The future - 2011 and beyond.

[Andrew Giles]

Dear all

Whilst the social aspects of junior chess are no doubt important, I believe using online training can be a useful adjunct.

Training on Chessbase servers with simultaneous Skype voiceover and instant messenger can work very well. Closed tournaments and simultaneous games with a stong player can also be fun for a group.

In fact I'd suggest online play in general, esp. with longer time controls, as a useful training tool - much more fun than playing against the computer and something todays generation (who've never known life pre-internet) are quite at home with.

Cuts down on the hassle, time and expense for parents too. In fact never forget the parents angle - I've noticed increasing numbers of parents getting fed up with the whole miserable business of supporting their kids chess

Andrew

[John Upham]

Training on Chessbase servers with simultaneous Skype voiceover and instant messenger can work very well. Closed tournaments and simultaneous games with a stong player can also be fun for a group.
Andrew

Andrew,

I'm pleased you have suggested this!

The AMCA has been doing just this for over four years : http://www.andrewmartinchessacademy.com/ and very popular it is to.

We have a team of coaches who can cover most international time zones and many languages.

[Paul Sanders]

The ECF has very little to offer juniors, other than access to a FIDE rating and permission to play FIDE events where an ECF signature is required on the entry form.

Perhaps a period of consolidation is required to build a firm base for ECF junior chess. There is not even an England team or squad, for instance, nor a national multistage junior championship. Both these fundamental parts of a coherent junior chess strategy have been privatised, but even an honorary ECF squad membership for the top few rated juniors from each birth year would be valued, and would strengthen participation in rated events.

The other great lack is financial support. Raising money and distributing travel support and coaching bursaries would gain the ECF much needed credibility with parents. I would expect too that awarding ECF bursaries, however small, would have a remarkably positive effect on attitudes to chess in schools and in the community generally, as each would be a photo opportunity and a chance to celebrate success.

As any chess parent knows, junior chess is very well supported in England by our time and money and the efforts of our children. Back of an envelope calculations show probably in excess of £250,000 per annum being spent on junior chess, perhaps much more. A bit of simple practical help, along with ECF recognition of achievement and effort wherever it happens, would more than compensate for a lack of big new initiatives over the next few years.

[John Upham]

If John Robinson was able to review how his hugely generous benefaction had been employed, who believes that he would be content with the JRTs usage to date?

I assume that the Trustees would be content?

Do any of them visit this forum?

[Alex McFarlane]

I knew John and believe he would be delighted to know what his money has achieved so far.

He would, I'm sure, welcome some speculation on developmental work but not to the detriment of current activities.

The long term development of chess was obviously close to John's heart. But he would not want to see the money squandered. I think the Trustees have a very difficult task in balancing developmental opportunities with long term sustainability.

[John Upham]

I knew John and believe he would be delighted to know what his money has achieved so far.

Can you provide the details of what has been achieved please?

[Alex McFarlane]

There has been an annual award to the top junior enabling that person to advance their chess.

There has been support of junior events.

The training provided to juniors at the British is funded by the Trust. In general this provision has been extremely well received.

These are things that I am aware of that I'm sure John would have approved of.

[andrew martin]

Still no takers from anyone in the NE wanting to talk about setting up a pilot academy. Anyone interested anywhere else in England, or in fact,anywhere in the British Isles?

It could be,of course, that everyone thinks all is well, until the next International event,when complaints start coming in about the England performances.

Or perhaps regional politics get in the way. We have seen how backward-looking and stifling these can be on another thread.

[Susan Lalic]

There are many sensible suggestions on this thread.
I applaud Andrew's initiative.
Training weekends and strong tournaments must be the tried and tested method to help juniors.
Peter Purland certainly arranges an excellent training weekend in January.
I remember being very privileged to be part of the National Girls Squad 30 years ago and we were coached about 5 times a year by International Masters.
There was no pressure having to qualify - it was by invitation and I think it was done more or less by rating.
I still play some of the opening lines learnt then, today.
I remember Andrew Martin taking one session in London!
I was also invited to attend some mixed sessions and we were tutored by Ray Keene and Speelman, amongst others.
The Informator used to drop through the letter box free of charge as well.
There were National Squads in place, as well as regional squads and I wasn't aware of my parents parting with any money, except for travel.
I am not sure if the biggest difference now is the lack of training weekends, or if there are less really tough, quality tournaments. We used to have the Lloyds Bank Squad Championships (akin to the English Closed Champs. now), Lloyds Bank Masters, as well as Hastings and the exceptionally strong Oakham events.
Leonard Barden would know if there are as many strong players today as 30 years ago. One thing is clear, the World and European Juniors were a load weaker then, as USSR could send only one rep!

[David Shepherd]

I am not sure if the biggest difference now is the lack of training weekends, or if there are less really tough, quality tournaments.

