Bridging Sociology: MindSport Studies

Overview
The aim of this project is to create a new academic field, the sociology of mindsport. This includes developing a new undergraduate module: Sociology of Sport, Mindsport and Leisure. The sociology of mindsport fits academically between sport studies and leisure studies.
This work is informed by literature reviews on bridge, chess and poker. It considers how to define and conceptualise mindsports, as well as the societal challenges and benefits of a more inclusive approach to mindsport. The project began in 2017 and is ongoing.
Funders
BAMSA, University of Stirling
Journal Articles
Bridging Sociology
Snellgrove, M.L. and Punch, S. (2022) ‘Negotiating Insider Research through Reactive Collaboration: Challenges, Issues and Failures,’ Qualitative Research Journal
Academic Blogs
Bridging Sociology
Snellgrove, M.L. (2019) ‘Taking Bridge Seriously’, Discover Society
Punch, S. (2020) ‘Bridge: A MindSport for All’, Leisure Studies Association
Conference Papers
Bridging Sociology
BAMSA (2021) Marketing Bridge, 4th International Bridge Conference, Bridging Academia, Policy and Practice, 1 July 2021, University of Stirling.
Nicholson, E., Ballinger. C., Biriotti, M., Maclean, J. and Punch, S. (2021) Thinking Outside the ‘Bidding Box’: Marketing Bridge to New Players, 4th International Bridge Conference, Bridging Academia, Policy and Practice, 1 July 2021, University of Stirling.
Punch, S. and Snellgrove, M.L. (2019) ‘Keep Bridge Alive: Challenges and Opportunities’, Brain and Mind: Promoting Individual and Community Wellbeing International Conference, Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, 12 December 2019
Stakeholder Presentations
Bridging Sociology
Punch, S. (2020) Bridge: A MindSport for All (BAMSA) Journey, Presentation to Bridge 2 Bridge, Suffolk Contract Bridge Association (SCBA) and English Bridge Education and Development (EBED), 25 June 2020
Punch, S. (2020) Keeping Bridge Alive Through Research, Presentation to Western District Bridge Clubs, Stirling Court Hotel, 6 March 2020
Snellgrove, M.L. and Punch, S. (2019) Keep Bridge Alive Global Network Meeting, Norwegian Bridge Federation, Oslo, October 2019
Punch, S. (2019) Sociology of Bridge Update, World Bridge Federation (WBF), Wuhan, China, September 2019
Punch, S. (2019) Keep Bridge Alive Global Initiative, American Contract Bridge League Educational Foundation (ACBLEF), Memphis, March 2019
Punch, S. (2019) Keep Bridge Alive Campaign, Opening Ceremony for Mixed European Teams, European Bridge League, Lisbon, February 2019
Punch, S. (2018) Establishing a New Academic Field on Bridge, World Bridge Federation (WBF), Orlando, Florida, 22 September 2018
Punch, S. (2018) Bridge and Social Science, European Bridge League (EBL) National Bridge Union (NBO) Seminar, Belfast, 2-4 February 2018
Punch, S. (2017) Sociology of Bridge, Bridge and Science Committee, World Bridge Federation (WBF) Lausanne, Switzerland, 10 November 2017
Punch, S. (2017) Sociology of Bridge Research, Teacher Trainer Workshop, Scottish Bridge Union (SBU) Education, May 2017
Examples of Stakeholder Presentations
Keep Bridge Alive Global Initiative (March 2019)
Keep Bridge Alive Global Network Meeting (October 2019)
General Articles
Bridging Sociology
Podcasts
Bridging Sociology
Sorry Partner, Interview with Samantha Punch, 21 April 2022.
The Setting Trick, Interview with Samantha Punch by John McAllister, Episode 7, 19 November 2018
Resources
Bridging Sociology
Lecture Materials
Punch, S. (2019) Mindsports and Leisure Communities: The Case Study of Bridge, Undergraduate Module on Place, Belonging and Identity, University of Stirling: Stirling, 5 February 2019
Word Clouds
Based on Bridge Winners post asking players to describe bridge in three words