how much are the second and third options?
Youth Camp or Chess Prodigy Program?
Sort:
Jul 21, 2014
0
#4
@MythBulletChess:
Again, the prodigy program would be VERY intense. The amount of instruction is unimaginable. We have to get all the details figured out before naming a price but I would say about $150/month is a good estimate.
About 3 hours of live online lessons each week, homework given each week, and much more. The price is generous but our key concern is getting at least 50 students.
We would probably have each "level" of the program be 3 months long so about $450 for three months.
Myth, I request that you ask your parents and get their opinion. At this rate, it would mean the program costs $1,800/year but it's like you're doing a chess camp that lasts a whole year instead of a few days!
All students in the program would have to be in the same rating range. What these means if that if our program starts at the very beginning (rules of chess, en passant, piece values, and very basic checkmates), then you should not be in the program at that stage since you're advanced for a youth player. Someone like you would join the program at "Stage 2" or "Stage 3" if that makes sense.
Or, we can concurrently start two different groups: those completely new to chess and an intermediate group and then work them all up.
I think the cost ($1800)/year is nothing compared to the program. For a coach that charges $30/hr, that amount would give you 60 lessons in a year. With our program, the number of lessons would be more than 150 per year plus homework constantly sent/graded, student games analyzed, help with chess software or finding a tournament to play in, etc.
Imagine how much you could learn and improve in just one year! I think this program would create many chess prodigies. We just need the word to get out and get opinions of chess parents.
Jul 21, 2014
0
#5
We would probably start with a one month or three month plan, yes. If know other chess players at school, chess clubs, etc., please tell them about our idea. We need a group of 50 to 100 to do this. A news post in Chess.com University plus some of our other usual advertising may get us 10 to 20 students but we need about 50. I will also try contacting some large chess clubs and some schools to see how much interest there is.
It basically depends on how much interest there is in chess in general. It is a highly academically beneficial game but do parents want their children to excel at chess? Whether or not we do this depends on how much interest there is among the parents!
Jul 21, 2014
0
#6
No problem. Let me know what your parents think as well as parents of any chess friends you have. Keep in touch. :-)
Jul 21, 2014
0
#7
Well, if many parents find the cost for such a program to be high, we can always design a less intensive program. For example, instead of having three hours of lessons each week, we could do two hours.
We just have to wait for me to get more feedback.
Start with #3, work your way up to #1 as your program garners attention and respect from the community.
[COMMENT DELETED]
The first option sounds great except we would prefer a less intense program like 2-2.5 hours.
I am 17 years of age, but I am a beginner player. Would I be able to participate for a few months? If so I would be really interested :)
(in the first option!)
I'm not a parent, just a multiple uncle. So take my words with some caution.
The Prodigy program sounds very ambitious and would probably be suited only to juniors who have already shown some talent and willingness and/or sufficient love for the game to put in this amount of effort (for example in one of the less ambitious CCU courses/camps).
To have 50 students in a Prodigy program sounds like a lot to me, even if the cost were bearable to all parents. This would be serious study and time involved. I think it is just difficult to find say 50 juniors who are willing to do this. In our times, kids (and their parents) have so many choices as to what to pursue in their spare time. Normally the kids hop from thing to thing - because their attention span is short, other choices are available and the parents play along. For a kid to do something like a chess Prodigy program is very anachronistic.
I'm not saying there are no kids who like such a challenge. I know at least 2 juniors at my club who would absolutely LOVE to do something like that.
But for these 2, you find 200 that are not interested in something as difficult and complex as chess at all, plus another 20 for whom chess is just another one of the many things they do besides taking piano lessons, swim courses, playing ball, taking dance classes or playing video games. I have 5 of them in my family... 
Jul 28, 2014
0
#13
Yep, finding students is the hardest part! We will probably have to contact hundreds of chess clubs to spread the word.
Kairav, when the time is ripe I could tell the parents of the juniors I mentioned. The boy is 11 and the girl 9. She has a titled coach already, but the boy has no or little formal training I think. I'm pretty sure cost would not be an issue, but rather the 9 hours difference in time to PST... attending live events could be problematic. I keep following this project! 
Jul 30, 2014
0
#15
Tom, if there is enough interest, we could have a European group separate from the American group. Though, if we schedule sessions around 11 AM PDT on weekends, then I think it would be okay for the Americas and Europe.
GeniusKJ, so does that mean I would not be able to enter this program?
Jul 30, 2014
0
#17
@jaco, you may attend. By American group, I meant those who live in the Americas for time zone purposes.
I know, but you never answered my question about my age... so I wasn't sure :P but thank you!
Jul 30, 2014
0
#19
Yes, age is no problem either but note that the diction used in class will be aimed at youth players :-)
Sure, having another group for students in a different time zone would be very nice and attractive - almost no excuses then for not inscribing, hahaa!!
I'll be following this project. It is another cool, original idea of yours and I like it a lot.
unrelated P.S.: Unfortunately tonight I have a scheduled OTB game at the club, otherwise I would have played in the simul with GM Levan. I hope I can do a next one of those.
Dear Chess Parents,
*Kids, have your parents read this.
We are considering starting courses, camp, and/or "prodigy programs" for youth chess players and want your opinion.
Please answer the following questions:
(1) As a parent, would you be interested in enrolling your child into a chess prodigy program, a program that essentially makes your young one a chess prodigy? Such programs would involve about 3 hours of live lessons per week almost every week delivered online. Homework would be provided to students each week and all students/parents would get complete email support. Online tournaments and training games among students would be common as well as follow-up game analysis sessions. This is essentially one super-coaching program that would be designed by Chess.com's best-selling coaches to eliminate the need for one-on-one chess coaching and allow youth students to learn and excel at chess very quickly. Such programs would probably cost about $150/month, which is inexpensive for the amount we intend to offer. However, we would only be able to offer such programs if we get over 50 students.
The length of the first stage of the program is under consideration right now but 3 months sounds like a reasonable length. Regardless, this would be the absolute best chess coaching program in the world available to youth players if we choose to go forward with it. Let us know what you think.
(2) Would you instead prefer youth chess camps? Camps would last a few days and involve about 15 hours of instruction. This would be like our camp with Gelfand. Camps are great for getting kids more involved in chess and giving them the proper guidance for improving at the game.
(3) The final option is youth chess courses that would be like Chess.com University's college-like Chess 012-014 and Chess 024 courses. Each of these courses last about a month and come with a syllabus and pretest. During the course, homework and a study schedule is provided and there is about 1 hour of instruction each week. This format is less ambitious than the prodigy program we are considering but nonetheless, still very useful for improving at chess. Let us know what you think!