making high-school chess in Texas a UIL sponsored event

I am currently trying to work towards a goal of making high school chess in Texas a More competitive setting such as competition against schools and school tournaments/ match’s and hopefully be able to make a new league I need help and tips of how to go about this I have contact with most schools in my district but I need to reach more to other districts but don’t really know how to go about it

What's UIL?

https://www.uiltexas.org/ maybe?

yes that link is correct

I went to high school in Texas (in the '80s) and competed in academic UIL events. I would have loved it if chess had been an option! Good luck with your quest.

(Checking the UIL website, it looks like they already offer "chess puzzle" as a competition for grades 2-8, so that's progress at least. Lots of schools here have chess clubs so hopefully you can contact the right people to get this set up.)

I used to run a high school chess club. I suggest you set up at least one tournament with the nearest school that is interested, have like 8 players (or more), and with a small prize fund, you should be able to popularise the school matches. Basically, you should get at least a couple of tournaments done before worrying about turning it into something bigger. The process is going to be very natural. As for reaching schools a bit further away, they should have at least some contact information available on the internet. Get in contact with the extracurricular activity administration (or something similar) and talk to them.

"...a small prize fund..."

Pretty sure UIL would frown on that. (It's a scholastic league that runs most school -level competitions here in Texas, including sports.) I'm under the impression that monetary rewards aren't allowed.

UIL has rules that do not mesh well with rated chess tournaments.  Their rules are mostly designed for football, since this is the prime interest of most Texas schools. Therefore I have always hoped they would stay OUT of chess.

US Chess has long-standing tournaments for scholastic players on the national level. In Texas, the Texas Chess Association (TCA) organizes an annual scholastic championship tournament, a grade-level tournament, and sometimes other events. TCA ensures that every area of Texas is appointed a Regional Director, whose prime duty is to make sure that area has a scholastic championship each year. Visit www.texaschess.org for more details. In some areas there is more activity than in others. There is a calendar on the TCA website to show many of the tournaments being held in the state, both scholastic and open to all ages.

I have seen areas where the school administration and the community are very supportive of chess. Those areas develop strong teams. There are other places where it seems few are interested. You might have to drive a while or play online if you live out in the middle of nowhere (as I do).

My advice is to start a club at your own school. You can become a Tournament Director and run your own events. Then invite nearby schools. With enough enthusiasm, you may grow a thriving chess community in your area.

Brenda Hardesty

Senior Tournament Director

San Angelo Chess Club

Moogy that's amazing. Thanks for this information. Maybe my school can pay a visit since we're starting a club and are missing guidance. (We're not far away[one hour])

I run tournaments in San Angelo Texas. I was recently appointed the regional Director for this part of West Texas. Depending on what county you were in, you may be in my region. I am working with another organizer to put on a regional scholastic championship before the end of this school year. Send me your contact information at my Chess email which is SanAngelochess@gmail.com

me too

SO, no High School Chess UIL event? I am trying to start a Club in East Texas wanted to compete at the HS level. #sadge if it doesn't exist. Thank you for any info, and maybe I will start a competition of sorts here in the area as well.

I have not heard back from you about scholastic chess in west Texas. We have scheduled our Regional Scholastic Tournament and here is the link for registration and information. https://www.kingregistration.com/event/Region9-2023

All players must be members of USChess since it is a rated tournament.

Would you be interested in joining the Student Led Chess Association? We help to bring chess clubs together for tournaments, scrimmages if you wish, and other charity tournaments. Depending where you are we may already have a league in your area, or will establish one in the future. This can be a great way for you to coordinate with other schools and organize such tournaments and expansion. This will also be a way for you to keep that competition without having to get your entire club to get an official rating. This can be a great way to play against other schools while allowing the entirety of your club to play in a competitive environment.

Please let me know if you want our help. You can reach out to me at at gabriel@studentledca.org or on this post if you wish.

That's an awesome goal you have there. You could start by researching the district's chess clubs or any existing chess initiatives to reach out to other districts. Try reaching out to their school administration or even chess enthusiasts in those districts through social media or local chess organizations. Building connections and spreading the word about your vision will help gather support and interest from other schools. Additionally, if you're looking to create a special atmosphere for tournaments or matches, you may want to consider using the lighting and sound services from lalightingandsound.com. They can help add an extra touch of excitement and professionalism to your events, making them even more memorable.

Hihi my coutry is philiphine

I am starting JRH and HS Chess Club this year at Mount Pleasant High school in East Texas. Anything in the area? I have a goal of bringing competitive chess to East Texas with many of the smaller schools here.

Such a great idea!