Applied Workplace Practice

Student Name: Zhao Geng

Lecturer Name: Leonard Yang
Student No: 30130028
Fin: G1164773T
Due Date: 15/10/2014

Table of Contents
1

Executive summary................................................................................................................. 3

Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 3

Purpose.................................................................................................................................... 3

Why Chess? ............................................................................................................................ 4

Academic Benefits ........................................................................................................... 4

4.2

Social Benefits.................................................................................................................. 5

4.1

Work breakdown structure ...................................................................................................... 6

5.1

Budget .............................................................................................................................. 6

5.1.1
5.2

Involved People Participants ......................................................................................... 8

5.2.1

Registration ............................................................................................................... 8

5.2.2

Training ..................................................................................................................... 9

5.3
6

Funding ..................................................................................................................... 7

Publicity ......................................................................................................................... 10

Project controls ..................................................................................................................... 11

Competition Process....................................................................................................... 11

6.2

Venue ............................................................................................................................. 11

6.3

Layout............................................................................................................................. 11

6.4

Spectators ....................................................................................................................... 11

6.5

Arbiters ........................................................................................................................... 11

6.6

Time control ................................................................................................................... 12

6.7

Irregularities ................................................................................................................... 12

6.8

Basic chess rules............................................................................................................. 13

6.9

A Code of Conduct ......................................................................................................... 13

6.1

Summary schedule ................................................................................................................ 15

7.1

Milestone report ............................................................................................................. 15

7.2

Gantt chart ...................................................................................................................... 16

Difficulties ............................................................................................................................ 17

Achievements ........................................................................................................................ 17

10

Reflection .............................................................................................................................. 18

Executive summary

I will organize and direct the competition including registering participants, providing supplies,
preparing the venue, organizing competition, scoring, oversight, and presenting awards.
Competition gives students an opportunity to test and showcase their skills in front of teachers,
peers, and parents.
This paper will detail out all competition preparation and process, including budget estimation,
project coordination and publicity, etc. By drawing the work breakdown structure, I could plan
the overall competition with all the preparation works done in parallel, which will save lots of
time and efforts.
2

Introduction

The Chinese chess competition is a competitive school project designed to motivate and inspire
millions of young people to take part and be interested in Chinese chess. The games are designed
enable student who is keen on playing Chinese chess in our school to participate in this
competitive event. A notable inclusion will be the introduction of chess competitions in schools.
Competitors will battle it out at the school level before select winners meet at the school level to
earn the right of donning the school team colors to inter-school events.
The reason that I choose to host this competition is that I personally like to play Chinese chess
and would much like to meet friends and schoolmates who play Chinese chess well. It will be
held in one of the classrooms on 15th September, with 8 rounds, and over 50 students are
expected to participate in this event. Prizes will also be given after the competition to the top
scorers. With the intention to socialize more with my schoolmates, I will be also playing on the
day as a player, not an organizer, to experience the thrill and excitement during the competition.
3

Purpose

The game of chess holds a unique fascination. The strategic complexities offer lively minds an
immediate challenge and stimulating exercise. It can be played for fun, or with increasing
degrees of seriousness up to the highest levels of international competition.
It can be amazing how introducing a little structured competition can stimulate interest. The
purpose of this project is to promote chess in our school among students by offering chess
training and competition to encourage and motivate student to discover and learn the game. I

need to support more schools and instructors to give chances to youngsters to learn and play
chess. It is a diversion with no hindrances. Individuals of any age, sex, physical capacity, and
social class can all play on equivalent terms.
4

Why Chess?

Chess has numerous instructive profits, giving youngsters educated capital and transferable
aptitudes, for example, center, discipline, fixation, spatial mindfulness and key considering.
Chess might be an essential piece of that instruction. Prove unmistakably exhibits that chessplaying school students essentially outflank their non-playing peers in education, numeracy and
critical thinking aptitudes. Maybe of more prominent vitality is the way that adolescent chess
players get to be more certain, have upgraded respect toward oneself and are more ready to
arrange their reasoning and conduct. Giving youngsters the chance to play chess is a blessing
they keep for whatever is left of their lives. Chess is a friendly movement that serves to unite
youngsters and break down obstructions, whilst in the meantime empowering a sound feeling of
aggressiveness.
4.1

