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NCC Kids Program - Parents FAQ

How do we get started?


To introduce your child to chess, we recommend attending one of our Sunday Scholastic Chess Clubs. These sessions are held from 1 PM to 4 PM CST on most Sundays throughout the year. During the summer, we offer "Open Sundays," ideal for beginners to come and play casually.

Check our calendar for the complete schedule and more details.

Do you offer chess classes for kids?


Yes, we offer several options:

  • Sunday Open Clubs: From 1 PM to 4 PM CST, with a group lesson at 2 PM.
  • One-Day Chess Camps: Available on days when students are out of school, such as MLK Jr. Day and President's Day.
  • NCC Summer Camp: A four-week program with daily morning classes.

Are private lessons available?


Yes, we have a list of recommended instructors for private chess lessons on our NCC Teachers Page. You can contact them directly to arrange a lesson.

Do parents need to stay at NCC events? Can they stay?


For our regular programs, such as summer camps, Sunday Scholastic meetings, and after-school clubs, parents can choose to stay or drop off their children. Childcare is provided as part of the program.

For larger events held off NCC premises (e.g., City Championship Qualifier with over 180 kids), a parent, family member, or chaperone must stay with their child. The large number of participants makes it challenging for our staff to monitor everyone effectively.

At “all-day” events, parents often coordinate shifts to manage their children’s needs throughout the day.

What does “all-day” mean?


Chess tournaments are more like a school day than typical sports events. They usually start around 8-9 AM and can run until the afternoon. Younger kids may finish earlier, while older kids might stay later. Each chess game can last up to an hour, with 4-5 rounds played in total.

Can participants miss part of the event?


In most cases, students can receive a “half-point bye” for missed rounds, though this does result in a penalty for missing the initial round. For major qualifying events, like state or team tournaments, we discourage arriving late or leaving early as it affects the competition. For NCC events such as summer camps and Sunday sessions, arriving late or leaving early is perfectly fine.

NCC Home School Groups


Registration is now open for our NCC Home School Chess Clubs! We meet weekly on Wednesdays from 1 PM to 2 PM. Check our calendar to register.

 

 


NCC Kids Page

 

The Nashville Chess Center has a range of scholastic events and activities just for the kids!  Here is the information about all of our current NCC Kids offerings:



NCC Kids Sunday Chess Club

 

Children and their parents are invited to join us Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00 PM at the Nashville Chess Center located at 2911 Belmont Blvd.  All K-12 skill levels are welcome from total beginner to advanced players.  Kids get to play chess games with each other practicing their skills against new opponents from different schools and possibly meeting up with old friends from chess tournaments. There is a teacher-led chess lesson around 2:00.  We typically end the day with Bughouse at 3:30.  Bughouse is a highly entertaining team chess game.  NCC Instructors are on-site throughout to work with kids, and the library and computers are available also.  The Kids Sunday Club is free but only members can check out books from the library.  Come and go as you please or stay for the entire three hours.  We hope to see you there!   

 










 


ChessKid.com NCC Kids Online Group

 

NCC Kids can join us online to play against other Nashville Chess Kids and compete in our online tournaments.  We have a private group on www.chesskid.com called “Nashville Chess Center Kids.”  Use Safari or another web browser to go to the full site.  The ChessKid App doesn’t have all the site features.  To join the “Nashville Chess Center Kids” Club on www.chesskid.com, you must assign one of the coaches as your chesskid account guardians (this can be done in the settings).  Admins of the club are Coach Todd (MusicCityMaster on ChessKid, director@nashvillechess.org), Coach Epiphany (CoachEpiphany or DirectorofOutreach@nashvillechess.org) or Coach Aaron (CoachAaronNCC assistantdirecotr@nashvillechess.org).  Just add one of the coaches as a guardian, send them an email with your child's name and school, and they will add you to the group.


Once you’re in the group, you can send challenges to other group members and coaches.  To play in the online tournaments, you can join up to thirty minutes before a start time.  Once logged in to ChessKid, click on “PLAY” on the left menu, Click on “PLAY FAST” and you should see any upcoming tournaments listed in the far right Chat Box.  Once you join the event, do not leave the “FASTCHESS” console – it will start games automatically and each subsequent round will begin automatically once all the games from the round before are complete.  If you accidentally leave while a tournament is in progress, unfortunately it won’t pair you for the next round.  See you online!  Keep track of prizes, standings and results over in our News tab.  




