Since January 2010, NASPA has kept track of rated games played using the [[SOWPODS| CSW]] lexicon (formerly known as SOWPODS) in a '''SOWPODS CSW rating system''' separate from the regular [[Ratings|rating system]], which continues to be used for games played using the [[NWL]] lexicon. At the time of the new system's inception, three recent events whose players had been advised ratings were pending were retroactively rated.
Players who compete regularly at an international level often prefer to play SOWPODS CSW games domestically as well, and to have those games count for ratings. Since the nature of the game varies significantly according to the lexicon used, the ratings are kept separate.
NASPA recognizes that while many members want to play rated SOWPODS CSW games on a regular basis, many more prefer to play NWL. NASPA does not have any plans to discontinue the OTCWL lexicon in the foreseeable future.
== Differences between the rating systems ==
A game played at a NASPA-sanctioned event is rated only once, either in the regular system or the SOWPODS CSW system, not both. The SOWPODS CSW system works exactly as the regular one does, with one exception. If a player has a regular rating but not a SOWPODS CSW rating, they will enter the SOWPODS CSW system with their regular rating, not a rating calculated based on their debut event performance. New player career game totals will start at zero, regardless of the source of their initial rating, so if a player’s SOWPODS CSW playing strength differs substantially from their regular strength, their rating will converge rapidly.
== Current ratings ==
The database of current ratings is updated immediately when the results from a tournament are processed. You can access the current rating information in the following ways:
* [http://www.scrabbleplayers.org/ratings/data/csw/full/current.txt full rating list] as a short text file (columns: name, rating, ranking, expiration, number of rated SOWDPODS CSW games)
* [http://www.scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/ratings-byname.pl?system=csw search by name]
* [http://www.scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/ratings-byrank.pl?system=csw search by rating or rank]
== Questions and Answers ==
;I have a WESPA rating and a NASPA rating but no NASPA SOWPODS CSW rating. What will be my initial NASPA SOWPODS CSW rating?
:Your NASPA rating.
;Can a NASPA-sanctioned SOWPODS CSW event also be [[WESPA]]-rated?:Yes, provided it meets the requirements for both, and fees are paid to both organizations. See the page on [[directing SOWPODS tournaments |directing CSW tournaments]] for more information.;Will NASPA SOWPODS CSW ratings be used for qualification to SOWPODS CSW events like the [[WSC]] and [[Causeway SCRABBLE Challenge]]?
:Probably in some way, but that's up to the [[Canadian Committee]] and [[International Committee]] to determine.