To help insure the future of bridge through education, ACBL currently focuses on a number of areas. These include the development of ACBL teaching materials, the training of quality bridge teachers, and the cultivation of new bridge players who will subsequently become enthusiasts of bridge and members of ACBL.

SECTION ONE: ACBL TEACHER PROGRAMS

I. TEACHER DEVELOPMENT

A. TEACHER ACCREDITATION PROGRAM

The Teacher Accreditation Program (TAP) is a ten-hour seminar designed to recruit and train teachers. The seminar uses materials included in the ACBL Bridge Series of five texts and teacher manuals. A TAP is presented in a workshop format where teachers are trained to present the ACBL bridge courses effectively, using special bridge teaching techniques which were developed by Audrey Grant.

B. BASIC TAP SEMINAR

This seminar is offered at all NABCs and local programs can be arranged. ACBL charges a flat fee to put on a TAP but these programs can be organized by sponsors as money-making ventures. Participants can be charged a fee comparable to what ACBL charges at an NABC. Some districts and units offer financial assistance to members interested in taking the course. Other districts and units have established programs where TAP graduates receive rebates after teaching their first course. At least every five years, units are expected to sponsor, co-sponsor or assist unit members in attending a TAP.

C. CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR TEACHERS

Special seminars and workshops are offered at all NABCs. Teacher programs can usually be arranged at sectional and regional tournaments with the cooperation of the local education liaison.

D. TEACHER-TRAINER PROGRAM

Teacher-Trainers are the seminar instructors for TAP courses. Special workshops are held periodically to re-evaluate the TAP program and to update the trainers.

II. BRIDGE TEACHING MATERIALS

ACBL develops bridge support materials to assist ACBL Accredited Teachers in presenting the ACBL beginning bridge courses.

A. BASIC TEXTS AND TEACHER MANUALS

The ACBL has developed five bridge texts and teacher manuals called the ACBL Bridge Series. They are: Bidding (CLUB), Play of the hand (DIAMOND), Defense (HEART), Commonly Used Conventions (SPADE) and More Commonly used Conventions (NOTRUMP). These books are revised and updated on an ongoing basis. The ACBL has initiated distribution of these texts to commercial bookstores and libraries.

B. ADDITIONAL TEXTS AND MANUALS

Lesson plans for school courses are available for free download at the ACBL school site online at www.acbl.org. The Pre-Club Teacher Manual is used in conjuntcion with these lesson plans to support the ACBL's efforts to make bridge a part of school curricula. It offers one hour lesson plans.

C. TEACHER AND SUPPORT PRODUCTS

Derivative products using the bridge materials found in the ACBL Bridge Series textbooks have been produced for teachers and their students. These include E-Z Deal Cards for each of the five textbooks and E-Z Deal "Play" Cards and analyses booklets for practice courses and E-Z Guide Booklets for reference.

D. TRANSLATIONS INTO FOREIGN LANGUAGES

ACBL has assigned the rights to produce Spanish and Japanese translations of the basic texts, and a French Canadian translation of the Bidding (CLUB) and Play of the Hand (DIAMOND) texts.

III. TEACHER PUBLICATIONS AND SUPPORT TOOLS

A. THE BRIDGE TEACHER

The Bridge Teacher, a quarterly newsletter for ACBL Accredited Teachers, includes information on ACBL Education Programs, teaching tips and pertinent information.

B. STAR TEACHER PROGRAM AND BOOKLET

A teacher who submits the names of 100 or more students for any one course of instruction (CLUB, DIAMOND, HEART, SPADE of NOTRUMP) becomes a star teacher for that course. There are one-star, two-star, three-star, four-star an five-star teachers. Star teachers receive an additional discount on ACBL textbooks and are featured in the Bridge Teacher newsletter.

C. ACBL ACCREDITED TEACHER RESOURCE MATERIALS AND MINI-MANUAL

Information on ACBL's new player membership programs, school lesson series, junior, college and teacher programs can be found in the "Teacher" pages on the ACBL website (www.acbl.org). This manual  contains a section of special tips for presenting the ACBL courses and other information of value to our teachers.

A teacher catalog of ACBL products is produced and distributed each year (available from the ACBL Sales Department).

IV. TEACHER INCENTIVES

A. REDUCED PRICE MEMBERSHIPS

New bridge players are encouraged to join ACBL for the first time by the offer of a reduced price membership. Accredited or registered teachers, who sell these reduced price one-year memberships, are eligible for a $500.00 gift certificate for the ACBL store for every 100 new members recruited by that teacher, regardless of the year recruited.  They also receive a $50 gift certificate to the ACBL store for each 25 new members recruited during the calendar year. 

B. BOOK DISCOUNTS

ACBL offers special teacher discounts on ACBL textbooks (BIDDING, PLAY, DEFENSE, COMMONLY USED CONVENTIONS, MORE COMMONLY USED CONVENTIONS) and stimulates sales with periodic special low prices. Star teachers receive an additional per-book discount on ACBL textbooks.

V. ACBL AND ABTA

The American Bridge Teachers Association (ABTA) is an organization of bridge teachers that predates the formation of the ACBL bridge teaching programs. The ACBL and the ABTA work together for the betterment of bridge and the growth of both organizations.

Many of the ABTA's members have participated in the TAP and are ACBL Accredited Teachers. ACBL participates in the annual ABTA convention held during the Summer NABC. ACBL/ABTA teacher seminars are held in conjunction with the Spring and Fall NABCs whenever they can be scheduled.

Units and districts have been asked by the ACBL Board of Directors to appoint an education liaison to work with ACBL in the promotion of education programs at both the unit and district levels.

