Getting Started as an Organizer
By the end of this guide you will have an organizer profile on ChessRoster and understand what is needed before you can accept online registrations.
Which path is right for you?
| Situation | Path |
|---|---|
| You have a USCF affiliate ID | USCF affiliate setup |
| You are an independent club or organizer | Non-USCF setup |
Both paths use the same page at chessroster.com/organizers/new . The difference is whether you check the “I am a USCF affiliate organization” box.
You must be signed in to ChessRoster before you can create an organizer. Organizer profiles are permanent — they cannot be deleted after creation.
Creating a USCF Affiliate Organizer
Use this path if your organization has an official USCF affiliate ID (for example, A1234567).
Go to the organizer creation page
Visit chessroster.com/organizers/new . You must be signed in.
Check “I am a USCF affiliate organization”
This reveals the USCF Affiliate ID field.
Enter your USCF Affiliate ID
Type your affiliate ID (4–12 uppercase letters and numbers). ChessRoster validates it against the USCF database on submission.
- ID not found: The USCF database did not recognize the ID. Double-check your affiliate ID at uscf.org.
- Already registered: This affiliate has already been created in ChessRoster. Contact the person who registered it, or email moc.retsorssehc@troppus for help.
Enter your organization name
Use the name players will recognize — this appears on tournament listings and your public profile.
Certify your authorization
Check the box confirming you are an officer or authorized representative of the organization.
Review the confirmation dialog and submit
Click Create Organizer. A dialog will warn you that the profile is permanent. Click Yes, Create Organizer to proceed.
You are redirected to your new organizer profile page.
Your USCF affiliate status and affiliate ID are permanent. They cannot be changed after the organizer is created.
Creating a Non-USCF Organizer
Use this path if you are an independent chess club, a regional organizer, or any organization without a USCF affiliate ID.
Go to the organizer creation page
Visit chessroster.com/organizers/new . You must be signed in.
Leave “I am a USCF affiliate organization” unchecked
No affiliate ID is needed.
Enter your organization name
Use the name players will recognize.
Certify your authorization
Check the box confirming you are an officer or authorized representative.
Review the confirmation dialog and submit
Click Create Organizer. A dialog will warn you that the profile is permanent. Click Yes, Create Organizer to proceed.
You are redirected to your new organizer profile page.
After Creation: Next Steps
The creation form only collects essential information. Follow this sequence to get ready for your first tournament:
Complete your organizer profile
Open the organizer edit page to add a logo, banner, description, default venue, website URL, and custom subdomain. See Managing Organizer & Staff.
Connect PayPal
Required before you can charge entry fees. See PayPal Setup.
Invite directors (optional)
Add tournament directors or additional administrators from the Staff tab. See Managing Organizer & Staff.
Create your first tournament
You are ready to create and publish tournaments. See Creating Tournaments.
Requirements for Online Registration
To accept registrations and payments through ChessRoster, your organizer must meet all of the following:
- Location: Tournaments must be in the United States or Canada.
- PayPal: A PayPal account must be linked. See PayPal Setup.
- Minimum fee: Entry fees must be at least 1.50 CAD per registration.
- Terms accepted: You must agree to ChessRoster’s terms during tournament setup.
- Refund responsibility: Organizers are solely responsible for refunds. Platform and PayPal fees are nonrefundable.
Tournaments outside the US and Canada can still be listed on ChessRoster and link to an external registration page — they just cannot use ChessRoster’s built-in payment processing.
Organizer Limit
Each ChessRoster account can be an administrator of up to 10 organizers. If you need more, contact moc.retsorssehc@troppus.