Ballarat Junior Chess Club Holiday Program – September 2026

About

Ballarat Junior Chess Club Holiday Activities consists of the Winter Cup a 7 round swiss tournament and a three-day chess program for junior players of all abilities, from complete beginners through to advanced tournament players.

The program will be led by FIDE Master Simon Rutherford and Scott Stewart, with a mixture of coaching, practical activities, tournaments and fun chess challenges.

The focus throughout the program will be on developing the skills that help juniors become stronger and more confident players, including:

Thinking carefully before moving

Reducing blunders and oversights

Calculating variations

Recognising threats and candidate moves

Making sensible middlegame decisions

Improving endgame technique

Managing thinking time

Learning how to analyse your own games

Playing practical tournament chess

Rather than simply spending the day playing games, students will be given a variety of activities designed to make them think about how they play chess.

Activities may include

Thinking & Blunder Avoidance

Students will take part in activities such as the 30-second thinking challenge, candidate-move exercises, "Checks, Captures and Threats", blunder-spotting challenges and practical exercises where they must identify their opponent's best response before making their own move.

Middlegame Decision Making

Students will work through positions where there isn't necessarily one obvious move. They will consider questions such as:

What is my opponent threatening?

What is my worst-placed piece?

Should I exchange pieces?

Should I attack or improve my position?

What pawn break should I play?

What are my candidate moves?

What is my plan?

Endgame Training

Endgames will feature prominently, with practical endgames and a challenging tournament where students will play with different combinations of minor pieces.

Tournaments

There will be several opportunities to play tournament-style chess, with different formats and themes used throughout the program.

Winter Cup – Tuesday 22 September

The Winter Cup will be held at the Hooper Room on Tuesday 22 September.

This will be a standalone tournament consisting of 7 rounds and is open to junior players of all abilities.

Holiday Chess Activities – 28–30 September

The three-day holiday program will be held in the Humffray Room from Monday 28 September to Wednesday 30 September.

Each day will combine coaching and practical activities with plenty of opportunities to play.

The exact activities and tournament formats will vary from day to day, allowing students attending multiple days to experience a broad range of chess activities.

Something for everyone

Beginners are very welcome.

Students do not need to be experienced tournament players to participate. Activities can be adapted to different playing levels, and we particularly encourage children who are relatively new to chess to come along and develop their skills in a fun and supportive environment.

At the other end of the spectrum, advanced junior players will also be challenged through more difficult calculation exercises, endgame positions, tournament play and opportunities to work with an experienced FIDE Master.

Whether a student has just learned how the pieces move or is already competing in tournaments, the aim is for everyone to learn something new, play plenty of chess and have fun.

Coaches

FM Simon Rutherford

FIDE Master Simon Rutherford is an experienced chess player and coach who has worked extensively with junior players.

Scott Stewart

Scott Stewart is the Head Coach of the Ballarat Junior Chess Club and has extensive experience coaching and organising junior chess programs and tournaments.

Dates and venues

Winter Cup

Tuesday 22 September

Hooper Room

$50

Holiday Chess Activities

Monday 28 September

Tuesday 29 September

Wednesday 30 September

Humffray Room

$50 per day

Places are limited, so early registration is recommended.

Code of Conduct & Important Information

Who can attend

The Ballarat Junior Chess Club Holiday Activities are open to junior chess players under 18 years of age, from complete beginners through to advanced tournament players.

All participants are expected to contribute to a safe, respectful and enjoyable environment for everyone.

Supervision and staying at the venue

Students are required to remain within the Ballarat Chess Club rooms for the entire duration of the program.

Students must not leave the venue during the program, including during lunch and other breaks, unless permission has been given by the organiser.

Toilets are located on the second floor and students may use them independently.

Students may only leave the venue with another parent or authorised adult if this arrangement has been cleared with the organiser beforehand.

Students must not play, sit or congregate on the stairs.

Collection of students

At the conclusion of each day's activities, parents and guardians are required to come inside the club rooms and collect their child directly from a coach.

Students will not be permitted to leave the venue independently.

If a parent or guardian is delayed, the student will remain supervised by the coaches until they are collected.

Parents and guardians should make every effort to collect students promptly at the advertised finishing time.

Behaviour and conduct

The same standards of behaviour expected at the Ballarat Junior Chess Club apply throughout the Holiday Activities.

Students are expected to:

Behave respectfully towards coaches, other students, parents and venue staff.

Follow the instructions of the coaches and organisers.

Avoid disruptive behaviour.

Not run inside the venue.

Not use inappropriate or offensive language.

Respect other students and allow them to participate without unnecessary interruption.

Remain within the designated club rooms.

Not play on or around the stairs.

Treat chess equipment, furniture and the Mechanics Institute premises with care.

Leave their playing area clean and reset boards and equipment after use.

Demonstrate good sportsmanship at all times.

Chess conduct

Students are expected to:

Follow the instructions of the coaches.

Follow the rules of chess during games and activities.

Show respect to their opponents.

Shake hands or otherwise demonstrate appropriate sportsmanship before and after games where appropriate.

Not interfere with another student's game or activity.

Accept the decisions of coaches and organisers.

Not engage in arguments or disruptive behaviour over moves, results or game decisions.

Mobile phones, tablets and other electronic devices must not be used during chess activities unless specifically authorised by a coach.

Food and lunch

Students should bring their own healthy lunch, snacks and a water bottle each day.

Food and drinks should only be consumed during designated breaks unless otherwise permitted by a coach.

Students are responsible for cleaning up after themselves and leaving eating areas tidy.

To assist with allergy and food-safety considerations, students must not share food or drinks with other students.

Equipment and venue

Students are expected to treat all chess equipment with care, including chess sets, clocks, boards and other club property.

Students must also respect the Ballarat Mechanics Institute rooms, furniture and other property.

At the conclusion of activities, students should leave their playing area tidy and reset boards and equipment as instructed by the coaches.

Disruptive behaviour and disciplinary action

The Holiday Activities are intended to provide a safe, respectful and enjoyable environment for all participants.

If a student engages in disruptive or inappropriate behaviour, a verbal warning will normally be given in the first instance.

If the disruptive behaviour continues, or if the behaviour is considered sufficiently serious, the student's parent or guardian will be contacted and required to collect the student from the program.

Serious misconduct may result in the student's immediate removal from the program without a prior warning.

The organisers reserve the right to refuse participation in future sessions where a student's behaviour is considered incompatible with the safe and respectful operation of the program.

Working together

We want the Holiday Activities to be an enjoyable experience for every participant, whether they are attending their first chess activity or are an experienced tournament player.

By following these guidelines, students, parents and coaches can work together to create a positive environment where juniors can learn, play, improve and enjoy chess.

Contact

If you have any questions or concerns about the Holiday Activities, please contact:

Scott Stewart

Ballarat Junior Chess Club

0410 052 134

Dates

Ballaarat Mechanics Institute - Humffray Room - Level 4

117-119 Sturt Street , Ballarat Central VIC 3350