Academic Benefits

We have brought chess to the schools because we believe it directly contributes to academic
performance. Chess makes kids smarter. It does so by teaching the following skills:
Focusing Children are taught the benefits of observing carefully and concentrating. If they
dont watch what is happening, they cant respond to it, no matter how smart they are.
Visualizing Children are prompted to imagine a sequence of actions before it happens. We
actually strengthen the ability to visualize by training them to shift the pieces in their mind, first
one, then several moves ahead.
Thinking Ahead Children are taught to think first, then act. We teach them to ask themselves
If I do this, what might happen then, and how can I respond? Over time, chess helps develop
patience and thoughtfulness.
Weighing Options Children are taught that they dont have to do the first thing that pops into
their mind. They learn to identify alternatives and consider the pros and cons of various actions.

Analyzing Concretely Children learn to evaluate the results of specific actions and sequences.
Does this sequence help me or hurt me? Decisions are better when guided by logic, rather than
impulse.
Thinking Abstractly Children are taught to step back periodically from details and consider
the bigger picture. They also learn to take patterns used in one context and apply them to
different, but related situations.
Planning Children are taught to develop longer range goals and take steps toward bringing
them about. They are also taught of the need to reevaluate their plans as new developments
change the situation.
Juggling Multiple Considerations Simultaneously Children are encouraged not to become
overly absorbed in any one consideration, but to try to weigh various factors all at once.
None of these skills are specific to chess, but they are all part of the game. The beauty of chess as
a teaching tool is that it stimulates childrens minds and helps them to build these skills while
enjoying themselves. As a result, children become more critical thinkers, better problem solvers,
and more independent decision makers.
4.2

Social Benefits

In the schools, chess often serves as a bridge, bringing together children of different ages, races
and genders in an activity they can all enjoy. Chess helps build individual friendships and also
school spirit when children compete together as teams against other schools. Chess also teaches
children about sportsmanship how to win graciously and not give up when encountering defeat.
For children with adjustment issues, there are many examples where chess has led to increased
motivation, improved behavior, better self-image, and even improved attendance. Chess provides
a positive social outlet, a wholesome recreational activity that can be easily learned and enjoyed
at any age.

Work breakdown structure

Chinese Chess
Competition
Involved
people

Budget

Sponsorship

Prizes

Arbiter &
Supervisors
Recruitment

Publicity

Participants

Project coordination

Poster design
& advertising

Venue searching &

booking

Registration

Competition
Materials

Schedule/Milest
one/Gantt Chart

Purchasing prizes &

competition materials

Training

Hourly pay for arbiters

and supervisors

5.1

Budget

The finance department of the school is in charge of financing the competition. The division
staffs are in charge of giving prizes and will consider appeals to meet different costs on a caseby-case premise. Keep prizes cheap, simple, and plentiful. Give one or two pieces out as a prize.
A valuable prize does not significantly increase interest. Just the idea of winning seems to be
enough.
S/No.

Things to prepare

Unit Price

Quantity

Budget

Where to buy

needed
1

Chinese chess set

$15

$120

Digital chess clock

$3

$24

Scorebook

$2

$2

Bras Basah
Complex
Bras Basah
Complex
Popular bookstore

Reference books

$15

$75

Popular bookstore

and training

material
5

Fliers/Posters

$3

10

$30

First Prize(Popular

$50

$50

School printing
shop
Popular bookstore

$20

$60

Popular bookstore

$10

$50

Popular bookstore

$3

15

$45

Popular bookstore

$30

$60

$7

20

$140

$50

$50

bookstore $50
voucher)
7

Second
Prize(Popular
bookstore voucher
$20)

Third
Prize(Popular
bookstore voucher
$20)

Consolation
Prize(A notebook)

10
11
12

Hourly pay for

trainer
Hourly pay for
Arbiters
Miscellaneous
Total

$706

5.1.1 Funding
Raising money for your chess club can be very easy if you have the participation and support of
students, parents, and school administration.
The school district is a primary source of funding for school activities. Some districts have
funded programs for special academic classes. Districts may fund programs for exceptional and
talented students. In addition, districts usually make provisions for bus transportation to student
events. Provisions for funding teacher supplementary pay are discussed on page 7.

