With the 2025–26 season in the books, we're already thinking about next year. The LSCL has been running since 1967, and our goal for the next several seasons is straightforward: grow the league. We'd like to bring back schools that have stepped away, and we'd like to add new ones.
This is the time of year when the league turns its attention outward.
Seven schools competed in 2025–26. That's a workable number, but it's not where we want to be. At its peak, this league has had twelve member schools. There's no reason it can't get back there. Lancaster County has plenty of high schools, and if the Quiz Bowl league can draw 25 schools, there's clearly a market for competitive academic activities that don't require a gymnasium.
Chess is a particular kind of competition. Players aren't on opposite sides of a field. When a match is over, it's not unusual to see kids from opposing teams sitting together, replaying moves, talking through what happened. Sometimes they just stay and play another game for fun. There's not much animosity in scholastic chess — and that's not an accident. It's something we've tried to preserve in this league for a long time.
What joining looks like
If you're an activities director or a coach who's curious, here's the practical picture.
The season runs December through February, with matches on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons — usually one afternoon per week, sometimes two. Matches are either hosted at your school or played away. One of our current member schools hosts only, and that works fine.
The fee to join the league is nominal — in the range of $150–200 per season, set annually by the member schools. You don't need to already own chess equipment. We have a system for helping new teams get what they need to get started. Clocks are the one other item, and free chess clock apps on a phone work perfectly well.
The main requirement is having a conversation. If there's a group of students at your school who want to compete — even a small one — reach out and we'll talk through what it would take.
How to get in touch
Fill out the inquiry form on the Join page. We'll get back to you within a few days. No commitment required — most inquiries start a conversation, not a contract.
We're making a real push this summer: outreach to schools, visits, and a social media effort launching in June. If you've been on the fence, this is a good time to ask questions.
The league has been here since 1967. We'd like it to be here for a lot longer — and bigger. Come be part of it.