NEW BERN, N.C. — The City of New Bern has a new sports team, but this one exercises the mind instead of the body. The New Bern Police Department started the Noble Knights Chess Club in January, and it's already a popular event.
What You Need to Know
- The New Bern Police Department started the Noble Knights Chess Club in January
- They hope to mentor kids and build relationships with the youth community
- Chess instructor, Nolan Tomboulain teaches kids life skills through the game of chess
- The 12-week program meets on Monday nights at the West New Bern Recreation Center
One of Nolan Tomboulain’s biggest passions is the game of chess. His grandfather taught him to play when he was just 6 years old, and he has been playing ever since.
“It’s my goal to help anyone who wants to learn to improve and do better,” Tomboulain said. “And it’s just a matter of, it’s really building families and building relationships and having fun.”
He coached a chess team when he lived in Charlotte. However, after moving to New Bern 10 years ago, he didn’t get to teach chess like he wanted and became a schoolteacher instead. Now he’s finally getting the chance to resurrect his passion for the game through the Noble Knights.
The New Bern Police Department started the program to build relationships with the youth community. It’s a way for police officers to mentor kids and coach them in chess and life skills. Chief Patrick Gallagher started playing chess when he was young and is very passionate about this new program.
“There’s too many negative press about my profession,” Gallagher said. “And we want to advance positive press about who we are and what we do.”
He hopes the Noble Knights will help rebrand the police department and form good relationships with the kids.
“So we can teach them something of value and demonstrate to them that we’re their friends,” Gallagher said.
Not only that, but Gallagher is hoping that by stretching the kids’ minds, they will be even more successful.
“A child that plays chess is more likely to graduate from high school,” Gallagher said. “Is more likely to go to college. More likely to start developing those strategic thoughts in their brains to help them in a life lesson type of situation.”
Tomboulain says although the sport can get very competitive, the goal of this program is to learn and have fun. He wants to teach these kids that chess is about more than winning.
“The king is in a position of authority,” Tomboulain said. “And you never want to take away that authority or the dignity that goes to the king. So while he might lose the game, he still has value. And we never remove him from the game.”
It can teach you positive life skills, such as sportsmanship, creativity, self-confidence and how to make good decisions under pressure.
“The biggest part about life skills is accepting defeat when things don’t go your way and learning how to handle adversity,” Tomboulain said. “What happens when the pressures seem to be coming at you from all directions? How do you make a choice? And sometimes there are no good choices. And sometimes there are amazing choices that you can make that move you forward.”
The Noble Knights meet every Monday night from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the West New Bern Recreation Center. It’s a 12-week program, but they are accepting new students every week.
