It's been six years. Change coaches. Get another set of eyes and ears. If the current coach is a mature coach he or she will be supportive of this.
When should you change chess coaches?
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I have no spare positions left, sorry.
Estragon wrote:
In the last 60 years or so, every World Champion except Fischer has had coaches and trainers and seconds, and all of them were lesser players. He can still learn and progress beyond his coach's level.
The teacher-student relationship is a delicate one. Simply greater credentials do not necessarily equal a better teacher. What is important is if your son is still progressing and learning.
And most important of all is what your son thinks. He is the student, if he raised the subject then it might certainly be time. But he should be the major decider in any change in his coaching.
My son has learned a lot from his coach. However, during his recent lessons, his coach seems to be threatened (not sure if this is the right word) by my son's progress/rating. He would make comments that make it seem like he 'knows it all' and that he knows more than my son. This has irritated my son.
bfn wrote:
Estragon wrote:
In the last 60 years or so, every World Champion except Fischer has had coaches and trainers and seconds, and all of them were lesser players. He can still learn and progress beyond his coach's level.
The teacher-student relationship is a delicate one. Simply greater credentials do not necessarily equal a better teacher. What is important is if your son is still progressing and learning.
And most important of all is what your son thinks. He is the student, if he raised the subject then it might certainly be time. But he should be the major decider in any change in his coaching.
My son has learned a lot from his coach. However, during his recent lessons, his coach seems to be threatened (not sure if this is the right word) by my son's progress/rating. He would make comments that make it seem like he 'knows it all' and that he knows more than my son. This has irritated my son.
Has your son asked about switching coaches or have you asked him if he'd like a different coach?
It's time to switch coaches, it's obvious you and your son are feeling uneasy about this NM now.
Just thank the NM for his coaching and that he was a good coach, he will understand that it's time to get someone stronger.
KingsEye wrote:
bfn wrote:
Estragon wrote:
In the last 60 years or so, every World Champion except Fischer has had coaches and trainers and seconds, and all of them were lesser players. He can still learn and progress beyond his coach's level.
The teacher-student relationship is a delicate one. Simply greater credentials do not necessarily equal a better teacher. What is important is if your son is still progressing and learning.
And most important of all is what your son thinks. He is the student, if he raised the subject then it might certainly be time. But he should be the major decider in any change in his coaching.
My son has learned a lot from his coach. However, during his recent lessons, his coach seems to be threatened (not sure if this is the right word) by my son's progress/rating. He would make comments that make it seem like he 'knows it all' and that he knows more than my son. This has irritated my son.
Has your son asked about switching coaches or have you asked him if he'd like a different coach?
He hasn't asked, but sooner or later we're going to need to make a change. I just haven't figured out when the time is right.
Estragon wrote:
Well, if your son develops the attitude that he knows as much as his coach just because his rating is close or even higher, he may need to change his coach - but he also needs to change his attitude.
Brash confidence is helpful in tournament games, not so much in the training environment. Still, a student must have confidence in his teacher and believe he can learn from him, although a coach who never irritates his student may be just too mellow.
Remember Magnus Carlsen fired Garry Kasparov and has now hired Peter Heine Nielson, some 300 points weaker, to work with him through the WC cycle. Food for thought . . .
To the contrary. My son's attitude is fine. The attitude of his coach is more of a concern. He continually seems to want to prove that he's better than my son. I think it's time to find another coach. What should I be looking for in a new coach?
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My son's coach is a NM. However, my son is getting very close to becoming a NM himself. At what point should he be changing coaches? He's had the same coach for almost six years. He's learned a lot from him, but I think it's almost time for him to find another coach so he can reach higher levels.