Youth Day at the Firecracker Sectional

The first ever Firecracker Sectional Youth Day, co-hosted by the Palo Alto Unit of the ACBL and Silicon Valley Youth Bridge (SiVY Bridge), offered a chance for many young people to play their first tournament. The day’s two youth events were open to players of all ages as long as they had no more than 5 masterpoints, with youth players (ages 25 and under) playing free of charge. Players reported that they enjoyed the day – and many of them also earned masterpoints!

The days’ youth players ranged in age from 9 years old to College – and in experience level from “just learned last week at camp”, to some who had been playing casually for several years. Each of the 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. sessions drew 7 tables of players of all ages, with 27 youth players in all – 12 of them entering one session and 15 entering both. Many were partnerships formed either at SiVY after school programs or at the prior week’s SiVY Bridge Summer camp. There were also several sibling pairs and two parent/child duos.

Winners East/West at the 10 a.m. game were 2014 Palo Alto High School graduates Charlotte and Marcus.

After each session, the first place winners each direction earned a trophy, presented by SiVY President Debbie Rosenberg. In all, 14 youth players earned masterpoints. Most of them were already ACBL members, but 4 more were inspired to join by winning.

Between sessions SiVY Bridge held a pizza party for youth players from all the games and a few who attended just for fun and stayed to watch some hands. Five Bay Area players who will going to Istanbul, Turkey for the World Junior Championships this August were introduced to the newer players. Also Billy Miller of the Dear Billy column in the ACBL Bulletin visited the pizza party and offered some words of encouragement to the new players.

Many of the more experienced players and the directors from the other events came over to the area where the event was held and offered their perspectives. “They were impressed by how even the youngest players were so quiet and focused. All were glad to see evidence of a future generation enjoying the game they love.