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I am standing for the Junior International Director posts this year - unless prevented by red tape as in previous years - proposers and seconders welcomed.
The 2018 Glorney Cup is being held in Scotland. Let's put some effort into winning it. Let's also get some good performances in World and European Junior tournaments. In my day 1973-78 we always had a cracking Glorney Team - guys like Colin McNab , Paul Motwani , Graham Morrison, Mark Condie Tim Upton, Alan Norris etc who would then follow up with great individual performances in the World Juniors.
Talk about being positive is ok in theory but England thrashed us yesterday in the Glorney - they didn't do that in my day.
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Junior chess does not need yet another Glorney thread turned into a debate about whether or not the team is strong enough.
I know how hard the kids have been training for this event, I know the amount of prep that the coaches have been putting in as well, I know that other adults organising the team also have to put in what must be weeks of work pulling everything together. The players and adult supporters all deserve a huge thanks on behalf of everyone involved in Scottish Chess for their efforts and good wishes for the rest of the tournament.
Junior Chess runs on volunteers - its the same group of people every year who don't get enough recognition that are giving up their time for other peoples children. It's the same people year after year, that are coaching juniors to help them improve, running events for juniors to play in; if you want to help future Glorney teams - please think about giving some of your time to support your local juniors and your local junior events. (Andy M, I know you've run a Glasgow Junior League this year - thank you, please keep it up).
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25-07-2017, 07:35 PM
(This post was last modified: 26-07-2017, 08:54 AM by PeterReidSmith.)
Some of our juniors are doing remarkably well...I mean...yesterday for example (Murad) ; some of our coaches are doing remarkably well - Andrew Green's (and others) work is invaluable ; some of our volunteers are doing remarkably well (I won't embarrass anyone). I might even suggest that some of our officials have done grand things - I was in awe with how much David achieved, even if I didn't agree with every detail every time.
I get why we'd not want to be too "Happy Clappy" Alan, but in truth there is nothing like enough celebration of what is actually achieved. If we want a step change, however - and surely we all do - then that will require coordination, think: "whoops, there goes another rubber tree plant". As a simple example I've mentioned before, I feel anyone on the coaches list page should be required to provide a certain amount of time to be used at the discretion (and under the direction) of the JD.
[And I don't think it's about "competing distractions". A lot of the kids are working very hard at their chess, and if anything the resources available now are extraordinary (e.g. youtube, skype coaching, etc). As above, it's really more about coordinated effort imho.]
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The fact this is in Scotland next year is a big deal - and an opportunity. If we could settle the teams a little earlier, perhaps there's scope for some proactive (and pre-emptive) focused coaching. Again, let's consider some of the successes: Murad has made some fantastic progress over the last year alone ; ask ourselves how we could learn from that and replicate it more broadly. I am, for example, fairly pleased with Rachel (and Sarah)'s progress (and the efficiency of our programme) but I'm also conscious that in reality she's catching up with me a little too fast - and, in truth, I might not be able to improve my own game fast enough to remain adequate for her as a coach. I feel that consciously and deliberately targeting our resources to provide some assistance at various specific levels could really help.
I remain happy to assist where I can.
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I don't know Murad very well but what would it take for him to play in the Glorney next year ? Does he feel hes has outgrown it ? Surely a commitment to play for Scotland would put him in good stead for possible Olympiad selection too.
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(26-07-2017, 05:39 PM)amuir Wrote: I don't know Murad very well but what would it take for him to play in the Glorney next year ? Does he feel hes has outgrown it ? Surely a commitment to play for Scotland would put him in good stead for possible Olympiad selection too.
I think he wanted to be Scottish Champion.
"How sad to see, what used to be, a model of decorum and tranquility become like any other sport, a battleground for rival ideologies to slug it out with glee"
