Encouraging Former Players To Return - OzChess

**Spiny Norman** · 08-27-2007, 04:56 PM

Had contact today with a former Ringwood player Herb Lilburn (ACF 1801??) who has just discovered Croydon Chess Club via the local council's club guide.

It turned my mind to the issue of how to identify and contact former regular players who might be in our area, in order to encourage them to make a comeback.

Anyone got any ideas? Apart from the obvious "get publicity in the local paper" and "get in the local council club list", both of which we are already doing.

**Gendo Ikari** · 08-27-2007, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by frosty

Had contact today with a former Ringwood player Herb Lilburn (ACF 1801??) who has just discovered Croydon Chess Club via the local council's club guide.

It turned my mind to the issue of how to identify and contact former regular players who might be in our area, in order to encourage them to make a comeback.

Anyone got any ideas? Apart from the obvious "get publicity in the local paper" and "get in the local council club list", both of which we are already doing.

It often depends on the individual Frosty, some may lose interest in the game or be too busy with work or study or perhaps it can be a case of not having a club in close proximity. Some players might not enjoy the competitive nature of tournament play in which case having some games going on at local cafes might be an avenue to advertise chess. You should perhaps ask Herb where he's been all this time and see if you get any other ideas.

**Just2Good** · 08-27-2007, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by frosty

Had contact today with a former Ringwood player Herb Lilburn (ACF 1801??) who has just discovered Croydon Chess Club via the local council's club guide.

It turned my mind to the issue of how to identify and contact former regular players who might be in our area, in order to encourage them to make a comeback.

Anyone got any ideas? Apart from the obvious "get publicity in the local paper" and "get in the local council club list", both of which we are already doing.

The ACF may want to take this post as an observation that they could themselves implement for the benefit of the chess playing community.

Lets look at how the Canadian Chess Federation sorts their data using a former regular opponent of mine, Hal Bond:

Hal's Tournament History

Now, click on one of the first tournaments he ever played, lets say the very first one.

First One

Now if you look at many of the people who entered this event from 1996, you will find many of them have gone stale. For instance, Mr Vucko

If there is this kind of organization with the ACF, your task would be much easier and would have better prospects of success Frosty.

So perhaps the only advice I can give would be to look over tournaments played 10 or so years ago, and ring around to see who is still interested.

**Spiny Norman** · 08-27-2007, 08:13 PM

Gendo, yes, polling players who do return would be a valuable source of information. I'll take that on board for sure.

AO, that Canadian site is a wealth of information. Outstanding on their part. Wonder how they've automated it? Would be impossible to maintain manually, too much editing/updating to do. It would be well worthwhile taking that on at a national level. Now we just have to find someone with the nerve to propose it and see it through to implementation!

**Iconoclast** · 08-28-2007, 11:56 PM

Originally Posted by frosty

Now we just have to find someone with the nerve to propose it and see it through to implementation!

The ACF ratings officer has ALL the info.
He has the techno savvy to do it.
It will not happen because .................

**Just2Good** · 08-29-2007, 12:57 AM

Originally Posted by Iconoclast

The ACF ratings officer has ALL the info.
He has the techno savvy to do it.
It will not happen because .................

Kevin has a much better grasp of technical and computer related issues.

AO

**Firegoat7** · 10-02-2007, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by frosty

Had contact today with a former Ringwood player Herb Lilburn (ACF 1801??) who has just discovered Croydon Chess Club via the local council's club guide.

It turned my mind to the issue of how to identify and contact former regular players who might be in our area, in order to encourage them to make a comeback.

Anyone got any ideas? Apart from the obvious "get publicity in the local paper" and "get in the local council club list", both of which we are already doing.

Hi frosty,

I spoke to Slavisha Babovic the other day about Croydon chess club. He is a strong player of about 2000 strength. He claims that he would like to see Croydon chess club offer some space for social blitz games. He claimed that would encourage him to play there. He also lives out your way.

As a side note, I am of the opinion that Blitz is the soul of chess. Tournament players tend to look down on blitz a bit. But chess should not always be serious. Good blitz regulars help to build club character!!!

cheers Fg7

**Just2Good** · 10-03-2007, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by Firegoat7

Hi frosty,

I spoke to Slavisha Babovic the other day about Croydon chess club. He is a strong player of about 2000 strength. He claims that he would like to see Croydon chess club offer some space for social blitz games. He claimed that would encourage him to play there. He also lives out your way.

As a side note, I am of the opinion that Blitz is the soul of chess. Tournament players tend to look down on blitz a bit. But chess should not always be serious. Good blitz regulars help to build club character!!!

cheers Fg7

Don't most masters agree that blitz ruins one's over the board tournament chess?

**Spiny Norman** · 10-04-2007, 08:02 AM

Thanks for the feedback fg7 ... will pass that along to the incoming 2008 president!

