Returning to Face-to-Face bridge

face to face

Trial Thursday 5th November 1.00pm East Lindfield.
You must book - see link at the bottom of this article.

Many of you have been asking for some time about when we will start to offer face-to-face bridge sessions again.  There are several factors that we need to consider to ensure we do so effectively.  The most important consideration is the safety of you, the members and our staff.  We have taken guidance from the Government, the Australian Bridge Federation and the NSW Bridge Association.  In addition, the committee and Club Manager have consulted with a broad range of individuals who have kindly provided their expert advice.

We are now in a position where we would like to trial the reintroduction of some face-to-face sessions.  Below you will find detailed information on how we plan to conduct the trial.  During the trial period some of these arrangements may change, that is the nature of a trial.  We will endeavour to get things right as quickly as possible. 

The trial will operate from our East Lindfield club rooms only at this stage.  At this facility we are co-located with the Lindfield Rollers Bowling Club.  The Bowling Club has been offering bowls from this location for some time now and we will be able to leverage the changes they have made to ensure a covid-safe environment.  Based on both Covid regulations and the available toilet facilities, there will be a 10-table limit for each session.  We are confident that those of you who have only played at Willoughby in the past will find this facility to your liking.

The success of this trial and the progression from a trial to a fixed schedule going forward will depend on you, the members.  We will not only consider the feedback you provide us but ultimately, whether or not we continue will depend on the popularity of the sessions.  We do not expect table numbers to be as high as they were before covid-19 but if there is not sufficient demand to justify operations we will revert back to purely an online bridge offering until evidence suggests the demand will return.

At this point in time there is no plan to stop offering online bridge.  We are planning to make some changes to how we deliver online bridge and further communication will be coming shortly on those changes.

With this in mind, please read through the following “rules” for how face-to-face bridge will operate to ensure that you are willing to comply as we cannot afford, for health reasons, to permit non-compliance.

You must not return to the club if any of the following applies:

  • You have flu-like symptoms;
  • You have had close contact with someone with flu-like symptoms in the last 14 days;
  • You have returned, or had close contact with someone who has returned, from overseas or a hot spot area in the last 14 days;
  • You have a confirmed case of Covid-19
  • You are a close contact of a COVID-19 positive person.
  • Upon Entry

·         There will be a table in the foyer. Here you will be need to have a temperature check and answer some basic questions regarding your health.

·         Hand sanitiser will be available for players to use before entering the club room.

·         If there is a queue you are required to maintain a distance of no less than 1.5 m between each person.

·       We are limited at this stage to ten tables there will be no walk ins.

·         The kitchen will be closed, we will not be providing tea, coffee or biscuits.  There will be no access to the kitchen and sharing of food is not permitted

·         Please bring your own water bottle

·         Please bring your own pen

·         Please bring your own face mask, but there will be a supply if you have forgotten to bring your own.  Masks should be worn unless you have a medical reason for not doing so.

·         You will need to be seated 15 minutes before start time

·         Mingling with other players is not permitted, you must remain seated at your table

·         Payment for bridge is via your Pre Paid account there will be no cash or credit card payments accepted at the club

·         Only NSBC members will be able to play (due to the need for pre-payment)

Toilet Facilities

·         The Ladies toilet should have no more than 3 people using the facility at any one time, whilst no more than 2 people may occupy the Men’s toilet at any one time.

·         Sanitiser wipes will be available in the toilet area so that players can use a wipe when opening the door.

Table set up

  • Each table will be supplied with:
  • Four chairs

·         Four side tables

·         One bottle of hand sanitiser

·         One container of sanitiser wipes

·         Personal scorers

  
During the play

  • All boards are to be cleaned with sanitiser wipes at the end of the round before being passed to the next table.
  • Players are to sanitise their hands before each board.
  • Only (one of) North or South will be allowed to touch the Bridgemate. At the end of each hand she/he should record the score, show it to the opponents and when they approve it, accept the score on their behalf. This player is responsible for wiping down the Bridgemate at the end of the session.
  • At the End of the session
  • Players are responsible for cleaning with sanitiser wipes:
  • The last set of boards;

·         The Bridgemate (whoever was scoring)

·         The arms of the chairs and side tables

·         All used wipes should be placed in the rubbish bin together with any other accumulated rubbish.

To play on Thursday 5th November at 1.00pm at East Lindfield you must book in. This is a 1st in 1st served we are limited to 20 pairs two groups of 5 tables. You will be playing 25 boards 5 x 5 board rounds with extra time to adjust. We will take entries of 21 pairs with pair 21 a reserve pair. Please click on the link below to enter.