Dunfermline Bridge Club - Code of Conduct

Over the past few years I have received many complaints from people about the behaviour of others.  Some complaints relate to actual play and some are about things that have been said.  Consequently I felt that something should be done to improve behaviour and, hopefully, reduce the number of complaints.

At the committee meeting on 5 September 2012 it was unanimously agreed that the club should have a code of conduct based on SBU Law 74.  It was also agreed that every member, Monday afternoon non-members and guests should be given a copy of the Code of Conduct.  It has to be stressed that the Code of Conduct is not intended to become a complainer’s charter.  Neither Directors nor the Committee will have the time to deal with each and every complaint or grievance anyone wishes to make about someone else.  It is also not intended that it gives members the right to pick up anyone else for every perceived misdemeanour.

What is intended is that everyone should read the Code of Conduct and take note of the things that they do, or may be considering to do, that contravene the Code of Conduct and then don’t do them.  I must admit that until I read Law 74 in full I didn’t appreciate that some behaviour in the club was against this Law.  I know that I have been guilty of some of the things myself as well as seeing some of the behaviours in others.  I hope that everyone can embrace not only the Code of Conduct itself but also the spirit of the Code which is to improve behaviour within the club, reduce the number of complaints and create a friendly and pleasant atmosphere in which to play bridge. 

As you will see from the Code of Conduct, the principles of Law 74 have been extended to include all areas of the club, including committee meetings, general meetings and whenever anyone is representing the club.  Improvements are not likely to happen overnight and some tolerance is needed by all members and players at the club.  However, all of us should consider our own behaviour and how it affects others.  Sometimes it is not what is said that causes offence, it is the tone in which something is said that often causes the most offence.  All of us can have bad days or times when we have a lot of problems that affect how we feel and that may cause any one of us to respond to someone in an unmeant sharp manner.  In those situations it should be possible for the offender to say to the other person, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it to sound like that, I’m having a difficult time at the moment”. 

It is hoped that there should be no need for all complaints to be dealt with by the committee.  However, repeat and serious offenders will be considered by the committee and appropriate action taken when necessary.  This is not meant to be a Draconian measure or using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.  The laws have been made by the SBU and the introduction to the laws states: -

The Laws are designed to define correct procedure and to provide an adequate remedy when there is a departure from correct procedure.  They are primarily designed not as punishment for irregularities but rather for rectification of situations where non-offenders may otherwise be damaged.  Players should be ready to accept gracefully any rectification or adjusted score awarded by the Director.

The Code of Conduct and Law 74 are shown below

Jane Carnegie

President

Dunfermline Bridge Club - Code of Conduct

All members, non-member players and guests of the club should abide by SBU Law 74 regarding conduct and etiquette.  Law 74 states: -

1. Proper Attitude

1. A player should maintain a courteous attitude at all times.
2. A player should carefully avoid any remark or action that might cause annoyance or embarrassment to another player or might interfere with the enjoyment of the game.
3. Every player should follow uniform and correct procedure in calling and playing.
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2. Etiquette

As a matter of courtesy a player should refrain from:

1. paying insufficient attention to the game,
2. making gratuitous comments during the auction and play,
3. detaching a card before it is his turn to play,
4. prolonging play unnecessarily (as in playing on although he knows that all the tricks are surely his) for the purpose of disconcerting an opponent,
5. summoning and addressing the Director in a manner discourteous to him or to other contestants.
    

3. Violations of Procedure

The following are violations of procedure:

1. Using different designations for the same call,
2. Indicating approval or disapproval of a call or play,
3. Indicating the expectation or intention of winning or losing a trick that has not been completed,
4. Commenting or acting during the auction or play so as to call attention to a significant occurrence, or to the number of tricks still required for success,
5. Looking intently at any other player during the auction and play, or at another player’s hand as for the purpose of seeing his cards or of observing the place from which he draws a card (but it is appropriate to act on information acquired by unintentionally seeing an opponent’s card*),
6. Showing an obvious lack of further interest in a deal (as by folding one’s cards),
7. Varying the normal tempo of bidding and playing for the purpose of disconcerting an opponent,
8. Leaving the table needlessly before the round is called.

*see Law 73D2 when a player may have shown his cards unintentionally.

Law 73D2

A player may not attempt to mislead an opponent by means of remark or gesture, by the haste or hesitancy of a call or play (as in hesitating before playing a singleton), the manner in which a call or play is made or by any purposeful deviation from correct procedure.

In addition to the Law applying to members when playing at the club, Laws 74 A1 and A2 should apply at all committee and general meetings and whenever any member is representing the club.