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'''On 2020-03-18, we [http://www.icontact-archive.com/archive?c=1384631&f=6038&s=14937&m=286005&t=42bfeecf990f5ae04e8a9ea793c9a29e79393ee2e6b4b72ecef1a231ef1a0fa9 advised] all directors to cancel or postpone all sanctioned club and tournament activity, and to not resume until the appropriate public health authorities have recommended doing so.''' | '''On 2020-03-18, we [http://www.icontact-archive.com/archive?c=1384631&f=6038&s=14937&m=286005&t=42bfeecf990f5ae04e8a9ea793c9a29e79393ee2e6b4b72ecef1a231ef1a0fa9 advised] all directors to cancel or postpone all sanctioned club and tournament activity, and to not resume until the appropriate public health authorities have recommended doing so.''' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Click [[Membership#Impact_of_COVID-19_Moratorium_on_NASPA_Membership |here]] to see how the moratorium affects your NASPA membership. | ||
'''On 2020-06-25, we published guidance on when and how to resume competitive SCRABBLE activities according to a four-color SCRABBLE safety level scheme.''' | '''On 2020-06-25, we published guidance on when and how to resume competitive SCRABBLE activities according to a four-color SCRABBLE safety level scheme.''' | ||
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Players should check with club and tournament directors to make sure that | Players should check with club and tournament directors to make sure that | ||
events have not been cancelled at the last minute. | events have not been cancelled at the last minute. | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''NASPA's Board is not comprised of doctors or medical care providers. DO NOT predicate your medical decisions or actions regarding your personal health on anything provided herein.''' | ||
== Risk Assessment == | == Risk Assessment == | ||
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* Post multiple copies of standings and pairings in different parts of the room | * Post multiple copies of standings and pairings in different parts of the room | ||
* If you offer food and beverages, make sure that they are packaged to prevent airborne contamination, and place them in different parts of the room to keep participants apart. | * If you offer food and beverages, make sure that they are packaged to prevent airborne contamination, and place them in different parts of the room to keep participants apart. | ||
− | + | <br> | |
Consider room ventilation and its effect on airborne microorganisms: | Consider room ventilation and its effect on airborne microorganisms: | ||
− | * | + | * Large rooms with good ventilation are safer. |
− | * | + | * Outdoors is safer than indoors. |
− | * | + | * Players can inhale germs from players upwind of them. |
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; 2020-06-11 | ; 2020-06-11 | ||
: Substantial revisions in preparation for reopening. | : Substantial revisions in preparation for reopening. | ||
+ | ; 2020-06-25 | ||
+ | : Announced revised guidelines in weekly newsletter. | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
− | + | ===Information Sources Consulted During Page Creation=== | |
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* The White House | * The White House | ||
− | ** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4gDJA22BNs President Trump instructs Americans to avoid meeting in groups of 10+, and discretionary travel] | + | ** March 16, 2020 -[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4gDJA22BNs President Trump instructs Americans to avoid meeting in groups of 10+, and discretionary travel] |
* World Health Organization (WHO) | * World Health Organization (WHO) | ||
** [https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public] | ** [https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public] | ||
* Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | * Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | ||
** [https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html COVID-19 page] | ** [https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html COVID-19 page] | ||
− | ** [https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/index.html | + | ** [https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/index.html Community mitigation plans] |
** [https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/php/CDC-Activities-Initiatives-for-COVID-19-Response.pdf Opening America Up Again] | ** [https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/php/CDC-Activities-Initiatives-for-COVID-19-Response.pdf Opening America Up Again] | ||
* Ohio Department of Health | * Ohio Department of Health | ||
− | ** [https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/static/responsible/Baseball-Softball.pdf | + | ** [https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/static/responsible/Baseball-Softball.pdf A typical state document explaining how contact sports must change for COVID-19] |
* The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) | * The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) | ||
** [https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/frequently-asked-questions.html COVID-19 FAQ] | ** [https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/frequently-asked-questions.html COVID-19 FAQ] | ||
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** [https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204172 How to clean your Apple products] | ** [https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204172 How to clean your Apple products] | ||
** [http://health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/coronavirus/docs/2019_patient_screening_guidance.pdf COVID-19 screening guidance] | ** [http://health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/coronavirus/docs/2019_patient_screening_guidance.pdf COVID-19 screening guidance] | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===Response of Other Tabletop Game Associations=== | ||
+ | |||
+ | * [https://absp.org.uk The Association of British SCRABBLE Players] | ||
