English Chess Forum

I know they’re kids, so one has to cut them some slack, but why are so many junior players so downright bad mannered at the board?

1. Banging the clock on every move
2. Staring at you when it’s your move
3. Standing behind you in your field of vision when it’s your move.
4. Constantly sniffing instead of blowing their nose
5. Sighing in boredom when you’re thinking.
6. Not shaking hands properly
7. Repeatedly offering draws in a losing position

I’m afraid to say that this behaviour is now the norm, rather than the exception.

I used to put up with it, but now I challenge it straight away. One wouldn’t tolerate rudeness from children in life, so why in chess?

What do you think?

You think that is bad? There is a lawyer and crown court recorder who can be depended on to be worse than that during most London League matches.

There's probably a FIDE bye-law somewhere that allows you, with the Arbiter's approval of course, to claim time on the clock while punching them straight in the face. If that doesn't satisfy, you'll just have to try the Jeremy Corbyn death stare.

The habit that almost invariably amuses rather than annoys me is the way the time spent thinking gets longer as the position deteriorates. There seems to be a failure to appreciate that thinking from the start of the game might be a better idea.

Juniors with bad habits will mostly grow out of them. Adults with bad habits will mostly not.

(I did play a junior last summer with a fantastic array of bad habits, from crumbling biscuit onto the board, to coming round behind my shoulder to look at the position, to standing up to consider his move or wait for mine. I imagine he will grow out of this. I hope I never find out, as I would be grateful never to see or hear of him again.)

R G Edwards wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 17, 2018 9:17 pm

. One wouldn’t tolerate rudeness from children in life

We do in fact tolerate it, often - not infinitely, but often, because it us good to show understanding and patience to people who are younger and smaller than we are. An absence of tolerance is a very short road to bullying.

R G Edwards wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 17, 2018 9:17 pm

What do you think?

I blame the education system thats what I think. I don't blame the kids, i do blame the stupid society they are in.

I'm more inclined to blame contemporary parenting styles.

When I was growing up, parents were both teachers and authority figures that established rules, boundaries and modes of behaviour. These days, parents want to be their child's best friend. Criticism of a child's behaviour is seen as judgmental and injurous to the child's feelings.

I'm not sure where Mr Edwards and others play chess but I spend a reasonable amount of time working with young players and I have never seen any of the behaviour described. I have seen the very odd isolated incident over the years but to suggest it is rife is ridiculous. I could make a list of atrocious behaviour I've witnessed from (supposed) adults however ...

Some of the elements in the list are disturbing behaviour and are not just restricted to children. The best thing to do is tell them firmly that you find it disturbing and please stop. Most children, not being psychopaths, will stop (not so sure about the adults). If the behaviour persists then tell the arbiter who should then come and watch your game to make sure you aren't making stuff up and then follow up one way or the other. In my experience the kids are mostly all right.

I would add that all the really bad behaviour at the chess board that I have seen has come from adults.

Andrew Zigmond wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 18, 2018 12:25 am

I have never seen any of the behaviour described.

I wouldn't say that behaviour has got noticeably worse in recent times, but all the bullet points seem familiar enough, looking back 50 years.

You have to learn not to allow it to be upsetting and to take advantage of the information being conveyed on how they are assessing the position.

Do they still teach the snake method of recording moves?

That's where the score looks like etc.

You used to know that your opponent had been part of junior squad training when you see this.

The most irritating behaviour I have encountered was from one junior who left the board immediately after making his move. Upon his return he would ask "What did you move?". After about 15 or so instances of this, I said "If you sit at the table you will see it", and refused to tell him. He almost burst into tears, but repeated this behaviour several more times. I have not seen his name in any event for the last few years.

One of the more annoying habits is playing strong moves despite having a low grade.

The irony is that if some people really detest playing juniors that much there are plenty of leagues and congresses where you don't have to worry about being paired against one.