Scrabble Chief Responds to Player Carping

Feb. 13, 2009 - PRLog -- In the face of criticism on line of some Scrabble players to the work and programme of the World English-language Scrabble Players Association, the Wespa acting chairman reviewed the work of the association over the past months.

           Some players questioned the Wespa "mandate," and Bahrain-based Roy Kietzman reminded players that at the association's constituting assembly four years ago in London, players from around the globe voted in favour of forming the association to speak for player interests.

He noted that game manufacturer Mattel recognises the association as the regulatory authority for Scrabble players in the English-language.

           He reviewed areas of especial interest that Wespa is concerned with.

           Discussing the dictionary subcommittee's work, Kietzman pointed out that it "is involved in the tedious task of making certain that the word reference conforms to what players need and want, perhaps not identical to a specific dictionary but inclusive of both American and British orthography and terms as well as other entries from other parts of the world."

           An updated edition of the word reference is expected in 2012 with Darryl Francis (Britain), dictionary subcommittee chairman, expected to give a progress report "imminently."      

           In player ratings, a subcommittee aims to standardise the ratings formula worldwide, based on Australian Bob Jackman's system which currently is what most national associations use.
           Fees have been laid down for providing the rating service.  
            Ahead of the ninth World Scrabble Championship in 2007, the rules subcommittee was asked by WSC organiser Philip Nelkon to review rules to make certain they comply with current norms.
          Rules are being looked at once again before this year's WSC.
           The tournament subcommittee and a core Wespa group have been asked by Nelkon to advise on the WSC competition format while the panel has also formulated standards of what constitutes an international contest.

           Three World Youth Scrabble Championships have been held while the youth subcommittee has created tutorials and various products to help national organisations promote Scrabble among youngsters.

           After a player was expelled from a major international tournament in December, "it was felt by Wespa that an inquiry was called for to look into the background of such an unprecedented incident," Kietzman said.

"More importantly, Wespa, subsequent to the inquiry, asked relevant subcommittees to look into tightening rules and providing guidelines to tournament directors to help them deal with such incidents and other anomalies in future."

           He pointed out that Wespa attempts to keep players up to date and "in the loop" on developments through media channels, Internet groups and Scrabble periodicals, vowing to send a quarterly report to members, beginning with April 1.

           One of the bones of contention among players is the outdated website which Kietzman agrees is "pitifully out of date and needs a full revamp."

But the policymaking management committee has been unable to locate a webmaster who can regularly develop the site on a volunteer basis.

Other players criticised the lack of a comprehensive membership roster though Kietzman said: "We're glad to have several core national associations on board.
"I'm encouraged that a US group has found it important to be part of Wespa."
He maintains that many associations are in solidarity with Wespa though "they have until now not made a dedicated commitment to join us."

"As a still fledgling association, Wespa's hampered somewhat by a petty-cash treasury though attention's being given to revenue-spinners to assure that we can take on other projects.

"It's important to bear in mind that Wespa's committee and subcommittee members are composed of volunteers, players usually impassioned with the game but, of course, devoted to their careers, too."

Kietzman called on other players "to consider an area where they could contribute their expertise and help us make Wespa a still more effective and productive association."
Of hundreds of millions of people who play Scrabble around the world in English, an estimated 25,000-30,000 compete in hundreds of tournaments annually in 30-45 countries. The game can be played in about 30 languages.

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Wespa is the regulatory body for Scrabble players in the English language with an estimated 25,000 competitive players in upwards of 40 countries. The association concentrates on youth, dictionary, rules, tournament format, communications matters.