+ | ** March 10 2020 - [https://absp.org.uk/absp/covid-19.shtml COVID-19 Statement] | ||
+ | * [https://www.acbl.org/ American Contract Bridge League] | ||
+ | ** [https://www.acbl.org/check-before/ ACBL reminder to check with clubs about closures] | ||
+ | ** June 18 2020 - [https://bridgefeed.acbl.org/acbl-all-member-emails Cancellation of Fall Nationals and Sectional/Regional tournaments for remainder of 2020] | ||
+ | * [https://new.uschess.org/news/spring-nationals-coronavirus-know/ United States Chess Federation] | ||
+ | ** [https://new.uschess.org/news/spring-nationals-coronavirus-know/ Guidance on spring tournaments] | ||
+ | ** [https://new.uschess.org/news/us-chess-rules-suspensions-due-covid-19/ USCF guidance to tournament directors] | ||
+ | * [https://www.thaicrossword.com/news_detail.php?id=50389 Thai Crossword Association] | ||
+ | ** [https://www.thaicrossword.com/news_detail.php?id=50389 Cancellation of major March and April events] | ||
+ | * [https://magic.wizards.com/en Magic: The Gathering] | ||
+ | **[https://company.wizards.com/article/news/wizards-coasts-response-covid-19 COVID-19 response] | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Stefan Fatsis article=== | ||
+ | [[Stefan Fatsis]] reviews the arguments for cancelling tournaments and clubs in [https://slate.com/culture/2020/03/playing-scrabble-coronavirus-pandemic.html?fbclid=IwAR09AKSKilIm7el46-a4QCB8bceiiLawGGRd-5Pzr2B7d9iFkFLmvX1oDv4 Slate]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | <!-- | ||
+ | |||
+ | Hid until have time to research - since we say there's no info | ||
+ | As of 2020-03-10, there were no announcements online from: | ||
+ | * American Cribbage Congress | ||
+ | * American Go Association (which does mention [https://www.usgo.org/news/2020/01/ing-cup-postponed-in-wake-of-coronavirus-outbreak/ overseas cancellations]) | ||
+ | * Magic: The Gathering | ||
+ | * United States Backgammon Federation | ||
+ | * World Series of Poker | ||
+ | --> |
COVID-19 is a disease caused by a coronavirus first discovered in 2019. As of early 2020, it has had a serious impact on the global travel and convention industry, and resulted in the cancellation of competitive SCRABBLE tournaments worldwide.
On 2020-03-18, we advised all directors to cancel or postpone all sanctioned club and tournament activity, and to not resume until the appropriate public health authorities have recommended doing so.
Click here to see how the moratorium affects your NASPA membership.
On 2020-06-25, we published guidance on when and how to resume competitive SCRABBLE activities according to a four-color SCRABBLE safety level scheme.
Players should check with club and tournament directors to make sure that events have not been cancelled at the last minute.
NASPA's Board is not comprised of doctors or medical care providers. DO NOT predicate your medical decisions or actions regarding your personal health on anything provided herein.
COVID-19 can cause several avoidable or mitigable hazards.
Hazard | Chance | Impact | Risk | Mitigated Risk | Countermeasures |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bringing COVID-19 to venue | High | High | High | Medium | Screening, color-coded safety phases |
Finding COVID-19 at venue | Low | High | Medium | Low | Screening, separation from other users |
Spread during play | High | High | High | High | Spacing, ventilation, single-use equipment, disinfection, pairing |
Spread between rounds | High | High | High | Medium | Spacing, hand-washing, eliminate reasons to gather |
Spread to/from staff | High | High | High | Medium | Spacing, barriers, hand-washing, electronic communication |
Player becomes sick at event | Low | High | Medium | Medium | Screening, recording contacts, awareness of local medical protocol |
Staff becomes sick at event | Low | High | Medium | Medium | Screening, recording contacts, awareness of local medical protocol, redundancy |
We will discuss appropriate countermeasures in more detail below in the context of color-coded SCRABBLE safety levels.
From 2020 on, we will always be living in an era with a heightened awareness of the risks of pandemic disease. No matter what the current SCRABBLE safety level, be mindful of your health and safety and those around you.
A NASPA Director has a duty to provide a safe environment for their players, to instruct them on how best to ensure their safety, and to verify their compliance.
A NASPA Director can refuse entry to players if the director deems that their participation will result in an unsafe environment for other players. A NASPA member has a duty to share any information (such as their positive infectious status) that may affect the safety of other members around them.
If there are reasonable grounds to believe that a player may have a severe contagious disease, even if they are not symptomatic, the player should be refused participation to avoid exposing other participants to unnecessary risk of contagion.
There are different systems in place across the continent for describing what the current pandemic safety level is, and for recommending correspondingly appropriate measures. Here is one for our competitive SCRABBLE community, using the popular red - yellow - green - blue scheme from most dangerous to most safe.
The SCRABBLE safety level applies to specific groups of people gathered for a specific NASPA-sanctioned event (club meeting or tournament). It is keyed to the government safety levels of each of the participants and venue, but is more restrictive. NASPA’s reopening will therefore take a regionally phased approach as in many states and provinces.
Our color-coded guidance is designed to mitigate risk, but cannot eliminate it. Please think carefully about your personal risk profile when making choices about competing in SCRABBLE events.
Failure to comply with color-coded measures will be deemed physical abuse under the Code of Conduct.
Clubs and tournaments should not meet in person when the SCRABBLE safety level is Red .
Clubs may play online using SCRABBLE GO and meeting tools such as Zoom or Discord. If they do so formally, the Code of Conduct is in effect.
