What is the United States Chess Federation? Should my child join?
The United States Chess Federation (USCF) is the primary organization in the US that supports chess. Chess is played around the world and there are other organizations in Europe (FIDE) and elsewhere. You can become a member of the USCF online. When you do, you will be eligible for a rating. Some tournaments only allow rated players to participate. If the tournament has separate divisions for rated and unrated players, they are sometimes called the Varsity divisions and Junior Varsity divisions, respectively. Parents should be aware that once a child plays in a rated division or rated tournament, they can no longer play in the unrated division in any other tournament. It is a one-way street. It is recommended that children play in several tournaments in the Junior Varsity division and do well before they switch to the Varsity or Rated Division. Scholastic members of USCF receive Chess Life magazine every other month, while adult members of USCF receive the Chess Life magazine every mont
