What is your Great Idea to Create more Pool Players

336Robin

336Robin

Multiverse Operative
Silver Member
This is something I think all of us think about, we say ok, caused by financial crisis, jobs, smoking, video games, we need another color of money, ya da, ya da, yada....ok.....lets vent....what do you think we could do to save us from the rapidly declining numbers of players in pool? Come on...lets hear it....

Just another lovely day in paradise....

336Robin :thumbup:
aimisthegameinpool.com
aimisthegameinpool@yahoo.com
 
336Robin said:
This is something I think all of us think about, we say ok, caused by financial crisis, jobs, smoking, video games, we need another color of money, ya da, ya da, yada....ok.....lets vent....what do you think we could do to save us from the rapidly declining numbers of players in pool? Come on...lets hear it....

Just another lovely day in paradise....

336Robin :thumbup:
aimisthegameinpool.com
aimisthegameinpool@yahoo.com
Click to expand...

One thought came to mind a while back, but held on to it, since you asked, here it is:

We know a pro player will have higher edge plying a C or a B player, that by itself a reason for the lower skilled players to run away. Classic example, if so and so playing in the tournament i am not going to get in, no chance for me!!
To level the playing field, you have to introduce multiple games at one tournament, say Pool, Dart, poker, Texas holdem, card games, chess, backgammon,

For example SVB plays 9 ball and wins his match, he gets 3 points, plays chess he looses, his opponent gets 3 points, then move to poker, SVB wins, that is 3 points, and so on until all players done, highest points wins the tourney. This way you add the luck factor and opens it up to many players, sure you will say this will take too much time, sure, but with proper organization, and scaling back these games might be worth while

and for televised events, maybe bowling and golf with pool,


Again a thought
 
First find a pool player of the opposite sex that is attracted to 'you'. Make love on as many pool tables as possible until you produce a future pool player.:wink:

Marriage somewhere along the line would probably be a good thing, at least for the future pool player. That way he or she will always have two(2) coaches around to help them with their game.:wink:

All kidding aside, I think young people have to be introduced to the game, but as Mr. Naji has pointed out, it must be controlled by the parents & kept in the proper priority.

I was 13 when my Dad took me first to a bowling alley, not a pool hall, & later to a hall where there was a 'couples only' room & asked the owner if he could take me in there.

We quickly bought a Brunswick Sport King to put in the garage so I could stay out of pool halls & bowling alleys until my education in both school & life skills was of an adult nature.

That's my soulution. Introduce young people to the game under a controlled good enviroment & you know it, many of them will be 'hooked' for life, but in a good way.

Best Regards,
 
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ENGLISH! said:
First find a pool player of the opposite sex that is attracted to 'you'. Make love on as many pool tables as possible until you produce a future pool player.:wink:

Marriage somewhere along the line would probably be a good thing, at least for the future pool player. That way he or she will always have two(2) coaches around to help them with their game.:wink:

All kidding aside, I think young people have to be introduced to the game, but as Mr. Naji has pointed out, it must be controlled by the parent & kept in the proper priority.

I was 13 when my Dad took me first to a bowling alley, not a pool hall, & later to a hall where there was a 'couples only' room & asked the owner if he could take me in there.

We quickly bought a Brunswick Sport King to put in the garage so I could stay out of pool halls & bowling alleys until my education in both school & life skills was of an adult nature.

That's my soulution. Introduce young people to the game under a controlled good enviroment & you know it, many of them will be 'hooked' for life, but in a good way.

Best Regards,
Click to expand...

Rick,
Nice post thankyou, as a person who is getting older there is a limit to what I want to do anymore but with all of the goverment money out there I actually had a thought about putting pool rooms back in small towns sort of like the recreation center type of thing.....I was hoping that one could get some money from Uncle Sam or the states for reaching at risk kids....and utilizing the advertisement venue for Community Colleges, the military and trade schools to be a sort of recruitment center, run only by Senior Citizens who already have a retirement plan in place be that merely Social Security or private.....this way if they saw trouble they could just close it down and no worry about it affecting their paycheck so much.....I just dont have a lot of time but I thought it was a decent enough of an idea.....it sort of goes along with the idea of a controlled environment for the patrons...a place where kids could study and play.

