This is question that is asked of WSCA Board Members constantly.  Are we trying to put the WSCF out of business?  Absolutely not.

     Let me repeat that in another way: The WSCA is not trying to replace or squash the WSCF.  Both organizations have similar names, but for an obvious reason.  We both have our focus in WISCONSIN.  We both focus our efforts on SCHOLASTIC.  We both are CHESS organizations.  But they are the FEDERATION and we are an ASSOCIATION.  WSCF and WSCA.

     We are also the official Scholastic affiliate of the WCA - the Wisconsin Chess Association, which is the Wisconsin affilitate of the United States Chess Federation (USCF).  Thus, when you inject the word Scholastic into the WCA acronym, you get w-S-c-a.  Some of our Board Members are also WCA officers and Board Members.  There is a relationship between the two associations.  When players outgrow the WSCA, they are welcomed into the WCA as adult players.  Many scholastic players already play against WCA adult players at WCA Wisconsin Tour Events.

     While our goals and names are very similar, our approach is very different.  The WSCF has its own rating system, and a player can spend their entire scholastic chess career growing within that system.

     The WSCA doesn't have its own rating system.  We use the United States Chess Federation's standard system for Quick Rating and Standard Rating.  When you play in a WSCA USCF Rated Tournament, you will be impacting your USCF ratings, up or down, good or bad.  It counts.  And that is a good thing. 

     When we hold an UnRated Event, only the win-loss record carries over for players at other UnRated Events.  So, players will be matched up by Grade Level, then by win-loss records.  The results from UnRated tournaments do not impact the USCF ratings and for the most part should be considered Open Invitationals that offer a chance to play chess for practice or fun.  A chance to practice new openings, or tactics, without the usual consequences of seeing mistakes knock your USCF ratings down.

     WSCA UnRated Tournaments are truly for sport.  Kind of like the Jousting Tournaments of Knights during Medieval Times.  You can get knocked off your horse, but it won't kill you (or your USCF ratings).  They also serve as a means for schools, and even smaller school districts, to raise funds for a Scholastic Chess Club or full program within their school or district, and their USCF affiliate fees which makes future local events USCF rated.

     Our main focus is to bring USCF rated events to more Wisconsin Schools and Cities within the Wisconsin.  Why?  The USCF rating system follows you anywhere you play in North America.  You are building a Quick Rating and Regular Rating that stays with you for life, growing and shrinking with your skill level.  You can walk from chess with a Quick Rating of 1439 and a Regular Rating of 1510, and enter a USCF tournament a year later, or ten years later, and that is the rating level you will be paired at.  It doesn't go away.  And you don't start over.

     Wisconsin is a big State.  There are over 500 schools in Southeastern Wisconsin alone.  There is plenty of room for two Scholastic Chess organizations to do their best to bring chess to as many Wisconsin Students and Schools as possible.