Why don't you consider becoming a certified instructor? Or take a lesson or two and see how you like the experience.
What is the purpose of having a Pool Instructor?
- Thread starter Myrtle_04
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Why don't you consider becoming a certified instructor? Or take a lesson or two and see how you like the experience.
So pretty much, you're looking to teach, but want to know if there's a way to test your students and figure out what they need to learn, and the best way to pass them that info?
Well, there are written tests and drills that other instructors have come up with, some of them aren't made public. There are drills where they give you targets i.e. "if you can do this 3 times in a row it's good, 7 times you're an A player, 10 times in a row you're near pro" etc. ...or there are games that are more or less like drills where you can track your progress (for example six pocket).
If you search the forum for tests and drills you can find these, or look at Bert Kinister's stock of videos. It's a mixed bag but some of the drills are great for players of any skill level.
If you really want to help players learn, you can come up with your own systems or methods... or just look for obvious flaws in their game and try to gently point them out. I also have had some success recommending books to people, if you know they're the reading type. I have lent out my copy of the 99 critical shots a zillion times.
Awesome replies. Thanks for the info. Never thought about becoming a certified instructor, but that might be something to look into someday in the future. I'll look up some different videos and find some info online to better translate what i'm trying to teach.
Thanks for the help.
Thanks for the help.
TAP TAP TAP.
You also get the benefit of their experience and instant feedback.
Imagine giving one person a book on geometry, and giving another person a geometry teacher. Which one do you think will benefit the most and grasp the material quicker?
Books and videos are great, I have several. But, I don't think they will ever be better than a competent instructor.
I want to apologize. It wasn't my intent to have a teaching material vs. instructor type of discussion. I understand how much it's helped me to have a person help me see my flaws and show me things.
I was more or less searching for a central idea of what I can do beyond giving a person teaching materials and then having them come back to me to answer questions. I want it to be a little more customized to the player rather than "ok, here's some general learning materials. See what you know, write down some questions you have, and come back to me with any questions you have and what you want to work on"
I was more or less searching for a central idea of what I can do beyond giving a person teaching materials and then having them come back to me to answer questions. I want it to be a little more customized to the player rather than "ok, here's some general learning materials. See what you know, write down some questions you have, and come back to me with any questions you have and what you want to work on"
So you're asking "how to become a pool instructor"? Yes?
You seem to be asking, "I'm a mediocre player, but I want to teach pool, and I'd like someone to tell me how to come up with a syllabus -- as well as a list of scenarios of how to respond to typical student requests for clarifications." Sort of a "Cliff Notes" version of how to become an instructor.
Yes?
-Sean
You may benefit by learning how to do a video analysis of the students stance, stroke and game play (shot selection, strategy etc.). I find video is a very effective teaching tool.
Ask yourself, Do you know what you should be looking for when you observe a student shooting?
I believe one of the key values an instructor can provide a student is communicating to the student that which they do not know; Then showing them what they are doing via video analysis and Finally, giving the student the tools and skill to self identify these issues and correct them when they come up in their game.
Just my take on this, your mileage may vary.
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Right. not so much on how to become a certified instructor as tips to being a better instructor on a small scale.
I think i will take the advice of trying to use some kind of video recording so they can see what they are doing from an outside perspective. I think i'll also take a notebook along so i can write some notes down and go over what I think some problems might be and see what they want to work on.
Perhaps you should have a video analysis of your own mechanics done so you will know what you should be looking for.
Have you considered obtaining a teaching mentor who is a certified instructor?
Just a thought.
Thought about it, but i've more or less had mentors to teach me how to play rather than how to teach. Not really sure how to go about it and not sure I have the resources to travel to find a certified instructor to get teaching lessons.
Here is an outline for a BCA (now PBIA) certified instructor's course. http://www.sfbilliards.com/richandout.pdf
It might give you some ideas about how to approach lessons.
It might give you some ideas about how to approach lessons.
i was a horrible pool player. i took one lesson with a very good player here in atlanta and he was able to teach me what a straight stroke was. in a few months of working on what he taught me i was able to begin to enjoy playing and start playing much better. if i could afford more lessons with a bunch of different people i would take them. just having the info isn't enough. you need someone to teach you how to implenemt it. and to watch you to tell you what you are doing wrong. otherwise you are just going to do it wrong over and over.
thanks to clay fisher for helping me on my way, even if i am only on my way to being mediocre. the middle is nicer than the bottom:grin:
I agree. That's what seperates 'players' from 'shooters'.
Myrtle, you ask a question that would take pages to answer but here is the “skinny”.
1. Structure: My course is divided into 2 parts physics & mechanics and strategy & technique (btw to whoever says “those overlap and is redundant” “I say NS Sherlock”). It is farther divided into 6 “lessons” once one fulfills the criteria for that lesson I move to the next one. Each session has 4 parts; warm-up, the drill of the day, the thought of the day and whatever lesson game they are on. Structure is extremely important.
2. Macro to micro: Deal with their big problems 1st then go finer and finer.
3. Don’t “Spatter” them: Most good pool players can see what other players are doing wrong without much formal training of how to spot that. That’s why everybody thinks they know how to teach someone. So everybody knows what to say but in teaching the real skill is in knowing what not to say. Teach them arithmetic, then algebra, then calculus, then trigonometry, then quantum physics.
BTW this should be posted in the “ask the instructor” section IMHO.
1. Structure: My course is divided into 2 parts physics & mechanics and strategy & technique (btw to whoever says “those overlap and is redundant” “I say NS Sherlock”). It is farther divided into 6 “lessons” once one fulfills the criteria for that lesson I move to the next one. Each session has 4 parts; warm-up, the drill of the day, the thought of the day and whatever lesson game they are on. Structure is extremely important.
2. Macro to micro: Deal with their big problems 1st then go finer and finer.
3. Don’t “Spatter” them: Most good pool players can see what other players are doing wrong without much formal training of how to spot that. That’s why everybody thinks they know how to teach someone. So everybody knows what to say but in teaching the real skill is in knowing what not to say. Teach them arithmetic, then algebra, then calculus, then trigonometry, then quantum physics.
BTW this should be posted in the “ask the instructor” section IMHO.
Thanks. not sure how to move the post though.
Don't need to move it; copy & paste it or retype, I would copy & paste.
So... you’re a decent player, have some nuggets to share, and want to help out lower level guys. OK, here’s the thing: very few of the guys you’ll run into are expecting to get to the finals of the US Open; fewer have the time, drive, determination, and talent to put in the long hours of practice and competitive play to become a significantly better player. They don’t need a coach, or instructor, or video. Most of these guys are looking for a quick fix that’ll improve their play some.
So your job, as a decent player mit nuggets, is to recognize this and be able to effectively pass on stuff that they can absorb and take away, on both the physical side and the physics side. Stuff like improving their draw shot, and/or getting rid of excessive elevation; and explaining things like tangent line and/or half ball hits.
The thing you don’t want to do is tear their mechanics apart and try and rebuild it into picture perfect form and give them a long syllabus of stuff they’ll never work on and practice. Point to the most egregious flaws in their setup with a gentle suggestion or two and give them a simple drill or three that they can work on (almost any drill will do) and that’s it.
Lou Figueroa