**MOZ** · 12-23-2008, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by Firegoat7

Hi frosty,

I spoke to Slavisha Babovic the other day about Croydon chess club. He is a strong player of about 2000 strength. He claims that he would like to see Croydon chess club offer some space for social blitz games. He claimed that would encourage him to play there. He also lives out your way.

As a side note, I am of the opinion that Blitz is the soul of chess. Tournament players tend to look down on blitz a bit. But chess should not always be serious. Good blitz regulars help to build club character!!!

cheers Fg7

The Sandman has listed the 2009 Victorian Blitz Championship for the 1st of February in 2009. Can we count you in?

**Iconoclast** · 01-20-2012, 08:59 PM

Being only one of two threads containing the word 'return' I have chosen to say here that I am back from a camping holiday: weeks of reading, sleeping, spearfishing, walking, drinking, talking, eating, socialising, speeding, [et cetera]ing. Suffice to say my return is complete.

Q. How do you get people to return to chess?
A. Ensure that upon their return they enjoy reading, sleeping, spearfishing, walking, drinking, talking, eating, socialising, speeding, [et cetera]ing.

**Just2Good** · 01-23-2012, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by Iconoclast

Being only one of two threads containing the word 'return' I have chosen to say here that I am back from a camping holiday: weeks of reading, sleeping, spearfishing, walking, drinking, talking, eating, socialising, speeding, [et cetera]ing. Suffice to say my return is complete.

Q. How do you get people to return to chess?
A. Ensure that upon their return they enjoy reading, sleeping, spearfishing, walking, drinking, talking, eating, socialising, speeding, [et cetera]ing.

We were getting worried about you. We thought you might have pulled an Axiom.

08-27-2007, 04:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
Spiny Norman Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 224	Encouraging Former Players To Return Had contact today with a former Ringwood player Herb Lilburn (ACF 1801??) who has just discovered Croydon Chess Club via the local council's club guide. It turned my mind to the issue of how to identify and contact former regular players who might be in our area, in order to encourage them to make a comeback. Anyone got any ideas? Apart from the obvious "get publicity in the local paper" and "get in the local council club list", both of which we are already doing.

08-27-2007, 06:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
Gendo Ikari Director Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 99	Originally Posted by frosty Had contact today with a former Ringwood player Herb Lilburn (ACF 1801??) who has just discovered Croydon Chess Club via the local council's club guide. It turned my mind to the issue of how to identify and contact former regular players who might be in our area, in order to encourage them to make a comeback. Anyone got any ideas? Apart from the obvious "get publicity in the local paper" and "get in the local council club list", both of which we are already doing. It often depends on the individual Frosty, some may lose interest in the game or be too busy with work or study or perhaps it can be a case of not having a club in close proximity. Some players might not enjoy the competitive nature of tournament play in which case having some games going on at local cafes might be an avenue to advertise chess. You should perhaps ask Herb where he's been all this time and see if you get any other ideas.

08-27-2007, 07:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
Just2Good Tin Cup Champ 2004 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Cairns Posts: 6,233 ICC Handle: Advantage FICS Handle: Advantage	Better organization makes this task easier Originally Posted by frosty Had contact today with a former Ringwood player Herb Lilburn (ACF 1801??) who has just discovered Croydon Chess Club via the local council's club guide. It turned my mind to the issue of how to identify and contact former regular players who might be in our area, in order to encourage them to make a comeback. Anyone got any ideas? Apart from the obvious "get publicity in the local paper" and "get in the local council club list", both of which we are already doing. The ACF may want to take this post as an observation that they could themselves implement for the benefit of the chess playing community. Lets look at how the Canadian Chess Federation sorts their data using a former regular opponent of mine, Hal Bond: Hal's Tournament History Now, click on one of the first tournaments he ever played, lets say the very first one. First One Now if you look at many of the people who entered this event from 1996, you will find many of them have gone stale. For instance, Mr Vucko If there is this kind of organization with the ACF, your task would be much easier and would have better prospects of success Frosty. So perhaps the only advice I can give would be to look over tournaments played 10 or so years ago, and ring around to see who is still interested. __________________ . "The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing." ~ Isaiah Berlin ~

08-28-2007, 11:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
Iconoclast Immoderator Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Wollongong NSW Posts: 2,302	Originally Posted by frosty Now we just have to find someone with the nerve to propose it and see it through to implementation! The ACF ratings officer has ALL the info. He has the techno savvy to do it. It will not happen because .................

