06-08-2012, 03:56 PM
I would like to just make a couple of comments about specific issues raised on this thread.
Personally, I am in favour of rating barriers as guidelines to help selectors. This is partly based upon my own experience at the Euros in Montenegro in 2006. I have always felt that I was not ready for such a tournament. As a result, I did not compete in either the Euros or the Worlds until 2009 - when I thought I was ready. At the end of the 05/06 season I was rated 894. I believe a sensible rating barrier would have prevented me from competing at this time. That tournament contrasted greatly with my experience in Italy in 2009, where I got 5.5/9 playing some good chess and learning a great deal.
However, I must admit that 2100 for J16 is somewhat overoptimistic in my view. My suggested barriers (for boys) would be 110*age, giving 1980 for J18 and 1100 for J10. I would base this on CS rating, as FIDE is not always representative of true playing strength. For juniors, especially those who gain a FIDE grade at a young age (and thereby a correspondingly low grade) it can be very hard to work their FIDE grade up to their true playing strength. For girls presumably different barriers would be used.
I realise that this is a contentious issue for many people. However, a good point has been made that selectors would be able to use their own judgements in borderline cases - as Hugh says, no-one should suggest that these are absolute. In fact, I would recommend that they were reviewed every 2 years (for instance) by the Junior selectors in order to change with the times.
The definition of success at these events is always difficult. As has already been pointed out, it incorporates the score achieved at the tournament with the chess learning gained from participation. Both are important - everyone going to the tournament should hope to achieve a reasonable score (according to their own expectations) and to have learnt new things. I remember an allegro tournament where I achieved the wonderful score of 0/6. Needless to say, I wasn't exactly happy about it - and had learned very little from the experience (apart from some good practice at losing graciously?). Learning is best backed up by positive emotions. Losing all one's games tends to leave the mind blank with grief.
I think the idea of older/more experienced juniors helping younger juniors is a good one. I for one would be quite happy to give up some of my own time to try and help another junior using a combination of Skype and Playchess. However, there would be the danger of stronger players pitching ideas at too high a level. Even so, I do not see how anyone could lose out by such an arrangement. Of course, it would also be wonderful for me to have coaching from the top Scottish GMs paid for by Chess Scotland, but in these cash-strapped times it might be difficult to achieve - which brings us back to the subject of how to raise money.
It is good to see so many people taking an interest in junior chess on this forum and I believe that debate is always healthy in any topic.
Finally I would like to wish the rest of the Euro Youth squad the best of luck for the tournament. I look forward to having Hugh as Head of Delegation - and I hope to have some interesting discussions about Tanzanian politics...
Personally, I am in favour of rating barriers as guidelines to help selectors. This is partly based upon my own experience at the Euros in Montenegro in 2006. I have always felt that I was not ready for such a tournament. As a result, I did not compete in either the Euros or the Worlds until 2009 - when I thought I was ready. At the end of the 05/06 season I was rated 894. I believe a sensible rating barrier would have prevented me from competing at this time. That tournament contrasted greatly with my experience in Italy in 2009, where I got 5.5/9 playing some good chess and learning a great deal.
However, I must admit that 2100 for J16 is somewhat overoptimistic in my view. My suggested barriers (for boys) would be 110*age, giving 1980 for J18 and 1100 for J10. I would base this on CS rating, as FIDE is not always representative of true playing strength. For juniors, especially those who gain a FIDE grade at a young age (and thereby a correspondingly low grade) it can be very hard to work their FIDE grade up to their true playing strength. For girls presumably different barriers would be used.
I realise that this is a contentious issue for many people. However, a good point has been made that selectors would be able to use their own judgements in borderline cases - as Hugh says, no-one should suggest that these are absolute. In fact, I would recommend that they were reviewed every 2 years (for instance) by the Junior selectors in order to change with the times.
The definition of success at these events is always difficult. As has already been pointed out, it incorporates the score achieved at the tournament with the chess learning gained from participation. Both are important - everyone going to the tournament should hope to achieve a reasonable score (according to their own expectations) and to have learnt new things. I remember an allegro tournament where I achieved the wonderful score of 0/6. Needless to say, I wasn't exactly happy about it - and had learned very little from the experience (apart from some good practice at losing graciously?). Learning is best backed up by positive emotions. Losing all one's games tends to leave the mind blank with grief.
I think the idea of older/more experienced juniors helping younger juniors is a good one. I for one would be quite happy to give up some of my own time to try and help another junior using a combination of Skype and Playchess. However, there would be the danger of stronger players pitching ideas at too high a level. Even so, I do not see how anyone could lose out by such an arrangement. Of course, it would also be wonderful for me to have coaching from the top Scottish GMs paid for by Chess Scotland, but in these cash-strapped times it might be difficult to achieve - which brings us back to the subject of how to raise money.
It is good to see so many people taking an interest in junior chess on this forum and I believe that debate is always healthy in any topic.
Finally I would like to wish the rest of the Euro Youth squad the best of luck for the tournament. I look forward to having Hugh as Head of Delegation - and I hope to have some interesting discussions about Tanzanian politics...