Membership Services

[Alan Walton]

I agree the thrust of Alan Walton's post - it is an anachronism that I have an ECF grade based on 10 games in the 6 months to end of 2012 plus brought forward games from earlier periods but have a FIDE rating that has no games in any recent ones. That is particularly irksome because the FIDE system is being updated monthly. And, before anyone says upgrade to Gold, note that it has been pointed out above that my 10 games do not qualify for monthly rating ,only 6-monthly ECF grading, until such time as ECF and FIDE get their act together. If that ever happens I might be prepared to become a fully-paid-up member of a universal one-price scheme. (Not I sincerely hope a cue to discuss the hoary old chestnut, please.)

I am not necessarily arguing that all ECF games should be FIDE rated

But using the FIDE methodology to have a National Rating must be the way to go, though updating quarterly instead of monthly maybe easier for the ECF to maintain

[Paolo Casaschi]

As ECF member and chess player in England I would like more of the games I play to count for the FIDE rating. It would be great if the ECF could work with FIDE to have the league games in England to fall withing the FIDE rating grid.

PS: no need to point out that it cannot be done with today's rules as reported in many posts, I'd just wish the ECF could convince FIDE to change those rules to the needs of the players in this country.

As I see it, a start has been made on this already, rather by default. An increasing number of events are running sections that are both FIDE rated and have results submitted to the ECF's grading system. This has run alongside FIDE having lowered the bar for allowing mere mortals to obtain a rating. I refer of course to the lower divisions of the 4NCL, never mind the Majors, Intermediate, and Minor sections of the typical weekend congress. Give a few years we will see this grow, and sooner or later a tipping point will be reached where a set of serious negotiations and discussions between the ECF & FIDE can occur, so that issues such as what to do about League Chess can take place.

However, if we ever go down the FIDE route wholesale, then I am sure there will be costs, constraints and compulsory aspects that will upset our very English ways, and we can look forward to howls of protest from some quarters.

I dont think it was Sean's intention to start a debate on each topic, so I wont reply here. I thought Sean wanted to collect a bunch of ideas and then make his mind up...

[Roger de Coverly]

However, if we ever go down the FIDE route wholesale, then I am sure there will be costs, constraints and compulsory aspects that will upset our very English ways, and we can look forward to howls of protest from some quarters.

The likely effect of compulsory licenses for arbiters is to choke the growth of FIDE rated events, the introduction of a system where you had to supply the ECF with a photograph, place of birth and passport number as a condition of playing your first FIDE rated tournament would be likely to reverse the number of both tournaments and participants.

If FIDE are adopting policy objectives hostile to mass participation in its rating system, then the ECF as a policy decision should have a long term objective of maintaining an independent national system. The President thought there was mileage in exploring the possibilities of amalgamating the English grading system with that of the Welsh and Scottish.

[Roger de Coverly]

But using the FIDE methodology to have a National Rating must be the way to go, though updating quarterly instead of monthly maybe easier for the ECF to maintain

The merits or otherwise of using an Elo style method to compute English national ratings may best be debated in the Grading area. One point of relevance to membership, is that it's much easier to run a system of member only ratings in an Elo style system.

[Brian Valentine]

Apart from most of the excellent suggestions above, I'd like to see a collection of older UK games in one place. Britbase is an great start, but there needs to be simple procedures for competition organisers to upload games into the central repository. (While a wide range of games would be submitted only members would have access).

[Alex Holowczak]

Apart from most of the excellent suggestions above, I'd like to see a collection of older UK games in one place. Britbase is an great start, but there needs to be simple procedures for competition organisers to upload games into the central repository. (While a wide range of games would be submitted only members would have access).

Having an area for organisers to submit games for graded tournaments is on the grading team's to-do list. It's not an archive, I know, but if current games go into it, it'll become "older UK games" in 20 years or so!

[Greg Breed]

I would like the ECF to provide a standardised league management website template. This would compute league and knock out results and compile a league table. It would be able to provide team and player results for viewing and would automatically submit to the ECF for grading.

I know i've touched upon this before elsewhere, but I think that something like this would be hugely beneficial. John Upham has such a template and many leagues use it. My point is that this should come from the ECF as it would simplify their own job and would require less in the way of volunteers to submit tedious grading updates with old fashioned methods.


I'll second Mick Norris' request for an accurate chess calendar and more assistance with county knock out stages which I believe are still entirely arranged by (dwindling) volunteer captains.

I really like Ian Kingston's suggestions:

1. Develop a national coaching scheme by training coaches at all levels throughout the country, with a path along which players can progress as they improve.

A coaching kit along the lines of that provided currently by Malcolm Pein's project or at least some noticeable support (to the rest of us at least) for it would be nice.

