Is the ECF over-ambitious?

[Neill Cooper]

The ECF strongly believes that chess in England benefits from a strong membership base and seeks to encourage the vast majority of players in England to join.

This is a laudable aim, but how does the ECF plan to extend membership to the millions playing ungraded chess each year in England?

[Sean Hewitt]

The ECF strongly believes that chess in England benefits from a strong membership base and seeks to encourage the vast majority of players in England to join.

This is a laudable aim, but how does the ECF plan to extend membership to the millions playing ungraded chess each year in England?

Only in chess could someone interpret the word 'player'used in this context in this way. It's a pity that Neill Cooper attempts to demean a serious initiative like this, because I expected better than that from him.

[Neill Cooper]

The ECF strongly believes that chess in England benefits from a strong membership base and seeks to encourage the vast majority of players in England to join.

This is a laudable aim, but how does the ECF plan to extend membership to the millions playing ungraded chess each year in England?

Only in chess could someone interpret the word 'player'used in this context in this way. It's a pity that Neill Cooper attempts to demean a serious initiative like this, because I expected better than that from him.

Sean Hewitt might think that there is a clear distinction between 'serious' and 'casual' chess players but for juniors there is a continuum. The 'free year junior membership' will facilitate juniors to make the transition from casual to serious chess player. However, some school teams in the National Schools Chess Championships are made up of 'casual' chess players, which is a reason why it is wrong for the ECF to insist that they all become ECF members before they can take part in this tournament.