FIDE Surveys – Uwe Boensch

1

Uwe Boensch:

The system of trainer education
in the
German Chess Federation

In the German Chess Federation there are
three consecutive levels of trainer
education; each of these is brought to a
conclusion with the award of a title and a
trainer’s licence.
These are the licences appropriate to A, B
and C level trainers. The most advanced
title which can be reached as a trainer is
that of A-trainer. C-level trainers are
additionally subdivided into C-trainers for
recreational players and C-trainers for
competitive players.
The length of these courses is as follows:
1st level: Trainer C – competitive chess,
120 lessons
2nd level: Trainer B – competitive chess,
60 lessons
3rd level: Trainer A – competitive chess,
90 lessons
A lesson in this case is the equivalent to its
definition in the German school system,
that is to say 45 minutes. The following
types of training are possible:



Evening courses



Weekend courses



Whole day courses



Week long courses



Correspondence courses or e-

learning for specific parts of the
training / pre-training



Different types of courses can

be combined



Up to 30 hours of the training

can be completed as a
correspondence course or self-
study

The licences must be renewed by
participation in a further education course
within a certain time frame. Training
courses at a FIDE trainer academy are
recognised as a means of further education.

C-trainers must undertake this every four
years, B-trainers also every four years and
A-trainers every two years.
For the award of a licence the following
conditions are required:
Licence level – C-trainer competitive
chess
· Certificate for a first aid course taken
within the last two years
· Age at least 16
· Proof of experience in competitive chess
(for at least 2 years)
· Previous or present German rating of at
least 1600
Licence level – B-trainer
· Age at least 18
· Holder of the C-trainer licence from the
German Chess Federation or the FIDE title
of FIDE instructor
· Minimum one year of practical activity
as a licensed C-trainer for competitive
chess
ELO/German rating previously or presently
at least 1900
Licence level – A trainer
· Minimum age of 20
· Holder of the B-trainer licence of the
German Chess Federation or the title of
FIDE Trainer
· Minimum one year of practical activity
as a licensed B-trainer or FIDE trainer
· ELO/German rating previously or
presently 2250 (women 2100)
· Approval of the relevant regional chess
federation
Training courses with similar content or
units thereof which were undergone either
at home or abroad can be recognised.
These may be training courses for other
sports or courses at a recognised FIDE
academy.
In general there are two routes to achieving
these qualifications: route A which in each
case is based on the licence levels gained
in the German Chess Federation and route
B based on licences achieved at a FIDE
academy.

FIDE Surveys – Uwe Boensch

2

Route A

For C-trainers
· Certificate for a first aid course taken
within the last two years
· Active participation in the lectures and
practical sessions
· Where appropriate written tests to
demonstrate the relevant knowledge
· Proof of teaching ability by means of a
demonstration lesson (approx. 20 minutes)
· If required oral examination on the
subject and the handicaps of home study or
distance learning/E-Learning

For B-trainers
· Active participation in the lectures and
practical sessions
· Proof of teaching ability by means of a
demonstration lesson (30-45 minutes)
· Dissertation on a subject related to the
sport
· Oral examination on the subject and the
handicaps of home study or distance
learning/E Learning

For A-trainers
· Active participation in the different parts
of the course
· Proof of teaching ability by means of a
demonstration lesson (approx. 45 minutes)
· Dissertation on a subject related to the
sport
· If required an oral examination can be
held, dealing with questions which arise
from the essay, the A-trainer course and
the activity as a trainer

Route B

For C-trainers
· Successful conclusion of an
international course as a FIDE
instructor/trainer
· Set and checked self study or e-learning
· Basic sport qualification (German
Olympic Sports Confederation, the sports
federations of the individual German states
and chess organisation) including legal and
insurance questions related to sport
· Proof of teaching ability by means of a
demonstration lesson or a lecture on a
chess related subject
· Certificate for a first aid course taken
within the last two years

For B-trainers
· Successful conclusion of an
international course as a FIDE instructor or
FIDE trainer
· Preparation, presentation and defence of
a trainer’s dissertation
· Basic sport qualification (as for C
trainers) including legal and insurance
questions related to sport or C-licence of
the German Chess Federation
· Present or previous rating (ELO/German
rating) of at least 1900

For A-trainers
· Successful conclusion of an
international course as a FIDE trainer
· Preparation, presentation and defence of
a trainer’s dissertation
· Basic sport qualification (as for C
trainers) including legal and insurance
questions related to sport or B-licence of
the German Chess Federation
· The title GM, IM, FM or ELO/German
rating of at least 2250 (women 2100)

FIDE Surveys – Uwe Boensch

3

Below we have an example of the content of a programme for C-trainers

General section 30 hours

Basic knowledge

General organisation of sport and chess

15 hours

Organisation and structure of: German Olympic Sports
Confederation, regional sports federations, sports circles,
clubs
Organisation and structure of: FIDE, European Chess Union,
German Chess Federation, regional federations, local areas,
clubs
Insurance and legal questions (duty of care, taxes,
responsibility, etc.)

15 hours

Sports science
Training for children and teenagers
Training for adults
Sports medicine, sports biology (physiology),
first aid qualification required (1st aid)

Sports education
Sports sociology
Interpersonal skills of the trainer
Sport and health, sport for the handicapped, fair play, doping

General methodolgy and teaching

Important areas for chess trainers

FIDE Surveys – Uwe Boensch

4

15 hours

Analysing target groups,
specific ways of dealing with specified target groups
Lesson types
(frontal , group, individual, in pairs, etc.)
Analysing teaching, observing lessons
Reflecting on the teaching (self evaluation),
analysing outcomes
Planning of lessons
Group dynamics, dealing with conflict
Methodological skills
Communication in the learning and teaching process,
techniques for asking questions, etc.
Understanding teaching and learning (the role of the teacher
and trainer)
The psychology of the learner

Special methodolgy and teaching
30 hours

Specific content for chess education

Framework for a training plan, guidelines for trainer
education

Sources of help (literature, notebook, Beamer, overhead
projector, e-learning, etc.)
Analysis of training needs
(where the target group/person is and where it needs to be)
Training aims (special questions concerning the training of
children-young people-adults)
Competitive targets, looking after players at competitions,
preparation and follow-up, individual training plan (ITP)

Phases
of the
game
opening,
middle-
game
endgame

Plan and
strategy
Finding a
plan,
attack and
defence

Chess psychology
Motivate! Getting to
know about and
preparing for an
opponent (e.g.
openings)

Independent
training
Independent
learning,
working with
databases, etc.

Teaching practice
15 hours

On selected or specified subjects/target groups

Other themes
15 hours

The history of chess, correspondence chess, computer
chess, chess problems, other forms of the game, questions
concerning scholastic chess (setting up a school chess club,
taking part in school competitions), knowing the rules, acting
as an arbiter

Alternative special qualifications
15 hours

Assistant trainer, tournament director, regional arbiter,
certificate for chess for children, certificate for chess for
schools

Checking

the

acquisition

of

knowledge
15 hours

Practice lessons, practice lectures, written exams (questions
covered)

Everying connected with trainer eductaion in the German Chess Federation is set out in the
GUIDELINES of the GERMAN CHESS FEDERATION for trainer education.
.