Chess Camps

 

NCC offers one-day and week-long Chess Camps throughout the year to K-12 students.  Our one-day camps are on Shopping Day (the day after Thanksgiving), Martin Luther King JR. Day (January), and President’s Day (February).  In the Summer, there are typically four NCC Summer Camps lasting a week each.  The camps each run from 9 AM to 4 PM and include instruction and tournaments. Online Registration for Chess Camps 


NCC Chess Camps are open to players of all skill levels from total beginner to advanced.  Players will be grouped accordingly.  Campers will receive daily chess lessons from skilled instructors and make friendships to last a lifetime.  Some of our favorite camp activities include free play chess, tournaments, chess art, memory exercises, chess challenges and puzzles for prizes, giant chess, four-player chess, Bughouse, chess movies, pizza party, popsicles and winning trophies!  





Tournaments Organized by The Nashville Chess Center


Ready to put your chess skills to the test? Chess Club sessions are the practice, and tournaments are where you can shine! The Nashville Chess Center (NCC) hosts a variety of tournaments throughout the year, offering opportunities for players to compete and grow. Here’s what you need to know if you’re new to Nashville Scholastic Chess Tournaments:

Tournament Overview


Fall Tournaments:

  • Scholastic City Qualifiers: Three events for K-12 players, leading up to the Nashville Scholastic City Championship in January.
  • State Individual Championship: Held in the Fall.
  • State Team Championships: Scheduled for late Winter or Spring.

Tournaments are a great way to develop competition skills, self-confidence, teamwork, and motivation. Remember, chess is meant to be fun, and we strive to create a supportive environment where students can learn from both victories and challenges.

Pre-Registration


Pre-register your child to ensure a smooth experience. Pre-registration helps us place students in the correct sections and manage all the necessary details. Register online at www.nashvillechess.org to avoid the higher late registration fee. We no longer accept advanced registration rates at the door.

Event Day Tips

  1. Arrival and Setup:

    • Find a comfortable spot for your family and team to relax during the tournament. Host schools provide ample space, but bringing items like camping chairs, snacks, books, and outdoor games (weather permitting) can be helpful.
    • Limit electronic devices such as iPads to encourage engagement with the chess community. Bring chess sets for practice with friends.

  2. Check-In:

    • Confirm your child's registration by checking the posted list or checking in at the front desk. Familiarize yourself with the venue, including the tournament hall and facilities.

  3. Pairings and Playing:

    • When you hear “pairings are up,” check the posted pairing sheets to find your child’s board number and color (white or black).
    • After sending your child to their board, find a spot to observe discreetly. While it's important for your child to focus, if you need to stay, choose a location where your presence is less distracting.

  4. Game Rounds:

    • Expect to stay for all rounds (typically 5), regardless of outcomes. Winning can lead to tougher opponents, while losing might ease the competition.

  5. Sections and Age Groups:

    • K-1: Play in the K-1 section.
    • 2nd and 3rd Graders: Choose between the K-3 Primary section or the Unrated section. The Unrated section is fine if your child can handle playing against older, but similarly skilled opponents.
    • 4th Graders and Up: Start in the Unrated section, then transition to the rated sections as they gain experience. Students need a US Chess Federation membership for rated sections, available at www.uschess.org.

  6. Event Duration:

    • Chess tournaments are similar to a school day, usually running from 8 AM to 3 PM. Younger kids might finish earlier, but this is not guaranteed. Be prepared for a full day.

  7. Awards and Departure:

    • Award ceremonies are held after the final round of each section, with trophies for individual and team achievements.
    • If arriving late or leaving early, inform a tournament director to avoid issues with pairing. While individual events are flexible, team events require full commitment.

Additional Information

  • Concessions: Support the tournament by buying from the concession stand. All proceeds benefit the hosting school.
  • Financial Assistance: If a student faces financial hardships or transportation issues, contact us for support.
  • Volunteers Needed: If you're at the tournament all day, please consider helping out. We need assistance with concessions, setup, teardown, scorekeeping, and more.

For any questions or to volunteer, contact our team:

We look forward to seeing you and your child at our tournaments and appreciate your support and involvement!