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Jump Start Bridge is a proven, effective educational program that provides teacher training, instructional tools, and both practical and financial support for implementing the card game bridge as an enrichment, afterschool, or club activity for K–12 students. This program is designed to serve as a continuing education opportunity for educators, while delivering real-world benefits in student learning, critical thinking, and social development. Click to learn more
Event Summaries
The First North Alabama JumpStart
Bridge Tournament
Huntsville Bridge sponsored the first Annual North Alabama JumpStart Bridge Tournament on May 2, 2025. The tournament was held at the Academy for Science and Foreign Language (ASFL) Elementary School with students from two other Huntsville City Schools, Morris School and the Academy for Academics and Arts (AAA), traveling to ASFL as a field trip. A total of 98 fourth and fifth graders from the Huntsville City Schools participated in the tournament and tested their bridge skills against students from other schools. Children were divided into three sections, and trophies were awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each direction (NS/EW) for each section to the accompaniment of cheering and fist pumps. One teacher commented, “You would have thought they had won an Olympic Medal.” Jaida Allen, ASFL gifted teacher, and Susan Bridges of Huntsville Bridge coordinated the event.
Seventeen volunteers from Huntsville Bridge worked with children from four Huntsville City Schools throughout the school year to introduce students to bridge and help them learn to “Just Do the Math.” Teachers loved that the cooperative nature of bridge and the math, strategy, and logic skills involved. The lack of dependence on screens was also viewed as a plus. The ACBL and JumpStart Bridge provide a wealth of materials for the teachers and students. ACBL also provided stipends for teachers. JumpStart Bridge is supported with funds from the ACBL Educational Foundation, the Levine Family Foundation and many generous family foundations and individuals.
The teachers worked with Huntsville Bridge to organize our tournament. Teachers set the date and location for the tournament, and prep their students. Huntsville Bridge provided trophies, card tables, pre-dealt boards, table mats, card holders for small hands, a nametag and lanyard for each child, pencils and scorecards, a gift for each child, and a large banner for the playing area. Huntsville Bridge also provided pizza, a cookie, and a bottle of water for each child and for the volunteers.
Huntsville Bridge volunteers were wonderful. Over 30 volunteers from our club worked to make this tournament a success including a substantial amount of preparatory work. Teachers sent the names of participating pairs to Susan Bridges, and the children were pre-registered for the tournament with section, table, and direction assignments made in advance and inserted in each child’s nametag. Volunteers printed and assembled the nametags prior to the tournament. Patty Tucker and JumpStart Bridge provided much guidance, many cardholders, about half of the trophies, and a JumpStart sticker and pencil for each child. Huntsville Bridge ordered the remainder of the trophies. ACBL provided a deck of cards for each child. Hands were designed to provide all children the opportunity to play and hands were pre-dealt. Volunteers worked with Ms. Allen to set up the playing area the day before the tournament. One of our members designed and printed a large banner for the playing area.
When children arrived on the day of the tournament, their teacher called them in by pairs and two volunteers checked them off the list. Other volunteers then gave the students their nametags and directed them to their table. Our goal had been for student check-in to begin at 8:30 AM and for play to begin at 9:15 AM and we were able to begin on time.
Students played a simplified version of MiniBridge with one-board rounds. There was no bidding. Each child removed their hand from the board and counted their High Card Points (HCP). The pair with the most HCP became the declaring team, and the person in that pair with the most points became the declarer and their partner the dummy. The dummy tables their hand, and then the declarer decides if they want to play the contract in NT or a named trump suit. All contracts were at the 1-level. After declarer make their selection, the person to the left of the declarer leads the first card. Play then continues as usual. Students had been taught how to arrange played cards to show winners and losers.
Most of the 25 tables had a Volunteer Table Monitor. A few volunteers handled two tables. The job of the table monitors was to make sure the mechanics of the game were correctly followed—they did not help students select a contract or cards to play. Volunteers were very busy assuring that HCP were counted properly, that the right person became declarer, and that normal bridge protocols were followed in play and scoring. After the hand was played, the volunteer directed EW students to the next table and moved boards.
Two volunteers handled scoring. After each hand, one student from each table delivered the score for the hand to the scoring table where scores were compiled. Students in each section played a total of seven hands.
After completion of play, students enjoyed pizza and a cookie while scoring was completed. Susan Bridges introduced all of the volunteers to the students and pointed out that two of the volunteers, Clay Hall and Larry Sealy, are Grand Life Masters. The kids gave Clay and Larry a big ovation.
