One of the reasons we had so (relatively) few youngsters taking up bridge in the 70's, 80's and 90's was that their parents didn't learn and play bridge. Why not? Why did the most popular game in in the 50's and 60's start to lose it's popularity?
I think it was when every family had TV and then later video games, cable TV and computers. In the 30's and 40's very few families had TV's and even then there were at most 2 stations and in black and white. Reception was bad, limited programming etc. So TV didn't change people's options for entertainment all that much in the beginning. Families still relied on dinner parties, charades, family games for entertainment and socializing. Bridge (being such a fantastic game and perfect for inviting over another couple) was a big part of that social life.
Then came along color TV, more programming options and more TV stations. All of a sudden people could spend the evening watching TV in the comfort of their own home. Not only was it new, after the purchase of the TV, it was inexpensive and they didn't have to dress up and go out! This resulted in less instances of adults coming over to visit, having dinner and then playing cards....with the kids in the house looking over their shoulders to see what was going on and occassionally even play dummy.
By the 70's when video games and cable TV came along with even more entertainment options and then add computer games to the mix in the 90's...we were faced with a huge struggle to interest people in a card game!
The trend is changing though. Cable TV, video games and computers aren't 'new' anymore; they've lost part of their appeal. Youngsters (and adults) are looking for other ways to spend their leisure time. Families are looking for opportunities to spend time together. Fresh opportunities to challenge their mind and to display their intelligence and skill.
I know of only one game you never master. One game that presents new challenges, situations and puzzles every time you sit down to play.
You guessed it - Bridge!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
The Youth North American Bridge Championship
The Youth NABC has become an annual fixture during the summer. 2008was in Atlanta. 2009 in Washington DC. 2010 is scheduled for New Orleans July 29th - 31st.
Young players from all over the world come to spend three days making new friends, seeing players that they might never have a chance to meet otherwise and enjoying the thrill of competition.
$1000 college scholarships are offered to the winners of the two major events and a Sportsmanship trophy and scholarship is given to the winner, who is elected by the young players.
I love to play bridge and I always hope to win; but like these youngsters the best part of bridge is seeing my friends, hanging out, catching up on their lives and making new friends.
One thing bridge offers (that I don't find anywhere else) is the opportunity to make friends with people from other parts of the North American and even other countries! There are a few people I only see three times a year, when I go to the NABC's, but I look forward to seeing them each and every time. I have ten days to talk and visit and enjoy every moment of their company.
I hope they feel the same about seeing me.
Young players from all over the world come to spend three days making new friends, seeing players that they might never have a chance to meet otherwise and enjoying the thrill of competition.
$1000 college scholarships are offered to the winners of the two major events and a Sportsmanship trophy and scholarship is given to the winner, who is elected by the young players.
I love to play bridge and I always hope to win; but like these youngsters the best part of bridge is seeing my friends, hanging out, catching up on their lives and making new friends.
One thing bridge offers (that I don't find anywhere else) is the opportunity to make friends with people from other parts of the North American and even other countries! There are a few people I only see three times a year, when I go to the NABC's, but I look forward to seeing them each and every time. I have ten days to talk and visit and enjoy every moment of their company.
I hope they feel the same about seeing me.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Their First Game
The first Saturday of every month Atlanta Junior Bridge has a sanctioned duplicate bridge game just for young players. One of the clubs donates their space, one of our teachers donates his time to direct and a local bridge organization pays the sanction fees.
We teach classes over the Metro Atlanta area and many of our students don't have an opportunity to see the other young players very often. We want to give the kids who have been playing a few years a chance to see their friends, play a game and generally just visit with each other. This also gives the new students coming along an opportunity to meet some of the more experienced youngsters, play in a game and learn about deportment, rules and how a game 'works'; all in a comfortable non-threatening environment.
I can't say enough nice things about the more experienced kids who come and play every 1st Saturday and welcome and encourage these new players.
This last Saturday's five table game was attended by two new players who had never played in a game and knew only one of the other players(a school mate). They were understandably nervous; new people, a new experience, only a few months of bridge and their bridge teacher wasn't able to be there. When I welcomed them and asked their names, they spoke so softly I could barely hear them.