Each schools student council funds many activities. However, the student council sometimes
requires funding to be budgeted a year in advance. Work closely with the activities director to
recognize your chess program and team. Student councils are interested in securing equipment
that will be of long-term benefit to the school. Items such as chess clocks and chess books for the
library qualify. The student council will usually fund team entry fees to promote the school and
encourage school participation.
Most school clubs have ways of raising money for their activities. Find out what they are by
checking with several advisors and your school activities director. One or more of their ideas
may suit your need to raise a certain amount of money. Your parent booster club will be a
valuable resource. There are also community groups (e.g., Parents Association, Lions Club,
Optimists, Kiwanis) that support schools and worthy scholastic projects.
There are many old reliable methods bake sales, car washes, raffles, and chocolate sales
(where permitted). Student council and even school district funds designated for after-school
activities would be worth investigating. Spend the time looking for the money and you will
have to spend less time raising it.
5.2

Involved People Participants

5.2.1 Registration
Below is the application form for students who intend to participate in the competition to fill up.

Chinese Chess Competition Application

Name: ____________________________
Class: ____________________________
Grade: ____________________________
Home Phone: ______________________
Email: ____________________________
Have you been a member of a chess club before?
Yes
Do you have a National Chess Rating?
Yes
No
If yes, what is your rating? ___________
Preferred Timeslots for the competition (15th Sep):

AM

No

PM

If you are not a rated player, circle your estimate of your skill level:
Beginner
You do NOT know how to move the pieces.
Advanced Beginner
You do know how to move the pieces and capture an opponents piece.
Intermediate
You have played in a club and have an understanding of en passant and castling.
Advanced
You have played in many tournaments or have been an active member of a Chess
Club
or Team.
Teams must
enlist
their affirmed passage with me by fifteenth September. This incorporates
messaging the names of the normal team parts in expected board request. Any resulting team part
changes ought to be advised speedily via email.
Sections got after first September might be acknowledged, subject to a late-passage charge
installment of $40.
5.2.2 Training
One of the most exciting experiences a coach will offer his or her students is the opportunity to
participate in USCF-rated tournament competition. There are weekend club events as well as
state and national tournaments. Participating in the National championships gives players,
coaches, and parents the opportunity to experience scholastic chess at the championship level, as
well as the chance to meet people from other parts of the country.
Below is a checklist for students who lack knowledge in certain areas of the game:
1. How to checkmate:

a. With Queen & King vs. King

b. With two Rooks & King vs. King
c. With one Rook & King vs. King
d. Contest: Checkmate in the fewest moves (any of above).
2. Play two or three at a time discuss weak moves and good moves praise them as
often as possible.
3. Teach scorekeeping:
a. Name some squares, then point to others for them to name.
b. Place a Knight on the board - have them name all possible squares for it to move
to.
c. Have an experienced student show a beginner how to record a game.
4. Set up special situations such as:
a. Pawn & King vs. King how to defend; how to advance the pawn.
b. Back-rank mates.
c. Forks and Skewers.
5. Teach them how to castle and why.
6. Teach general opening theory:
a. Importance of controlling the center.
b. Avoid moving the same piece over and over again.
c. Don't bring out the Queen too early.
d. Castle early in the game.
e. Don't make too many pawn moves early in the game.
f. Develop Knights and Bishops quickly.
g. Don't make pointless "checking" moves just to put your opponent in "check."
5.3

Publicity

These are usually the keystone of a publicity campaign. Use an attractive chess picture (like a
silhouette of a knight or other piece) that shouts Chess! to a viewer. Use neat lettering and
dont be afraid of white space. Post fliers on bulletin boards, ask other teachers to put them up,
and leave some at the library and the main office. Use 11'' x 17'' posters and 81/2" x 11'' colored
fliers that show off a promotional chess competition.

6
6.1

Project controls
Competition Process

The competition process is as the followings,

Round 1: Player A plays B, C plays D, E plays F, G plays H.
Round 2: Winner of A/B plays winner of C/D, winner of E/F plays winner of G/H.
Round 3: Winner of A/B/C/D plays winner of E/F/G/H for the prize
Handling draws: Play again with 5 minutes on chess clock.
6.2

Venue

The playing hall should allow for a minimum of 2.25 square metres of usable space per player.
Provision should also be made for space for spectators.
6.3

Layout

In each one match, the 4 team parts will sit side-by-side, and be divided from different matches.
Each one match ought to be related to an unmistakably shown number and every chessboard
additionally obviously numbered 1 to 4. The chessboards ought to exchange shade and be
effectively orientated so the co-ordinate letters/numbers can support the players in resetting the
chessboard.
6.4

