[gprentice]

Do many Bridge clubs have reduced table fees for school pupils or fulltime university students? My club doesn't but I wish it did. School kids and students tend to have zero income and playing Bridge regularly is unaffordable for most or many of them. Is there a prevailing opinion on this?

[mike777]

 gprentice, on 2025-February-11, 19:34, said:

Do many Bridge clubs have reduced table fees for school pupils or fulltime university students? My club doesn't but I wish it did. School kids and students tend to have zero income and playing Bridge regularly is unaffordable for most or many of them. Is there a prevailing opinion on this?

JOB, you can work and be full time student, very common..

[jillybean]

The Vancouver Bridge Centre has a $5 table fee for students, regular fee $12

https://www2.cs.sfu....an-bc/index.htm

[DavidL321]

I honestly don't think it matters. Once they get exposed to the reality that bridge teachers aren't fully invested in their development because said teachers don't care about anyone who isn't already established, they'll move on to other games.

I should know because I have given up looking for a teacher who sincerely wants to work with a neurodivergent and teach on my terms (read: whiteboard lectures only, because I can't handle PowerPoint slides), and now I am reduced to just watching tables on BBO when I want my brain to be on autopilot.

David

[barmar]

DavidL321, on 2025-February-11, 21:50, said:

I honestly don't think it matters. Once they get exposed to the reality that bridge teachers aren't fully invested in their development because said teachers don't care about anyone who isn't already established, they'll move on to other games.

The question is about fees for playing, not classes.

When they said "students", did you think they meant bridge students? I think they meant students in primary school and college.

There are two purposes to giving them reduced fees: Accomodating the fact that they have little or no income, and attracting new players to the game so it doesn't die due to attrition.

The club I play in regularly is free for students. The regular table fee is also one of the cheapest around, $5/game (we just added a $1 surcharge for special games that ACBL charges higher table fees for).

[DavidL321]

barmar, on 2025-February-12, 11:27, said:

The question is about fees for playing, not classes.

When they said "students", did you think they meant bridge students? I think they meant students in primary school and college.

There are two purposes to giving them reduced fees: Accomodating the fact that they have little or no income, and attracting new players to the game so it doesn't die due to attrition.

The club I play in regularly is free for students. The regular table fee is also one of the cheapest around, $5/game (we just added a $1 surcharge for special games that ACBL charges higher table fees for).

The game is already dying due to attrition because new players are not being taught on their terms and teachers are not making an effort to make the game accessible to those who don't drive (like me) but MUST have whiteboard lectures, no exceptions, to be able to play. I stand by my position and make no apologies for it.

[blackshoe]

I gather you want a teacher to go to you and teach one-on-one. That may be doable, but more expensive than you going to a class with other bridge students.

Another thought: is a chalkboard an acceptable substitute for a whiteboard?

[DavidL321]

blackshoe, on 2025-February-12, 11:46, said:

I gather you want a teacher to go to you and teach one-on-one. That may be doable, but more expensive than you going to a class with other bridge students.

Another thought: is a chalkboard an acceptable substitute for a whiteboard?

Or online provided (s)he films in a classroom and uses the board. That post has been in the relevant forum section for a few days now with no hits even though I came out and said I would pay for the right fit. So I think I have made my point. Don't tell me to sign up for the ACBL's Intro to Bridge course because as a neurodivergent I am not taking a class with 23 neurotypicals under any circumstance, and especially one with no whiteboard lectures.

It is true that I would tolerate a chalkboard as a last resort.

[blackshoe]

I wouldn't tell you to do anything.