What are USCF rules concerning cell phone disturbances ?

Tech lifestyle? That's funny!

SK, too often, players enter moves in advance on their scoresheet. That is effectively having an analysis board in front of them. It's illegal, but very difficult for TDs to catch.

Its not silly at all.  As we have all seen, people will go to great lengths to cheat.  Just because a device is sanctioned for use, doesnt mean you cant object to its use.  

No one is being treated like a criminal.  Some people simply dont like the use of elctronic devices, which i can understand.  

I have played numberous opponents that use them, and i have no issue with then in general.  My issue starts when they cant take there eyes off of the device, and dont look at the actual board.  

All you can do is ask the TD to have them use pen and paper, but obviously they are in no way required to.  

I think the devices are just part of the problem.  If no one was cheating i doubt anyone would have any issue with them.

I have had discussions with other organizers of our state elementary tournament (the largest state tournament in the United States) concerning Monroi devices. Some have considered prohibiting their use. I never have.

We use (most) USCF rules, but are not USCF rated. We generally do not require scorekeeping, Some organizers require scorekeeping on the top boards.

I have seen TDs uncomfortable with the devices because they do not know how to use them, and consequently do not know how to verify that they have the correct setting for tournament play.

One of my frustrations is that when a player is caught using an electronics device as an analysis board, they are treated as if they just made a minor writing error and told not to do that again. These people went out and bought these electronic devices, they know what they're doing!

TDs must be extremely strict, and punish those who abuse the electronic devices with immediate forfeiture. 

Reb

I agree that the present situation is rediculous, but what's the solution?  One, which I don't think the top players would like because it would result in lower prizes and increased entry fees, is to have each section pay its own way and cash prizes are only paid in the top one or two sections. As a Class D player, I would just as soon there be no prize money for my section thereby lowering the entry fee.

A few years ago at a tournament (will remain nameless, along with the TD) A guy walks into a bathroom stall and starts reading off the moves of a game in progress.  A few of us go to the TD and his response was "What do you want me to do?  I didnt see or hear it"  We asked him to go check it out and he refused.  

Its things like this...along with parents that dont teach there kids proper manners/ettiquette, helicopter parents, kids that sit at the board siffling, sneezing, humming, parents that stand there and spoon feed there kids while playing.  One time in Reno a friend was playing a kid that would sit and stare at him while kicking the table.  He was asked several times not to do that but ignored the requests.  The kids dad is watching all of this and says, and does nothing.  My friend finally had enough, and punds his fists on the table and tells him to stop.  What does dad do then?  Runs over and accuses the guy of threatening his son.  The TD comes over and tells the kid to stop or he will be removed from the tournament.  

I always turn off my cellphone, place it in my chess bag and zip the bag.  I like to avoid the appearance of impropriety.  It seems like the issue here isn't use of electronic devices, but TDs who don't enforce the rules.  So the complaints need to be directed towards USCF to make sure the TDs are properly following rules about ringing cellphones and such.  

Getting angry at someone because they stare at their Monroi instead of the chessboard is just weird.  Using an analysis board is against the rules of chess.  If they start doing that, complain.

Kids are notorious leg kickers and nose pickers.  That should be an automatic forfeit.

In Open events where adults and kids are playing the parents of the kids should NOT be allowed in the playing room(s) while a game is in progress . This is normal here in Alabama and helps solve the " parent " problem(s). 

Hahahaha!!!! I was going to write how I'd changed my mind and that he was not that bad a ballplayer, but I just re-checked his triple slash lines in Seattle, and I just can't.

Hey no fair. What if I'm playing in the same tournament as my kid??

Perfectly acceptable solution.  Turn the phone OFF, and place in your bag.  Problem solved!

Eaxctly, you cant complain about an electronic device in of itself, its the user.  

I didnt get angry at the guy for staring at his monroi, just thought it was kinda weird.  

If parents are unable to teach there children how to behave in public, they should have kids only tournaments for them.

When I first started playing tourney chess it was usually just one section and they may have class prizes as well as first-third overall .  Prizes were usually trophies and when it was money it wasnt much . In the 70s there were almost no masters and/or experts in the states where I played most : Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina . Even then there were far more weak players than strong ones so the top prizes were subsidized by the lower rated players , I was one of them and I didnt mind because I was willing to pay for a chance to hone my skills against stronger players in the hopes that someday I would also be a strong player and then I might be one of the ones fighting for the top prizes . The other lower rated players pretty much had the same attitude so we didnt whine and cry about subsidizing the stronger players , of which there were very few . Today however that has changed and thus you see tournies split into sections where even 1200s can take home more money than masters and experts simply because they dont have to play good players as they get to play only their fellow weak players . I played some events in Portugal where if they had 10 prizes they were awarded to those who finished from 1st through tenth place .... period . There was no class prize and it would be one big open section ... if you won a prize you earned it . If I was starting over today I would never let my rating go over a certain level simply because strong players are handicapped in the existing system and have a shot at fewer prizes than weaker players . 

There are kids tournaments where everyone gets a trophy or medal.  Some kid can go 0-4 and get a medal.  I dont understand awarding children for losing all there games.  Teach children that its ok to lose, and that is how you build your game, and improve.  This mentality of "everyone is a winner" does nothing to build self-esteem.  

You would be a participant in this case so should be allowed in the room IF your kid's game and yours are both in the same room ofcourse . However ... if y'all were in different playing rooms , like scholastic sections often are , then thats a horse of a different color  . 

Not understanding the vast majority of electronic devices can be reprogrammed to run anything their owner chooses is silly. We aren't in the 1950s anymore.

I would have no objection to an electronic scoring system that provides no output, such as a usb key with a keyboard to enter moves with the format e4 e5 etc. where the games can be retrieved on a computer later on but anything with a screen is suspicious.

We're one Monroi clone away from a cheating in plain sight controversy.

And it is just a matter of time.  

With the advances in technology and the loss of morality/ethics/values combined I believe that OTB tourney chess will be decimated by cheating and suspicions of cheating in the near future .  Sad but true , I believe . 

Sadly i have to agree.  TD's need to implement rules that ban anything electronic.  Obviously pace makers would be the exception.