Spectators

The aim is to permit spectators to see the players and amusements. Conceivably observer ranges
ought to be characterized (for instance, with rope or seat obstructions). Access ought not be
denied to any individual who conducts him or herself appropriately. No spectators ought to have
the capacity to sit in any region where competition amusements are still in advancement. Just
players and competition staff are permitted in the passageways.
6.5

Arbiters

Each one segment (essential, transitional and optional) ought to preferably be controlled by a
different Arbiter. Arbiters ought to be accomplished and acquainted with Chinese chess
regulations. Conceivably, the degree of players to arbiters ought not surpass 8:1. The Arbiter

ought to be in the playing region at all times amid the rounds to support rivals in the occasion of
any issues or inquiries.
Arbiters will be in charge of:
Making pairings.
Ensuring general agreeability with the Laws of Chinese Chess.
Handling debate and making decisions.
Making beyond any doubt that the members and spectators watch an elevated expectation of
chess behavior and cease from exasperating or pestering their rivals (eg. by rehashing draw
offers or by swarming around any board). In suspicious cases the Arbiter might choose what
constitutes an aggravation and should act in like manner.
The name of arbiter assigned is Zhang Jingwen.
6.6

Time control

The time control will be either:

25 minutes plus 5 seconds increment per move using digital chess clocks.
30 minutes on analog and/or digital clocks.
6.7

Irregularities

If it is found that the starting position of the pieces is incorrect, the game must be cancelled and
restarted. If it is found that an illegal move has been made, the game must return to the position
directly before the irregularity. For the first two illegal moves by a player, the arbiter shall give
two minutes extra time to his opponent each time. If a player is to make a third illegal move in
the same game, the arbiter can declare the game lost by the offending player. If a game begins
with the piece colors reversed, the game should be stopped and restarted unless an arbiter rules
otherwise. If a player displaces any pieces, they should place them in the correct locations on
their own time.

6.8

Basic chess rules

The general rules of chess include castling, pawn promotion, en passant, checkmate, stalemate,
touch move, and the correct use of chess clocks.
Participants should be encouraged to familiarise themselves thoroughly with the Laws of
Chinese Chess before the event. Exceptions will not be given because participants are not
familiar with the rules.
6.9

A Code of Conduct

Spectators and coaches are governed by the ground rules of the tournament organizer. These
rules supercede the suggested guidelines that follow. In this discussion, COACH also refers to
PARENTS acting as supervisors and observers at a scholastic chess tournament and other
SPECTATORS (other than tournament officials).
Here are some of the dos and donts of coaches and parents on the floor:
1. Once a game is in progress, a coach can never interrupt it for any reason. Only
tournament directors and their assistants may intervene.
2. If a coach notices a player playing the wrong opponent, he or she should immediately
notify the tournament director (TD).
3. If a coach observes an illegal move, he or she is to say or do absolutely nothing, as it is
the responsibility of the players to bring violations to the attention of the TD.
4. If a coach sees a players hand raised, he or she should immediately summon a TD. He
should NEVER try to directly assist any player.
5. If a coach observes that a player has over-stepped his or her time limit, the coach should
not say or do anything, as only the players can make time-violation claims.
6. Once a tournament game has started, a coach should talk to his or her players only in the
presence of the TD.
7. In general, the coach should avoid eye contact with both his or her players and their
opponents, keeping a sufficient distance from the board to avoid distracting the players.
8. Players may leave their boards for short periods. They should inform the TD if they will
be gone for an extended time. While absent from his game, a player must not consult any

chess books, diagrams or analysis. He or she should not discuss their game (while in
progress) with anyone else.
9. Players, coaches, spectators, and TDs may be prohibited from bringing food or drink into
the tournament rooms. All scholastic tournaments are non-smoking.
10. After the conclusion of a tournament, if a coach notices that a prize was incorrectly
awarded, he or she should bring this to the attention of the TD ONLY.
11. WALLCHARTS show the pre-tournament ranking of the players, their ratings, their
round-by-round results and other pertinent information. Only tournament officials can
record information on these charts. Coaches or players should NEVER write on them.
12. Coaches should make sure their players results are reported. In most individual
tournaments, results are posted on pairing sheets. These sheets show each players pairing
and board number for a particular round, and have a space by each players name for
posting results.
At the nationals, players are required to report their results to designated officials.
In TEAM tournaments, results should be recorded on the Team Card at the playing
table.
13. PAIRING CARDS contain tournament results used for pairing purposes. Only TDs have
access to these cards.
14. OTHER coaching duties include:
a. providing instruction for their playersbefore and after rounds
b. helping their players find their pairings and boards
c. offering moral support to their players
d. making sure their players stay out of trouble
e. making sure their players exhibit good sportsmanship
f. helping maintain proper order throughout the tournament site

