Developing Midlands Junior Chess

Published 30 January 2011

Cyril Johnson in a letter to board members and those interested in Midlands junior chess wrote in an e-mail dated 30 January:

Friends

I am writing to you in various capacities. Some are members of the MCCU Board, others are people who are known to us as being involved in junior chess in their counties. David and I had a meeting in our capacities are Junior and Events Director to discuss the situation with Junior Chess in the Midlands.

I attach the minutes of our discussion for your information and to act as an invitation to get involved, as we wish this to be a co-ordinated team effort.

If you have anything you wish circulating, please email me. If you wish to discuss anything, my landline no is 0116 2609012.

Your positive contributions are welcome.

Cyril F W Johnson

Meeting between C Johnson (CJ) and D Levens (DL) at Syston Social Club  29th Jan 2011

It was agreed that a co-ordinate approach was needed to address the fall-off in Junior Chess in the MCCU.

It was agreed that the catalyst for the revival would be the appointment of competent coaches whose skill-set involved coaching at the appropriate level.

To achieve this, it would be necessary to create register of MCCU approved coaches.

Each county would be contacted to ascertain what coaches they already had who were suitable for work with juniors, and who would be interested in attending a training course along the lines of the successful one run by Notts.

A regional co-ordinator would need to be appointed one in each zone.

DL would create two syllabi, one for those who wished to become recognized as coaches. One for those wishing to be coached, the latter to have graduated certificates.

More MCCU Junior activities would be needed.

It was agreed to build on the successful Nottingham Junior Grand prix, with more events in the rest of the East and a similar scheme in the West. This would encourage more Junior events.

It was agreed to hold a MCCU Junior Championships in the spring at Syston with a maximum entry of 80 using vouchers from Chess Direct as prizes.

It was agreed to revive the MCCU Junior Counties Championships on a 6 a side basis.

This event and the Championship to be controlled by a properly qualified ECF Arbiter. More ECF arbiters to be trained in the Midlands using the offices of David Welch.

It was agreed that the LEAs and PTAs would be contacted.

Negotiations to be opened with Chess Suppliers to provide cheap equipment for schools.

The agreed minute of the meeting to be circulated to the MCCU Board and to any who had expressed an interest in working with children as part of a co-ordinated activity.