Huntsville Bridge Volunteers are the Best!
Charles Durrin, President of Huntsville Bridge, handed out trophies. When winners were announced, students cheered for every pair who won no matter which school they attended. The Huntsville Bridge photographer and the teachers took a picture of each winning pair.
We are in the process of making notes of what worked and what can be improved next year. Both teachers and volunteers deemed the tournament a great success. We are very appreciative of the support we received from ACBL and JumpStart Bridge. Huntsville players contributed over $200 to support the tournament.
Youth National Bridge Championship
July 31 – Aug. 2
Philadelphia, PA
Oklahoma Association for Gifted Children (OAGC)
February 28 Tulsa, OK
Stefanie, Michael, Cherry and Ramona had a great time meeting the Oklahoma teachers! The enthusiasm for the conference and our Jump Start Bridge program was inspiring!
22 teachers are planning their programs now and we hope that many of the remaining teachers will check in with us when they get home and have a chance to see what we can offer!
Arkansas Association of Gifted and Talented Educators (AGATE)
March 5-6 Hot Springs, AZ
Pam Dow had a terrific team working with her in Arkansas. Sue Rolfe, Dianne Warrant, Laye Bennet and Stephanie Threlkeld, had a wonderful experience meeting the local teachers, telling them about the program and playing a few hands of bridge with many of them.
Teacher returned to the booth multiple times, bringing friends to see the material and find out about the program AND playing more bridge! Over 40 teachers registered classes on the spot and are anticipating a great time introducing their students to bridge.
Georgia Association for Gifted Children (GAGC)
March 4-5 Columbus, GA
We had a terrific team at the conference! Linda Dunn, Marty Nathan, Patty Nathan and Michael Holmes had a wonderful time meeting the teachers, talking about the program and playing bridge with the teachers.
Some of our existing teachers stopped by to say ‘hi’ and brought their friends with them! The final count was 116 teachers coming by to find out more and consider bridge for their students!
California Association for the Gifted (CAG)
March 1 – 2 Mesa,CA
Mojo, Jennifer, Linda and Johnny had a great time meeting the California teachers, talking with them about the Jump Start Bridge program.
We hope the 70+ teachers we met will follow up, find out more and consider offering bridge to their students!
National Council for Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
Spring Conference
February 5-7 Kansas City, MO
Michael Hughes, Patty Tucker, Stefanie Scott, Blakely Meyers, Jim Feisman, Doug Schulte, Aline Zimmer and Rick Chartre were on hand to unveil the card game bridge to over 300 math teachers from across the country.
Interest was extremely high, many teachers considering this for a Math club activity. 24 teachers joined us and ordered supplies immediately with (we expect) more to follow! What a rewarding experience at our FIRST math conference.
Kentucky Association for Gifted Education (KAGE)
February 10-11 Lexington, KY
Jim Herchenroeder, ably assisted by William Flarsheim , Jackie Shroering and Beth Dlutowski, had a great time in Lexington meeting some fabulous, smart and dedicated teachers!
Unfortunately a snow storm rolled in and they didn’t have a chance to meet all of you! Keep us in mind as you start thinking about the 2025/2026 school year – your students would LOVE bridge!
Arizona Association for Gifted Children (AAGC)
February 4-5 Mesa, AZ
Linda Theiken, Sharon Smith, Margi Redden, Debbie Reichos, Mary Beth Voldberding and Marriane Victor were a dynamic team. We received visits from 87 teachers, 30 teachers joined ACBL and registered their classes on the spot! Best yet…..they had a GREAT time meeting everyone.
Based on popular demand we are working on a Spanish translation of the Jump Start Bridge material and hope to have that available by the end of the school year. Be looking for an opportunity for your students to play at one of our upcoming bridge events!
Minnesota Educators for Gifted and Talented (MEGT)
February 2-3 St Cloud, MN
Jenny Peterson and her ‘crew’ – Jim Fisher and Mike Liedal from Austin, MN and Jim Schnepf and John Selden from St. Cloud- had a wonderful time meeting all of the wonderful teachers from Minnesota.
We have 12 new school programs established and can’t wait to establish more. What’s
next? City championships?
INDIANA ASSOCIATION FOR GIFTED (IAG)
December 8-10 Indianapolis, IN
Indiana was a blast! Matt Cory was the organizer and working with him were Brooks Chupp and
Beth Morton.
Over 160 teachers came by to find out about bridge and play a few hands. Everyone had a great time and we’re expecting more good news coming from Indiana over the next few months. Thanks all!
