Jyotirmoy Halder

Some suggestions to chess coaches regarding classroom discipline: 1. Maintaining silence while the coach is teaching or explaining things. 2. Maintaining silence while solving positions or giving solutions/suggestions 3. Write moves and show them to the coach while solving puzzles so that others can continue to solve the same position. The student who has already solved the earlier position can be given the next one. In this manner, during theIn the same class, different students are solving different positions as per their capabilities. 4. Not moving around a lot while sitting (while thinking about positions and while listening to coaches). Revolving chairs to be avoided, especially for young children. 5. Teach them how to sit still, not move around too much (the body, eyes, head, arms, legs), etc. 6. Everyone should not talk at the same time. Only the person identified by the coach should speak while others listen. 7. Students should not talk among themselves 8. Leave footwear in an orderly manner outside the classroom (if it is practised, especially in India) 9. Arrange the pieces and boards, chess clocks properly, after the class is over 10. Take notes when the coach is explaining important/ instructional principles, ideas or concepts 11. Write down the players' names of examples seen in class and search and arrange those games in Chessbase (or any other similar software) for future reference 12. Make students explain what they have learned after every major explanation on a topic 13. Make average students repeat variations, analysis done in the class before moving to the next variation or example 14. When students want to give moves, they should raise their hands, and the coach should identify who should give the answer 15. Encourage children to hydrate themselves during the class and have some light snacks if required (if the session is long and intense) 16. Looking and listening to the coach when the coach is saying or explaining something 17. Looking at the board and thinking about the position instead of looking elsewhere and being distracted 18. Develop interest among students by motivation, in the learning procedure, while training, rather than limiting oneself to enjoying playing games, but not the learning process 19. Many children get easily bored when they are made to think over a position that is not too easy or listen to a lecture on concepts or the learning process 20. In a group lesson, the student should assume there is only the student and the coach in the room when thinking about a position and while listening to the coach explaining things 21. How to receive inputs from students: writing in the book and raising hands, coach asks a particular student to explain the moves/analysis 22. Teach students to ignore everyone else in the classroom and focus on learning, or to insulate themselves from the disturbing behaviour of others in the classroom 23. Visiting the washrooms, water can be done without disturbing the rest of the class (too frequent should be discouraged) 24. Bring a book and a pen to take notes on the important, instructive things that are being shared by the coach 25. Children will not share their problems or weaknesses that easily for various reasons. Shy, guilty, fear of being judged, not aware of themselves, etc. Encourage them to open up to you without the fear of being judged by you and fellow students 26. When students get tired, ask them to wash their faces with cold water (even during the game) 27. 4-hour sessions could be considered to replicate the tournament schedule to build up stamina and handle stress for long hours, intense training 28. Students should be discouraged from copying solutions from nearby students (cover the book while writing answers) 29. Students should not discuss while solving puzzles or solving studies 30. Only one student talks at a time, and others should not intervene, interrupt, or correct the student talking 31. Make students move pieces with their own hands to feel a bond with chess emotionally