Summary schedule

The recommended schedule is as follows:

Saturday

Sunday

7.1

Players assembly

10.00am

Round 1

10.20am 11.20am

Round 2

11.30am 12.30pm

Lunch break

12.30pm 1.30pm

Round 3

1.30pm 2.30pm

Round 4

2.40pm 3.40pm

Round 5

3.50pm 4.50pm

Round 6

10.00am 11.00am

Round 7

11.10am 12.10pm

Prize giving

12.30pm

Milestone report

S/No.

Milestone details

Due Date

Collect relevant Chinese chess game rules, determine

3-Aug-2014

the time and location

2

design poster for Propaganda in the school get some

21-Aug-2014

students interested in the activities

3

Determine the number of the list, according to the

31-Aug-2014

registration number then recruiting the referee

4

Design an activity budget table, purchases needed

6-Aug-2014

supplies.
5

Training courses for new player and referee.

10-Sep-2014

Enter the game, through the way of eliminating, finally

15-Sep-2014

decided to the champion, the runner-up and third place

7.2

Gantt chart

Task Description
Create detailed plan
of competition
Competition venue
searching and
booking
Prize choosing and
purchasing of
competition
materials
Find sponsorship
Competition
publicity and
advertising
Registration of
participants
Recruiting the
referee
Consolidation and
grouping of players
Training courses for
new player and
referee
Briefing all staff
Hold Event
Project summary
report

1-

6-

11-

16-

21-

26-

31-

5-

10-

15-

Aug

Aug

Aug

Aug

Aug

Aug

Aug

Sep

Sep

Sep

20-Sep

Difficulties

At present, most of the tournament organizing and managing activities have been done manually.
According to the situation of current analysis CPCA faces difficulties when they managing a
chess tournament. Some of them are;

Tournament registration process is hard and time consuming since all the tournament
restrictions have to check against all the participants.

Numbering process is difficult since have to check rating list and compare them against
all the participants.

Preparing a draw of a round is time consuming, can have errors, need more human
resources and inefficient cost wise. (Specially when there is large number of players in
the tournament).

To do tie-breaking calculations are difficult and not efficient.

Problems with updating and publishing rating and ranking lists.

Keeping all the players, chess clubs and previous tournament details.

Communication difficulties.

Therefore with this project I endeavor to improve and maintain the standards, quality and
efficiency of the Chess tournament. The system also will be effective in cost wise and human
resource wise.
9

Achievements

Chess accommodates all modality strengths, provides a far greater quantity of problems for
practice. Chess also offers immediate punishments and rewards for problem solving. It creates a
pattern or thinking system that, when used faithfully, breeds success. The chess-playing students
had become accustomed to looking for more and different alternatives, which resulted in higher
scores in fluency and originality.
Competition fosters interest, promotes mental alertness, challenges all students, and elicits the
highest levels of achievement. A learning environment organized around games has a positive

effect on students attitudes toward learning. This affective dimension acts as a facilitator of
cognitive achievement. Instructional gaming is one of the most motivational tools in the good
teachers repertoire. Students love games. Chess motivates them to become willing problem
solvers and spend hours quietly immersed in logical thinking. These same young people often
cannot sit still for fifteen minutes in the traditional classroom.
10 Reflection
There are still some criticisms of chess competitions when I interviewed some of the school
teachers and students. On the one hand, we use the tournament aspects of chess such as prizes
and glory as a major draw to generate enthusiasm among kids, inspiring them to devote the time
to chess. But on the other hand, some teachers find it difficult to deal with competition in an
educational setting it tends to cause hurt feelings and get out of control with the students.
Therefore during the process of organizing this event, I try to emphasize the importance of
participation and making a good effort. In fact, All the boys felt that the camp was very fun and
enjoyed the team bonding activities, which all agreed were very enriching and emphasized
teamwork. Everybody was also very satisfied with the accommodation and food with some
complaints about occasional insects. All felt that the duration of the camp should be longer with
a suggestion there should be longer free time daily.