Free template
Chess progress report template
Coaches and academy admins who print a chess progress report and complete it by hand or with the generator.
Bottom line
This is a free, print-ready chess progress report template: a header block, an evidence block, a themes block, a narrative and one next step, each field clearly bracketed. Print the page and write in the brackets by hand, or fill it in with the generator. A comment bank and a CSV with one row per student sit on this page too.
Fill in or print the progress report
ChessCore
Chess progress report
Print and write in every bracket by hand, or fill it in with the generator.
Header
- Student name
- [Student name]
- Batch
- [Batch]
- Coach
- [Coach name]
- Reporting period
- [Start date] to [End date]
Evidence
- Games played
- [Number of rated games] on [Platform]
- Rating movement
- [Start rating] to [End rating] ([Rating system, e.g. FIDE classical or Lichess rapid])
- Attendance
- [Classes attended] of [Classes held], [Pending make-ups] make-up(s) pending
- No rating yet
- [Skill seen in play, with the game or date, for a student without a rating]
- Records not kept
- [Classes or games not recorded this period, stated plainly]
Themes
- Theme 1
- [Recurring pattern from real games], see [Game reference]
- Theme 2
- [Second recurring pattern], stated as behavior
- Theme 3 (optional)
- [Third pattern, only if it genuinely recurred]
Narrative
- What changed this period
- [Three to four sentences on what changed, in plain language]
Next step
- One goal for next period
- [One specific, checkable goal]
Sign-off
- Coach signature
- [Coach name]
- Date
- [Date]
How to use this template
- 1
Print the blank sheet or fill it in online
The sheet on this page is blank and prints on one page. The brackets are not editable here: print and write by hand, type a report in the generator, or download the CSV to keep one row per student.
- 2
Fill in the header and the evidence
Name the student, batch, coach and period. Then add games with the platform named, the start and end rating with its system (FIDE and Lichess ratings are calculated differently, so never merge them) and classes attended of classes held. With no rating yet, write the skill you saw and the game. If records are missing, say so.
- 3
Add two or three themes from real games
Describe a pattern you saw in the student's games as behaviour, with a reference to a specific game or date. Two themes backed by games beat three padded ones.
- 4
Write the narrative and one next step
Use three to four plain sentences a non-playing parent can follow, then set one goal for the next period that you can check at the next report. The guide below shows completed examples.
- 5
Check the report before it goes out
Replace every bracket, keep only the lines your records support, and give a rating dip an honest line. A monthly report runs about half a page; a term-end report uses the same blocks over the whole term. Sign, date and send it through your usual channel.
Print and write by hand, or fill it in online. To keep a report for every student in one spreadsheet, download the progress report template as a CSV. It has one column per field (classes attended and held, games, wins, losses and draws, ratings, topics, a coach note and the next focus) and two made-up example rows to replace.
Chess progress report comment bank
Comments to adapt for the narrative and next-step blocks, grouped by theme. Replace each bracket with what you saw in the student's own games, and keep only the lines that are true. A note on notation: the FIDE Laws of Chess forbid recording a move in advance of playing it, except when claiming a draw under Article 9.2 or 9.3 or adjourning a game (Article 8.1.2). Write about habits that happen before the move, such as checking a threat, not about writing the move down first.
Openings
- In [game/date], [Student] developed the knights and bishops before moving the queen. Next practise [task].
- [Student] played for the centre in [game/date]. Next look at pawn moves that weaken the king, such as [example].
- [Student] knows the first moves of [opening]. Next learn the plan that follows them, starting with [plan].
- In [game/date], [Student] moved the same piece twice in the opening. Next practise one new piece per move.
Tactics
- [Student] found [tactic] in [game/date]. Next practise [task] so the pattern shows up in more games.
- [Student] lost material to [tactic] in [game/date]. Tactics homework now focuses on that pattern.
- Before each move, [Student] is learning to check every capture and check for both sides. See [game/date].
- [Student] worked through [puzzle set] and missed [theme] most often. Next set: [task].
Endgames
- [Student] won [endgame] in [game/date] without help. Next learn [endgame].
- [Student] reached a good endgame in [game/date] and traded into a lost pawn ending. Next study when to keep pieces on.
- In [game/date], [Student] used the king actively in the endgame. Next look at [endgame idea].
- Basic pawn endings, especially the opposition, are the next topic for [Student]. Practise [task].
Time and thinking habits
- In [game/date], [Student] played quickly in good positions and slowly in bad ones. Next practise an even pace.
- In [game/date], [Student] ran short of time at move [number]. Next practise a clock check every [number] moves.
- In [game/date], [Student] checked the opponent's threat before choosing a move. Next practise doing it in every game.
- In [game/date], [Student] spent little time at the critical moment. Next practise stopping to think there.
Effort and attitude
- [Student] attended [classes attended] of [classes held] classes and handed in [homework done] of the homework set.
- After the loss in [game/date], [Student] asked to review the game. Next review one loss a week together.
- In class on [date], [Student] explained [idea] to a newer student.
- [Student] could play a few longer games at home between classes. Suggested: [number] a week.
Next step
- Next month, [Student] will focus on [one focus] with short daily practice at home.
- The plan for [Student] is to play in [event] and review every game with the coach afterwards.
- [Student] is ready to move up to [next batch] once [skill] is consistent in class games.
- At home, ten minutes of puzzles a day on [theme] will support what we cover in class.
Frequently asked questions
Is this chess progress report template free?
Yes. Print the page and write in the bracketed fields by hand, or fill it in with the generator, then print it or save it as a PDF from your browser's print dialog. No account or download is required.
Can I edit the fields on this template?
You cannot type into the brackets on this page. Print and write by hand, or fill it in with the generator. If you want a monthly report built from attendance, ratings and games already in your records, ChessCore's student progress tracking does that; its layout is its own, not this six-block sheet.
What does this template look like once it is filled in?
It keeps the same six blocks shown here, header, evidence, themes, narrative, next step and sign-off, with every bracket replaced by a value from your own records. Our guide to chess progress reports shows completed examples.
How do I save this template as a PDF?
Open your browser's print dialog (Ctrl or Cmd plus P) and choose Save as PDF instead of a physical printer. The print layout on this page is built to fit one page at that point.
Does this template work for beginners and rated players?
Yes. The rating-movement field accepts any rating system, and a beginner with no rating yet has a separate No rating yet row for a skill you saw in play. The rest of the template, header, evidence, themes, narrative and next step, applies to any level.
Should a chess progress report include the student's rating?
Yes, with two safeguards. Name the rating system, and show the rating at the start and end of the period rather than one bare number. Lichess calculates ratings with Glicko-2, and a new account's Lichess rating can move by hundreds of points, while FIDE publishes official ratings under its own rating regulations, so the two should never be merged or averaged. A labelled, dated rating is evidence a parent can look up at ratings.fide.com or on the student's Lichess profile.
Sources
- [1]Lichess.org API documentation · accessed 2026-10-16
- [2]FIDE ratings database · accessed 2026-10-16
- [3]FIDE Rating Regulations effective from 1 March 2024 · accessed 2026-10-16
- [4]Lichess FAQ: rating system · accessed 2026-10-16
- [5]FIDE Laws of Chess taking effect from 1 January 2023, Article 8 · accessed 2026-10-16
See monthly reports built from your records
Bring one batch to a walkthrough and see a monthly report built from attendance, game results, ratings and coach notes. AI-written report text waits for a coach to approve it.