08-29-2007, 12:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
Just2Good Tin Cup Champ 2004 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Cairns Posts: 6,233 ICC Handle: Advantage FICS Handle: Advantage	Originally Posted by Iconoclast The ACF ratings officer has ALL the info. He has the techno savvy to do it. It will not happen because ................. Kevin has a much better grasp of technical and computer related issues. AO __________________ . "The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing." ~ Isaiah Berlin ~

08-27-2007, 08:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
Spiny Norman Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 224	Gendo, yes, polling players who do return would be a valuable source of information. I'll take that on board for sure. AO, that Canadian site is a wealth of information. Outstanding on their part. Wonder how they've automated it? Would be impossible to maintain manually, too much editing/updating to do. It would be well worthwhile taking that on at a national level. Now we just have to find someone with the nerve to propose it and see it through to implementation!

10-02-2007, 08:50 AM	#7 (permalink)
Firegoat7 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Getting owned by White in the Dragon and trying to recover lost positions from shock paralysis OTB Posts: 2,044 ICC Handle: guest	Originally Posted by frosty Had contact today with a former Ringwood player Herb Lilburn (ACF 1801??) who has just discovered Croydon Chess Club via the local council's club guide. It turned my mind to the issue of how to identify and contact former regular players who might be in our area, in order to encourage them to make a comeback. Anyone got any ideas? Apart from the obvious "get publicity in the local paper" and "get in the local council club list", both of which we are already doing. Hi frosty, I spoke to Slavisha Babovic the other day about Croydon chess club. He is a strong player of about 2000 strength. He claims that he would like to see Croydon chess club offer some space for social blitz games. He claimed that would encourage him to play there. He also lives out your way. As a side note, I am of the opinion that Blitz is the soul of chess. Tournament players tend to look down on blitz a bit. But chess should not always be serious. Good blitz regulars help to build club character!!! cheers Fg7

10-03-2007, 07:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
Just2Good Tin Cup Champ 2004 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Cairns Posts: 6,233 ICC Handle: Advantage FICS Handle: Advantage	Originally Posted by Firegoat7 Hi frosty, I spoke to Slavisha Babovic the other day about Croydon chess club. He is a strong player of about 2000 strength. He claims that he would like to see Croydon chess club offer some space for social blitz games. He claimed that would encourage him to play there. He also lives out your way. As a side note, I am of the opinion that Blitz is the soul of chess. Tournament players tend to look down on blitz a bit. But chess should not always be serious. Good blitz regulars help to build club character!!! cheers Fg7 Don't most masters agree that blitz ruins one's over the board tournament chess? __________________ . "The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing." ~ Isaiah Berlin ~

10-04-2007, 08:02 AM	#9 (permalink)
Spiny Norman Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 224	Thanks for the feedback fg7 ... will pass that along to the incoming 2008 president!

12-23-2008, 10:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
MOZ Volunteer Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ozchess is the marginalised cyber-spot where cc-Mods choose to engage with cc-banned posters. Posts: 3,541	Originally Posted by Firegoat7 Hi frosty, I spoke to Slavisha Babovic the other day about Croydon chess club. He is a strong player of about 2000 strength. He claims that he would like to see Croydon chess club offer some space for social blitz games. He claimed that would encourage him to play there. He also lives out your way. As a side note, I am of the opinion that Blitz is the soul of chess. Tournament players tend to look down on blitz a bit. But chess should not always be serious. Good blitz regulars help to build club character!!! cheers Fg7 The Sandman has listed the 2009 Victorian Blitz Championship for the 1st of February in 2009. Can we count you in? __________________ FReedom though Fischer-Random chess to enjoy the whole game.

01-20-2012, 08:59 PM	#11 (permalink)
Iconoclast Immoderator Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Wollongong NSW Posts: 2,302	Being only one of two threads containing the word 'return' I have chosen to say here that I am back from a camping holiday: weeks of reading, sleeping, spearfishing, walking, drinking, talking, eating, socialising, speeding, [et cetera]ing. Suffice to say my return is complete. Q. How do you get people to return to chess? A. Ensure that upon their return they enjoy reading, sleeping, spearfishing, walking, drinking, talking, eating, socialising, speeding, [et cetera]ing. __________________ The individual is hopeless without the group. The group is hopeless without its individuals.

01-23-2012, 09:19 AM	#12 (permalink)
Just2Good Tin Cup Champ 2004 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Cairns Posts: 6,233 ICC Handle: Advantage FICS Handle: Advantage	Originally Posted by Iconoclast Being only one of two threads containing the word 'return' I have chosen to say here that I am back from a camping holiday: weeks of reading, sleeping, spearfishing, walking, drinking, talking, eating, socialising, speeding, [et cetera]ing. Suffice to say my return is complete. Q. How do you get people to return to chess? A. Ensure that upon their return they enjoy reading, sleeping, spearfishing, walking, drinking, talking, eating, socialising, speeding, [et cetera]ing. We were getting worried about you. We thought you might have pulled an Axiom. __________________ . "The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing." ~ Isaiah Berlin ~

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