| Chess pedagogical training and further education at the FIDE Trainer Course in Berlin |
| by Jovan Petronic |
| Offered by Headmaster of the FIDE Trainer Academy - GM Uwe Boensch. |
|
From
4 until 10 November 2005, at the international training course, chess
pedagogues from various countries got together for the third time to refresh
their knowledge and to get new insights in the sport of chess. 13 chess
trainers from three continents and ten countries met to listen to lectures
and receive practical training on the big historical grounds close to the
modern Olympic Stadium of Berlin for six days. In
the combined course, there were the following participants as FIDE
Trainers:Monika Tsiganova (Estonia), Alper Efe
Ataman (Turkey), Fred Berend (Luxemburg), Joseph Ebenenezer (India), Ülar
Lauk (Estonia), Michael Richter (Germany), Harald Schneider-Zinner (Austria)
and as FIDE Instructors: David
Connor (Hong Kong), Hanno Dürr (Germany), Guido Feldmann (Germany),
Jan-Olof Lind (Sweden), Francis Mubanga (Zambia) and Kim Sang Yoon (South
Korea). The international course activity acknowledges the correctness of the chess pedagogical training for FIDE trainers and instructors started in November 2004. Initially, there were five participants. At
the second course in April 2005, the number happily rose to nine and now to
13 active participants from three continents. Lectures Thanks to
the successful lectures given by GM Adrian Mikhalchishin, Ukraine
(Vice-chairman of FIDE Trainer Committee), GM Uwe Boensch (Federal Coach),
Horst Metzing (Secretary General ECU and Secretary of the German Chess
Federation), PD Dr. Marion Kauke (Social and Pedagogical Psychology) as well
as IM Michael Richter (ChessBase expert), who gave lectures in English, this
course also The
objective of the lectures was to provide course participants with the skills
to train young trainers in their countries independently. Experience
exchange showed that it has not been possible everywhere yet. For the
lectures, on the other hand, it was not always easy to meet different
training levels, The course
leader Uwe Boensch met his colleagues in a friendly and collegial spirit and
on the other hand, he led a strict and disciplined course. This quickly
resulted in the elimination of people’s initial fears and ensured a
successful course. This friendly cooperation finally helped achieve its
objective despite various performance levels. The
international Trainer Academy with state-of-the-art equipment like modern
computers, new software with training effects, permanent faster DSL internet
access, webcams, overhead projectors, demo boards, flip charts and video
projectors provided a basis for appropriate chess training. The Internet
could be used and emails checked and sent. Lecture series – what and how was taught? After the
words of welcome given by Horst Metzing, the hosting Secretary of the German
Chess Federation and the Secretary General of the European Chess Union, the
course leader GM Uwe Boensch explained the 6-day course schedule. This was
followed by an introduction round, where the diversity and motivation of the
participants became clear. The lecture
given afterwards by Mr Horst Metzing on structure, activities and the various tasks of the
World Chess Union and the European Chess Union provided both facts and
internal matters, which were possible through his 30-year active involvement
in various committees. Via overhead projector, diagrams with comprehensive
details about officials, institutions, commissions and events were shown,
talked about and distributed to the participants in form of handouts. GM Uwe Boensch divided his lectures into two parts. The first
subject dealt with the teaching of middle game. The main area of focus used
the example of the classical Karlsbad pawn structure.
