public boolean checkIfUserRegistered (String username, String userIP) {

		char initial = Character.toUpperCase(username.toCharArray()[0]);
		boolean recordNotFound = true;
		//check if there are records for the username's first letter 
		if(records.get(initial)==null) {
			recordNotFound = false;
		}
		//if there is already a list check if the record exists
		else {
			List<UserPlayer> lList = records.get(initial);
			for (int i = 0; i < lList.size(); i++) {
				if (lList.get(i).getUserName().equals(username)) {
					//if the user already exists
						System.out.println("Username  " + username + " is already registered!");
						recordNotFound = true;
					}
					else
						{
						System.out.println("Username  " + username + " is available for registration");
						recordNotFound = false;
						}
				}
				
			}
		return recordNotFound;
	}