=== Eligibility ===
To play in the NSCNASC, you must (1) be a NASPA [[membership|member]], and (2) have played in an officially
sanctioned SCRABBLE tournament to earn an official tournament [[rating]].
If you live in the United States or Canada, that rating should be a NASPA rating; if you live elsewhere it may be
=== Collins Division ===
If you are thinking about travelling from overseas to play in this event for the first time, please read our [[2018 NSC NASC for Overseas Visitors]] page.
Again this year, there will be at least one separate division of players using the [[Collins]] lexicon at the National Scrabble Championship. Provided that at least 20 players register for each division, two Collins divisions will be offered.
==== Rules, Code and Terms/Conditions ====
By registering for the NSCNASC, you agree to abide by the NASPA Tournament [[Rules]] and [[Code of Conduct]], and agree to comply with the [[2018 National SCRABBLE Championship Terms and Conditions]].
In particular, some games at this tournament, probably the highest Division 1 board without a Gibsonized player,
will be annotated live.
==== Minor Release ====
A [http://www.scrabbleplayers.org/wiki/images/a/a3/2018_NSC_Minor_Release_and_Consent_Form2018_NASC_Minor_Release_and_Consent_Form.pdf Minor Release and Consent Form] will be required for all players under age 18 as of August 3, 2018, and may be downloaded and submitted in advance, or executed by a parent or guardian at registration.
==== Player Bulletin ====
=== Roommate Wanted ===
If you need a roommate and would like a listing here, please contact [mailto:nsc@scrabbleplayers.org the Championship Committee] and specify your requirements: male, female or either, smoking or nonsmoking, etc. We will put a listing in this section. If you already have a room, please include in your email what nights your room is reserved. You can list your email address or phone number. Several people successfully found roommates for the NSC NASC this way.
IMPORTANT: When you get your roommate, please contact the committee so we can remove your listing.
== Check-In ==
To play in the first round on Saturday morning, you must check in between 10:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. on Friday, August 3, 2018, at the NSC NASC registration desk in the Convention Center lobby outside the playing area. You may ask a friend to check in for you by proxy, if you cannot check in in person. If possible, please email us at nsc@scrabbleplayers.org to notify us in advance of proxy arrangements. If you check in by proxy, but do not show up to play, then neither you nor your proxy will be permitted to check in by proxy at future events. If you do not check in before the desk closes at 7:00 P.M., you may join the championship in progress as soon as it is convenient for the pairings staff to add you back in; this may not take place before Sunday morning. No refund will be issued to latecomers.
When you check in, you will be given an announcement sheet. This is to reduce the number of announcements that have to be made on Saturday morning, so that the event can get underway quickly. You are responsible for familiarizing yourself with the announcements and tournament schedule.
: After hours room open (Room 106AD)
; 12:00 P.M.–4:00 P.M.
: [[2018 NSC NASC Early Bird|Early bird tournament]], restricted to NSC NASC Staff and other NASPA directors (Room 106BC)
; 4:30 P.M.–5:30 P.M.
: Committee meeting for Division Leaders, Division Assistants, Auxiliary Staff (Boardroom)
: After hours room open (Room 106AD)
; 8:00 P.M.–11:00 P.M.
: [[2018 NSC NASC Trivia Contest|Trivia Contest]] (Room 106BC)
=== Sunday, August 5, 2018 ===
: Set up for play (North Exhibit Floor)
; 8:50 A.M.
: Group Photos - Past NSC NASC Champions/Division Winners (North Exhibit Floor)
; 8:55 A.M.–9:10 A.M.
: Announcements (North Exhibit Floor)
: Set up for play (North Exhibit Floor)
; 8:45 A.M.
: Group Photo - NSC NASC Staff (North Exhibit Floor)
; 8:50 A.M.
: Group Photo - New Yorkers (North Exhibit Floor)
: After hours room open (Room 106AD)
; 8:00 P.M.–9:30 P.M.
: [[2018 NSC NASC Director Meeting|Director meeting]] (Room 106BC)
=== Wednesday, August 8, 2018 ===
== Format ==
The NSC NASC will be paired using [[tsh]] along the lines of past events, including Gibsonization on spread.
After an initial phase of fixed pairings based on pre-event ratings,
the top contenders are paired with each other, and everyone else is paired Swiss.