ROOK TOURNAMENT GENERAL PROCEDURES

The object of holding a ROOKÒ is to provide fun for your organization. Many organizations have found that most of their members enjoy ROOK tournaments so much that they are anxiously anticipated events of each year. Through proper planning, your tournament will be one of those popular events which are annually awaited by all who participate.

In organizing your tournament, Parker Brothers suggests you appoint a director and registration/publicity chairman. A scorer at each table is optional, but scorers can assist in smooth tournament execution.

The director and any scorers should be thoroughly familiar with the rules (a copy enclosed) because they will settle any questions or disputes, which arise. The director has final authority in any dispute.

The registration/publicity chairman is in charge of generating enthusiasm and participants for the tournament. This is a critical position and requires a certain amount of work. For some ideas, consult the section in this kit entitled " Publicity.

REGISTRATION

The registration/publicity director is in charge of pre registration of all participants. Although it is not necessary, we suggest you maintain a pre-registration sheet for those persons who notify you in advance that they intend to compete in the tournament.

Participants should be on hand thirty minutes prior to the opening of the tournament to register. Advance publicity should indicate this. At this time, each person should sign the ROOK Tournament Participant Registration Form. When you close the registration at the appointed time, pairings should be allocated by drawing names out of a hat. This random method insures objective pairings and precludes partiality in determining who plays whom.

PLAY FORMAT

Tournaments can be structured in many ways. We suggest you use one of the following formats of play in your tournaments: 1) Single Elimination or 2) Round Robin.

Single elimination tournaments are quite popular because they are less time-consuming than round robin tournaments. They are ideal for tournaments with more that 50 teams. In tournaments using the round robin format, the best win/loss record determines the winner, and in the event of a tie, a play off determines the winner. Pairing sheets are included in this kit. Based on the number of participants in your tournament, you will want to expand these pairings to accommodate all players.

Enclosed in this kit is a copy of ROOK Tournament Rules. Because ROOK is such a widely popular game, many variations of the game exist. Regional variations to these rules are permitted in local tournaments at the discretion of the local tournament director. However, in regional and national tournaments, all participants will abide by Official ROOK Tournament Rules.

PUBLICITY

By letting the public know the specifics about the tournament - date, time, how to enter, etc. - you can increase tournament participation.

Here are some suggestions to improve your tournament:

• Send news releases to local newspapers.
• Send public service announcements to local radio stations.
• Invite VIP's (such as the mayor, local government officials, local celebrities and well-known persons) to play in your tournament. Stage Photographs with these VIP's for local newspapers.
• Notify the local news media a couple of days prior to your actual tournament date and provide any additional information they might need. Also, invite them to attend.
• Send out follow-up descriptions of the tournament to media.
• Put up posters in the display windows of selected merchants.

Included in this kit are sample news releases and public service announcements. You can use these as patterns for supplying information to the news media. Simply substitute the specific information about your tournament in these sample releases and retype them on your organization's letterhead or on plain white paper. Then send the releases to the newspapers and the public service announcements to the radio stations. If possible, deliver them in person to see that the appropriate person receives them. If personal delivery is not possible, mail them to the newspaper or radio station in care of a specific person.

The publicity director will probably have other ideas for publicizing your tournament. The more exposure you get, the more successful your tournament will be.

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

The following legal requirements must be complied with:

• Tournaments may not be run for gain or profit. Net proceeds, if any, must be contributed to a bona fide charity.
• Only Parker Brothers playing cards sold under the trademark ROOK may be used.
• Copies of all tournament advertising, promotion and publicity releases must be submitted for approval prior to production. Send to: 

  ROOK Tournament Director
  50 Dunham Road
  Beverly, MA 01915

• In advertising, publicity and promotion, the following legal guidelines must be adhered to:
• The first or most prominent use of the word "ROOK" or the ROOK logo on a document or on a page must always be followed by . The word "ROOK" must appear in capital letters and the following legal notice must appear in any advertising-promotional materials:

  ROOK and the ROOK logo are Parker Brothers' registered trademarks for its four-suit numerical card game equipment. Used by permission.

• Any representation of the ROOK game must be accurate. That is, there can be no alteration, additions or deletions from the actual package and playing cards appearance.
• The relationship between Parker Brothers and the tournament organizers is that of independent contractors. As such, each party shall have no authority to incur any obligations on behalf of the other party.
• The tournament shall be run in accordance with all applicable local, state and federal laws.
• The tournament organizers shall defend and indemnify Parker Brothers against any claims arising from injury or other causes in connection with the tournament.

SIX STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL ROOK TOURNAMENT

1. Appoint tournament committee and delegate responsibility.
2. Complete and return confirmation card.
3. Announce tournament... send out releases, distribute posters, invite VIPs, talk it up among your membership, send out announcements to the press.
4. Register all contestants.
5. Hold tournaments and name winner.
6. Complete sanctioning form and return to Parker Brothers with clippings.

ROOK TOURNAMENT ANNOUNCEMENT

 (Insert name of organization or city) WILL SPONSOR A ROOKÒ TOURNAMENT JANUARY 5,6, AND 7 IN THE (name location). YOU ARE INVITED FOR THREE DAYS OF OLD-FASHIONED FUN AND ROOK PLAYING. REGISTER NOW THROUGH JANUARY 4. TO REGISTER, OR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR JOHN SMITH AT CITY HALL, 555-1234.

 

SAMPLE MEDIA ALERT TO BE SENT TO TV, RADIO AND NEWSPAPERS 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE EVENT.

MEDIA ALERT

EVENT: A fund-raising ROOK Tournament for the (insert the name of bona fide charity) Proceeds will be used (fill-in appropriate details)

WHEN: Saturday, January 25th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
            Street Address

WHERE: Name of Location

ORGANIZED BY: Members and Sponsors of the (insert name of organization) a goal of $_______ has been set.

HOW: This will be a single elimination format tournament. Prize to the winner will be (insert prize, if any) and be eligible to play at future competitions Parker Brothers may sponsor for ROOK.

REGISTRATION: Registration for the event is scheduled from 9 (if applicable:) a.m. to 2:30 p.m. from January 20th through January 24th. Entry fee: $2.00. Contact Jane Doe (555-7178) for details.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact John Smith, organizer of the event at 555-2324 or555-8956. John will be available for interviews prior to and during the event.

The media is invited to attend.

(Don't forget to include any other interesting information in this alert.)

SAMPLE PRESS RELEASE TO BE SENT TO NEWSPAPER, COMMUNITY PUBLICATIONS AND SUPERMARKET BULLETIN BOARDS (IF AVAILABLE) AT LEAST ONE MONTH IN ADVANCE OF EVENT.

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: John Smith 
(616) 555-1234

(Fill in with City or Name of Group) HOLDS ROOKÒ TOURNAMENT

(Same as title fill in) ROOK Tournament will be held January 5, 6, and 7 in the (name location), tournament director John Smith announced today.

Registration is open to the public, and there is no charge to enter the competition. January 4 is the deadline for registration and Mr. Smith urged all interested persons to call the (name of organization and Phone #) for further details.

The winners of this official ROOK Tournament will receive a prize of (name prize) and also be eligible to play at future competitions Parker Brothers may sponsor for ROOK.