At first glance, it looks simple: if you’re good at chess, you can coach chess. Right?

Well… not quite. At Puddletown, we’ve seen that being a strong player is just the baseline. Our coaches actually juggle three very different hats every single session: chess expertise, communication skills, and leadership. Without all three, even the most accomplished player can struggle to connect with kids.

Hat #1: Chess Expertise

This is the obvious one. Our coaches must know the game deeply, openings, tactics, endgames, and strategy. But knowing chess and teaching chess are two different things. National Masters and even higher-level players have stepped into coaching and realized that without the next two hats, their knowledge doesn’t land.

One of our favorite moments? A coach once solved a puzzle on the spot and then turned it into a mini-lesson for the class. The kids weren’t just impressed, they were inspired to try the same thought process themselves.

Hat #2: Communication

If chess is the content, communication is the delivery. Coaches have to explain tricky ideas clearly, grade homework thoughtfully, and give feedback that actually sticks. They need to listen to students, encourage questions, and adapt their language to match each child’s level. Whether it’s a puzzle explanation, a casual chat in office hours, or a note on homework, communication is at least one-third of the job.

We’ve seen coaches use humor to turn a dry endgame study into something kids laugh through and remember. Others have written careful feedback on homework sheets that made students light up because someone noticed their effort.

Hat #3: Leadership

This is the hat that surprises most people. Teaching chess to a group of kids means managing personalities, energy, and classroom order. A strong coach knows how to balance the eager kids who always shoot their hands up with the quiet ones who need encouragement to share. They create space for every voice, sometimes by calming things down, sometimes by drawing kids out.

One coach spotted a shy player who rarely spoke. Instead of moving on, they gently invited that student to share just one move. The room went quiet, the child whispered the answer, and suddenly they were beaming as the coach praised the insight. Another time, a class was getting restless and noisy until the coach cracked a joke, reset the tone, and got everyone refocused without raising their voice. That’s leadership in action.

And of course, disruptions happen. The best coaches don’t ignore them or lose their cool. They practice firm-but-kind leadership: setting expectations, following through on consequences, and keeping the class safe and fun for everyone.

That’s why we say Puddletown coaches aren’t just teaching chess, they’re growing as communicators and leaders too. Every session is a chance for them to sharpen all three hats: the chess brain, the communicator, and the leader.

And the ripple effect is huge. Our students don’t just learn chess moves; they see living examples of what it means to guide, engage, and inspire.

At Puddletown, chess is the starting point. Leadership is the real outcome.