Please send
suggestions and questions for chess coaches’ tests to execdir@amchess.org.
Visit www.amchess.org for a free download of chess research and
educational benefits. We will be
adding other features in the near future.
What does it take to be a good coach? Minimally, this subcommittee felt there were at least four key components:
Experience—working with youth over a period of time
Education—professional development, coaching ideas, and teaching strategies
Chess (technical knowledge)—rules of chess and tournament rules (so you can advise and prepare your students)
Chess (performance)—rating is being used as a measurement of understanding and application of knowledge base
We would like to consider mentoring and other opportunities to help coaches. Please let us know what would benefit you most.
Proposal to expand the certified chess coach program
submitted by Tom Brownscombe, Bob Ferguson, Alexey Root, and Sunil Weeramantry.
Background: About 20% of coaches in youth sports seek certification from a national
organization. Those who seek
certification do so primarily to improve their teaching abilities and technical
(sport) knowledge. (See Engh, Fred. (1999). Why
Johnny hates sports: why organized youth sports are failing our children and
what we can do about it. Avery Publishing Group: Garden City Park, New
York).
USCF
plans to offer voluntary certification for chess coaches. The purpose
of the standards is to encourage the professional development of chess coaches.
This certification does NOT certify a coach's suitability for any particular
coaching job. The coach's employer is responsible for investigating criminal
records and verifying resume information.
Rationale for Local, Senior, and National levels:
At each level, consideration is given to two aspects of good coaching:
pedagogical (teaching) knowledge and technical (chess) knowledge.
The standards thus encourage educators, skilled chessplayers, and
tournament directors to become certified chess coaches.
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:
For
each level, THREE of the FOUR listed choices must be documented and the
appropriate fee submitted to USCF to earn the LIFETIME certification at that
level. MINIMUM requirements are
stated for each level. For example, taking for-credit chess and education
courses (the Education option at the National Coach level) can substitute for
taking Continuing Education Units or Chess and Education Seminars (the Education
options at the Local and Senior Coach levels).
A new coach could fulfill Local requirements in one year, Senior
requirements in two or three years, and National requirements in five years.
Standards
will be approved during the 2001 U.S. Open.
Implementation is scheduled for September 1, 2002 to allow AMPLE time for
USCF to PUBLICIZE these voluntary certification standards to teachers,
tournament directors and chess coaches.
Certified Local Chess Coach:
1.
Experience:
Completed
within the last five years: ONE YEAR of volunteer or paid education work with
youth. Examples might include PTA
classroom volunteer work, service as a scout leader, a teacher's aide job, or
chess coaching.
2.
Education:
Participation
in ONE in-service or continuing education unit (CEU) chess and education
seminar. Examples might include
attending or presenting at a USCF Chess and Education seminar or taking an
on-line CEU chess and education course.
3.
Chess (technical knowledge):
Pass
the Local Chess Coach test.
4.
Chess (performance):
Have
an established USCF rating of 1200.
Pay
a $5 fee to USCF (USCF membership
is required).
Certified Senior Chess Coach
1.
Experience:
Complete
within the last five years: TWO YEARS of volunteer or paid chess coaching or
instruction with youth at a school or other institution servicing youth.
2.
Education:
Participation
in TWO in-service or continuing education unit (CEU) chess and education
seminars. Examples might include attending or presenting at a USCF Chess and
Education seminar, or taking an on-line CEU chess and education course.
3.
Chess (technical knowledge):
Pass
the Senior Chess Coach test.
4.
Chess (performance):
Have
an established USCF rating of 1500.
Pay a $5 fee to USCF (USCF membership is required).
Certified National Chess Coach
1.
Experience:
Completed
within the last five years: FIVE YEARS of chess coaching OR taking three teams
to USCF Nationals.
2.
Education:
Pass
two USCF approved courses in chess and education. One of the two courses should
be at the graduate level. Each chess and education course should be three credit
hours.
3.
Chess (technical knowledge):
Pass
the National Chess Coach test.
4.
Chess (performance)
Have
an established USCF official rating of 1800.
Pay
a $5 fee to USCF (USCF membership
is required).
The
USCF may revoke an individual's chess coach certification for just cause.