26-07-2013, 05:02 PM
I applaud your desire David in trying to increase the number of female players in the game, but I think you may be putting the cart before the horse. As Heather has pointed out in her paper it is a numbers game. With the best will in the world, no event, regardless of how beneficial or enjoyable it is, is going to tackle the problem.
I believe that we really need to attack this at club rather than event level. And as clubs will also fail to rectify this if they don't attract enough initial female players to retain their membership, I think we should be looking at organising female chess clubs as a first step.
Your idea for a female junior team at the SNCL is a great suggestion for existing players. I would go further and say the IJD should take this up and have players in contention for the Gilbert team (and the other junior teams for that matter) playing with coaching sessions either before or after the games.
I believe that we really need to attack this at club rather than event level. And as clubs will also fail to rectify this if they don't attract enough initial female players to retain their membership, I think we should be looking at organising female chess clubs as a first step.
Your idea for a female junior team at the SNCL is a great suggestion for existing players. I would go further and say the IJD should take this up and have players in contention for the Gilbert team (and the other junior teams for that matter) playing with coaching sessions either before or after the games.