In my opinion it is the almost total lack of training weekends on a National basis, there are tournaments such as Hastings, e2e4, London, 4NCL, maybe not enough but they do exist and most weekend opens are fairly strong.

[Susan Lalic]

In my opinion it is the almost total lack of training weekends on a National basis, there are tournaments such as Hastings, e2e4, London, 4NCL, maybe not enough but they do exist and most weekend opens are fairly strong.

I agree.

[andrew martin]

I would be delighted to organise national training weekends but have a couple of reservations:

1) I am very unsure about all the turf wars and politics in the junior chess scene. The backbiting and complaining is unbelievable and is a definite hinderance to progress.

2) National weekends must mean national,not just the South and South East. There are problems here with cost. That's why regional academies make more sense.We definitely have the coaches in every area to make this work.

3) I have nothing in my coaching budget,so I cannot offer any assistance to disadvantaged families. This is not ideal......Have we really constructed a framework in this country where only the well-off can afford to play chess? I think we are coming uncomfortably close to that and I identify this as just one more reason why we are lagging at top level.

[Krishna Shiatis]

There are many sensible suggestions on this thread.
I applaud Andrew's initiative.
Training weekends and strong tournaments must be the tried and tested method to help juniors.
Peter Purland certainly arranges an excellent training weekend in January.
I remember being very privileged to be part of the National Girls Squad 30 years ago and we were coached about 5 times a year by International Masters.
There was no pressure having to qualify - it was by invitation and I think it was done more or less by rating.
I still play some of the opening lines learnt then, today.
I remember Andrew Martin taking one session in London!
I was also invited to attend some mixed sessions and we were tutored by Ray Keene and Speelman, amongst others.
The Informator used to drop through the letter box free of charge as well.
There were National Squads in place, as well as regional squads and I wasn't aware of my parents parting with any money, except for travel.
I am not sure if the biggest difference now is the lack of training weekends, or if there are less really tough, quality tournaments. We used to have the Lloyds Bank Squad Championships (akin to the English Closed Champs. now), Lloyds Bank Masters, as well as Hastings and the exceptionally strong Oakham events.
Leonard Barden would know if there are as many strong players today as 30 years ago. One thing is clear, the World and European Juniors were a load weaker then, as USSR could send only one rep!

Hi Susan,

It is lovely to hear about what inspired you and that you are still using what you learned at these training week-ends!

Following on a little from what Susan has said here about how things were achieved in the past and just dreaming a little about what could be in the future...

We do need a national strategy on training and development which meets the current sentiments of parents and children.

First we do have to decide what we actually want.

Yes, everybody wants success, but how is this to be achieved? Do we inspire our youngsters? If yes, then how?

Do we want more participation, if so, then how?

Can we look at the competition and see how they are doing it? Would that work for us?

If we could have a wish list (parents and juniors) I would include the following:

1) GMs to coach the juniors.

That is not to say that only GMs can coach, but they would be the ones who the kids would look up to. It is what the Eastern Europeans and Russians do - their GMs coach their best kids.

I do know a few excellent ones already who have track record and great rapport with the kids - Nunn (tactical brilliance and problem solving), Ward (very good sense of humour, super with kids, gets on well with parents and a jolly good egg), Arkell (again excellent rapport with kids, very relaxed and a lovely chap), Hebden, Pert, Flear and Emms (my profoundest apologies for any that I have missed). There are a few more who are younger and would inspire the juniors - Howell, Jones, Gordon and Mcshane, all those who are around past and present, I would love to see these guys training our juniors.

If we had a central academy with regular training dates, we could approach them and see what happens? - Inspirational? Maybe?

2) Regular coaching days with the top children all together.

3) Allowing regular participation in International Competitions for many children (just like the Russians).

4) A real focus on training and development rather than on 'looking at results'. If you have happy, inspired kids, who are well trained, then the success will follow naturally.

5) Emphasis on increased participation and moving away from the very closed approach of training just one or two.

6) Having somebody who is flexible, approachable, kind, who can interact as easily with parents as with children at the top of junior chess. We are due to have somebody new soon and we need to know that they are up to the job.

7) We need to move forwards not backwards and build enthusiasm and rapport within and between all the existing county establishments. To discuss their strategies for junior chess and how they might add to and help with the National strategy. At the end of the day, these are the guys who can help the kids on a weekly basis.

Obviously, not too much here.

I know I might as well bay at the moon, but once again, no harm in suggesting.

[Rob Thompson]

1) I'm happy with my coach, and I don't think i need anyone else to coach me. My coach is an IM.

4) how do you measure progress if not by looking at results?

5) if requiring players to play in junior events as a qualifying route for isn't an incentive for increased participation, i'm not sure what is.

[andrew martin]

Krishna,

Let's say the Academy centre ended up in Leeds. How many Kent,Sussex ,Essex and MIddx players would attend on a regular basis?

There is a vast untapped reserve of talent outside the South-East. Any sensible strategy must take this into account.