Need Help! Struggling Billiards Club

RickVaughn

RickVaughn

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Hey all, my name's Dave and I am the President of my school's Billiards Club. We were just chartered this year and I'm trying to get things off the ground. Whenever you walk into our pool room, you'll find people playing. The problem is that no one's doing it right and no one seems to want to improve. The worst part? People have to pay for the time (unlike many colleges). People are paying money to just bang balls and they're awful at it. I want to share this drive I have with everyone else and no one seems to care.

Has anyone else had this problem? Any other college students out there have their own clubs? I know there's shooters and ball-bangers but I can't imagine these people want to keep paying money to not get any better.

I'm organizing a "clinic" with the local pro but he can only take 16 people at a time. We're going to host a tournament to win a cue as well but that's pretty much all we can do for now, budget wise. Any other thoughts or ideas? How do you help someone that doesn't want to be helped?
 
Who is the local pro?? Maybe that pro can help get enthusiasm with you. let me know though. I appreciate your dedication to help the game.
 
I know you're excited to get things going, but if you've just started, and already have a clinic planned with a pro, and are gonna run a cue giveaway, it sounds like you've done quite a bit already.

Patience is difficult.

Run some small tournaments, with a decent sized bracket on the wall. Maybe the competition will drive a few, and once you get a few started, progress should follow.

Good luck. It sounds great, really. Don't get down on things yet.
 
RickVaughn said:
Hey all, my name's Dave and I am the President of my school's Billiards Club. We were just chartered this year and I'm trying to get things off the ground. Whenever you walk into our pool room, you'll find people playing. The problem is that no one's doing it right and no one seems to want to improve. The worst part? People have to pay for the time (unlike many colleges). People are paying money to just bang balls and they're awful at it. I want to share this drive I have with everyone else and no one seems to care.

Has anyone else had this problem? Any other college students out there have their own clubs? I know there's shooters and ball-bangers but I can't imagine these people want to keep paying money to not get any better.

I'm organizing a "clinic" with the local pro but he can only take 16 people at a time. We're going to host a tournament to win a cue as well but that's pretty much all we can do for now, budget wise. Any other thoughts or ideas? How do you help someone that doesn't want to be helped?
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Tough problem.

I like the idea of an inspirational instructor - I hope that's what you get.

How about organizing the players in pairs each meeting (do you meet once, twice, thrice a week?); then having them play for table time. That usually makes them want to improve at least enough to win the small amount at stake.
 
How about a book club? Pick an instructional book, and each week read and practice 1 chapter. Example, draw shot, following, stop, position play, leave, safety, etc.

There are tons of excellent resources online. Dr. Dave has a whole bunch of articles and PDFs that can be printed out.
 
I think you should generate some competition first with tournaments which will spark interest. Then come in later with the instruction. Good Luck!
 
Only by competing will these young players get the desire to improve. Getting your a$$ kicked is a great motivator.
 
You can't do anything about the bangers. They're not like you or me who are interested in playing billiards at its advanced level, they have to be interested in getting better themselves. The high school I attend offers a billiards class as a physical education option, more than half are bangers looking for an easy and fun grade (and not having to wear the phys ed uniform lol). It's sad because the pool hall allows us free table time after class is over and most of them leave before the teacher even dismisses them!

Though what you're doing is good! You're encouraging these people to be better with incentives. I'd say you should hold more tournaments maybe have a winner take all tournament where they win some of what was put in to enter.
 
Here's what happened at the university here in town, and their club has been growing every semester.

First, you HAVE to get the support of the school's pool room. Talk them into allowing you to create a club that meets once or twice a week a night with FREE TIME to club members, even if it's only a few hours. Have them allow you to make fliers to advertise your new club. Can't stress the importance of this enough. If you don't have the backing of the pool room, there's not much you can get done.

Secondly, create a club league system that's similar to other handicap leagues. Find a way to rate the players in your new club by skill level and let them match up with each other during club league nights. If you've ever been in a tennis team or league, it's very similar to this- if you want to move up in ranking, you challenge the player above you. This will create friendly competition without scaring off the newer players right away.

Third, your school may already be a part of the ACUI, which is a national collegiate competition in recreational games such as bowling, ping pong, cards, and pool. Our school has a "competition" 9-ball team that goes to the ACUI each year, and a tournament is held to find the top 10 players to go. It's a pretty big deal here since the trip is all paid for minus food expenses. Check if your school participates in this already and if not, look into it.

Lastly, and as you suggested, try to bring in some good players or instructors to offer help if possible. He/She doesn't have to be world renown, just respected and friendly enough to offer their advice and tips. If the members in your club feel comfortable with who you bring in, they'll tend to ask questions and try to improve their game.

Hope some of this helps and good luck.
 
Thanks for all the help guys. The local pro is Steve Lillis. He used to be much bigger but now he does this trick shot show around the world. Still, he's a great player and a teacher so I think he's a good choice for this clinic. As for ACUI, I took one other person to the tournament at NJIT in Region 3, idk what region you're in.

I guess I'm a little impatient, it's a brand new club and I know it's going to take time before it really catches on.

I like the idea of the book club and each week focus on a different aspect of the game, I just don't think people are ready and willing for that yet. Maybe next semester?

Free beer? I wish, I wish.

I do think competition is a great motivator. If just a few people start raising the level of play in the room, I think others will want to improve.
 
my suggestion

Instead of clinics and classes...

Find a way to expose them to better players.

What got me hooked on pool was watching great local players consistently run racks.
 
smoooothstroke said:
Instead of clinics and classes...

Find a way to expose them to better players.

What got me hooked on pool was watching great local players consistently run racks.
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I'd be open to that but how can I make that happen? I don't think they'd be interested in going somewhere to watch pool. I think if through the clinic they can start making more balls, it will jumpstart them and hopefully get them practicing more. I think if they can see an improvement in their games in a short time it will really help them. Do you have a specific way to expose them to better players?
 
Billiard club

It will be less irritating if you keep in mind that most of them are not paying money to improve at pool, but rather for some relaxation and entertainment between classes, and won't think about pool again until they walk back into the room the next time. That's just the way it is for most in that setting. I first began playing when I was in high school, and was able to go to the nearby College Games room that had 7 old Gandy pool tables. In college, our school was part of the ACUI system that a previous poster spoke of, and that would be a good idea for you. If I remember correctly, past college champions in that system include Dan Louie, Max Eberle, and Nick Varner who won it twice while at Purdue. It sounds like you're doing the best that you can, and way more than most. Create as many opportunities as you can and concentrate your efforts on those that show increasing interest. Congrats for making the effort.
 
You could try a bowliards league and see if that helps get interest up. Basically you rack 10 ball and you get 2 innings to run the rack. If you do it off the break you get a strike and if you do it in the 2nd turn at the table you get a spare just like bowling and you score it exactly the same way.

That way they can show up anytime to put 10games in for their weekly score. Bowling handicaps are easy to put in place and give players something to gage their progress against. You could have a big board in the UC showing the last 4 weeks high scores.
 
The Renfro said:
You could try a bowliards league and see if that helps get interest up. Basically you rack 10 ball and you get 2 innings to run the rack. If you do it off the break you get a strike and if you do it in the 2nd turn at the table you get a spare just like bowling and you score it exactly the same way.

That way they can show up anytime to put 10games in for their weekly score. Bowling handicaps are easy to put in place and give players something to gage their progress against. You could have a big board in the UC showing the last 4 weeks high scores.
Click to expand...

we were thinking of setting up some sort of league. I didn't even think of bowliards. Maybe I can set that up for next semester, having people see high scores and goals to reach would help people. thanks for the input!
 
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