ACBL Communication to Club Managers: Return to Face-to-Face Play

Dear Club Manager,

Many communities, including bridge clubs, are slowly and cautiously resuming in- person activities, and situations continue to evolve based on location. Because of this, we have heard from several stakeholders about the return of face-to-face bridge play at clubs.

Due to all clubs’ independence of operations (other than Unit-owned clubs), any decisions that you make regarding the status of face-to-face play at your bridge club, and any requirements or conditions you may put in place for member attendance, are made in your sole discretion.

The ACBL continues to strongly advise that you exercise the utmost caution as you make these decisions. No one size fits all bridge clubs. As advised by the Centers for Disease Control, the decision should be guided by what is safe, feasible, practical, acceptable and tailored to the needs and context of your community.

While the ACBL sanctions club games, bridge clubs are businesses that are separate from the ACBL. Thus, when and how your bridge club reopens is something your club must decide.

A frequent question we have received here at Headquarters is whether bridge clubs can require proof of vaccination before allowing entry into the facility. This is something that must be decided individually by clubs in accordance with state, local, territorial or tribal safety laws and regulations. If you are an open club and you choose to require a completed COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of entry into the facility, your club will still be considered an open club by the ACBL.

As face-to-face play resumes, bridge clubs may run any special games normally available to them.

For information on the Centers for Disease Control’s guidelines on events and gatherings, click here. It provides a Readiness and Planning Tool that may be helpful when you are preparing to reopen for face-to-face play.

More than anything, we want you and your club members to remain physically and financially safe and healthy. We are all excited for the return of face-to-face bridge! Please help the bridge-playing community do so safely.

Sincerely, 

Greg Coles, Director of Operations