Just another lovely day in paradise...

336Robin :thumbup:
aimisthegameinpool.com
aimisthegameinpool@yahoo.com
 
336Robin said:
but with all of the goverment money out there I actually had a thought about putting pool rooms back in small towns sort of like the recreation center type of thing.....I was hoping that one could get some money from Uncle Sam or the states for reaching at risk kids.....

336Robin :thumbup:
aimisthegameinpool.com
aimisthegameinpool@yahoo.com
Click to expand...

I think this is a great idea but our government is broke. I believe it will have to be a grassroots effort if something like this will succeed.​

I believe one of the best ways to get new people playing the game is to simply invite them to play after work, on the weekend, as a social outing. Teach them the basics, proper fundamentals and let them experience the fun in the game. It's amazing how you can go to a pool hall now and practice/play by yourself for hours and not have anyone approach you just to play. Sure the shortstops and want to be gamblers will try to get a game with you but people just don't seem to want to play with people they don't know. Even if you ask nicely people in general will say no thanks. It saddens me that for the large part of my experience, I see a sea of tables with only one player on each and none of them are interested in playing with anyone else.

On a positive note, just before Thanksgiving I had the great pleasure of being invited to play with a gentleman I didn't know and was joined later by a gentleman from out of town that neither of us had ever met. 2-3 hours later we had all had a very good time playing pool and life seemed a bit better than before because we had shared a few games together.
 
dr9ball said:
I think this is a great idea but our government is broke. I believe it will have to be a grassroots effort if something like this will succeed.​

I believe one of the best ways to get new people playing the game is to simply invite them to play after work, on the weekend, as a social outing. Teach them the basics, proper fundamentals and let them experience the fun in the game. It's amazing how you can go to a pool hall now and practice/play by yourself for hours and not have anyone approach you just to play. Sure the shortstops and want to be gamblers will try to get a game with you but people just don't seem to want to play with people they don't know. Even if you ask nicely people in general will say no thanks. It saddens me that for the large part of my experience, I see a sea of tables with only one player on each and none of them are interested in playing with anyone else.

On a positive note, just before Thanksgiving I had the great pleasure of being invited to play with a gentleman I didn't know and was joined later by a gentleman from out of town that neither of us had ever met. 2-3 hours later we had all had a very good time playing pool and life seemed a bit better than before because we had shared a few games together.
Click to expand...

Nice Post,
Ive had a few ideas sure enough, thanks for the compliment...grassroots...the problem with my ideas is.....who is going to pay for them......it sort of has to make sense for someone to want help pay....not just organize a venture because they have to be able to benefit from something....eventually get paid back.....

Pool is not in the general conciousness of America....even if it were when they get to the pool room what are they met with?......someone needs to have a plan in place so that room owners will know how to deal with new people coming into the sport....most turn it over to the pool league system and once they have them well....the rooms dont seem to benefit as much....I think you are right pool needs to be a social event, not necessarily just a money making venture for the player....Im trying to spend time with people who are strangers so I can 1 show them how I play....and 2 show them tips so they can learn to play better...so far this year I havent brought in anyone new and I need to try and do that....The most enjoyment I have ever gotten out of the game is my weekly games during discount pool....I am lucky to play someone who punishes me for missing....sadly we play pretty much alone in the room most of the time.

Just another lovely day in paradise.....

336Robin :thumbup:
aimisthegameinpool.com
aimisthegameinpool@yahoo.com
 
Get youth involved

No pool rooms in my town of 20K with the exception of few coin-ops that no one plays on. Interaction of all ages makes the game exciting. I can remember going to the pool room when I was eight years old. Met alot of people in the neighborhood and became friends, learned the game from watching and playing with my elders. Friendly atmosphere great game makes for alot of fun for a young person and interaction with local people. We had Christmas tournaments where the winner got a new cue, very exciting. It starts with nice local rooms like the one in Foscoe, NC, Country Retreat Family Billiards, operated by Chris Aldridge, if we could duplicate his place all over the country, pool would become popular again!
 