Central consideration was given to the following pawn structure:
white: a2, b2, d4, e3, f2, g2, h2 - black: a7, b7, c6, d5, f7, g7, h7, which
can be found in five different openings (exchange line in Queens gambit,
Bogoljubov Indian, Nimzowitsch Indian Defence, Grunfeld Indian Defence and
exchange line of Caro-Kann Defence). The strategic plants of white and black
were explained. It was important to recognise the practical transition in other pawn structures and forming end
games. Practical and computer based example games contributed to the
strategic understanding and consolidation of the material. The content of
the second part of his lecture focused on a quite different area. His
experience at the top-level of the sport as leading trainer enabled him to
present new technical equipment which has already been successfully used in
sport disciplines. This includes the Austrian relaxing trainer device
“iSense" with bio feedback function. With the help of a finger sensor
and appropriate software, stress and stressors can be recognised and
transformed into positive energy. With a sensor located in the finger tip,
peripheral body temperature, electrical resistance of the skin and actual
stress level can be measured. The precise recognition of stress factors is
one aspect of it. The possibility of setting up an individual training plan
with relaxing exercises is especially valuable for use in sport. All
measuring values are processed in a laptop and clearly presented as a curve
on a screen. Some trainers were offered a chance to fix their stress values
via bio feedback by themselves and to read them with the help of the video
projector on the wall. The significance of relaxed training for busy top
players via bio feedback should not be underestimated when symptoms of an
excessive training occur because this can be recognised in time and levelled
out. GM Adrian Mikhalchishin’s
lectures dealt with many areas of chess teaching. His main points were
focused on the field of opening training, methods of studying tactics,
practical processes of thinking and planning in chess. The subjects covered
on the demo board were based on the following The
role of the opening in chess training -
on history of the development of opening theory -
the influence of the world champion in the development of
opening theory -
teaching methods on opening theory for juniors -
opening “offers” made by a trainer -
use of opening statistics as tools for improving of opening
preparation Methods
of studying tactics -
elements and motives -
Bronstein’s view: double attack as the most important
tactical element -
Smyslov’s view: the value of giving check as an attack
accelerator Processes
of thinking in chess -
position analysis: static and dynamic elements, recognition of
deceive elements -
Dorfman’s theory on key elements -
the role of prophylaxis in the process of thinking in chess Planning
– typical plans -
advance calculation, various forms of calculating, graphic
diagrams -
training of calculating, blind exercises Understanding
chess, a passion for chess and a certain level of performance are necessary
preconditions for the trainer profession. These factors are not enough for
meeting high requirements in everyday praxis, too. Chess trainers are
confronted with various tasks which require not only qualities of leading,
but first of all interpersonal skills, self-control and excellent
motivational skills. Therefore, in this course, Psychologist PD
Dr. Marion Kauke, devoted herself to the following subjects:
“Psychological and pedagogical skills of chess trainers; Sport/Social
Psychology and Psychology of Chess Performance”. First
trainers should think of their pedagogical/educative success. The aim was to
tell the participants about it and especially about the path to its
realisation. This vivid experience exchange encouraged to do the role play.
“How a trainer will cope with pressure put by ambitious parents on their
kids playing chess, especially during tournaments?” The lively Indian
trainer impressively showed a reaction of an overambitious father, who could
not accept that his son lost against a younger opponent. “He has to
win!”, he urged over and over again and knocked protégé’s confidence.
Because of a lack of understanding and control over emotions (anger,
anxiety, fury), outbursts of relatives effect the confidence of protégés.
Course participant Alper Efe Ataman acted in the role of a trainer to talk
to the father to provoke a change in approach and behaviour. WIM Monika
Tsiganova from Estonia played a role of the child scolded by her father and
showed all signs of depressiveness, desperation and defiance. The
readiness of participants to react to these modern forms of social
psychological training was surprising. The parts were played in such a
convincing way that the whole group of trainers from all over the word could
emotionally follow it. They could precisely experience their problems and
worries in everyday training. The role plays were recorded via video and
analysed by everyone in front of the monitor. Every trainer could stop the
film on a particular scene and scrutinise the film from a pedagogical and
psychological point of view. Valuable hints on making a conversation,
explaining the motivation, effective arguments and improving the situation
were discussed afterwards from a psychological point of view. Dr. Kauke also
pointed out scientifically proven principles and clues by looking at
participants’ body language. Social
psychological matters of forming and consolidating a team as well as
conflict resolution underlined the subject. Creativity and diverse ideas of
trainers in contact with themselves and other individual persons of
reference (parents, teacher, colleagues, functionaries etc.) are in high
demand. The playful simulation training of right behaviour patterns in the
interpersonal interaction and communication is important for during the
training or competition it is not always possible to have long discussions
or consult handbooks. On Monday,
several ChessBase programs were presented by the International Master
Michael Richter. Participants were especially interested in various ways of
training with ChessBase 9. It does not matter if it is about the preparation
of one’s own game or the planning of training units. ChessBase 9 offers
all information at a glance. The program continues to be smoothly adapted to
user wishes through regular updating. In the
second part, various ways of training were shown on the chess server
schach.de. Via audio and video transmission, internet training has been
established as an excellent form of training. In this case, it does not
matter if the training partner is 10 or 10,000 km away. Only a functioning
internet access is needed. Of course, the brand new game program Fritz 9 was
discussed. Here participants were mainly interested in chess courses.
