04-08-2016, 12:47 PM
A quick glance at the CS event rating summary would suggest that everyone performed at or above their grading: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.chessscotland.com/event2017/World_Youth_Olympiad_U16_2016.html">http://www.chessscotland.com/event2017/ ... _2016.html</a><!-- m -->
Given how fast some of those ratings have been improving, I'm not really sure what more we think we should be asking from individual juniors. On the contrary, perhaps any adults with a strong view could volunteer some of their time to help them improve even faster and further - sadly my own ability and coaching is struggling to keep pace (Rachel's performance in the Glorney was c.1950 and she's starting to beat me for real). When accepting Chess Scotland's money to pay for my PVG, however, I took the tacit condition seriously - i.e. that I should contribute some of my own time (free) to help, and I'll continue to do that. More and more of our juniors need a better guide than me though. Perhaps it's time to make the tacit condition less tacit - if we're on the coach list on the CS page, then perhaps we commit to a certain number of free coaching hours (under the direction and guidance of the JD).
In short, talk of further improvement is good, but let's please accompany it with tangible offers of practice assistance - I'm sure that will be welcomed.
Given how fast some of those ratings have been improving, I'm not really sure what more we think we should be asking from individual juniors. On the contrary, perhaps any adults with a strong view could volunteer some of their time to help them improve even faster and further - sadly my own ability and coaching is struggling to keep pace (Rachel's performance in the Glorney was c.1950 and she's starting to beat me for real). When accepting Chess Scotland's money to pay for my PVG, however, I took the tacit condition seriously - i.e. that I should contribute some of my own time (free) to help, and I'll continue to do that. More and more of our juniors need a better guide than me though. Perhaps it's time to make the tacit condition less tacit - if we're on the coach list on the CS page, then perhaps we commit to a certain number of free coaching hours (under the direction and guidance of the JD).
In short, talk of further improvement is good, but let's please accompany it with tangible offers of practice assistance - I'm sure that will be welcomed.