coaching Development Program

We regard coaching, whether at the chess centre or in schools, as an extremely important aspect of the Gardiner Chess business. For this reason we provide our coaches with on-going development and training. To this end, we engaged the inimitable Nik Stawski (pictured right) for some months to challenge and inspire our staff and to develop a whole new system of resources for our coaches. His influence on the chess scene will be lasting. Nik worked for two years overseas teaching English in Japan, and now he is completing his teaching qualifications to enable him to work in high schools in Australia. Our interactive seminars are held every year, and these help to introduce innovation in teaching and enable coaches to share their successes, learn new skills in behaviour management, and receive helpful feedback and advice. Many of our coaches are university students who have enjoyed their past involvement in chess through the junior system and now find they can earn good money ('sure beats being a check-out chick!') teaching in schools or at the centre. Their coaching sessions are scheduled to fit in with their timetables.

Private coaching

Many parents are now realising the benefits that chess can bring to their children (if you doubt this, click here to read some excellent articles), and are increasingly enrolling them in programs at school and at the centre. Undergoing private coaching, which is tailored exclusively to their needs,  provides them with a terrific boost and complements any other chess they may be playing.

We have a growing pool of well-trained coaches who are happy to take on private students at the centre after school. The benefit of this arrangement is that the students can then take part in the normal after-school chess activities at no further cost. This can reinforce the lessons learned from the coach. Private lessons can be for 1, 2 or even 3 children and the level of expertise of the coach is reflected in the prices charged - see here.

In addition to our own excellent and highly professional coaching staff (some of whom are International Masters - IMs) we can arrange for you to be taught by  Grandmasters, other IMs or FIDE Masters.

As previously mentioned, private coaching is tailored specifically to the individual and as such, we are happy to discuss your needs and give advice on the level of coaching that would be appropriate.

All staff at the Gardiner Chess Centre are Suitability Card holders for Child-Related Employment issued by the Commission for Children and Young People.

Gardiner Chess Course

This is a highly-structured course, designed to advance beginners who play chess fairly regularly to an intermediate standard. Every aspect of chess is covered from the beginning, even the etiquette and the behaviour expected of players. At the completion of each section a Gardiner Chess certificate is awarded. This is taught one-on-one or one-on-two. This course is taught in some schools.

Coaching in Schools

Gardiner Chess specialises in providing chess coaching services to schools. 

Examples of how different schools structure their program are as follows:

• The Gardiner Chess Course (see above) is taught to students one-on-one or one-on-two as part of a co-curricular program in some private schools. This is taught in exactly the same way, for example, as co-curricular music.

• Classes receive regular weekly chess lessons as part of the curriculum during school time and are funded out of the school budget.

• Groups are formed for weekly extra-curricula lessons which are taught before school, after school or during lunchtime. Students normally pay about $6 per week to participate.

• Groups are formed to receive lessons as part of the weekly ‘activities’ session during school time. This is either funded by the school or the students.

After School Chess
at the Gardiner chess centre

Students arrive at the centre soon after school finishes on a designated day or days from Tuesday to Friday. They receive a mix of coaching, puzzles and tournament chess, the results of which are sent away to the ratings officer for rating*. On Mondays we have a special session, along the same lines as on other days, but only for the girls - they like to learn their skills in chess away from the boys!

Also on Mondays we have a Junior Masters programme. This is for players who have reached a rating of 800 and is specifically designed to prepare them for championship level chess. They only play one game during the evening and then the two players have their game analysed by senior coaches. This has had the affect of raising the standards of junior chess considerably.

*The Queensland Junior Ratings List, which is an indication of playing strength in relation to around 2,000 other junior chess players in Queensland, is probably the single greatest motivating factor for children playing chess. Check the latest ratings information here.