Correct support for The Scotland Junior International Squad

[Mike Scott]

Some games to show the doubters that the Scottish Juniors are getting there and have great potential

I don't think many (or any) people thing Scottish Juniors lack potential. Sadly potential is not enough; the problem is not lack of potential but how to to convert it into the actual playing strength that enables players to maintain a high standard over many games.

[Mike Scott]

The current squad system will bring the results in my opinion. And if guidelines were imposed and started diminishing that squad then I predict there would be a falling off of juniors numbers playing in Scottish events also.

What squad system?
Where are all these juniors between J12 and J18 at the moment?

[Angus McDonald]

Mike,

Potential under 18 squad for next year.

Andrew McClement, Jonny Scott, Shivan Murdochy, Ian McDonald, Daniel Thomas, Sam Gregory, Nihad Abdulla, Miguel Espinosa.

You can go down the list an come out with a strong squad at under 16 for next year also.

Under 14 and under 12 the same.

Tell you what. I'll go halvers with you to pay for a training day in a Central location to support Paul and Robin's work.
Any other parents want to chip in you are welcome! :-)
Angus

[Alex McFarlane]

In my opinion it is relatively easy for younger players to gain valuable experience at little cost by playing in Majors and then Opens at weekend congresses. I would certainly query the wisdom of sending a youngster to the World or European Championship if they had never competed in at least a Major.

For older youngsters, certainly U14 upwards but possibly U12 as well, they do need to play in stronger, one round per day, events and with incremental times as well probably.
These are few and far between in Britain never mind Scotland. If three parents were willing to donate what they spend on one international trip then a FIDE rated (possibly even an IM norm) event could just about be organised at Edinburgh Chess Club for example.

I am looking at the possibility of providing top quality training for British International quality juniors at the next Scottish.

[Mike Scott]

Angus,
A list of players is not what I take to be a squad system! :-)
I was thinking more in terms of groups of players of similar ability being brought together primarily (but not exclusively) for training purposes, with some system for bringing in new players and progressing players through the squads.

What comes to mind for sure is Jacqui's excellent event last year (?) and Donna's squad. I would extend the idea to include something like Lynsey's Dalguise.

As said before I think ensuring players are getting 1:1 coaching is a definite first requirement but making the development more social by bringing the players together as a group more often would be a good way to help keep players engaged and enjoying developing their chess. Naturally easier said than done!

[Angus McDonald]

Alex,

OK, I'll support any training you can arrange in Edinburgh. It's pretty Central. Happy to take a car down if it can be arranged.

Will explain more in another post but really The Euroyouth and The World Youth are the pinnacle of what a young junior can aspire to. I'm convinced that's what they want to aim for and what the parents want them doing. Also 'Scotland' should be represented at these events at as many agegroups as possible. imho

[Angus McDonald]

Mike,

A list of names is a reasonable starting point

[Angus McDonald]

Compiling a file of some of the juniors going to the Euroyouth's best games.

If anyone would like me to post up a particular game of their child just prior to the competion you can e-mail me the game on <!-- e --><a href="mailto:gusmacw88@yahoo.co.uk">gusmacw88@yahoo.co.uk</a><!-- e --> (take the numbers out!)

[David G Congalton]

If three parents were willing to donate what they spend on one international trip then a FIDE rated (possibly even an IM norm) event could just about be organised at Edinburgh Chess Club for example.

Alex, what sort of figure is 3 x one international trip?

Could you expand on the format you envisage for such an event and when in the year this would take place?

Would a format similar to the First Saturday Tournament which is held in Budapest Hungary be a workable option?

[David G Congalton]

Next year's World youth championships will be held in the United Arab Emirates. With this in mind I found the following interesting.

"Salmon is Scotland’s largest food export and worldwide retail value of is over £1 billion. Over 55 countries import fresh Scottish farmed salmon. Scottish salmon was named 'best farmed salmon in the world' in a poll of international seafood buyers from leading retail and food service companies (May 2011).

The main export markets for salmon in the Middle East are the UAE, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Jordan."

The full source article can be found at <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/02/Gulfood20022012">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Release ... od20022012</a><!-- m -->

This could be an example of or opportunity for International Junior Chess to work with Scottish business and the Scottish government.