Physical fitness very important for chess players: Study

Dr. Anna Kęska

Dr. Agnieszka Fornal-Urban

Hello Everyone!

As chess players we spend a lot of time sitting at the board and at the computer. But physical fitness and a regular exercise program is essential for chess players. Physical fitness in relation to age and body build of young chess players is the subject of a study conducted by Agnieszka Fornal-Urban, Anna Kęska. The University of Physical Education in Warsaw, the European Chess Union and the Polish Chess Federation have supported the study.

The following interesting conclusions were drawn from the study:

• It is worth obligating the organizers of the chess tournaments to make it possible for the chess players to participate in attractive and active forms of recreation in their free time.
• It would be advisable to undertake the efforts aiming at making the parents and coaches aware of the significance of the regular physical exercises for the health and high sport achievements.
• In the training process of the chess players, more attention should be paid to their fitness preparation, particularly to the exercises developing their strength.
• The results of the conducted study are significant not only for the chess players themselves, for their coaches and parents. The characteristics of this population of sportsmen can also be used in much broader perspective, because of the sedentary lifestyle of children and teenagers who do not play chess.

You can read a detailed report on the study at chessbase.com or details of the methodology of the study here.

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