I’m out of Minneapolis MN and had a problem with the owner of the School Chess Association (SCA) and his TD. The problem occurred in the state grade level championships. I work for South West Chess (SWC). We teach our kids to take their time in order to hopefully make better moves. As a result our kids end up getting clocks on there games. The SCA regrettably does not start all games with clocks. They only put clocks on games which they deem to be taking too long. In there defense they do use clocks for rated games with older kids. Since the SCA doesn’t require clocks there are kids who do not have experience playing with that extra pressure. We (the SWC) use clocks in all our clubs so our kids are familiar with using them. Anywho, I’m getting long winded here, sorry. We had a child who was playing someone who was hitting my kid’s clock instead of his own, hurting his chances of winning. The TD hovered over there game of a long time. I mean more than 5 minutes telling the kid he was hitting the clock incorrectly, telling the kid he was making illegal moves. What is the deal with that exactly telling the kid he is moving into check he has to do something else? My understanding is the TD should not be telling the kids if they are doing anything illegal. They should let the kids play the game. Anywho, my student’s parent was rather upset since the TD and the owner were helping the other kid, since if he ran out of time he would lose. I understand helping the kid out some. Explain it to him maybe 3 shoot 4 times tell the kid he is hitting the wrong clock, but to hover over him? The TD and owner told us the old “This is supposed to be a fun learning experience line.” I can almost buy the learning experience for most tourneys, but for state? PLEASE don’t get me wrong I’m not saying heavily penalize the kid immediately or forfeit him. Explain it to him give him some grace, but eventually if the kid doesn’t know let him learn it somewhere else not a tourney.
Some white space in your post would make it a whole lot easier to read.
21D. Intervention in games. The director’s intervention in a chess game shall generally be limited to the following. … 21D2. Correcting illegal moves observed. Correcting any illegal moves observed, unless time pressure exists or variation 11H1 is used (the director does not correct illegal moves unless asked by a player).
The TD has limited options here. The only real alternative would have been to forfeit the player under 13I, Refusal to obey rules. This is legal, but pretty harsh. Frankly, I think the real problem is allowing kids who do not understand the rules to play in rated tournaments.
The thing is that some kids think they know all the rules, but they really don’t. And their parents usually are clueless. There really isn’t an easy way to verify that the kid knows all the rules.
Don Diego,
Dumb question: When your student’s clock was hit, did your student not punch the clock again? I agree that it is distracting to the student, and that the director should not have let the other student continuously punch the wrong clock, but I don’t think that it should have a large effect on your student’s game. (Heck, after the 2nd time, when waiting for my opponent to move I would just leave my hand on top of my clock: now the problem is over.)
Having said that, the director should have ensured that the player stopped hitting the wrong clock. He could have forfeited the player, if there was room he could have slid them down from the adjoining game to keep the other clock out of arm’s reach, etc. There are plenty of acceptable answers that would have solved the problem.
Rob
This is not clearly written. Whose clock was he hitting, his opponent’s clock or a clock on some other game?
That makes a BIG difference in what I say or do.
Simple solution: Put an object (such as the box the clock came in) next to the clock, between the clock and the game on the next table.
Bill Smythe
Don: What you observed (or had reported to you, I don’t know which) is not uncommon in scholastic events, particularly in the K-3 or K-5 sections. At our tournaments in the VA Scholastic Chess Assn, we do not “require” clocks (because we want to attract young players – not put them in debt), but players and parents are both forewarned that not only is at least one or more of their opponents likely to bring a clock to the board, but also that the TD has the discretion to place a clock on boards so that each round finish on time. The TD “hovering” over the board is not an issue, the TD is just doing his job. The issue here is children playing in events when they’re clearly not ready to do so. That’s not the TD’s problem, it the problem of the team/coach/parent that entered the player. Best thing is for the chief TD or organizer to talk to the coach/parent/supervisor of the child who doesn’t understand the rules … and to have them help the child in between tournaments.
Oh, and I apologize for “robgetty’s” comment about “dumb question.” That comment is out of order for this place of professional discourse. Thanks for sharing your issue with all of us.
Mike Hoffpauir
Senior TD
Scholastics Coordinator, VA Chess Federation
Mike,
You mis-understand my post. By saying “dumb question”, I was referring to my asking if his student was re-starting his clock after it was punched by the player on the adjoining board. (I would assume that his player would stop his time and start his opponent’s, but you know what happens when you assume.)
I did not view the post as a “dumb question”, and I apologize if anyone interpreted it that way.
Rob Getty
In respose to the original post:
The School Chess Association in Minnesota does not conduct rated events. This interference in games is commonplace in their events. The specific incidence you mention appears, on the surface to be legal, but be warned, it goes far beyond that.
The SCA does a service to chess in that the attract a large number of children to their events. In this they do a very good job.
However, when it comes to enforcing the laws of the game they fall far short. I could go on to cite many examples.
Suffice it to say, that I cannot attend their events. I will get into arguements with the organizer. I will not be able to control my anger at their disregard for the rules.
The SCA blatantly tell you that they play “by our own rules”, and no argument will be listened to.
Like I said, be warned.