English Chess Forum

I have been using "Blended Tournaments" to help show Juniors the young adults (Heros) who play in the adult league. We started in March and made 4 new teams inside that time to now. "Blended Tournament's" are made for under 25's and show that stronge players play in the adult leagues and thats where the real competition is to be found there. Try one it works. call me for more ideas on developing adult leagues.

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Charles W. Wood
Captain of Legion

Or what do you do to make juniors play in "Adult league" players?

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Charles W. Wood
Captain of Legion

Just play them in the leagues. Encourage them when they lose and congratulate them when they win.

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Hatch End A Captain (Hillingdon League)
Harrow 2 Captain (Middlesex League)

Not always that easy, some coaches have had problems with age in the evening leagues, Bed Time and all that. I used a set of teams and hoped they'd come if I didn't pressure them, it seemed to work. Saturday and Sunday leagues are easier but they need to be strong enough, so you need the evening league. Catch 22. I'm running four teams for four different clubs at the minute but that will only last until May. After that they get cut loose. The 16+ kids where easy, they just came and stayed (give or take their interest in partners).

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Charles W. Wood
Captain of Legion

I think the quality of the club members in each club is vital, as if they are too old, or not junior friendly or something, then the juniors can/will be put off. I was lucky enough to join a smallish club (9/10 members at the time) that was extremely friendly and keen to help me progress, and treated me as an equal in general socialising when I first started league chess at about 14/15. I also had a lot of confidence in meeting new people and doing new things, so that probably contributed quite a bit.

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To Drink or not to Drink, that is the question.

I Drink therefore I am.

I'm not as think as you drunk I am.

I think you where lucky, Junior chess isn't even on the agenda at some clubs, and I have talked to people who actively discourage juniors and 1 extreme case a club that didn't want any development at all. Mad eh! But on the other side of the same coin I've seen clubs that near force juniors into the evening league, equally as bad result. Its hard that why I want to debate this. I know Tony Robson does quite a good job in a libary, amazes me, we tried never got anywhere, how did you do it?

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Charles W. Wood
Captain of Legion

I'm sorry, I don't quite understand what you're asking in your last post...

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To Drink or not to Drink, that is the question.

I Drink therefore I am.

I'm not as think as you drunk I am.

I was asked for Tony to describe his way of doing things. BUT why don't you. What do you do, and why does it work, I and that lot out there need to know. Ideas become shareable when we share them.

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Charles W. Wood
Captain of Legion

How do you mean what I do? For what? (sorry)

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To Drink or not to Drink, that is the question.

I Drink therefore I am.

I'm not as think as you drunk I am.

Your Derbyshire's Plate controller and Trophy bod, why does your job help other people? Its important that we understand, you are part of the machine at makes chess great.

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Charles W. Wood
Captain of Legion

I'm more of a joint controller atm, I've not really done much apart from some Arbiting this year, thanks to reasons involving my health, as well as BT...

I do more (well, I'm on a time-out atm) for junior chess than anything else, mainly because I want kids to enjoy it as much as I did, even though I had to co-organise a lot of the tournaments I played in to make sure that they happened...

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To Drink or not to Drink, that is the question.

I Drink therefore I am.

I'm not as think as you drunk I am.

See your part of the family, what do you do to make them tournaments special?

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Charles W. Wood
Captain of Legion

I don't really know, I just tried to make sure everything ran as smoothly as possible, and just enjoying myself on the day, and it seemed to make others enjoy it as well.

I think that the fact that I am still a Youth myself gives me a potential huge advantage over other organisers, as kids are more themselves around me, and we can relate so easily. I've been told that my enthusiasm is very infectious, and contributes to getting kids involved and enjoying themselves, and that a lot of kids look up to me. I can't see it myself, I'm just going on what I've been told by observers, but I seem to have a way with younger kids mainly it seems in terms of enthusiasm etc.

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To Drink or not to Drink, that is the question.

I Drink therefore I am.

I'm not as think as you drunk I am.

You're what the ECF board are trying to grow and develop, I now have to say you are thge future of chess, please take my compliments and please please keep doing what you do. Martin Regan (CEO of the ECF) would say you are what we all hope for. I will help you as far as I can.

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Charles W. Wood
Captain of Legion

I think what is important to remember that juniors are slightly different to the adults and they way we treat them must also differ, kids are very easily put off if they have their confidence dashed! It's worth using some child friendly ideas especially in the tournaments to encourage kids to want to take part, at our tournaments, every child leaves with something not any of them feel like they have lost at the end.

This boosts their confidence and with stars doing the prize giving it makes for an enjoyable experience win or loose. If you would like some ideas to make your junior tournament more child orientated please phone either Charles or myself 0845 400 2429 but if there is something that you are doing that works extremely well please share your ideas. Chess WILL grow in this Country if we all work together for the benefit of chess.