Australian Bridge Federation
The Australian Bridge Federation (ABF)
History
During the 1930's, a number of states formed associations to manage bridge. To co-ordinate the sport nationally, the states then formed The Australian Bridge Council. It changed its name to the Australian Bridge Federation (ABF) in the 1960's.
The Structure and Purpose of the ABF
The ABF is the peak body for the administration of the sport of bridge in Australia. It is a non-profit organisation and its headquarters are located in Canberra.
The ABF has 8 constituent associations (the State and Territory associations).
Affiliation Structure and Benefits to Clubs
As at October 31, 2022 there were 333* clubs affiliated with the 8 state & territory associations. The total number of bridge players registered with the ABF Masterpoint Centre was 31,707. The break down per state excluding the ABF Youth club members (231) was:
* Excluding clubs with no registered members.
| STATE | Players | STATE | Players | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACT | 964 | SA | 2,259 | |
| NSW | 11,611 | WA | 4,017 | |
| VIC | 4.966 | TAS | 867 | |
| QLD | 6,652 | NT | 140 |
Source: ABF Masterpoint Centre Newsletter, October 2022
Player numbers in each state are not taken into account in determining representation at ABF level.
» ABF Objectives (ABF website)
Affiliation
The ABF levies capitation fees to all clubs affiliated with their State body.
What does the capitation fee cost?
From time to time the ABF Management Committee sets the capitation fee. Its current rate is $15.80 per home club member and rises each year in accordance with CPI.
ABF Masterpoint Levies and Capitation Fees (ABF Masterpoint Centre website)
This fee is payable for all players in the club who elect that club to be their home club for masterpoint purposes. It is billed to clubs in April each year (clubs generally raise the funds through the annual membership fees charged to players).
Players may belong to as many clubs as they wish. If they belong to one affiliated club, that club will be recognised as their home club for masterpoint and ABF purposes. If they belong to more than one affiliated club then they must choose one of them as their home club.
Affiliated Clubs must be aware that all members of their club must be affiliated in at least one club: it is not open to clubs to elect whether or not a player wishes to receive masterpoints and therefore be affiliated.
What does the ABF provide in return?
The Benefits of Affiliation (ABF website)
In particular the ABF provides a blanket insurance cover for affiliated clubs.
Plans for the Future
The ABF is managed as a voluntary run organisation.
The Australian Bridge Federation developed an ABF Strategic Statement for the period 2013 "" 2017 to guide the activities of the organisation over coming years. This was reviewed and updated in 2016 to run through to 2019.
ABF Strategic Statement (ABF website)
If you have any questions or comments about these strategies please contact the ABF through the phone (02) 6239 2265, fax (02) 6239 1816 or email on secretariat@abf.com.au and visit the ABF site at www.abf.com.au.
ABF Councillors
Each state and territory elects two members of the ABF Council to represent them.
ABF Councillors Contact Details (ABF website)
The State Associations
Each state and territory has its own bridge association. The purposes of these are as follows:
- Organise State Championships and selection events;
- Regulate bridge in the state by adopting a set of tournament regulations and alerting procedures that all clubs are advised to follow;
- Organise the calendar of events;
- Overview the affiliation of clubs;
- Participate in ABF management through the two representatives that each state or territory sends to the ABF Council;
- Run the director accreditation scheme.