Well, they came into the game and by about the third round they were talking, laughing and making friends. They plan on continuing their classes and are coming to the next game. The attitude of our existing players towards these newcomers determined what kind of experience they had - as it turned out, a great one!
By the way, the newcomers came in 1st in the beginner flight and won masterpoints!
We teach classes over the Metro Atlanta area and many of our students don't have an opportunity to see the other young players very often. We want to give the kids who have been playing a few years a chance to see their friends, play a game and generally just visit with each other. This also gives the new students coming along an opportunity to meet some of the more experienced youngsters, play in a game and learn about deportment, rules and how a game 'works'; all in a comfortable non-threatening environment.
I can't say enough nice things about the more experienced kids who come and play every 1st Saturday and welcome and encourage these new players.
This last Saturday's five table game was attended by two new players who had never played in a game and knew only one of the other players(a school mate). They were understandably nervous; new people, a new experience, only a few months of bridge and their bridge teacher wasn't able to be there. When I welcomed them and asked their names, they spoke so softly I could barely hear them.
Well, they came into the game and by about the third round they were talking, laughing and making friends. They plan on continuing their classes and are coming to the next game. The attitude of our existing players towards these newcomers determined what kind of experience they had - as it turned out, a great one!
By the way, the newcomers came in 1st in the beginner flight and won masterpoints!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
What Would Your Choice Be?
While I think that bridge is a great pasttime for kids, there are a few people who disagree. One of the most common comments I hear from people opposed to the idea of kids playing bridge is "These kids should be out playing". I know that they are thinking of a childhood that was much like mine. Playing from sun-up to sundown in the neighborhood with eight or ten other kids, moving from yard to yard as the mood strikes. Front yard baseball and football. Swimming, Neighborhood Olympics and chasing fireflies at night. That sounds wonderful doesn't it? Idyllic almost.
Well that's not typical anymore. Children today are much more restricted by parents who have legitimate safety concerns. They have music lessons, many afterschool activities, and tons more homework. Their leisure activity is more more likely to be computer games, video games and television than it is to be tag in the front yard. Most of the adults I teach bridge to talk about arranging 'play dates' for their youngsters so that they can socialize with other children.
I'm for organized sports for children. I love to watch kids play baseball, basketball, soccer and football. Yes, they do get a chance to 'visit' with their teammates in practice and on the sidelines. Bridge however has three advantages;
1) They will meet other children outside of their normal circle of school and neighborhood
2) Bridge is safe. A safe environment and physically safe
3) They can play bridge forever. They will never be faced with not being chosen for the team, or not good enough for first string. Yes, in bridge some players are better than others, but everyone regardless of skill level can enjoy it
Children have much less time to just 'be' with other kids. Would you rather your child play a video game or play a game with a bunch of other kids? Play a game that improves their mind or Watch TV? Play a game on the computer or talk, cut-up and laugh with other kids?
My choice would be Bridge.
Well that's not typical anymore. Children today are much more restricted by parents who have legitimate safety concerns. They have music lessons, many afterschool activities, and tons more homework. Their leisure activity is more more likely to be computer games, video games and television than it is to be tag in the front yard. Most of the adults I teach bridge to talk about arranging 'play dates' for their youngsters so that they can socialize with other children.
I'm for organized sports for children. I love to watch kids play baseball, basketball, soccer and football. Yes, they do get a chance to 'visit' with their teammates in practice and on the sidelines. Bridge however has three advantages;
1) They will meet other children outside of their normal circle of school and neighborhood
2) Bridge is safe. A safe environment and physically safe
3) They can play bridge forever. They will never be faced with not being chosen for the team, or not good enough for first string. Yes, in bridge some players are better than others, but everyone regardless of skill level can enjoy it
Children have much less time to just 'be' with other kids. Would you rather your child play a video game or play a game with a bunch of other kids? Play a game that improves their mind or Watch TV? Play a game on the computer or talk, cut-up and laugh with other kids?
My choice would be Bridge.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Does Bridge have any Academic Value?
I could write a treatise on the academic value your child will gain by learning bridge. But since I've promised to keep each blog short and sweet, hitting the high points only...here we go!
