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Now accepting rolling admissions!

Classes begin Sunday, September 7th. Limited space available.

Details & Registration

Instruction: Team practices occur year round and meet nearly every week. Members work regularly with highly skilled and experienced instructors. Practices feature analysis of instructional games, playing out of training positions, as well as other fun and instructive exercises. Topics cover a broad range to ensure members develop into well-rounded chess players.

Practice: Students are expected to complete work in-between practices and receive regular, process-oriented, rewards to help maintain motivation and achieve success! Each student receives their own workbook along with periodic supplemental materials and has their progress monitored by RBC coaches.

Competition: While optional, team members are strongly encouraged to participate regularly in local and regional tournaments. This gives them the chance to apply their skills and build camaraderie, as well as giving coaches another way to assess their progress. Members receive 50% discounts to all RBC scholastic tournaments throughout the year.

A strong emphasis is placed on process-oriented goals rather than rating goals, which often are not immediately reflective of the effort students put in. Participants' progress is tracked and points are awarded for specific milestones. Points accumulate and can be traded in for RBC merch.

Milestones include completing workbooks, solving puzzles, competing in tournaments, showing good sportsmanship, completing practice games and more!

Information About Sections

The RedBandit Chess Team is divided into two sections, Junior Varsity and Varsity. Both meet regularly on Sunday mornings throughout the year at the RedBandit Chess Studio in Norwalk, CT. The JV team meets from 9:30-10:15am followed by the Varsity team from 10:45-11:30am. The half hour (optional) period in-between from 10:15-10:45am is designated as pick up/drop off period for both classes where students from both teams are able to mingle and play.

Junior Varsity Team

Grades: K-5

Level: Beginner/Intermediate (rated approximately 0-600)
Participants are expected to have a good understanding of the basics of chess. No prior tournament experience or rating is required, however, it is recommended that students completely new to the game should complete one of our various other beginner friendly classes or work privately with a coach to get up to speed on the fundamentals.

Varsity Team

Grades: K-8

Level: Intermediate/Advanced (rated approximately 600 and up)

Participants are expected to have a complete understanding of the basics of chess as well as at least some knowledge of openings, middlegame strategy and endgame theory, and/or should have previously completed other classes or private lessons. While many students in this class will have prior tournament experience, it is not required.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

The teams practice every Sunday, except for holidays (see calendar).

Junior Varsity Team
Sundays 9:30-10:15am

Open Play
Sundays 10:15-10:45am
(optional for both teams)

Varsity Team
Sundays 10:45-11:30am

*Currently classes are only able to be offered on Sundays, however, in the future we may add more sections on different days. If our current schedule does not work for you, please let us know so we can keep you up to date if/when additional weekly practices are added.

The unique curriculum developed by NM Ian Harris has been designed to support students' steady chess improvement while simultaneously promoting development of strong executive functions. Executive functions are a key set of cognitive processes that manage an individual's thoughts, actions and emotions to achieve goals both in school and throughout adulthood.

Team practices include analysis of instructional master and student games, sparring positions from real games with highly instructive moments, opening and endgame theory, as well as time for puzzle solving and play.

Each team member is expected to practice regularly between trainings and receive their own workbook along with periodic supplemental assignments. Instructors constantly monitor progress and students receive rewards for strong sustained effort towards process-oriented goals.

Fee: $115/month on a regular recurring basis + one time $60 start up fee.

The recurring fee covers all of the classes up to one hour and fifteen minutes per week, make up classes, as well as supplemental materials. The $60 start up fee reserves your place on the team and includes a customized team jersey and personal workbook.

Discounts: Parents registering more than one child receive 10% off the monthly payment for each additional child. Please contact us for the discount. Active team members also receive 50% discounts to all scholastic tournaments organized by RBC throughout the year.

Cancellation Policy: Membership to the team can be canceled at any time for any reason. Missed classes cannot be refunded, but active team members can attend periodic make ups. It is also possible to pause a membership for a period of up to one month during a calendar year. This allows students to maintain their slot on the team in the event they are to be away for an extended period. This must be communicated in writing at least two weeks prior.

Class make ups: Students that miss classes will have the opportunity to join periodically scheduled make up classes. Make up classes will be scheduled approximately once every two months and will be announced in advance.

Class sizes: In an effort to provide quality small group instruction, both JV and Varsity Sunday practice times are limited to 10 students in each. Each section will have 1-2 instructors at any given time. All students will work with highly experienced teachers including NM Ian Harris, Coach Joey Cyr and special guests.

Drop off: Parents/guardians are strongly encouraged to drop off their children. There is no indoor waiting area, however, during good weather you can make use our outdoor patio. View our suggested things to do nearby.

Class Placement: Decisions about class placement and advancement are made in consultation among instructors along with input from parents. Participants that complete their assigned work, reach certain milestones and show steady improvement, and/or who reach an over the board rating of 700+ will be recommended for the Varsity team. Parents receive regular check ins on their student's progress.

For questions or to arrange a consultation contact Ian Harris at iharris@redbanditchess.com or (203) 981-7252.

Registration