C-trainers must undertake this every four
Uwe Boensch:
years, B-trainers also every four years and
A-trainers every two years.
The system of trainer education
For the award of a licence the following
conditions are required:
in the
Licence level  C-trainer competitive
German Chess Federation
chess
� Certificate for a first aid course taken
In the German Chess Federation there are
within the last two years
three consecutive levels of trainer
� Age at least 16
education; each of these is brought to a
� Proof of experience in competitive chess
conclusion with the award of a title and a
(for at least 2 years)
trainer s licence.
� Previous or present German rating of at
These are the licences appropriate to A, B
least 1600
and C level trainers. The most advanced
Licence level  B-trainer
title which can be reached as a trainer is
� Age at least 18
that of A-trainer. C-level trainers are
� Holder of the C-trainer licence from the
additionally subdivided into C-trainers for
German Chess Federation or the FIDE title
recreational players and C-trainers for
of FIDE instructor
competitive players.
� Minimum one year of practical activity
The length of these courses is as follows:
as a licensed C-trainer for competitive
1st level: Trainer C  competitive chess,
chess
120 lessons
ELO/German rating previously or presently
2nd level: Trainer B  competitive chess,
at least 1900
60 lessons
Licence level  A trainer
3rd level: Trainer A  competitive chess,
� Minimum age of 20
90 lessons
� Holder of the B-trainer licence of the
A lesson in this case is the equivalent to its
German Chess Federation or the title of
definition in the German school system,
FIDE Trainer
that is to say 45 minutes. The following
� Minimum one year of practical activity
types of training are possible:
as a licensed B-trainer or FIDE trainer
�� Evening courses
� ELO/German rating previously or
�� Weekend courses
presently 2250 (women 2100)
�� Whole day courses
� Approval of the relevant regional chess
�� Week long courses
federation
�� Correspondence courses or e-
Training courses with similar content or
learning for specific parts of the
units thereof which were undergone either
training / pre-training
at home or abroad can be recognised.
�� Different types of courses can
These may be training courses for other
be combined
sports or courses at a recognised FIDE
�� Up to 30 hours of the training
academy.
can be completed as a
In general there are two routes to achieving
correspondence course or self-
these qualifications: route A which in each
study
case is based on the licence levels gained
The licences must be renewed by
in the German Chess Federation and route
participation in a further education course
B based on licences achieved at a FIDE
within a certain time frame. Training
academy.
courses at a FIDE trainer academy are
recognised as a means of further education.
FIDE Surveys  Uwe Boensch 1
Route A Route B
For C-trainers For C-trainers
� Certificate for a first aid course taken � Successful conclusion of an
within the last two years international course as a FIDE
� Active participation in the lectures and instructor/trainer
practical sessions � Set and checked self study or e-learning
� Where appropriate written tests to � Basic sport qualification (German
demonstrate the relevant knowledge Olympic Sports Confederation, the sports
� Proof of teaching ability by means of a federations of the individual German states
demonstration lesson (approx. 20 minutes) and chess organisation) including legal and
� If required oral examination on the insurance questions related to sport
subject and the handicaps of home study or � Proof of teaching ability by means of a
distance learning/E-Learning demonstration lesson or a lecture on a
chess related subject
For B-trainers � Certificate for a first aid course taken
� Active participation in the lectures and within the last two years
practical sessions
� Proof of teaching ability by means of a For B-trainers
demonstration lesson (30-45 minutes) � Successful conclusion of an
� Dissertation on a subject related to the international course as a FIDE instructor or
sport FIDE trainer
� Oral examination on the subject and the � Preparation, presentation and defence of
handicaps of home study or distance a trainer s dissertation
learning/E Learning � Basic sport qualification (as for C
trainers) including legal and insurance
For A-trainers questions related to sport or C-licence of
� Active participation in the different parts the German Chess Federation
of the course � Present or previous rating (ELO/German
� Proof of teaching ability by means of a rating) of at least 1900
demonstration lesson (approx. 45 minutes)
� Dissertation on a subject related to the For A-trainers
sport � Successful conclusion of an
� If required an oral examination can be international course as a FIDE trainer
held, dealing with questions which arise � Preparation, presentation and defence of
from the essay, the A-trainer course and a trainer s dissertation
the activity as a trainer � 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 2
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
Organisation and structure of: German Olympic Sports
Confederation, regional sports federations, sports circles,
clubs
Organisation and structure of: FIDE, European Chess Union,
15 hours
German Chess Federation, regional federations, local areas,
clubs
Insurance and legal questions (duty of care, taxes,
responsibility, etc.)
Sports science
Training for children and teenagers
Training for adults
Sports medicine, sports biology (physiology),
15 hours 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 3
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
Specific content for chess education
30 hours
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 Plan and Chess psychology Independent
Motivate! Getting to
of the strategy training
know about and
game Finding a Independent
preparing for an
opening, plan, learning,
opponent (e.g.
middle- attack and working with
openings)
game defence databases, etc.
endgame
Teaching practice
On selected or specified subjects/target groups
15 hours
Other themes The history of chess, correspondence chess, computer
15 hours 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 Assistant trainer, tournament director, regional arbiter,
15 hours certificate for chess for children, certificate for chess for
schools
Checking the acquisition of
Practice lessons, practice lectures, written exams (questions
knowledge
covered)
15 hours
Everying connected with trainer eductaion in the German Chess Federation is set out in the
GUIDELINES of the GERMAN CHESS FEDERATION for trainer education.
.
FIDE Surveys  Uwe Boensch 4