Outskirts Press, INC.

How to Start and Run a Scholastic Chess Programfeatures information on: •Starting a chess program •Maintaining the program over many years •Participating in your first scholastic chess tournament •Hosting a scholastic chess tournament •Plus, a glossary of chess terms

Chess Program Basics This text provides information for people who are interested in starting a chess program at an elementary school, an after-school facility, a library, or a recreation center. Having initiated and participated in a similar program at St. Vincent’s School in Bedford, Texas, for the past ten years, I want to share my insight with other people desiring to follow the same path. The students involved in a chess program benefit from it in many ways. A plethora of books written on the subject of the effects chess has on learning are readily available. Like many other people, I believe studying chess helps children grow mentally so I want to help as many children as possible learn to enjoy the game. This book is about the organization of a chess program from the perspective of the adults who want to run one of their own. Included are the program objectives, tips for maintaining the interest of the players, suggestions regarding successful financial management, areas to go to for support, and ideas to define the results that are to be achieved.