Chess development does not merely mean donating chess sets, hosting tournaments or presenting workshops, but it also has a broader meaning. Chess development can be defined as
- a continued sustainable process bringing change in (improving) a chess player’s well-being to advance in life (see news for an example).
Bringing sustained change in a chess player’s well-being means a sustained change in the well-being of a community!
Where does real chess development start?
Chess development starts at grassroots levels (schools and districts specifically) and sponsors should weigh-up their involvement and investment in chess development through either indirect development, direct development or a combined development approach:
1. Indirect development
To sponsor a chess tournament:
- prize-money, medals or trophies for all the category winners
- tracksuits, t-shirts.
- a venue.
- transport, accommodation.
- registration fees
2. Direct development
To sponsor chess equipment and training workshops for development in undeveloped and disadvantaged communities – i.e. to bring chess close to the people!
3. Combined development approach
A combined development approach serves a dual purpose:
- Players get the opportunity to participate in chess tournaments (indirect development).
- Players get the opportunity to develop their skills with quality chess equipment and training (direct development).
The role of sponsors
Sponsors should promote chess development by allocating sponsorship money for
- chess tournaments (eg. prize-money for the players).
- chess equipment (donate the equipment to [school] communities where there are an urgent need for development!).
- chess training workshops (to unlock and develop player potential in all communities).
Sponsors play a crucial role to make chess development accessible to all communities (i.e. to bring chess close to the people) and to bring change in a player’s well-being to advance in life!
- A chess set in every classroom in every school in every community – a child who can’t pay must be able to play!