A bridge tournament can’t function without a tournament director. Other than direction, they are there to ensure that the official laws and ethics are being adhered to, that play is fair, that everyone has a bridge partner, that everyone knows where to find the fire exit…
Simply put, being a tournament director is a mammoth task – but if you believe you’re up to it, here are some essential resources, courses for tournament directors and official rules for reference.
App: Bridge TD
(Source: Bridge TD) (Link: YouTube)
Finally, there’s a useful app for tournament directors: By choosing the answer from YES/NO questions after choosing a category, you’re shown the appropriate action and/or rule. This is great as a fast reference for when you don’t have time to read through an entire book just to figure out the answer to one thing.
Charts, Rules & Regulations
This page from the ACBL gives tournament directors quick access to charts, rules and regulations that you might need when in charge of a game. What’s available on the page includes a Rulings FAQ, Duplicate Decisions and Bidding Box Regulations.
The ACBL Laws of Duplicate Bridge (2017)
The official Laws of Duplicate Bridge should be one of the first tools a tournament director equips themselves with. You can order it directly from the Bridge World. (Of course, make sure that you opt for the most current version of the book.)
Commentary on the Laws of Duplicate Bridge
(Source: World Bridge Federation)
The rules of the game don’t begin and end with the Laws of Duplicate Bridge. You can also view the official commentary on the laws at the World Bridge Federation – this includes any thoughts or amendments that go together with the official rules.
In this case, they’re available as Word or PDF files at this link. (WBF)
The Bridge Director’s Companion
Other than the official rules of the game you’re about to oversee, the Bridge Director’s Companion is a handy little book that can help to familiarize you with anything else you might need to know. If you’re a sucker for any reference books, you should have this one on your shelf.
Tournament Director Courses: Essential
(Source: English Bridge Union)
Available from the English Bridge Union, here are the essential basic tournament director courses if you would like to become a TD in the areas they cover.
Advanced Tournament Director Courses
(Source: English Bridge Union)
The English Bridge Union also offers more advanced courses for tournament directors: This is aimed at anyone with more advanced knowledge of the game, someone who has previously already held the position of tournament director elsewhere or someone who has already been through the initial courses.
Are you up for it? You can find a 2017 test paper available in PDF format. (Source: PDF)
Become a Tournament Director
If you’ve been a certified club director for at least a year, you can apply to become an official tournament director for the ACBL – and yes, it has perks, too. All the information on how to apply (and what you’ll need to know) can be found on the official ACBL website.