North American Scrabble Players Association

The North American Scrabble Players Association (NASPA) is an organization founded in 2009 to administer competitive Scrabble tournaments[1] and clubs[2][3] in North America. It took over these activities from the National Scrabble Association (NSA) on July 1, 2009.[4]

Mission statement and motto

NASPA's mission statement is “We are a community of tournament, club and avid home players of the SCRABBLE® Brand Crossword Game. We foster an atmosphere for people of all skill levels to play their favorite game, improve their abilities and above all, meet people who share a similar love of the game.” Its motto, suggested by Alan Stern, is "Making words, building friendships."

Activities

NASPA has organized the annual National Scrabble Championship (NSC) since 2009, most recently the one in New Orleans, Louisiana in August 2017. In 2015 the championship was renamed the North American Scrabble Championship (NASC).

Its Dictionary Committee edits the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary and the Official Tournament and Club Word List.

Its Rules Committee edits the official Scrabble tournament rules.

Its Rating and Recognition Committee maintains the official rating system.

Its Tournament Committee maintains a calendar of hundreds of officially sanctioned tournaments each year, and is a disciplinary body for players and directors.

Its Forward Energy Committee examines NASPA opportunities for improvement, and makes recommendations to the appropriate governing bodies in NASPA.

Its Club/Director Committee maintains a roster of officially sanctioned clubs, and certifies club and tournament directors.

Its Advisory Board determines policy that affects club and tournament play, and hears appeals to the decisions of other committees.

Its Canadian Committee oversees matters that pertain solely to Canadian NASPA members, such as organizing the Canadian National Scrabble Championship tournament and the qualification rules for the members of Canadian teams competing at international Scrabble events.

Its Steering Committee was formed for the short-term task of transitioning competitive adult Scrabble from the National Scrabble Association to NASPA in the months from December 2008 to July 2009. Although this committee still officially exists (as it has not formally disbanded), it is inactive, having served its sole purpose for being created.

History

NASPA came into existence following a weekend meeting at Hasbro headquarters in suburban Springfield, Massachusetts in December 2008. The meeting was arranged by the National Scrabble Association (NSA) and Hasbro executives. Hasbro had decided to stop its financial support of adult tournament Scrabble and clubs by the end of 2009. The NSA, which had been running adult tournament Scrabble since the late 1970s, would continue as an organization, but it would exist largely to focus on its school Scrabble program and to promote recreational play. (The NSA ceased operations on July 1, 2013.) The Springfield meeting was attended by the following 16 people, representing a cross-section of the Scrabble community—prominent Scrabble players, club and tournament directors, and others from across the continent: Chris Cree, John Chew, Joe Edley, Ira Freehof, Matt Hopkins, Robert Kahn, Katya Lezin, Seth Lipkin, Mad Palazzo, Steve Pellinen, Mary Rhoades, John Robertson, Sherrie Saint John, Debbie Stegman, Alan Stern, and David Weiss.

The NSA invited them to hear firsthand from Hasbro executives about the company's decision to cease its funding of adult tournament and club play. In its wake, the attendees were offered the opportunity to form a new organization to preserve competitive adult Scrabble in North America and were encouraged to do so with Hasbro's blessing.

After the meeting, several committees were formed to make a smooth transition from the NSA to a new organization. Most of the 16 attendees accepted Hasbro's challenge and formed the nucleus of the steering committee. An email vote by the steering committee's members determined the new organization's name: The North American Scrabble Players Association (NASPA). NASPA was registered in Texas as a not-for-profit corporation and headquartered in Dallas. Chris Cree of Dallas and John Chew of Toronto emerged as co-presidents. Although Hasbro had given NASPA until the end of 2009 to establish control of the competitive tournament scene, NASPA was ready for the total transition six months early. Accordingly, the first NASPA tournament games were contested on July 1, 2009, in three different cities. On that date NASPA became the only Scrabble group in North America permitted to use the registered Scrabble name and trademark in adult club and tournament play.

Outwardly, the nature of the adult competitive Scrabble scene in North America changed very little when NASPA took over from the NSA in 2009, but there have been some noteworthy changes regarding disciplinary matters. NASPA adopted a strict Code of Conduct with the goal of improving players' and officials' deportment at Scrabble events. It was inspired by a similar document used by the Association of Tennis Professionals. The original Code of Conduct's primary author was John Robertson, who solicited ideas and feedback from fellow tournament directors for its creation. Since its adoption by NASPA, punishments for misbehavior and cheating at tournaments and clubs have been much swifter and harsher than in the days of the NSA.

There is also considerable difference in the way NASPA is financed. In the NSA era, Hasbro provided a substantial annual budget, and tournament rating fees were nominal. NASPA receives no operational funding from Hasbro, relying on fees collected from annual player memberships, as well as "participation fees" collected by tournament directors, calculated at a fixed rate based on the number of games played in a tournament. An annual club affiliation fee was also collected from club directors. This club fee was discontinued in 2012.

NASPA membership types

There are several categories of membership: one-year regular adult, one-year youth (under 18), six-month trial, one-week, and life. NASPA membership is mandatory for anyone who wishes to compete in NASPA tournament play. NASPA's Membership Committee oversees membership issues.

As of June 2013, NASPA had more than 2,500 dues-paid members and almost the same number of lapsed members.

Championships

NASPA organized the 2009[5] National Scrabble Championship tournament in Dayton, Ohio, the 2010[6] and 2011[7] events in Addison, Texas, the 2012[8] event in Orlando, Florida, and the 2013[9] Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The 2014 North American Scrabble Championship was held in Buffalo, New York. The 2015 championship was held in Reno, Nevada. The 2016 championship was held in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and the 2017 championship in New Orleans, Louisiana. The 2018 North American Scrabble Championship was again held in Buffalo. The location of the 2019 championship tournament has not yet been decided.

References

  1. ↑ Boscamp, Rob (July 18, 2009). "How some spell fun: S-C-R-A-B-B-L-E". Caller. Corpus Christi, Texas. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  2. ↑ Waters, T. Wayne (November 1, 2009). "Knoxville Scrabble Clubs Spell F-U-N". News Sentinel. Knoxville, TN: Knoxville News Sentinel Co. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  3. ↑ "Escondido: Battle of the ages". North County Times. Escondido, California. August 22, 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  4. ↑ "North American Scrabble Players Association: Frequently asked questions". Scrabbleplayers.org. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
  5. ↑ "North American Scrabble Players Association: 2009 National Scrabble Championship". Scrabbleplayers.org. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
  6. ↑ "North American Scrabble Players Association: 2010 National Scrabble Championship". Scrabbleplayers.org. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
  7. ↑ "North American Scrabble Players Association: 2011 National Scrabble Championship". Scrabbleplayers.org. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
  8. ↑ "North American Scrabble Players Association: 2012 National Scrabble Championship". Scrabbleplayers.org. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
  9. ↑ "North American Scrabble Players Association: 2013 National Scrabble Championship". Scrabbleplayers.org. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
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