All Welcome!
Thursday afternoons at the BMI
All Welcome!
Thursday afternoons at the BMI
To all Ballarat Junior Chess Club members, parents, and chess players:
We are very pleased to announce that Chess coaching and games sessions for Term 3 of 2026 are back and present the information and registration details below.
There are some exciting changes coming this term. Simon Rutherford was the coach who started this program at the BJCC in 2020, and he is returning as an additional coach. Simon is a FIDE chess master and has a FIDE rating of 2279. He will take a group of up to 8 advanced students in a separate coaching session in the Hooper Room on the ground floor at the BMI. That group will be chosen from students nominated by Scott Stewart, James Watson and Rob Bailey. This group will have a different format designed by Simon. Students will have a chance of joining this group as places become available after they complete the worksheet program. This should provide students with an incentive for advancement within the existing program.
Another change being introduced will be that students will be issued with a workbook folder with their name on it containing all their worksheets. This will facilitate tracking progress by their coaches. Further worksheets will be issued by coaches as a student advances through the program. Not all students in the same coaching group might have the same worksheets as some students advance more quickly than others.
We have found that registration and starting our sessions can be an issue. Some students are not arriving until the formal coaching sessions start at 5.45pm. This term we are asking students to arrive and compete the sign in sheet by 5.25pm. At 5.30pm sharp there will be an interactive lecture style activity with a large demonstration board conducted in the Humffray Room. This will be for all students except those in the advanced group. It will be conducted by either Scott, James or Rob. It will continue until 5.45pm when the students will break out into their respective coaching groups to start on their worksheets. The coaching groups continue until 6.15pm when the League games session will begin. Awards will be made annually in term 4 for league performances and encouragement awards for students who stand out at their respective levels.
As usual juniors not involved in the coaching session will be able to join the games session for free.
Start Date: Thursday, 23 July
End Date: Thursday, 18 September
Time: 5.30 pm – 6.45/7.00 pm
Location: Humffray Room, Level 4, Ballarat Mechanics Institute,
117 Sturt Street, Ballarat.
Registration and Fees
Students from Term 2 of 2026 can now register and pay for Term 3 via this TryBooking link Register via TryBooking – https://www.trybooking.com/DNVWV
New students or those returning after a break must complete the 2026 application form first. Successful applicants will then be invited to register if places are available. If you have completed a registration form within the last month, you do not need to complete it again.
If your child is not continuing in Term 3 of 2026, please let us know via email or text so we can allocate their place to someone on the waiting list.
5.30 – 5.45 pm: Registration and casual games within coaching groups.
5.45 – 6.15 pm: Formal coaching sessions led by Head Coach Scott Stewart.
6.15 – 7.00 pm: League games for all players, including those not in the formal coaching sessions
(free to attend).
Students participating in the coaching program and their families become junior members of the Ballarat Chess Club, allowing them to join senior club events (7.00 pm onwards) at no additional cost. Playing in longer time‑control events at the senior club is the best way for a junior to obtain both an Australian and an International chess rating.
As noted previously children will not be able to access their mobile phones during coaching and games sessions. Mobile phones should be turned off and either left with their parent/carer, put in their bags or placed in a box which will be provided. We have found that some students become preoccupied and disengaged in the coaching and games sessions. They can also be distracting to other students and the coaches. If a student needs to contact their parent, then they should ask their coach or the co-ordinator for assistance.
Parents are responsible for their child’s conduct during sessions. Juniors staying for senior events must behave appropriately. For further details, see the Behaviour Guidelines.
Additional information, including the club’s Child Safe Policy, is available on the Child Safe page.
These guidelines aim to ensure the safety of all participants, respect for the venue, and a positive experience for everyone involved.
The Ballarat Mechanics Institute is a heritage‑listed building shared with other groups, including elderly patrons. It is essential that all juniors demonstrate respect for the venue and its users by following the rules outlined below.
Contacts:
Please fill in your details on the
enrolment page and follow the prompts to make payment.
For enquiries about the course or payment, contact BCC Treasurer
Kevin Perrin (0418 533 517).
New to Chess?
A great site for learning the basics from a fun video, improving with puzzles, and playing against QWERTY the chess computer. Visit ChessKid.com.
Want to learn how to write down your games? Chess notation made easy .
