How do I become a chess coach?

Question

I would love to teach chess. I have played in many tournaments and won the Scholastic series. My rating is around 1750. I enjoyed teaching children how to play chess when I taught a group of children in Walnut Hills High School how to improve. Eventually they formed the first chess team at the school and competed in tournaments themselves, placing second in the Queen City Classic.

I taught children before and could teach them again. This kind of job gives me energy and passion. My rating is not as high many chess coaches, but I could at least teach total beginners. What would I need to do in order to become a chess coach.

Answer 1

Actually, I was about your rating when I started with my first student who I found through an ad that I placed on Craigslist. That client referred me to a friend of his and the rest is history. I have found that having to explain things to students has made me think more clearly about every aspect of chess; and that has made me a better player. Good luck to you!

Answer 2

You can do it!

Quite frankly, rating is almost irrelevant when It comes to coaching. I have some IM friends who are coaches for GMs.

Most GMs receive coaching from players much weaker OTB, but much stronger theoretically (or in their positional understanding). Many top coaches were never super GMs or World Champion Candidates.

The most important ability a Chess Coach has is identifying weaknesses in play. I have some students rated 2200+ who I regularly help find improvements. Some of my students are stronger than me tactically but regularly lose endgames I can immediately identify as won, or choose incorrect middlegame plans for a given pawn structure. The ability to identify these weaknesses comes from a broad and deep theoretical knowledge (what some might call book knowledge), but may not be backed up by ultra precise play OTB.

Are the best Football coaches also the best players? Not at all.

I'd advise you to make a Wyzant account, offer some coaching directly thru chess.com, or canvass your local club. Start cheap (or even free) until you discover what your teaching is worth. Unfortunately getting a good reputation (and many students) is self-reinforcing. A good reputation and large student base will attract more students. It's slow to start but once you have 15~20 students you'll find you have to increase your rates or even turn many people down!

Best of luck in your coaching!

Andrew