Junior Chess

Page updated 18 July 2011

Do you want to play chess for England?

The English Primary Schools Chess Association Chess organises the England Under 11 Team and the England Girls' Under 11 Team. The England Girls' Under 11 Team is selected by its manager, based on performances at major tournaments run by ESPCA throughout the year. One of these events is being held in Nottingham (use "Junior Events" on the left menu) and others are in the calendar of ESPCA events. Use the next link to view The team selection procedure. If you would like to play chess for England and you are under eleven years old, ask your parents to contact David Levens, MCCU Director for Junior Chess.

Developing junior chess in the Midlands

June: The MCCU meeting approves a budget for Junior Director David Levens (Notts) to help develop junior chess in the Midlands. If your county would like to discuss its potential to develop the junior game, please contact David Levens.

January: David Levens and Cyril Johnson write a paper for discussion to promote Midlands Junior Chess.

David Levens Takes Helm As MCCU Junior Director

November: The MCCU announced David Levens from Nottingham has been appointed MCCU Junior Director in September 2010 to replace Graham Humphreys who had to stand down because of ill-health. David will concentrate on coaching and will be supported by Cyril Johnson (Syston, Leics) and Alex Holowczak (Warley Quinborne, Worcs and Warks) who will be organising an MCCU inter-counties junior jamboree.

David writes: "As regards the develpoment of junior chess in the Midlands area, the most important thing to realise is that juniors are essential to the future of chess and all clubs should be making every effort to attract youngsters into their ranks."

David suggests that all adult clubs 'adopt' a local school. Most clubs have at least one member who has retired or has time to spare to give to a local junior school. If all clubs did this, we would have a 'nursery of playersto call on: players who would join their adoptive club as soon as they are old enough. Players that are willing would need to be CRB checked.

David is not suggesting that players offer their services as a formal coach, but that they offer to run a school chess club. If there is sufficient interest, David is willing to put on a coaching seminar during the season. Please contact David if you are interested. Nottinghamshire are highly successful in junior events - national under-11 champions in 2009 and 2010 - because the county has implemented the ideas mentioned above.

The MCCU Junior Pages

These pages are mainly intended for adults who are seeking local chess players to advise on running junior chess events or clubs, which is why there are no animated pictures and the web design is adult.

The links page currently has links to county junior chess organisers, junior chess clubs, and junior chess leagues. It is planned to add links to junior chess pages and chess tutorial sites when time permits. The junior events page lists Midlands and national junior congresses and events.