Another Perspective

A company named Educational Technologies has put a succinct view on the benefits of chess:
Chess is an exercise of infinite possibilities for the mind, one which develops mental abilities used throughout life: concentration, critical thinking, abstract reasoning, problem solving, pattern recognition, strategic planning, creativity, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation, to name a few. Chess can be used very effectively as a tool to teach problem solving and abstract reasoning. Learning how to solve a problem is more important than learning the solution to any particular problem. Through chess, we learn how to analyze a situation by focusing on important factors and by eliminating distractions. We learn to devise creative solutions and put a plan into action. Chess works because it is self-motivating. The game has fascinated humans for almost 2000 years, and the goals of attack and defense, culminating in checkmate, inspire us to dig deep into our mental reserves.
I couldn’t express it better.

Why Start a Chess Program?

Many studies have been conducted by experts in educational fields on the effects of playing chess on student performance.  Most of the studies indicate an improvement in student performance in some field or other.  I am not an educational professional so I can’t make any statements on outcome of those studies.  I would point out that chess is taught as a part of the elementary school curriculum in over 30 countries, so there are many educators who agree on the benefits of chess play for young minds.

Some of the points the studies make is that playing chess improves concentration, logical reasoning skills, memory skills, reading skills, social skills, and self esteem in these children.  Any adult who has been around children who play tournament chess, which is most players in an organized chess program, see how some of the above mentioned chess attributes are displayed in most players.  Often time teachers will mention to me at tournaments that they can identify the students in their classes who participate in the chess program because they can sit and study word problems longer and suggest more solutions than other students in the class.

The takeaway is that children benefit from playing chess in many ways.  And the effect is seen at any level of play, the children don’t have to have exceptional playing skills or even to compete at a high level of tournament competition.  Concentrating on playing “good” chess will have the results parents and teachers are looking for in a chess program.

How To Start And Run A Scholastic Chess Program by Darrel Knobloch

This book covers the essential information needed to start and run a successful chess program.  Particularly: starting a chess program, maintaining the program over many years, participating in your first scholastic chess tournament, hosting a scholastic chess tournament, and a glossary of chess terms.

When I started the chess program at St. Vincent’s school, I searched for a book like this but none was available.  Over the past 10 years I have been building that chess program into the successful program it is today.  Now I want other people who are ready to start a chess program to be able to benefit from my experiences.

The people who will want to read my book are those parents, school administrators, library directors, recreation center directors, and after school care program directors who think that starting a chess program would be a benefit to their children.

I have been the chess coach at St. Vincent’s School in Bedford, TX for ten years.  During that time I have taught several hundred students to enjoy the game. Both the students and the school have won many trophies during this time.  I am a U.S. Chess Federation Certified Local Tournament Director and have run, or assisted in running, hundreds of chess tournaments throughout the state of Texas.  My goal is to help as many children as possible learn to enjoy the game of chess.