Welcome to Polk Scholastic Chess and our new website.

We are a nonprofit organization offering an extracurricular activity open to all students of Polk County, Florida enrolled in Pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, including home-schooled students. We exist to encourage academic growth through the game of chess.

We believe the game of chess is an exciting way to teach critical thinking skills, sequencing, sportsmanship, self-control, and other skills. We have seen the progress and academic improvement of students who play chess. Chess is for everyone - even if your student is not a high achiever or has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder!

We offer a tournament setting allowing the students to be challenged and as competitive as they want to be - yet they are not penalized due to their level of ability.

We work with schools throughout Polk County to help start and continue school-based Chess Clubs. We offer start up sets and ongoing advice.

If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of having chess in schools, please click here to view the article "Why Offer Chess in Schools?" by Chessmaster Jerry Meyers

Tournament:   2011-12 Season

Registration deadline is Sept 24th, 2011.

Any application Received or Post Marked after Sept 24th, 2011 will need to submit with a $10.00 late fee (Total $40.00). Late entries will not be guaranteed entry until the third round. Please sign in all the players by 8.00 AM SHARP. No new registrations will be entertained on the day of the tournament.

We have been instructed by the Church that we cannot take food or drinks (except in bottle) in certain area of the church. Signs will be posted. No outside food or drinks to be brought inside the building.

We have to leave church before 4.00 PM. Therefore timing will be our priority.

Please instruct all parents and guardians to leave the hall once their child is seated at the table. They should not wait till they are asked to leave the hall. This will save us nearly 10 to 15 minutes at each round.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

1. Starting this year only One Entry and One Withdrawal will be allowed per tournament. These measures are taken to run rounds on time and to run the tournament smoothly. Example: If a student withdraws from say Round 2, and wants to play in Round 3, he/she will use the "Withdrawal Form" available at the front desk and also will need to submit the "Re-entry Form" for Round 3.

2. The front desk should be notified for the Withdrawl or Re-entry for the next round within 30 minutes of commencement of previous round. If students are late for first round, it will be counted as Withdrawal and a Re-Entry for the second round will be needed. Otherwise we will not be able to automatically "Re-enter" them for second round.