Attracting non traditional pool players. Women, kids, young people. Beginner only leagues. Ball handicaps that give the advantage to the weaker player.

Beginners that quickly get better will want to move up to the intermediate league which will have game handicaps.

Nothing new here, but I don't hear about too many ball handicap leagues. Giving a beginner an a realistic chance of beating a better player is a good way to attract new players.
 
ronscuba said:
Attracting non traditional pool players. Women, kids, young people. Beginner only leagues. Ball handicaps that give the advantage to the weaker player.

Beginners that quickly get better will want to move up to the intermediate league which will have game handicaps.

Nothing new here, but I don't hear about too many ball handicap leagues. Giving a beginner an a realistic chance of beating a better player is a good way to attract new players.
Click to expand...

I totally disagree with handicaps it just does not work, you never know the skill of new players that just walks in, plus pro players will have an edge all the time regardless.

Involving kids requires government approval of the program to ensure safety of the kids
 
Our ground work has been already set.

Find a local APA-BCAPL-TAP-VNEA League in your area and pick a couple of students. Offer them free lessons. Student bees produce honey and honey attracts more students. In less than two months you will see your efforts multiplying.

The better I bowl the more I like bowling!

randyg
 
Only one way I can see.

There is only one way I can see to make the sport bigger. Make a way that pool players can make a career out of playing that pays well. That way, parents can support their kids who find a talent for pool. I am working on it. Look for Pool America Sports threads.

Thanks,
Jim
 
randyg said:
Our ground work has been already set.

Find a local APA-BCAPL-TAP-VNEA League in your area and pick a couple of students. Offer them free lessons. Student bees produce honey and honey attracts more students. In less than two months you will see your efforts multiplying.

The better I bowl the more I like bowling!

randyg
Click to expand...

I dont totally disagree with what youre saying Randy but for sustainability and market coverage I dont see one person who is giving free lessons providing coverage of a much larger problem......what Ive encountered is a lot of.....well its not my responsibility...to put myself out...to fix pool....and truthfully its probably not in a lot of cases....everything has to carry its own weight so to speak and work out for all involved.....Im sure after awhile youre lessons can get more detailed and you could probably charge for those...but that only affect you and your bottom line....and sure it does lift the tide....that is true......what about lift the entire market? I dont mind giving a few lessons thats no problem Im planning on it and already started with a new player who started coming in....what can we do for the market?....who in the billiard industry should pay for it....? if we find that....someone has a vested interest in the market and get them to go for it....wouldnt that be paydirt?

Just another lovely day in paradise.....

336Robin :thumbup:

aimisthegameinpool.com
aimisthegameinpool@yahoo.com
 
I think that all of those hall tables with one person on them & not wanting to play could very well be caused by ABA & other leagues. They, the league players, are there to practice & not play because they will be playing on their league night, and they can't easily play with their handycap advantage.

Whenever I can, I always try to help lessor players or anyone else for that matter. If they play better they will enjoy themselves more & more enjoyment will equal more play.

I do not think trying to help league players play better will necessarily lead to an increase in the # of players playing pool. However I agree that it might get 'instuctors' some paying students.

I guess down the line it might actually get more people playing because if they keep playing, the chance increases for them to introduce someone else to the game.

So the conclusion of this rant is...help fellow pool players whenever we can & tell them about AZB as well.
 
IMO pool is doing just fine. It isn't dying it's just found it's natural level. Lots of folks play and lots of them play well. I see no reason to concern ourselves with growing it. It is what it is and it's not in danger of extinction. It's still a big thing. Everyone can't own a pool room or sell pool equipment but those who can will continue to do ok. Those who are mediocre at it all will vanish. That's life.