2. Produce materials that clubs and associations can use to promote chess in their area. This could include posters, leaflets, website templates or anything that can be adapted for use locally. This would help to present a professional outlook to players, parents, local media etc.

What better way could there be to help failing clubs!? I know that Hatch End will probably fade away within 5-10 years!

3. A simple list of benefits for members. I can’t (at a glance) find one on the ECF website.

Yup, when the ECF get around to actually providing it they would naturally want to promote what they offer.

[Ian Kingston]

Another suggestion: publish a set of minimum standards for playing venues (e.g. tables should be large enough for board, clock, scoresheet, captured pieces and players' elbows; seating should not result in back pain; disabled access). This wouldn't be mandatory, but would give clubs something to aim for and encourage them to improve conditions whenever possible.

[John Upham]

I believe this list is of the current ECF membership benefits.

Can anyone comment to confirm if the list is up-to-date?

[Brian Valentine]

Apart from most of the excellent suggestions above, I'd like to see a collection of older UK games in one place. Britbase is an great start, but there needs to be simple procedures for competition organisers to upload games into the central repository. (While a wide range of games would be submitted only members would have access).

Having an area for organisers to submit games for graded tournaments is on the grading team's to-do list. It's not an archive, I know, but if current games go into it, it'll become "older UK games" in 20 years or so!

Just to clarify - I'm suggesting the moves of games are uploaded. Of course I'm more interested in getting into the archive to look at the games and that is also a requirement.

My comment on older games was more about not starting the facility from now, but in the same vein as Chris K's archive, our heritage should be maintained as well.

[Alex Holowczak]

Just to clarify - I'm suggesting the moves of games are uploaded.

So am I!

[Richard Bates]

Maintain and improve its own distinctive model for grading which is far more suited to covering the whole range of playing strength from beginner to expert, where players may play between 1 game and 200 games in a year, and at wildly differing stages of chess development

Oh and resist any attempt to move FIDE rating towards covering quickplay games played in a pub!

[Paul Buswell]

I'm looking at what the ECF can do to improve its services to members. Therefore, can I ask that ONLY ECF members post replies please.

So guys - blank piece of paper. What would you like the ECF to do for you?

OK: as an ECF silver member

Efficient and thorough grading service; presemt one is best ever, keep it up, but possibly more frequent publication for new players
Comprehensive Congress calendar, extended to cover all of British Isles & Channel Islands to the extent it doesn't now
Efficiently run and credible national team and individual championships
Credible representation in FIDE individual and team championships; with automatic selection for winners of corresponding national events.
Maintenance of a national chess library and archive
One member one vote; not necessarily as the only electorate but certainly as part of an electoral college
Discounts from anyone who'll give them
National coaching accreditation based on objective assessment
An active media presence so that on any chess story there is an ECF point of view or response if called for.

That'll do for now. I realise that not all are 'services to members' but they will make this member happier in his continued membership.

PB

[Bruce Holland]

Discounts from anyone who'll give them

I have a specific suggestion to Paul's general idea. It is this. Chess players these days are avid consumers of computer technology and computers. We have a potential customer base of about 10,000 who will probably buy at least one new computer every 3 to 5 years if its Windows, and a new Mac every 5 to 10 years. Try and negotiate a deal with Apple (the iPads would be likely to be of interest across both OS camps), and a good quality manufacturer from the Wintel end of things, either HP or Sony, where members of the Federation could obtain a decent discount.

I'll talk to you separately about this when I get a moment Sean.

[Bruce Holland]

I would like the ECF to provide a standardised league management website template. This would compute league and knock out results and compile a league table. It would be able to provide team and player results for viewing and would automatically submit to the ECF for grading.

....... John Upham has such a template and many leagues use it. My point is that this should come from the ECF as it would simplify their own job and would require less in the way of volunteers to submit tedious grading updates with old fashioned methods.

Rather than re-invent the wheel here, there are others besides John Upham's template, as for example there is Oxford Fusion, run by Roger Thetford. I know he is prepared to re-develop his facilities that generate Grading Reports for the ECF which currently are spreadsheet based, so that it generates the pukka text files formatted for input to the ECF's system, as is done with Tournament Director and can be tweaked with Swiss Master.

We use Oxford Fusion to administer the results, league tables etc... for the Leamington League. Roger has built lots of features, including more recently identifying those players who are ECF Direct Members. There is a cost, which is largely the ISP costs associated with running a site of this nature. Why not get the ECF to stump up the cost for running a site for all League and League style events etc.... (as distinct from Congresses) whilst retaining John, Roger, or whoever else is in the field as the Developer.