Re: Certificate of Merit
Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 8:39 am
What the ECF needs to do is develop a 'performance pathway' for the top chess players. What have those that have reached the top (like Anand, Carlsen Topalov etc) done. You might consider questions like
1. How much coaching have they had (at what age)?
2. How long did they stay in 'education'?
3. How much tournament chess do they play (and at what age)?
4. How do they use the Internet?
5. What opening do they play (as their chess is developing)?
6. How often do they change their openings?
The English Cricket Board and Lawn Tennis Association have done something very similar to this and this is an important part of their submission for government funding.
I am not pretending it would be easy to write this sort of report and the ECF might have to pay a fair bit of money to get someone to do it. However, I do think it is important. There are various statements here about the openings juniors play and should play, but I suspect none of us know what is best practice from the empirical evidence.
1. How much coaching have they had (at what age)?
2. How long did they stay in 'education'?
3. How much tournament chess do they play (and at what age)?
4. How do they use the Internet?
5. What opening do they play (as their chess is developing)?
6. How often do they change their openings?
The English Cricket Board and Lawn Tennis Association have done something very similar to this and this is an important part of their submission for government funding.
I am not pretending it would be easy to write this sort of report and the ECF might have to pay a fair bit of money to get someone to do it. However, I do think it is important. There are various statements here about the openings juniors play and should play, but I suspect none of us know what is best practice from the empirical evidence.