What do I bring to a tournament as a new player:

1. Bring a smile, and lots of confidence.  Know you are not alone.  There are many new players, eager to learn to play / improve their skills at chess.You are welcome.  You belong here.
2. Ask questions.  A tournament is a scary business for first time players. Everything seems new and challenging. The Tournament Director (TD) is there to help you and to act as a guide.  Here are some of the terms you may want to know: sections, pairing sheets, wall charts, standings, table number, pairing number, scoresheet, and tie-break points.Here is a (very) quick definition of each: i. A section is a limited part of the tournament made up of players of similar ability. ii. A pairing sheet is posted by the tournament director telling the table, color, and opponent for each of the rounds of a tournament. iii. A wall chart lists all the players in a section by rating, if they have one, and gives the individual results of each of the rounds. (Parents, coaches and players check the wall chart to make sure their results are recorded correctly after each round.)  iv Standings list the players according to performance, using the tie-break procedures that have been proven effective for one-day Swiss tournaments. At the end of all rounds, the player listed in first place would receive the first place trophy, etc. v. The table number is the place where two opponents meet in the tournament hall. You can learn this, and your opponent's name, from the pairing sheet which is posted several minutes before each round. vi. The pairing number is the number assigned by the wall chart to each player in a section.  vii. The scoresheet is the paper used by each player to record his / her moves. Each tournament provides paper for this purpose. The TD may ask to see the scoresheets to help resolve disputes, should any arise during the game. viii Tie-Break Points refers to a system that uses a computer to compare results of opponents with the same number of points at the end to see which player had the better performance. 
3. If you just learned the moves, know that you will play five games at the scheduled times.  Find a player with more experience in your section to act as your mentor.  Know where the bathrooms are, and the water fountain.  Arrange the place you will meet your parents/ coach after each round.     

1. Here is a short list of things I should bring to my first chess tournament:
2. a pencil and paper to record my moves.  Your opponent may not choose to record.  Record anyway.  It's the rules.  Some tournaments have a time penalty if the opponent refuses to record moves. The official rule is: If you don't record, you lose. Many scholastic tournaments do not enforce the official rule. 
3. board and pieces for between games practice and play.  Many games do not last a long time.  It is a good idea to go over the moves of the game just completed to see if any moves were written incorrectly.  Sometimes your coach or a team member can suggest ways to look at other moves for a game already completed. You can make corrections on the scoresheet after the game is over, especially if you and your opponent go over the game together.(Some players prefer to play football, frisbee, etc., outdoors or read a book.)
4. chess clock, if I have one.  Most scholastic tournaments at entry level have 30 minutes per player per game. If your opponent comes late you can start your clock, if you have one.  Many players will be using the clock for the first time. Use the clock anyway.  (Digital clocks now have precedence over analog clocks.)
5. money for food and drink.  You need your strength to concentrate.  Eat wisely and well.  Choose foods that will allow you to sit calmly for the required time.  Avoid foods that will cause you to move about too much, or be too fast to make your next move on the board.