Junior Grades?

[Gary McPheator]

If you offer the online grading system to all rather than just to members then that would not be the case as at least someone at a club should have internet access. An inclusive approach rather than an exclusive one is more benefitial in my view.

So what then is the benefit of membership? Should we follow the ECF model and kill chess up here for good?

Perhaps the question CS should be asking is what is the benefit to chess in Scotland rather than to only the membership. I believe it was hoped the new upgrade to the system would see an upturn in membership. As this does not seem to have come about I suggest that it would be good for all to benefit.

As regards your ECF comments, firstly I have never advoctated following their model and secondly even if I had chess hasn't died south of the border, so why would it here?

"A rolling grade should do away with the need for junior additions if you set the number of games to be used at an appropriate level."

OK so two juniors graded 1000 play 30 games each other over the course of a year and each score 15. An in-running or a once a year calculation will still make them both 1000 at the end of the year - if there are no junior additions. However we already know that juniors by virtue of being one year older will on average have improved. Without bonus points in one form or other you will suffer deflation. Will a rolling grade system work any better than current system if you dont somehow feed in points to reflect junior improvement?

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://australianchessclub.yuku.com/topic/500/Under-rating-is-a-fixable-problem?page=1">http://australianchessclub.yuku.com/top ... lem?page=1</a><!-- m --> - there's some OZ folk in similar discussion.

An interesting read Dougie!

I agree that a rolling grade would not give an accurate reflection of the strengths in the scenario above, it isn't perfect. But neither is the current system, as if you substitute an adult for one of the above juniors then the junior will still be graded 1000 while the adult will have an increased grade.

With regards to deflation, I believe it could be dealt with by drifting adult grades. As adult grades are more stable, it makes sense to keep the points they have in the system at the same level while letting the junior points fluctuate. A weekly drift would be better and more inkeeping with a rolling grade than an end of season adjustment.

I accept that junior grades may still lag behind their true strength if they play a lot of games against their peers, but I think that having up to date grades will mitigate this and be a fairer system.