Building a High School Chess Program From The Ground Up

I was fortunate in that the Athletic Department head was a chess player. I didn't know it at the time though. I had started chess clubs when my son was in second grade, did the same in middle school. When he got to high school I went to the Athletic Director and told him of my past efforts and was willing to start a team to play in the Portland, Oregon High School chess league. My goal was for the team to win a High School Chess Team Championship. Three of my grade, then middle school players attended the High School so we had a good start. I told him I would provide the sets and boards if he bought the clocks. In addition anyone who played on the Varsity Chess Team would get a Varsity Letter. His response was well Dennis The students think they are pretty important, so give out as many as you want. I did just that. By the end of the first year I gave out 16 letters by the time I left a year after my son graduated I was giving out 25 Varsity Letters. We actually had five member teams and their placement hinged on their chess ratings achieved by the State Oregon Scholastic Chess Federation. All league and State games are rated by the Oregon Scholastic Chess Federation. While the top 5 actually played as the Varsity in High School competition the next 5 played as JV the last 15 played in the Open Division. The key here for me as a coach was the 25 were the Varsity. They were all treated the same none were favored by me. The top players helped the less experienced. I picked Fridays as the day we practiced we basically took over the Library. I always figured it was best for the students as they were here for to get the best grades and education possible, and they could relax knowing the week end was at hand. We had about 10 girls on the team. We would often be there till six in the evening. It was as much a social event as a practice session. Our league games were on Tuesdays at another High School. Our school provided two 20 passenger school buses. I drove one another parent drove the other. I designed a Team Shirt in 3 color graphics, as well as a team sweat shirt. It was mandatory they wore these to the league matches and state championships. We would decorate the Halls and Cafeteria for the State Championships. We were recognized at Student Rally's in the Gym. Top rated team member would play the Athleic Director in a 5 speed chess game. We won two 4A State Varsity Titles, 5A State Varsity Title, 1 State Overall Varsity Title defeating the 6A champion which had Alexandra Botez on their team 3,5 to 1.5. The Varsity Team got a State Championship Varsity Banner in the Gym for that with all the other sports. 

Parent involvement is Key, Chess teaches them a great deal, I will always believe starting them early in life, I started my son in competition when he was in second grade I always along the way stressed it is not important you win the game, your doing it to have fun and learn. You learn more by losing than you do from winning. I had three students that attended all the school from middle scholl through high school, two are now doctors, one of which is my son, the other has a great well paying job. Need I say more. Extremely proud of all that played. Our team moto over the years came from a very famous woman Kate Taylor one of the key people who began the Oregon Scholastic Chess Federation in 2006 " Never give up and never surrender and good things will happen"

I hope I didn't bore you all