Texas Association of Gifted and Talented (TAGT)
December 4-6 San Antonio, TX
Sally Sassen was the organizer for the event. Working with her were Allison Freeland and Betty Starzec and they were BUSY!
They spoke to over 150 teachers. 93 teachers have joined ACBL and registered for supplies for 5,705 students.
Based on overwhelming support from Texas Units and District the participated in the Scavenger hunt and a 45 minute ‘speaking time’ with a talk prepared by Starzec/Tucker and designed by Blakely Meyers of ACBL.
Betty Starzec stated that the teaching session was very worthwhile and that numerous teachers were heard to say “now I’ve got to teach my husband to play bridge.”
Great job and thanks to them for their hard work. We’ll be back…this is an annual conference that we will attend.
FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF GIFTED
November 1st Cocoa Beach, FL
The Amazing Sharon Carter was the organizer of the Booth. Sharon reported that the display
was big hit. One of the organizers of the conference personally came over to compliment the
banners. Thank you!
Several teachers stopped to read the banners and then initiated conversations. As Sharon
mentioned bridge is a social game. One of our ‘life lessons’ is learning to work with each other
for a common goal. That’s a huge part of the game of bridge!
Over 50 teachers were interested in finding out information about out program. Some of whom
requested a Zoom meeting to garner more detailed information. CALL ANYTIME….I’M
READY!
Jump Start Bridge Training!
October 27th Atlanta, GA
Eighteen bridge players and teachers gathered from all over the country in Atlanta to learn about Jump Start Bridge, how to get involved AND how to organize and host a booth/conference in their state!
We went over the program itself, the logistics of setting up a booth, how to register school teachers for the program and poured over Frequently Asked Questions and how BRIDGE is the answer to everything a teacher wants and needs in their classroom curriculum! Many thanks to Sam Marks the owner of the Bridge Club of Atlanta for the use of his space and to Eileen Seitz for organizing breakfast pastries and lunch for us! A shout out to Stephanie Threlkeld from ACBL as well for coming and explaining the ins and outs of the
School Bridge Program.
We even had Mike Levine attend so he could learn how to run a booth as well! Let me know when you are ready for me to sign you up!
Here’s where we all came from:
Allison Freeland – Florida
Bruce Pynnonen – Michigan
Elise Read – Louisiana
Ginna Domm – Tennessee
James Herchenroeder – Kentucky
Jan Sardina – Tennessee
Jane Champion – North Carolina
JennyPeterson – Minnesota
Jenny Wolpert – Florida
John Jones – California
Kay Enfield – New Mexico
Linda Dunn – Georgia
Marty Nathan – Georgia
Pamela Dow – Arkansas
Patty Nathan – Georgia
Sharon Carter – Florida
Stefanie Scott – Texas
Wayne Dow – North Carolina
Colorado Association for Gifted Teachers
October 21-23 Loveland, CO
The CAGT conference was enormous with over 900 attendees. Sharon Smith was the organizer for the booth and working with her were Jo Smith (retired gifted teacher), John Grossmann, Sally Ann Rhea, Kelly Wawrzynek and Linda Thieken (who is the organizer for the Arizona conference in February 2025).
Over 30 teachers registered for Jump Start Bridge. Two were from South Dakota! We are going to
have some bright new players to play with soon!
Many thanks to the conference’s onsite personnel and the organizing committee. Extremely well run!
This was a very rewarding conference and one we will certainly return to in the future!
ALABAMA ASSOCIATION FOR GIFTED CHILDREN (AAGC)
October 15-17 Birmingham, AL
JUMP START BRIDGE AT THE AAGC!
Kris Oliver was the local organizer of the booth at the Alabama Association for Gifted Children conference. She and her crew (Keith Anderson, Susan Bridges, Clay Hall and Dennis Luft) did a wonderful job. The conference was extremely well run! Many thanks to those that made this possible.
The conference was an unqualified success For Jump Start Bridge. When the teachers were not in a meeting, they stopped by our booth and a few even played a hand of cards with us! We were one of the only exhibitors that offered a free program to the teachers. One teacher came back a few times before she believed us! Things that were interesting and exciting to the teachers:
1) Lack of bridge knowledge was not an obstacle.
2) Yes, the program is really free?
3) The partnership and inferential thinking opportunities for their students.
4) Something new (and fun) for their students.
5) They could earn stipends for teaching their students a new sport!
Over 30 teachers joined ACBL and ordered materials for their Fall classes.
