Youth

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Youth Scrabble Website - youthscrabble.org
Youth Sub-Committee
Youth Ratings
Report at 31/12/2005

About this committee:

The Youth sub-committee aims to foster inclusion of more young people in Scrabble activities world-world.  Whilst initiatives will be mostly aimed at including nine to seventeen-year-olds in competition events, they will not be limited to this.

The ultimate aim is to have these young players included in normal competitions, rather than isolated in Youth activities. However,  it is recognised that the inclusion of specific youth activities will allow organisers to publicise to the general community that Scrabble is a suitable and challenging extension activity for all ages, rather than just adults. Such Youth events must be viewed as a stepping-stone to having more youth included in open events (ie those events which currently allow entries from both adults and younger players)

Some possible ways in which this will be achieved are:

1.     Organising a World Youth Scrabble Championship (WYSC)
2.     Public relations using all forms of media (including Internet).
3.     Providing support to member nations of WESPA to assist in recruiting and mentoring young players. This may include:

(a) organising coaching clinics
(b) publishing a booklet aimed directly at young players beginning Scrabble
(c) encouraging players to utilise existing internet resources (eg ISC)
(d) negotiating with copyright holders and dictionary providers to provide suitable equipment at a price commensurate with bulk orders
(e) accessing suitable computer software for home use by young players
(f) providing guidelines for organisers of Scrabble fun days and serious competitions for young players.

4.     Obtaining sponsorship for large events such as WYSC, smaller tournaments, and school scrabble clubs.
5.     Assisting National Organisations to run National Youth Championships if required.
6.     Assisting National Organisations or individuals to identify and approach all interested youth - eg via Gifted Children’s Associations, Home-schooling associations, Governmental Education Authorities, schools etc.
7.     Asking National Associations to attempt to structure any Youth Competitions so that they will not occur simultaneously with normal Scrabble events, thus eliminating the need for young players to chose whether to compete in Youth or Open events.
8.     Developing age-appropriate funky advertising - maybe T-shirts similar to the WSC 2005 model, but more vibrant colours, caps etc.  These will also include WESPA website details (which will have links to direct youth to suitable contacts in all countries)

Initiatives will not be limited to, or necessarily include, all the items on this list.

The interests of copyright holders will be respected in all instances.