a baby sitter.  I didn't teach that class again the next semester.

Robert_New_Alekhine

Another version of this letter was written in Chess Life Magazine (USCF published). I particularly liked the 6th point in that letter:

6. One kid sneezed on me and my chess set.

Hilarous! Applause!

vkappag
TurboFish wrote:
umirin1991 wrote:

Speaking from personal experience, most of the kids from India/China are only playing because their parents think their kids are going to be the next Vishy Anand/Ding Liren/Wei Yei.

90% of those kids would rather be doing something else like playing soccer or video games with their friends but are too respectful towards their parents to speak up.

About 10 years ago I taught chess to beginners aged 4-10 years old as part of a summer school.  I discovered that many of these kids were not interested.  Their parents left their kids with me because it was less expensive than hiring a baby sitter.  I didn't teach that class again the next semester.

This isnt surprising at all.

Most kids would rather run around outside and play video games with their friends instead of sit at a board and move pieces around.

TurboFish
umirin1991 wrote:
TurboFish wrote:
umirin1991 wrote:

Speaking from personal experience, most of the kids from India/China are only playing because their parents think their kids are going to be the next Vishy Anand/Ding Liren/Wei Yei.

90% of those kids would rather be doing something else like playing soccer or video games with their friends but are too respectful towards their parents to speak up.

About 10 years ago I taught chess to beginners aged 4-10 years old as part of a summer school.  I discovered that many of these kids were not interested.  Their parents left their kids with me because it was less expensive than hiring a baby sitter.  I didn't teach that class again the next semester.

This isnt surprising at all.

Most kids would rather run around outside and play video games with their friends instead of sit at a board and move pieces around.

The main issue for me was that chess classes and tournaments should be for kids who are *already interested* in chess.  No one should force uninterested children into a chess situation -- you can't force someone to like chess, it needs to happen naturally.  Nor should parents exploit volunteer (or low-fee) chess teachers or tournament directors as a source of cheap baby-sitting.  This is unpleasant for the uninterested children, unfair to the teachers/TDs, and disruptive to those others present who actually want to play chess.

vkappag

Yeah thats gotta suck too.

You have a passion and want to share it with kids who clearly dont want anything to do with being there, and parents who probably dont know how to play checkers.

Robert_New_Alekhine

I think that kids one by one are good; when they go around in packs of 10 or more things start to get a bit noisy...

Doc_Detroit
takeoffeh wrote:

I think Mr. Menser's letter is a caracature. Perhaps he grew tired of having his complaints ignored and for that he has my sympathy, but I don't think he's helping his case by fabricating this scenario from scholastic hell. I'm also tired of hearing old white men refer to people who complain (justifiably or not) about white privilege, racists. Reacting to racism is not racism. Racism is when you think your race is superior to another.

Your views on racism are clearly gleaned from experience. Congratulations.

u0110001101101000
Borismore wrote:
HueyWilliams wrote:
Borismore wrote:
Playing video games does not help at all towards life. 

How do you know?

All I know is . . .

Kids don't know much beyond what their parents tell them to think.

This is nothing against kids... come to think of it most adults don't grow out of this type of reasoning lol LaughingLaughingLaughing

u0110001101101000

I once had a kid tell me his age and then ask me how much older I was than him. I figured it out and said 14.

He said, ok, then I'll call you by your first name. I only say Mr. or sir to people at least 15 years older than me.

I wasn't sure how to feel about that Laughing

Die_Schanze

I recently had a event with a open A group (all players where rated over 1500) and a B group (up to 1600 national rating). In the B group where 80 % kids. Everything expect the analyze and lunch rooms was in one big hall. For that circumstances it was well. But the arbiter was busy keeping some youths but also some talking adults quiet.

The more active kids where outside on the soccer fied playing! 

DrinkingLikeTal

truth

Ziryab
HueyWilliams wrote:

I've long had a suspicion the USCF was run primarily by children...

Their maturity level falls short even of the US Congress.

Ziryab
GMKimJong-Un wrote:

at least there's a decent amount of tournaments held by the uscf.

That's because the USCF sanctions them. It does not organize them.

If the USCF organized tournaments, there would be none, and even fewer worth participating in.

PoolPlayerToo

you people are scaring me.  I'm 64 and looking to start playing some OTB tournament chess.  It's a bucket list kind of thing.  What should I expect coming in as an Unrated player?  Any advice is greatly appreciated, there's a tournament in a month that I thought would be a good jumping in point. 

Ziryab
Mcfmover wrote:

you people are scaring me.  I'm 64 and looking to start playing some OTB tournament chess.  It's a bucket list kind of thing.  What should I expect coming in as an Unrated player?  Any advice is greatly appreciated, there's a tournament in a month that I thought would be a good jumping in point. 

Expect to find that your actual skill level is 400-600 Elo lower than you think.

I played my first rated USCF event at age 35. I thought I was A Class. My post event rating was 1250. After a few events, my first non-provisional rating was C Class. It took me nine years to get to B Class and another three to get to A.