Chris Shaw did a study on the effect learning bridge had on students standardized test scores. In his area the schools use the Iowa Test of Basic Skills where the students take the test at the beginning of the year and then in subsequent years to judge (by the increase in their test scores) how much the children have learned over the course of the school years. He took six math classes (not special classes, not special students, just regular classes)and taught one class Bridge. In that first year, the students who learned bridge scored anywhere from 6% to 14% higher across the board than the students who did not learn bridge. You numbers people can find the complete study at
http://btfy.org/documents/Shaw%20BRIDGE%20AND%20TEST%20SCORES.pdf
This study probably reflects all those mathematical skills you hone when you play bridge like; Numbers and Operations, Data Analysis,
Probability, Algebra, Problem Solving and Reasoning and Proof.
Not to mention those 'soft' mental and social skills like; Partnership, Teamwork, Communication and Operating Within a Set of Rules.
Is their any other activity your child participates in that can offer THAT?
Chris Shaw did a study on the effect learning bridge had on students standardized test scores. In his area the schools use the Iowa Test of Basic Skills where the students take the test at the beginning of the year and then in subsequent years to judge (by the increase in their test scores) how much the children have learned over the course of the school years. He took six math classes (not special classes, not special students, just regular classes)and taught one class Bridge. In that first year, the students who learned bridge scored anywhere from 6% to 14% higher across the board than the students who did not learn bridge. You numbers people can find the complete study at
http://btfy.org/documents/Shaw%20BRIDGE%20AND%20TEST%20SCORES.pdf
This study probably reflects all those mathematical skills you hone when you play bridge like; Numbers and Operations, Data Analysis,
Probability, Algebra, Problem Solving and Reasoning and Proof.
Not to mention those 'soft' mental and social skills like; Partnership, Teamwork, Communication and Operating Within a Set of Rules.
Is their any other activity your child participates in that can offer THAT?
Monday, November 2, 2009
Let's talk more about Opportunities
In my previous post I touched upon the small expense of playing bridge vs other activities your child might engage in.
What I didn't mention were the presently available scholarships and awards your child might become eligible for if they learned and became proficient in bridge. All of these have guidelines you have to follow in order to become eligible, but here they are in a thumbnail sketch:
1)$500 College scholarships for High School students who form a bridge club in their school and teach beginning bridge
2) $1000 College scholarships for winning the Youth North American Bridge Championship Pair or Team event held each summer
3)$1000 College scholarship for the Sportsmanship Award given out at the Youth NABC each year
4) $1000 College Scholarship for the King/Queen of Bridge Award which is given to a graduating High School senior each year
5)Youth and Junior Ambassador award for ACBL young members who exemplify high standards of conduct and sportsmanship
6)Collegiate Championships with associated $500 scholarships for them to participate in the National Collegiate event held each summer
7) Membership in the Junior Teams which competes in Championship events held by the World Bridge Federation and FISU. The US Bridge Federation holds competitions to chose the teams which will compete and sponsors the qualifying teams. These are held all over the world, so provide an opportunity for international travel and the chance to meet young players from other countries.
What great opportunities all this presents!
What I didn't mention were the presently available scholarships and awards your child might become eligible for if they learned and became proficient in bridge. All of these have guidelines you have to follow in order to become eligible, but here they are in a thumbnail sketch:
1)$500 College scholarships for High School students who form a bridge club in their school and teach beginning bridge
2) $1000 College scholarships for winning the Youth North American Bridge Championship Pair or Team event held each summer
3)$1000 College scholarship for the Sportsmanship Award given out at the Youth NABC each year
4) $1000 College Scholarship for the King/Queen of Bridge Award which is given to a graduating High School senior each year
5)Youth and Junior Ambassador award for ACBL young members who exemplify high standards of conduct and sportsmanship
6)Collegiate Championships with associated $500 scholarships for them to participate in the National Collegiate event held each summer
7) Membership in the Junior Teams which competes in Championship events held by the World Bridge Federation and FISU. The US Bridge Federation holds competitions to chose the teams which will compete and sponsors the qualifying teams. These are held all over the world, so provide an opportunity for international travel and the chance to meet young players from other countries.
What great opportunities all this presents!
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