Here at the CoCo, our mission is to make Collins Scrabble play irresistible and accessible for you. And not just you - we want your friends and your mom and your neighbor and barista to play, too.

That's why today we are launching a new referral rewards program and dramatically expanding our existing Collins Newcomer Discounts program. Read on to learn how you and your friends can benefit from these programs, no matter how many or few tournaments you've played.

Refer-a-Friend Program

One of the most powerful ways to reach new people is through friendly referrals. It's how we hear about great new books, movies, clothes, and activities. Scrabble is no exception. Many people found their way to tournaments because someone they knew introduced them to the scene.

Today, we're recognizing those connections and seeking to promote them by launching our Refer-a-Friend rewards program. When you refer a friend to play a CoCo tournament, you both benefit. Your friend will receive free or discounted entry off their first five CoCo tournaments - and you will receive a $25 reward for every friend you refer.

Not only that, but your rewards stack. If you refer five friends, you earn $125 off - that's enough to get free entry at most tournaments - or a T-shirt, hoodie, and more - when you visit the CoCo Store. These rewards apply any time you refer a friend who lists you as their referral source when they sign up for a Collins Newcomer Discount.

Your friend doesn't need to be a total tournament newbie. You can refer anyone who has played five or fewer CoCo tournaments. So get the word out and start earning rewards! If you have friends who are interested in playing Collins Scrabble, send them over to our Collins Newcomer page and get them to sign up.

Expanded Collins Newcomer Discounts

We do all we can to encourage people to play the Collins lexicon. That's why today, we're significantly expanding the pool of players who are eligible to receive a Collins Newcomer Discount.

This popular program has already enabled 21 first-time tournament players and 15 first-time Collins players to register for tournaments at a free or discounted rate. And starting today, anyone who has played fewer than five CoCo tournaments qualifies for a Collins Newcomer Discount.

That's right. Even if you've played many Collins tournaments overseas or elsewhere, you're eligible to receive discounted entry fees right here, again and again, all the way up until you play your fifth CoCo tournament and are hooked on Collins.

These Collins Newcomer Discounts are available on a sliding scale as follows:

• 100% off your first CoCo tournament 

• 80% off your second CoCo tournament

• 60% off your third CoCo tournament

• 40% off your fourth CoCo tournament

• 20% off your fifth CoCo tournament 

If you're not sure how many CoCo tournaments you've played, contact CoCo volunteer Becky Dyer at becky at cocoscrabble dot org, and she'll look up your player history.

CoCo Scrabble Access Fund

What if you're already an active player who has played more than five CoCo tournaments? We have something for you, too. We and our amazing donors recognize that this is a time of economic uncertainty for many people. If you can't quite afford the entry fee at a tournament, we encourage you to apply for CoCo Scrabble Access Fund benefits. This program grants awards of free Premium Memberships and free entry at tournaments to people facing financial difficulty. There's no limit to how many times you can apply. We've already awarded funds to players in need, and we're glad to be making Scrabble more accessible to all.

So get on it! If you haven't played five CoCo tournaments yet, sign up for a discount off your next entry fee. If you know of someone who might want to give Collins a try, refer them and we'll give you a referral award. If you're a frequent player, but could use some help affording your next entry fee, consider applying to our Access Fund program. With these programs, everyone gets to play.