• ACBL suggests five ways to jump start a Unit Education/Newcomer Program:
• Host a TAP.
• Establish a "New Player Services" Program.
• Establish ongoing communications with local teachers.
• Create a progressive newcomer schedule for tournaments and send out postcard invitations to invite new players.
• Get teachers to give lessons in local schools, working to bring the young people into the unit.

Education Liaison Workshops are offered periodically at NABCs.  Regular mailings are sent to the liaisons to keep them updated on new developments in bridge education.

ACBL offers a free Unit Growth Seminar for units interested in more information on education programs. It is a team building seminar designed to increase local participation and produce new players. Call the ACBL Education Department (ext. 264) for more information.

SECTION THREE: NEW PLAYER PROGRAMS

I. NEW PLAYER PUBLICATIONS

Special publications have been created for students and newcomers to bridge:

Play Bridge insert in the ACBL Bridge Bulletin: The center section of ACBL's magazine has been created by Audrey Grant to appeal to students and newcomers to bridge.  

ADVENTURES IN DUPLICATE: This book, written by Edith Mullin, was  created to serve as a reference guide for new players and complements the ACBL's beginning bridge materials.

In addition to the publications above, a number of special pamphlets and brochures have been created for new players, including:

• Join the Fun
• The Exciting World of Duplicate
• The ACBL from A to Z.

II. THE JUNIOR PROGRAM

A number of programs are in place to encourage college, high school, junior high and even elementary school students to learn bridge. Activities and publications have been designed especially for junior players. A junior player is defined as any player under the age of 26.

A. SCHOOL BRIDGE LESSON SERIES

The School Bridge Lesson Series program is available to elementary schools, secondary schools, colleges and universities in North America. It offers free bridge lessons to students. The ACBL Educational Foundation funds this program which includes the textbooks, teacher fees, T-shirts for course graduates  and trophies for mini-tournament winners.

B. STUDENT MEMBERSHIPS

Student memberships have been established whereby ACBL's Junior members pay a greatly reduced membership fee. Anyone under the age of 26 who is a student is eligible to receive:

• ACBL's monthly magazine, THE BRIDGE BULLETIN
• THE GRAPEVINE (SEE F).
• An opportunity to win scholarship monies in the King of Bridge Contest, the Homer Shoop preteen scholarship, and the School Bridge Lesson Series Instant Matchpoint Game (open to current and graduated students of the School Bridge Lesson Series who are students where the lessons are offered).
• The opportunity to purchase discount entry coupons for all events at NABCs.
• The right to participate in all ACBL-sponsored Junior activities.
• A student who is 19 or under and has graduated from one of ACBL's school lesson programs can join the ACBL for $5 a year and receive all of the above benefits except THE BRIDGE BULLETIN.

The Junior Corps is an association of Junior players who are charged with working with their local unit officials and tournament organizers to promote Junior bridge in their home areas.

D. NABC JUNIOR PROGRAM

The NABC Junior Program consists of the following:

• Special Junior events and activities.
• Junior entries for a reduced fee.
• Junior Day the first Saturday of each NABC.

E. JUNIOR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

In even-numbered years, the ACBL and the USBF(United States Bridge Federation) offer  the Junior Trials on the last weekend of the summer NABC. This is an event designed to select Junior Teams who will represent ACBL in the World Junior Team Championship.  The ACBL currently funds a training program for these Juniors with money raised through Junior Fund Games (see G).

F. THE GRAPEVINE

THE GRAPEVINE is a newsletter designed for young bridge enthusiasts, published three times a year and mailed to all ACBL Junior members.  It is also available online at ACBL's Junior web site.

G. JUNIOR MONTH

The month of February is designated as Junior month. During this month each club is authorized to hold sectional-rated black point Junior Fund games. Junior Fund games may also be run in any other month. (See CHAPTER 4, Section II-IV.F.)

H. JUNIOR CAMP

Once every two years ACBL sponsors a camp for junior bridge players. This is held in conjunction with the Summer NABC in even numbered years. Approximately 100 juniors from North America and Europe  attend each camp. For more information contact the ACBL Education Department.

SECTION FOUR: TELEVISION BRIDGE PROGRAMS

The ACBL has produced five television programs and currently has two television programs available for independent television stations  to air free of charge through the Education Department

I. THE BRIDGE CLASS

THE BRIDGE CLASS consists of 13 one-half hour shows based on the ACBL CLUB SERIES (Bidding) text. This program is available through the ACBL Education Department for use on public access channels and independent cable television companies free of charge. Video tapes for home use (The Bridge Players' Video Library) are available through the ACBL Sales Department.

II. PLAY BRIDGE WITH AUDREY GRANT

PLAY BRIDGE WITH AUDREY GRANT consists of two segments of 13 half-hour programs. This program, which aired on PBS, is currently not available.

III. PLAY BRIDGE WITH AUDREY GRANT-PART II

Play Bridge with Audrey Grant - Part II consists of 13 one-half hour shows based on the original ACBL SPADE SERIES duplicate text. It also aired on PBS is currently not available.

IV. BRIDGE BRUSH UP WITH AUDREY GRANT-PART II

Bridge Brush Up consists of 13 one-half hour shows of more advanced bidding and play techniques. It is available to independent and cable television stations and public access channels through the ACBL Education Department free of charge.  Video tapes for home use are also available through the ACBL Sales department.

V. BRIDGE AT SEA WITH AUDREY GRANT

Bridge at Sea consists of 13 one-half hour shows featuring a review of the bridge basics in a cruise ship setting. The program will be available in the spring of 1999 through NETA, a distributor for PBS programming.