Aberdeen Bridge Club is pleased to announce the launch of a mentoring scheme to encourage the development of its members. The scheme partners beginners / improvers with more experienced players with a view to improving confidence, etiquette and skill. There are more details below.
If you feel that you would benefit from mentoring or are willing to volunteer as a mentor, please contact the Education Convenor (Mike Hodder) at education@aberdeenbridgeclub.co.uk. Please say which Bridge Club tournaments you normally play in.
MENTORING – MORE DETAILS
Q1: What is mentoring?
A1: Mentoring involves playing a session with a more experienced player to help develop your bridge
Q2: Who can benefit?
A2: Most mentoring is aimed at beginners or improvers but more experienced players who wish to improve their game can also benefit
Q3: How does it work?
A3: Players wishing to join up are assigned a mentor and you play a session together. This can be either Face-to-Face or on-line. It’s up to the mentor and mentee to agree when and how often to play. We suggest once a month to start with. There is no obligation on either side and you can withdraw or take a break at any time.
If you have a regular partner, it’s best if he or she is also assigned a mentor and that you each play with your respective mentor in the same event
Q4: What does the mentor do?
A4: Mentoring isn’t teaching, but obviously there will be an element of this. There is no need to discuss every hand in detail and indeed you should avoid extensive post mortems. By all means meet in the bar after the event to discuss the hands further if both parties wish. The idea is for the mentee to gain confidence, pick up the essentials of etiquette (especially when playing face to face) and pick up a few tips on bidding and card play.
You don’t have to be an expert to act as a mentor. If you have been playing for more than 5 years, chances are you will make a good mentor. You will be expected to play a system that your mentee is comfortable with. Don’t try to teach them your favourite conventions too early!
Q5: Are there any sessions where mentoring is inappropriate?
A5: Yes – if it’s a major club or district competition where there is a trophy or qualification at stake, then mentoring should not take place nor should it take place in any national competition (such as the Bronze League) without the express permission of the convenor.
The following Bridge Club sessions are suggested:
For Beginners / Improvers:
Monday night pairs 18-board event (face-to-face, targeted at Bronze 1)
Thursday afternoon event (2-4pm)
Friday evening RealBridge session (7-9pm)
For more advanced players:
Tuesday Pairs on BBO
Wednesday evening event (face-to-face)
