Unrated NSA tournaments

Here is NASPA’s policy concerning unrated NSA tournaments: those events which were originally sanctioned by the NSA, are scheduled to take place after NASPA takes over tournament sanctioning on July 1, 2009, and whose directors have decided not to apply for NASPA sanctioning.

Please note that as of June 5, 2009, the 2009 West Coast Championship in Reno in July 2009 has been sanctioned by NASPA and will be a fully rated tournament. Therefore, this policy does not apply to the tournament.

NASPA’s immediate goal is to maintain the existing tournament calendar with a minimum of disruption following the loss of all external funding; its longer-term goal is to substantially grow that community to improve playing conditions for everybody.

We recognize that with every change, be it of rules, lexicon, fee structure or management, it is unavoidable that we will lose some members of our community who cannot accept change. We are honored by the trust that our 800 paid members have placed in us so far, and will do our utmost to fulfill the hopes we all share for the future of Scrabble.

We will not penalize NASPA players who play at unrated, unsanctioned tournaments; but do warn them that in the event of any difficulty, they will not have recourse to NASPA or its advisory board. The tournament will not officially be held under NSA or NASPA rules, or use the NSA or NASPA lexicon, and any decisions made by its organizers are final.