All Welcome!
Thursday afternoons at the BMI
All Welcome!
Thursday afternoons at the BMI
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.
Something for Everyone
Beginners are very welcome — students don't need prior tournament experience to take part. Activities can be adapted to different playing levels, and we especially encourage children who are new to chess to come along and develop their skills in a fun, supportive environment.
Advanced junior players will also be challenged, through more difficult calculation exercises, endgame positions, tournament play and the opportunity 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.
Program Focus
The program develops the skills that help juniors become stronger, 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 their own games.
Playing practical tournament chess.
Rather than simply playing games all day, students will take part in activities designed to make them think about how they play chess.
Activities
Thinking & Blunder Avoidance
Students take part in activities such as the 30‑second thinking challenge, candidate‑move exercises, “Checks, Captures and Threats,” and blunder‑spotting challenges — including exercises where they must identify their opponent’s best response before making their own move.
Middlegame Decision Making
Students work through positions with no single obvious move, considering 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 feature prominently, including practical endgame positions and a tournament in which students play with different combinations of minor pieces.
Tournaments
Several opportunities to play tournament‑style chess, with different formats and themes used throughout the program.
Schedule
Winter Cup — Tuesday 22 September, 10am–3pm
A standalone 7‑round tournament held in the Hooper Room, open to junior players of all abilities.
Holiday Chess Activities — 28–30 September, 10am–3pm each day
A three‑day program held in the Humffray Room, Monday to Wednesday. Each day combines coaching and practical activities with plenty of opportunities to play. Activities and tournament formats vary day to day, so students attending multiple days experience a broad range of chess activities.
Dates, Venue & Cost
Winter Cup
Tuesday 22 September
Hooper Room
$50
Holiday Chess Activities
Monday 28, Tuesday 29, Wednesday 30 September
Humffray Room
$50 per day or $135 for a three‑day bundle
Places are limited — early registration is recommended.
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 Head Coach of the Ballarat Junior Chess Club and has extensive experience coaching and organising junior chess programs and tournaments.
FIDE Titles: Lead School Instructor (2022), School Instructor (2022)
Code of Conduct & Important Information
Who Can Attend
Open to junior chess players under 18, from complete beginners through to advanced tournament players. All participants are expected to contribute to a safe, respectful and enjoyable environment.
Supervision & Staying at the Venue
Students must remain within the Ballarat Chess Club rooms for the entire program, including during lunch and other breaks, unless the organiser has given permission to leave.
Toilets are on the second floor and students may use them independently.
Students may only leave the venue with another parent or authorised adult if this has been arranged with the organiser beforehand.
Students must not play, sit or congregate on the stairs.
Collection of Students
At the end of each day, parents/guardians must come inside the club rooms and collect their child directly from a coach — students will not be permitted to leave independently.
If a parent or guardian is delayed, the student will remain supervised by coaches until collected.
Please make every effort to collect students promptly at the advertised finishing time.
Behaviour & Conduct
The same standards 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 coaches and organisers.
Avoid disruptive behaviour and 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 and stay off the stairs.
Treat chess equipment, furniture and the Mechanics Institute premises with care.
Leave their playing area clean and reset boards/equipment after use.
Demonstrate good sportsmanship at all times.
Chess Conduct
Students are expected to:
Follow the instructions of coaches and the rules of chess during games and activities.
Show respect to their opponents, including shaking hands or otherwise showing good 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 & 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 a coach permits otherwise.
Students are responsible for cleaning up after themselves and leaving eating areas tidy.
For allergy and food‑safety reasons, students must not share food or drinks with other students.
Equipment & Venue
Students are expected to treat all chess equipment (sets, clocks, boards) and the Ballarat Mechanics Institute rooms, furniture and other property with care. At the end of activities, students should leave their playing area tidy and reset boards and equipment as instructed by the coaches.
Disruptive Behaviour & Disciplinary Action
If a student engages in disruptive or inappropriate behaviour, a verbal warning will normally be given in the first instance.
If the behaviour continues, or is considered sufficiently serious, the student's parent or guardian will be contacted and required to collect them from the program.
Serious misconduct may result in immediate removal from the program without a prior warning.
Organisers reserve the right to refuse participation in future sessions where a student's behaviour is incompatible with the safe and respectful operation of the program.
Working Together
We want the Holiday Activities to be enjoyable for every participant, whether attending their first chess activity or 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
Scott Stewart
Ballarat Junior Chess Club
0410 052 134
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 .
