For Chess Parents & Students

Chess Practice

We hold practice every week of the regular season (August through December) with some adjustments in the postseason (January & February).

Practices are in the library, Room 1 and Room 2.
Tuesday Practice (1st Semseter 2024): From 3:15 pm to 4:15 pm. You are welcome to get there during PLC time to play chess for fun.
Online Tuesday & Thursdays: We offer specialized practices and events on many Tuesdays & Thursdays during the season. These are online via Zoom at 7pm and go until 8:15pm.
Leadership Meetings: Each month we have a few meetings for chess players who have demonstrated that they do, or wish to, lead. These are either after Tuesday practices, from 4:15 to 4:30 pm or at the start of Thursday online practice.

How to join the Chess Team & Club

Email Coach Aderhold to be added to our Schoology group.
Come to our Tuesday practice and learn chess!
There is no cost to join. Even your uniform is free.
Fundraise with us by competing in our tournaments. That's all you have to do to fundraise - play chess!

Chess Season

The chess season starts with the new school year. We have our first practice during the first full week of classes. Competitions start in the autumn and end with the IHSA Tournament in February. This is one of the longest seasons of any sport or activity! So most all of our players are involved in other teams and activities.

Team & Club Commitments

Students may join as a Team Member. You are expected at attend practice at least once a week. You are also expect to compete in many of our competitions, and check Schoology every day for team announcements and updates.
Students may join as a Club Member. Club members should come to practice at least several times a month. If we have an extra spot for a competition, you may be offered a spot.
Both Team & Club members will agree to, sign and abide by the GEHS student code (which as off summer 2018, was signed during registration).

Click Here For Printable Schedule

Materials

Your student will be issued a black t-shirt that every member of the GEHS Chess Team & Club wears. This is their uniform when they compete.
Your student might benefit from a membership on chess sites such as LiChess.org and Chess.com (which offers a free account). This allows them to practice against a larger pool of opponents. The paid accounts also offer video lessons and other useful tools.
There are a great many books on chess to learn and study from. Have your student start with local libraries first, but eventually they may wish to purchase a few.
Some students prefer to have a journal to keep records of their most important games. Most students just use the notations sheets provided by the team.
Your student's District 87 iPad can also be a useful tool for chess apps, record keeping and watching instructional videos on YouTube.

The Team & Club t-shirt is given to every chess player. Every member of the organization receives one to wear as a uniform and on spirit days. Students may receive a 2nd t-shirt to wear for the state competition.

Parents & Fans Attending A Tournament

We encourage parents and fans to come join us for our tournaments. There is no admission charge! Just remember a few things while watching:

You may not communicate to anyone who is in a match. You should remain silent.
You must stand behind, out of the line of site of your team. You may not sit down at a competition table. Please be mindful of those trying to walk past you.
Cell phones must be silent & away. Photos are permitted the first five minutes of a round.
If you wish to talk with your student or student's coach, please leave the competition area first.

IHSA Tournament Information

If we qualify for the state tournament in Peoria at Sectionals, we will send our top eight eligible players to compete.
In late January your student will be provided a packet that contains all the forms for the trip. These must be completed to be eligible to go.
Contact, hotel & venue information are provided to parents through this packet. There is an optional info meeting prior to the trip for parents.
Two of the documents must be signed in front of a Public Notary, so make sure you don't wait until the night before to complete the packet.

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