Bridging Schools

Bridging Youth: Learning, Education & Development

Overview

Bridging Youth includes the following three studies:

(1) Bridging Schools (interviews with pupils, parents and teachers)

(2) Bridging Transitions: Connecting Families, Clubs, Universities and Generations

(3) Bridging the Digital

The Bridging Schools research explores what helps and hinders learning for children in school (primary/elementary, secondary/middle and high schools). The study considers different views in relation to the benefits and skills (cognitive, social and emotional) developed through learning bridge. Funding has also beeen secured (from the WBF, the University of Stirling and SGSSS) for 4.5 year masters and doctoral research investigating the pedagogy of bridge and the development of critical thinking skills for children.

Project Summary

Focus groups and individual interviews have been conducted with teachers (school teachers and bridge teachers who teach children), pupils and parents to explore different perspectives in relation to the skills gained through bridge. Case studies of teaching bridge to children include Scotland, England, Norway, Denmark and the USA. BAMSA has also conducted an international survey on youth bridge.

Click on the button below to see our Teaching Resources for School and Youth Bridge.

Teaching Youth

Funders

Davenport Fund

Levine Family Foundation

Further fundraising via Crowdfunder, please consider donating:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/u5c0e5e7810869

Online Papers

Milosheva, M. and Punch, S. (2026) ‘Could the Mind Sport Bridge provide Much-needed Social Connection in the Digital Age?’, Open Access Government, 6 January 2026.

pdf version

Milosheva, M. and Punch, S. (2025) ‘The Bridge Revolution: Mindsports Reshape Scotland’s Educational Landscape‘, Open Access Government.

pdf version

Punch, S. and Scott, D. (2024) ‘Green Baize Gladiators: Bridge as a Mindsport for All’, Research Outreach, January 2024.

pdf version

Milosheva, M. and Punch, S. (2024) ‘The Sociology of Mindsport’, Open Access Government (ebook)

pdf version

BAMSA Reports

Bridging Schools

Milosheva, M. and Punch, S. (2025) Insights and Outcomes from the inaugural Scottish Youth Bridge Summer Camp: A Scottish Bridge Union and BAMSA Collaboration, BAMSA Report: University of Stirling.

Milosheva, M. and Punch, S. (2025) The Landscape of Youth Bridge in Scotland: Requirements, barriers, and success strategies of school bridge implementation, BAMSA Report: University of Stirling.

Milosheva, M., Punch, S. and Harding, M. (2024) Norwegian Pupils’ Attitudes towards Bridge and Mindsport Education, BAMSA Report: University of Stirling.

Milosheva, M. and Punch, S. (2024) Youth Bridge in the UK: A scoping study of young people’s experiences of learning bridge and bridge teachers’ approaches to teaching bridge, BAMSA Report: University of Stirling.

Rushworth, M. (2024) Denmark Good Practice Guide: Teaching bridge to youth in schools and clubs, BAMSA Report: University of Stirling.

Conference Papers

Bridging Schools

Milosheva, M. and Punch, S. (2025) Bridge in Schools: Developing Social and Cognitive Skills Through Mindsport Education. Paper presented at the 18th World Leisure Congress, August 2025, Breda, the Netherlands.

BAMSA (2021) School and Youth Bridge: Engaging and Retaining Learners, 4^th International Bridge Conference, Bridging Academia, Policy and Practice, 1 July 2021, University of Stirling.

BAMSA (2021) Gender, Age and Intergenerationality, 4^th International Bridge Conference, Bridging Academia, Policy and Practice, 30 June 2021, University of Stirling.

Stakeholder Presentations

Bridging Schools

Punch, S., Scotney, M. and Milosheva, M. (2026) Youth, Bridge and Mindsport Education, European Bridge League NBO Seminar, 30-31 January 2026, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Milosheva, M. and Punch, S. (2025) School Bridge and Resources for Teaching Children. Paper presented at American Bridge Teachers’ Association (ABTA), July 2025, Philadelphia, USA.

Punch, S. (2022) Bridge Research in Schools: Promoting Mindsport Education, Paper presented at American Bridge Teachers’ Association (ABTA), July 2022, Providence, USA.

Rushworth, M. (2023) Conference Key Themes, RealBridge & BAMSA Teacher and Coach Conference, Online 7-8 October 2023.

Rushworth, M. (2023) Summary of Conference Presentations, RealBridge & BAMSA Teacher and Coach Conference, Online 7-8 October 2023. For videos and slides of presentations see https://realbridge.online/teacher-coach-conference-2023-directory/

Punch, S. (2022) Bridge Research in Schools: Promoting Mindsport Education, Paper presented at American Bridge Teachers’ Association (ABTA), July 2022, Providence, USA.

Rushworth, M. (2023) Conference Key Themes, RealBridge & BAMSA Teacher and Coach Conference, Online 7-8 October 2023.