Unit 509 Mentoring Program

The Unit 509 Board runs a mentoring program to help newer and less experienced players learn more from more experienced players. This is available online at Bridge Base Online and at the Bridge Gallery in Santa Rosa, when it reopens.

Here’s how the mentoring program works:

  1. Mentee applicant must submit an application on this site.
  2. A mentee (must have fewer than 50 masterpoints) is matched up with a more experienced mentor.
  3. Both mentor and mentee agree to play 6 games together at a mutually agreeable time.
  4. The mentee is responsible for the table fees of both mentee and mentor.

Note: If the mentor and mentee play together at a game for which the mentor is not qualified, then neither the mentor nor the mentee will be eligible for the master points for that game. For Example, if the mentor has more than 2000 masterpoints and they play in a Thursday afternoon Bridge Gallery online game, no masterpoints will be awarded.

Mentee requirements

  1. Must be a member of ACBL and a member of Unit 509.
  2. Must have fewer than 50 masterpoints.
  3. Must be willing to pay for their own table fees and their mentor’s table fees.

Mentee expectations

  1. Prior to playing, meet or speak with your mentor to go over the convention card.
  2. Be receptive to feedback from the mentor. After all, the mentor is doing this because he or she wants you to improve, so you need to be willing to listen to the feedback.
  3. Spend a few minutes after each game discussing some of the hands so that you can ask questions and the mentor can provide feedback.
  4. Respect your mentor’s time and show respect for the mentor through your behavior and follow-through.
  5. Mentees who have not previously had a mentor will have first priority. Returning mentees may still apply for the program and they will be accommodated if sufficient resources allow.
  6. Mentees should plan to pass on the favor by taking on a mentee of their own in the future.

Mentor responsibilities and expectations

  1. Must be a member of ACBL and a member of Unit 509.
  2. Agree to play 6 games with your mentee.
  3. Agree to provide constructive and supportive feedback on areas of improvement.
  4. Prior to playing, meet or speak with your mentee to learn about the mentee’s goals and priorities.
  5. Be available for questions, perhaps by email.
  6. Be patient and flexible. You should not go into the relationship with specific expectations of what you want to teach. If your mentee isn’t ready to learn about count signals, for example, you should not focus on that topic. You need to understand what your mentee wants and also what level your mentee is currently at so that she or he can focus on appropriate topics.
  7. Mentors can suggest books or other reading material, but mentors must have  realistic expectations: it is supposed to be fun for the mentee, not feel like a burden!
  8. Mentors must have a solid grasp of basic bridge skills.

Best games for mentors and mentees:

Until we are back in the club, it will be up to the mentee and mentor to decide which games they want to use that will be most advantageous to fun and learning. To learn how to set up a Casual game on Bridge Base Online, click HERE.

Register Here: