Stop teaching kids bad chess manners

I just played in the Chicago Open, and as usual, there was a healthy group of children playing in all sections. I don't have a problem with sub-14 year olds playing in Opens (well, I do, since I think they are too young for the time controls), but there seems to be a trend in scholastic chess coaching that is encouraging bad chess manners. Two examples that come up all the time:

1) Offering draws when they lose material. I don't know who first thought this was a cute idea, but it's rude, and it happens a lot. Adult players would never do this, and kids should not be taught that if they hang a piece, they should promptly offer a draw. 

2) Refusing to resign in lost endgames. There's nothing more irritating than spending 10-20 moves chasing down some kid's king with your king and queen, since he/she was told to "make them get the mate, they might stalemate you." If it was you, you would resign. So should they. 

TMB

I can't fault you. If they play the Open section, they should behave like Open section contenders, not snot-nosed little chancers.

I've been having experiences like that as well...

When they ask for a draw, being a rook down, well... You really want to facepalm them...

And chasing their king is also not that pleasant... Geez... If a player has owerpowered you during the game, I don't really think he will stalemate you.

Hi,

I would like to state some points here,

1. Its not always the coach's/Parent's fault

Kids tend to do this on their own. I have seen this in my student's games(I corrected them though, but they tend to get discouraged if you tell them to resign in lost positions)

2. They don't really care about material losses, they just like to kinda test their opponents, if they are able to checkmate with the queen or rooks or not, as they were at some point unsuccessful at doing so. 

3. They love playing Chess.

It doesn't matter to them whether they are up a queen or down a bishop, they like to move pieces around and enjoy to do so.

4. After they play some competitions and get mature enough to understand, they will definitely resign in lost positions and not offer draws at the point of losing a piece or a pawn.

*All this is my personal experience with my students..,

It may not be someone's "fault" but it happens a lot, and there's a culture here that needs correction. These aren't G/30 or faster school cafeteria games...it's an Open. If you as a coach or parent are going to push Junior into one, then they need to know the protocol. 

I don't see how loving chess or having fun moving pieces around has anything to do with this. Nor did I suggest they resign a lost position, unless it's an obvious endgame mate. Sit tight and wait for a blunder by all means, but there isn't going to be one if it's just two kings and a rook on the board.

As for waiting for them to mature...well, some of them never do, as we know :)

"they like to move pieces around and enjoy to do so."

I think Opens is being confused with "The open section". While this is the case for the lower rated sections, I can assure you that the 10-12 year olds rated between 2200-2500 are well able to use their time and are not ill mannered! 

In blitz and bullet:

The probablity of facing an online kid is high if you have to mate the opponents king with clear advantage from the middle game, especially on playchess.

1) Agreed

2) Completely disagree with. Play in a stronger section and you won't get the new players that do this. I've played against a lot of young kids and have this happen exactly once. 

3) They should be taught not to adjust pieces on your time, but adults do this too.

Once you're over thirty, these things do become bothersome...

Yes, I misread.

Here in the UK, most times the Open Section is for >2000 players, but anyone may play, if they can afford the entry fee (which often increases significantly for the lowly rated).

damn little rug rats!

If you grow a beard, maybe they'll respect you more.

It's not me they are disrespecting...it's the GAME, MAN!!

>Play in a stronger section and you won't get the new players that do this. <

They ain't new. This isn't a player problem, it's a coaching issue. 

I'd respectfully submit that the coaching is fine. New players should not resign until they have a better grasp of the game. I dealt with it in an OTB game once, and while annoying, it is our job as adults to create an environment for kids to learn. I value learning opportunities for kids more than I do some self-proclaimed, imaginary right to my opponent resigning.

This thread is about real life children.  It's been long established that all online players behave like kids.

If it takes you 20 moves to mate somebody with K+Q vs K then I'll surely play it out just to have a laugh at your expenses.

Is there anything wrong with not resigning? I lost a game when I was far ahead in material the whole game. He did'nt give up and he won.

Many coaches teach their students not to resign until they are more advanced players. (Some use a rating, others an age level). Resigning is an advanced skill, and young players need to learn other skills first. I have absolutely no problem with a kid playing on to mate if that kid is rated under ~1600 USCF.

Regarding offering draws as soon as a kid loses material. I sincerely doubt any coach teaches that. I have seen kids offer draws in lost positions in scholastic events, and they are often accepted. Kids often want to be "nice" to their opponent, and don't mind a draw. But in my experience, I have never seen a coach teach a student to offer a draw when they are lost.

Here in Taiwan even the adult coaches can offer draws when losing.

And the kids fight on w K+R vs K+RKRN, with a parent hovering over them "if you do not win this you are going to explain to grandpa when you get home!"

Depressing sometimes.