Bridge Resources
Youth and Junior Bridge
Youth and Junior bridge is a chance for young people to get involved in a fun and social sport. As players learn and improve their bridge game, there are opportunities and invitations to compete in tournaments of various levels and even travel around the world.
This page will list links to Junior and Youth bridge tournaments and websites.
WORLD YOUTH BRIDGE SITE
This is a fantastic online magazine from the World Bridge Federation with articles, news, links, video quizzes and more! http://youth.worldbridge.org/
Do YOU want to learn to play bridge?
1. Find a local club, call them up and ask them if they have lessons for youth and juniors. Click here for links to clubs in your area
2. Find a Bridge Teacher – if you live in the USA the ABTA will help you find teachers in your area. Just call them up and see if they have a junior lesson program happening anywhere. Or use the Find a Teacher at the American Bridge Teachers Association. Or you can talk one of your school teachers to teach bridge.
3. Get your School to give lessons – there’s a step by step set of instructions for your school in the ACBL Schools Program. Or if you live outside North American ask your teacher to go to the World Bridge website for teachers here. Or give them this link to our Bridge Teachers Page. Or, tell them about BridgeWhiz, an organization affiliated with the ACBL Educational Foundation, is a FREE, online course designed to teach children in grades 4 through 12 the essentials of a fascinating game whose benefits, intellectual stimulation, and adventure will last a lifetime.
4. Online Learn To Play Links – we’ve added lots of links and videos and apps to our Learn Bridge area click here >
5. Check out the links below!
What are Age Categories?
In the World Championships, the eligibility for different categories depends on when a person is born. For the 2023 Championships the ages are listed here. To adjust for current year, add accordingly. Ex. For 2026, add 3 years to below:
Under 31: for players born on or after 1st January 1993
Under 26 Open: for players born on or after 1st January 1998
Under 26 Women: for players born on or after 1st January 1998
Under 21: for players born on or after 1st January 2003
Under 16: for players born on or after 1st January 2008
And for the 2023 Championships only, this additional:
For a maximum of two players in each team the following ages will be permitted:
Under 31: for players born on or after 1st January 1992
Under 26 Open: for players born on or after 1st January 1997
Under 26 Women: for players born on or after 1st January 1997
Under 21: for players born on or after 1st January 2002
Under 16: for players born on or after 1st January 2007
In the World Youth Teams Championships, teams are made up in the following categories
The World U-31 Teams Championship, introduced in 2020, and this championship is also by invitation. It is for players who must not have achieved their 30th birthday by 31st December of the year prior to the year in which the competition is to take place.
The World U-26 Teams for the Jaime Ortiz-Patiño Trophy. This Championship is for Junior players who must not have achieved their 25th birthday by 31st December of the year prior to the year in which the competition is to take place
The World U-21 Teams for the José Damiani Cup. This Championship is for players who must not have achieved their 20th birthday by 31st December of the year prior to the year in which the competition is to take place.
The World Women’s U-26 Teams Championship for the Gianarrigo Rona Trophy and this Championship is also for players who must not have achieved their 25th birthday by 31st December of the year prior to the year in which the competition is to take place.
The World U-16 Teams Championship for the Koç University Trophy, and this championship is by invitation. This Championship is for players who must not have achieved their 15th birthday by 31st December of the year prior to the year in which the competition is to take place.
Why you want a bridge club in your school
Youth Bridge Links
World Youth Bridge Site
This is a fantastic global online magazine with articles, news, links, video quizzes and more! http://youth.worldbridge.org/
Bridge Winners (English) Youth Bridge Section – find opportunities and discussion
The Whiz Kids online bridge club – a safe online fun bridge playing site for youth bridge players.
American Contract Bridge League (ACBL)
The ACBL is the governing organization for bridge in Canada, the USA and Mexico. They have a strong Junior Bridge program and some excellent players. Their new website (2021) doesn’t seem to have a dedicated Junior section but you can find upcoming Junior events here
Here are some other relevant links:
Youth Bridge Association – a student-run organization committed to helping students explore all bridge has to offer
Bridge 4 Youth (Seattle WA USA)
Atlanta Junior Bridge – great resource for youth players in Atlanta Georgia.
New York School of Bridge
Silicon Valley Youth Bridge – free after school bridge classes, clubs, events, and other opportunities for youth to play bridge and improve their skills.
Canadian Bridge Federation Youth Programs information cbf.ca/about-the-cbf/cbf-youth-programs/
United States Bridge Federation (USBF) has a Junior Online Training Program
European Bridge League (EBL)
EBL Youth Committee www.eurobridge.org/
English Bridge Union (EBU)
English Bridge Education and Development – Learn, Teach, Grants http://www.ebedcio.org.uk/
Australian Bridge Federation (ABF)
Youth in Bridge Australia www.abf.com.au/member-services/youth-bridge/
WOULD YOU LIKE TO TEACH KIDS TO PLAY BRIDGE?
There’s a step by step set of instructions for your school in the ACBL Schools Program. Or if you live outside North American ask your teacher to go to the World Bridge website for teachers here. Or visit our Bridge Teachers Page.