Training Events

[Keith Rose]

Alan - Dundee Congress will not be FIDE rated

[Alan Tate]

It clashes with IOM!

[Keith Rose]

Darn. Or words to that effect.

[Graham Morrison]

Greg Shahade posted some very interesting videos on Youtube ( <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjHC37cPCtB1RpO7ahGXjNTTOggikxU9B">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... TOggikxU9B</a><!-- m --> ) a while ago based on training games that he organised online with some of the leading US juniors and titled players. It seemed to me at the time that this informal (ie, non-rated) setup was cheap, didn't rely on people being in the same place, and was a powerful way for young talents to get very strong practice. Anyway, lots of the young players participating seem to have subsequently become very strong!

Cheers,
Graham

[Ianbrownlee]

don't we already have a few FIDE rated trainers that chess Scotland paid to get registered/trained? If that is the case then CS should get a return on that investment at some point. This is well outside my area but can we maybe appoint a national trainer whose remit is to strengthen our improving and stronger/International players .one of my ideas I put out there was to hold a jamboree type event specifically for this purpose. The logistics to do this isn't difficult- Arthur Mulholland and myself ran such a training event earlier this year to gauge its popularity and we got twenty or so players of all strengths coming along. perhaps a similar event aimed specifically for our national players run by say an IM (or similar) would help. Also a training programme over say 12 months , compiled, implmrnted and supervised by a national coach would go a long way.

[Jim Webster]

Ian,

Before we start offering solutions there is a greater need to understand what is required/wanted. There is simply no point appointing a "national trainer" with an unspecified remit to compile, develop, implement and supervise a "blanket" training course.

It is not the logistics or willingness to run a series of one day seminars that is the problem - it is tailoring of requirements to meet the needs of players at different levels and abilities. Once we know the needs then perhaps we can address the needs in a structured fashion.

[Ianbrownlee]

Before we start offering solutions there is a greater need to understand what is required/wanted. There is simply no point appointing a "national trainer" with an unspecified remit to compile, develop, implement and supervise a "blanket" training course.

I agree to a point. First of all we need to identify that there is a need and if there is a need we need to identify it and plan how to address it
Please answer me this, am I right that Chess Scotland paid for a FIDE registered trainer and put him on a course? I am sure that we will need such a trainer ( and more of them) to organise training events, at least for our internationalists. I am also convinced that our home tournaments (e.g the Scottish) will have to be stronger in order to give our internationalists the experience to compete at a higher level. Possibly giving those players that type of exposure (even if they are working and playing each other) Such organisation would have to be coordinated, possibly by the Scottish captain and/or by our strongest player(s)

There is no doubt in my mind that the problem exists and it has to be addressed. I also think relying on potential IM's having to go abroad for Norms is no use and the way forward is to coach the internationalists to the next level. If we have coaching sessions conducted by English GTM's at say £40 per head, then that is a good start. I must say we should have someone organising this at national level

[Phil Thomas]

Noting that there is a Youth Development Officer in the new constitution.

Would it be Possible /Sensible /Feasible/Time Efficient to take the job description/operating procedures for that post and modify them as required for adult players?

[Ianbrownlee]

Hi Phil
we would need to ensure there is no overlap between the two posts but not a bad shout. The youth development office is designed to replace the focus of the old school development officer and develop chess in schools (including secondary schools) and youth clubs in general. I am thinking that someone is repsonsible specifically for bringing on our stronger potential ambassdors such as the international and Olympiad teams. Maybe it could come under the mandate of the international director (shooting from the hip here). How are you keeping anyway Phil

[Jim Webster]

Noting that there is a Youth Development Officer in the new constitution.

Would it be Possible /Sensible /Feasible/Time Efficient to take the job description/operating procedures for that post and modify them as required for adult players?

There is also, in the constitution, a Coaching & Training position.

The requirements to develop our high rated players are not the same as a more general approach for Youth Development.

The Youth Development Officer will have a remit across Scotland and therefore the responsibilities for general youth development (including schools) will be large enough without adding even more of a workload.

This structured two tiered approach also enables a method of progression from development to more specialised development as ability improves.

On a final note I would like to explain why I started this thread.

The top players seeking to better themselves, both with title aspirations and playing in top tournaments, have requirements that I don't have a lot of knowledge about. Therefore, I felt the need to research their particular requirements and get an understanding of what is required before proposing solutions.

It was not the intention of this thread to solicit individual opinions on these how these players should be trained. It was all about research and understanding then, and only then, looking at the possibility of how to develop appropriate solutions.

It is time to end my input on this thread. I will continue to monitor the thread and take note of any proposals, but perhaps a more direct individual approach to these players is needed. I am now of the opinion that the best way forward is to prepare and circulate a questionnaire/survey and use those results to progress. Hopefully more of players will respond to the personal contact as well as the few that post here.

Still no promises - we can but try.