Summary
This was a wonderful and rewarding experience. Two of our Huntsville Gifted teachers who have been teaching since last spring were at the conference and told other teachers they knew to visit our booth and check us out. Word of mouth spread, and we were deluged. The Alabama bridge groups from Huntsville and Birmingham could not have been more helpful, enthusiastic and welcoming. LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING SOME NEW FACES AT THE BRIDGE TABLE!
OHIO ASSOCIATION FOR GIFTED CHILDREN (OAGC)
October 16-18 Columbus, OH
The Ohio Conference was a medium size conference. Trish Jones was the local organizer for
the booth. She and her crew Judy Williamson, Phyllis Allmacher, Siraj Haji, Jerry Smith, Janelle
Courtright and Laurie Nolta did a marvelous job speaking with the teachers and explain the
benefits that Bridge can offer to their students!
Over 65 teachers stopped by to find out about Bridge, three deciding on the spot that they would
offer a bridge to their students.
A wonderful experience for everyone!
Jump Start Bridge at the Georgia Association for Gifted Children Conference (GAGC)
March 4-5 Columbus, GA
Introducing bridge to Gifted Teachers has proven to be an exciting and rewarding adventure! On the heels of the National Association for Gifted Children conference in November of 2023, Jump Start Bridge ventured on to the state scene in Georgia.
Over 700 gifted teachers attended, and many stopped by our exhibit to find out about the bridge! What is bridge. What bridge can offer them, their students and their school. And, best of all, how to play bridge!
Evelyn Gilliard, Linda Dunn and Patty Tucker from Atlanta and Amy Willis and Brenda Willis from the Columbus Bridge Club manned the booth, playing bridge with the attendees and sharing information about the game and the program. Three teachers indicated interest in trying bridge this summer in their schools’ summer program. Three teachers joined ACBL immediately. Over 175 teachers left information and asked to be contacted to find out more information, thinking about programs this August.
Jump Start Bridge is off to a rousing start. 19 programs of a total of 490 students have started school programs since November of 2023 from the attendees at the NAGC conference. Will have to wait until August for a final count from the GAGC conference. What will THAT number be?
Jump Start Bridge is an initiative of Atlanta Junior Bridge a 501(c)3 Educational Charity. If you are interested in more information about Jump Start Bridge, please contact Patty Tucker at patty@jumpstartbridge.org.
News and Articles
ZOOM MEETINGS AVAILABLE MONTHLY ON A CONTINUING BASIS.
Thursdays every month beginning April 3rd
Patty Tucker is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Time: Apr 3, 2025 05:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 880 0093 3406
Sundays every month beginning April 6th.
Patty Tucker is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Time: Apr 6, 2025 05:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Meeting ID: 864 6237 6247
FREE TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH
OTHER TEACHERS YOU KNOW!
On June 9, 2024, twenty bridge teachers and players from eleven states met in Atlanta to learn how to staff exhibitor booths at state conferences. The event included training, guest speakers, and a collaborative effort to promote bridge education.
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Students at Sullivan Middle School in Bonsall learn bridge weekly, improving math skills and making new friends. Instructor Mark Freundel guides them, supported by the American Contract Bridge League. Bridge offers intellectual challenges and life-long skills, with prestige as a grand life master being a major goal.
Twelve-year-old Adam Grossack defies stereotypes as a competitive bridge player, teaching the game to peers. Despite its image, bridge attracts young players like Adam, prompting efforts by the American Contract Bridge League to promote the game among youth.
Fourth and fifth graders share their opinions on bridge: it’s fun, challenging, and teaches patience, teamwork, and problem-solving. They find it rewarding and believe it improves memory and logical thinking skills.
Discover how today’s youth are embracing the classic game of bridge, building friendships, and bridging generational gaps. Explore the impact of initiatives like Atlanta Junior Bridge and the School Bridge League in shaping young minds.
The article discusses efforts to teach bridge to younger generations, focusing on two California programs for children aged 8 to 11. Despite financial challenges, instructors like Teri Atkinson and Nancy Schramm are dedicated to expanding the game’s reach, recognizing its long-term potential.
Dr. Christopher Shaw’s study shows that children who learn bridge exhibit higher standardized test scores, attributed to improved inferential reasoning skills. Bridge instruction correlates with greater academic gains across various subjects over time compared to non-bridge learners. Click here to view the full data.
Lamplighter Montessori students excel at the Youth Bridge Conference in Atlanta, winning first place trophies and enjoying the experience.
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