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The only thing I don't like about the system is the names of the titles. "Category 3" just doesn't sound like much of a "title" to me. They could have at least called it something along the lines of "Journeyman, 3rd class".
Are these the same as USCF Rating Class Labels (see post #71)?
I would prefer Novice, Learner, etc.
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The only thing I don't like about the system is the names of the titles. "Category 3" just doesn't sound like much of a "title" to me. They could have at least called it something along the lines of "Journeyman, 3rd class".
Are these the same as USCF Rating Class Labels (see post #71)?
I would prefer Novice, Learner, etc.
No. They aren't. The rating labels describe your tournament play level based on recent play, and are just based on your current rating. If my rating goes to 1300, I am a Class C (or something D? E?) player. If I subsequently drop down to 1000, I'm in a different class.
The Category 1, 2, 3, 4, and C are titles that can never be lost. If you get to be a Category 4 player, you will always be a category 4 player, although you could later earn a higher rank. They are also based on sustained performance at a particular level. If you play in a tournament and do well against high rated players, you earn a "norm" of a particular level, just like Grandmasters have to earn norms in addition to having a qualifying rating.
If you look on the general information page for a USCF player, and they have earned a rank, you can see their highest rank, and there's a link to a page that explains the title system, and for that player there's a link to that player's "norm history" that shows at which tournaments he won his norms.
I hadn't run a tournament for almost three years when, last month, I was entering the results from a recent tourney. While on the USCF site and looking up players, I stumbled on the USCF title system.
I hadn't heard of it before. What do other people think of it? I think I really like it. I am not a huge fan of ratings in general, although I understand their value, but I really like the idea of a "title" which, once won, could not be taken away. Also, I like the idea of an acknowledged milestone short of the Master level. It's conceivable I could actually make category 4 some day, maybe.
I'm trying to think of appropriate ways to acknowledge the system. I will be running a series of "simple" tournaments over the next year. Saturday afternoons, G/30, low fee, no cash prizes. That sort of tournament. I'm thinking about "Category 1 and above plays free", which isn't a huge deal because the fee is just a few bucks anyway, and I don't expect we'll be getting much in the way of Master levels at these events. However, It might be nice to acknowledge people who are very accomplished players, but not usually quite at the top of the heap.
I also want to try and find out what titles have been earned, and during the awards ceremony acknowledge anyone who earns a new norm or a new category.
The only thing I don't like about the system is the names of the titles. "Category 3" just doesn't sound like much of a "title" to me. They could have at least called it something along the lines of "Journeyman, 3rd class".