NASPA will not rate online tournaments or recognize records achieved at online events.
Noteworthy accomplishments at online events may be reported to info@scrabbleplayers.org for publication in the weekly newsletter.
Players may meet in person to converse or play online on individual devices, subject to the following restrictions:
Players may meet for traditional face-to-face competitive SCRABBLE using regular playing equipment, subject to the following conditions:
Competitive events may proceed normally, subject only to the following restrictions:
This section lists several categories of optional recommendations that may result in a safer experience for all participants.
Participants are discouraged from using a common word adjudication device, to mitigate the risk of indirect contact transmission. This may be done either by having players use their own devices, or by having the director adjudicate challenges from a safe distance, while showing players the screen at appropriate points in the process.
Adjudicators are encouraged to use licensed software (or the NASPA Word Judge online) on their own mobile devices for word adjudication. Rule IV.J.1 (Software Lookup Procedure) lists which actions should be taken by the challenger and the player being challenged. If a personal mobile device is being used for adjudication, the owner of the device should take all actions necessary to operate their device for both players according to their specific verbal instructions.
Specifically, if one of the players involved in the challenge has an appropriate device (and not withstanding any other prohibition on electronic devices), then steps (e) through (k) should be replaced with the following. If both of the players want to use their own device, then the device belonging to the player being challenged should be used.
e. Both players walk to the computer station without speaking or disturbing others.
f. If either player at any time before the adjudication feels a word was recorded wrongly, both should return to their board to they should verify the spelling.
g. The challenger owner types the word(s) being challenged. All word(s) must be typed before adjudication.
h. Both players verify the word(s) have been entered correctly and that the correct lexicon is selected, and the player being challenged owner presses the adjudication key (usually the TAB key).
i. The adjudication result is marked on the challenge slip.
j. Computer adjudication is final unless either player feels the computer or program is flawed (and requests a manual adjudication) or feels a word may not have been entered correctly (and chooses to repeat the procedure.)
k. Both players return to their board without speaking or disturbing others.
Follow official news sources closely to anticipate measures that will be taken to address outbreaks, and communicate them to your players. Be open with your players about your planning process, including how you will decide if the event needs to be cancelled, and how you will treat sick players.
Plan for the possibility that your event may have to be cancelled, either because public health authorities require it, or because your own risk assessment so indicates. Consider also that players and staff (especially those who are travelling) may have to cancel their plans.
When negotiating space with a new venue, discuss COVID-19 specifically as an example of force majeure. A standard force majeure clause permits either party to cancel a contract at no penalty. Even if you find yourself having to cancel an event without a force majeure clause in your contract, ask your venue if any deposit that you have paid can be refunded to you given the unusual circumstances, or at least be credited toward a future event post-outbreak.
Similarly, although it is NASPA’s position to remain independent of financial transactions between players and directors, we believe that it is in everyone’s long-term best interest for directors to be as lenient as they can about entry fee cancellation policies where COVID-19 is concerned.
Notify the Tournament Committee if you cancel a tournament. You can reschedule the tournament to another date if it does not conflict with a tournament already on the calendar. The standard 6 weeks advance notice will not be required for the rescheduled tournament.
During an outbreak, consider that any of the following may be unavailable on short notice: key personnel (including yourself), equipment, playing space, and players.
Your planning should provide for alternatives if a key resource becomes unavailable - for example, extra equipment or an alternate venue.
Before permitting a player or staff member to enter the playing space, verify that they (to the best of their knowledge, on pain of discipline as a Code of Conduct case of physical abuse) answer no to all of the following screening questions:
You may wish to post a copy of the list of questions, and/or ask participants to review the list before arrival.
When choosing a venue for your event, evaluate the risk associated with the location.
When laying out the floor plan for your event, minimize opportunities for players to
congregate in close proximity. If possible, ask players to keep a two-metre distance from
each other when not playing.
Consider room ventilation and its effect on airborne microorganisms:
Post notices reminding participants to wash their hands after each round, and offer
hand hygiene stations where possible.
If you have a large number of players who are diligently washing their hands after each round, you may find your tournament schedule delayed by lack of capacity of hand-washing stations. Plan accordingly by padding your schedule, and be lenient in the application of Rule III.C. (Arriving Late) when toilets and sinks are overcrowded.
Keep players at the same tables as much as possible, to minimize sharing equipment. At least one player at each game should stay at the same board in the next round.
If you have access to them, consider adding to your tournament supplies:
Be aware of the nearest emergency medical services.
if there are medical doctors participating, check with them about their
availability to intervene if needed.
Stefan Fatsis reviews the arguments for cancelling tournaments and clubs in Slate.
Copyright © 2024 NASPA All rights reserved. SCRABBLE is a trademark of Hasbro, Inc. in the USA and Canada, and of Mattel, Inc. elsewhere. NASPA and its activities are neither endorsed by nor affiliated with Hasbro or Mattel. For more information about NASPA or for comments or issues with this page, please email us.