Through new video chess courses and detailed training options, Fritz 9 is
also well suited as a training program. Once the overview was given, the
material could be usefully practised in the modern computer pool. With his
great experience in the field of internet training, Michael Richter was able
to give valuable hints and show some tricks. Trainer assignments and teaching practices On the last
day, participants presented their trainer assignments (for the title of FIDE
Trainer) and answered questions from the exam committee or other listeners.
In teaching practices for the title of FIDE Instructor, which usually lasted
up to 30 minutes, pedagogical skills were given great importance. The
lectures and teaching practices, which were taught in English (another FIDE
language would be also possible), concerned both statements on content and
the friendly contact with people, linguistic impression and personality of
the lecturer. Lectures or
defence of academic assignments for the title
of FIDE Trainer: Michael Richter: The principle of the worst piece Ülar Lauk:
Petroff defence Joseph Ebenezer: Pawn
endings Harald Schneider-Zinner: The
art of defence Monika Tsiganova: How to
win winning position? Alper Efe Ataman: The secret of knight’s strength at f5 Fred Berend: The battle
knight against bishop. Teaching
practices for the title of FIDE Instructor (chess teachers) began with comprehensive
case studies by training referees of the German Chess Federation, where all
trainers were given the opportunity to contribute to a difficult
trainer-specific decision. Hanno Duerr: Case study – A difficult decision: Nomination to a
team David Connor: The Danish gambit Guido Feldmann: How can I use
studies? Ülar Lauk:
The Petroff defence Jan-Olaf Lind: Isolated pawn Francis Mubanga: How does one open a game of chess?
Kim Sang Yoon: Interesting lecture about Korean chess Completing the course with Trainer
Certificates At the end
of the course, all participants met for a glass of champagne and a snack in
the library of the Trainer Academy. Headmaster GM Uwe Boensch thanked the
participants for their active involvement and together with GM Adrian
Mikhalchishin handed over international trainer certificates. Several
participants thanked the hosts for the successful course and expressed their
gratitude for the subjects they learned and for having lots of laugh and
lots of fun during entertaining lectures. They gave statements on their
personal impressions of the course. Mr.Joseph
Ebenezer, who took a long trip from the southern Indian city of Chennai,
said: FM
Harald Schneider-Zinner,
Chairman of the Commission of Juniors and Competitive Sport of the Austrian
Chess Federation said: “The days
spent at the FIDE Trainer
Academy were full of interesting
lectures. They were very helpful for my work as a
trainer. I was very happy to meet
trainers from all over the world, to study with them and to exchange our
experiences."
Last
evening, IM Michael Richter, who has recently formed his own private chess
school, invited us to pay a night visit there. The “Chess School Berlin”
is located in the Bayerische Straße 32 in the centre of the capital city.
At a quickly organised blitz tournament of twelve participants, the Austrian
FM Harald Schneider-Zinner (10) was before the host IM Michael Richter
(9.5), the two FM’s Ülar Lauk,
Estonia (8.5) and Alper Efe Ataman, Turkey (7.5). Afterwards, the new FIDE
trainers and FIDE instructors were ending the trainer course in the
restaurant for a long time. The next international trainer training course is scheduled to take place in Berlin from 24 February until 2 March 2006. About the Author International Master Jovan
Petronic.
Content by Chess Samizdat |