JC
 
naji said:
I totally disagree with handicaps it just does not work, you never know the skill of new players that just walks in, plus pro players will have an edge all the time regardless.
Click to expand...

I understand your position. Many experienced players do not like handicaps.

But this thread is about attracting new players. Real new players. Not existing players pretending to be new. A true beginner will have more fun if they have a realistic chance of winning. That means handicaps. To really give the beginner a chance, ball handicaps. If you want to grow the sport, you need to bring in more beginners.

Once the beginners gain skill and experience, they can move up to the intermediate/advanced league where the handicap is games or as you suggest, no handicaps at all. I don't see how a true beginner is going to have any fun getting killed and never winning a single game.
 
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Attracting New Players

:thumbup:
ronscuba said:
I understand your position. Many experienced players do not like handicaps.

But this thread is about attracting new players. Real new players. Not existing players pretending to be new. A true beginner will have more fun if they have a realistic chance of winning. That means handicaps. To really give the beginner a chance, ball handicaps. If you want to grow the sport, you need to bring in more beginners.

Once the beginners gain skill and experience, they can move up to the intermediate/advanced league where the handicap is games or as you suggest, no handicaps at all. I don't see how a true beginner is going to have any fun getting killed and never winning a single game.
Click to expand...

Ron, Naji,
I think more specifically my concern isnt as much as what we do with them when we get them as it is.....how in the world do we get them?......to me it seems that Pool is just not on the minds of people in general...how do we get a non player...who knows no players at all.....the idea.....that hey...I think I might try playing pool?

Just another lovely day in paradise......

336Robin :thumbup:

aimisthegameinpool.com
aimisthegameinpool@yahoo.com
 
Agree with ENGLISH

ENGLISH! said:
First find a pool player of the opposite sex that is attracted to 'you'. Make love on as many pool tables as possible until you produce a future pool player.:wink:

Marriage somewhere along the line would probably be a good thing, at least for the future pool player. That way he or she will always have two(2) coaches around to help them with their game.:wink:

All kidding aside, I think young people have to be introduced to the game, but as Mr. Naji has pointed out, it must be controlled by the parent & kept in the proper priority.

I was 13 when my Dad took me first to a bowling alley, not a pool hall, & later to a hall where there was a 'couples only' room & asked the owner if he could take me in there.

We quickly bought a Brunswick Sport King to put in the garage so I could stay out of pool halls & bowling alleys until my education in both school & life skills was of an adult nature.

That's my soulution. Introduce young people to the game under a controlled good enviroment & you know it, many of them will be 'hooked' for life, but in a good way.

Best Regards,
Click to expand...

I like your comments. I do, however, cherish the times (and what I learned about life, bowling and pool) from going to bowling alleys and pool halls (had to sneak in) as a teenager.

When I was a kid there were high school bowling leagues that were very successful in bringing kids to bowling. I've always thought the same would work for pool (some have tried it with success). The problem is getting pool hall owners to show interest and getting old conservatives in the school system to come out of the dark ages...
 
ronscuba said:
I understand your position. Many experienced players do not like handicaps.

But this thread is about attracting new players. Real new players. Not existing players pretending to be new. A true beginner will have more fun if they have a realistic chance of winning. That means handicaps. To really give the beginner a chance, ball handicaps. If you want to grow the sport, you need to bring in more beginners.

Once the beginners gain skill and experience, they can move up to the intermediate/advanced league where the handicap is games or as you suggest, no handicaps at all. I don't see how a true beginner is going to have any fun getting killed and never winning a single game.
Click to expand...

ronscba,

If it's about 'winning', then a beginner is taking up the 'wrong' game. Handycaps, & leagues that employ them, can actually hold people back. However, the ball handycap is more fair & makes a point to the player as to just how close or far they are from where they might want to be.

I agree with you, the point is getting NEW players. How is that done? I'm sure that I do not really know. Maybe free table time for couples only or those under a certain age. Anything to just get them on a table.

Best Regards,
 
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