Advise about running a high school program.

mnorwood

mnorwood

Moon
Silver Member
Everyone on this forum is always talking about growing the game.

I am putting my time and effort where my mouth is. I am a school teacher in Pearland Texas and I have managed to get the superintendent interested in starting a pool club at the local high school.

I have a series of questions for all you AZer's out there.

1. Has anyone done this?
2. If so, do you have any pointers about running a high school club?
3. Would any of you pros or friends of pros help me on this project via emails or letters of support?
4. Would any pro or instructor be willing to drop in to generarte P.R. for such a program?

Any feedback on this would appreciated.
 
Thats a great idea, IMO programs like this is what is needed to get pool moving forward.

One thing I would suggest is having time for learning and time for playing. Quality instruction would really help the students. If they start to be able to run some balls they will get hooked on the game, if they just keep missing they tend to lose interest. Im sure Im not telling you anything you dont already know lol.

If at all possible try and get a good instructor in for some of the meetings. A few hours with an instructor can be a great help.

Wish I lived closer I would love to help in a program like this!

Woody
 
mnorwood said:
...

1. Has anyone done this?
2. If so, do you have any pointers about running a high school club?
3. Would any of you pros or friends of pros help me on this project via emails or letters of support?
4. Would any pro or instructor be willing to drop in to generarte P.R. for such a program?

Any feedback on this would appreciated.
Click to expand...
You need to contact Bart Mahoney. He has been involved with a high school pool class for several years. The BCA has available a curriculum from his course. Google will find some links for you, including:

http://grandparentstoday.com/resources/articles/poolcue.php
 
If you don't wish to have a formal course but just a club, I'd suggest having a time alotted for instruction followed by play/practice, with periodic tournaments among the students, then maybe have a culminating event, such as entering a local tournament or having a pro or instructor come to the class.
 
Your own Texan,Mrs.Belinda Calhoun of Austin teaches a course in pool in the university.She has enough knowledge related to the issues about teaching pool in the educational institution. She is a veteran Pro player and plays in WPBA tour events.U may try to get hold of her at Eric`s Billiards on Airway Blvd in Austin.
vagabond
 
Last edited:
My school has a billiards class. Its a shame we really dont learn anything.

Probably the biggest problem is money. For us, each student pay $95 before the class starts meeting at the hall, we meet 2 days a week for about 1hr 15 mins each day. Since you want to start a club, its just a matter of finding a hall thatll close for an amount of time for you to meet (although that isnt even really that necessary if its a small group), and getting money to cover all the table time. If the student was really interested, then he should be willing to pay for the table time.

Dont forget to give out and collect permission slips :p .
 
Youth programs

I looked into the youth league guidelines that the BCA has,
and have 2 of the books. Tulsa has a youth program going.
(Shane McMinn, 4 times Junior National Champion is from there).
You can get a hold of Sandy Chamberlain at
Sandy@Tulsapool.com for information concerning youth leagues
and programs. I had this idea of working with the Public School
systems to get billiards offered as a sport in Jr & Sr High, co-ed
offered, with it connected to an individual youth organization, so
youths could win scholarships, cues, cue cases, other equipment,
pool clothing, etc..
Pool is similiar somewhat like martial arts, in that, the better you
get, the more self discipline it teaches you, which is good. It also
teaches you to look at things objectively, having to 'plan' for the
future, teaches cause and effect, keeps you using your brain,
helps you make new friends, great for socializing, helps you
establish goals which can flowover to other areas, and it doesn't
matter so much on what sex you are or your physical size. It offers
individual and team achievments.
I see all these things as positives for upcoming youth which can
really benefit them in their futures. Plus it is something they can
all share as a family activity, which is good too.
 
Pool in School

Before this link gets too far, I would like to add very important points to the discussion.

Pool in school is what I have been doing for the past six years. My name is Bart Mahoney. The co-founder of this program is Marcie davis, a 34 year veteran of high school education and the Physical Education Department Chair at Del Campo High School in Sacramento, Ca.

There are far more details involved that can be covered on this thread but let me share some information -

1. Pool has a very negative image in our society and is a major obstacle for those interested in promoting the sport in schools.

2. When working with our young adults it is an enormous responsiblity. There are many concerns about non-credentialed teachers working with minors and there are equally major liabilities for those who embark on this responsibility.

3. If you think our sport is political, do not for a second think that the same politics plays an active role within our educational institutions.

With this said, pool in school is critical to our sport's future and it is my effort and IMHO a life purpose for me to our sport in this fashion.

BUT, regardless of the type of program - in class, after school, geometry it is not EASY. There is also an issue of state recognized articulation where the sport is given equal credit such as golf, bowling, tennis, etc.

To this end, I have done my homework and to my knowledge there is not one single class in America that is fully accredited (our's by three school districts) and is working to achieve a course number beyond an elective recreational course which is about the same as knitting.

Note- Marcie and I are in our sixth year and we will pop-the-bubble but it will take those teaching billiards in school (in any capacity) to merge all of our efforts together. The process and sponsors would then expedite these efforts much more quickly.
 
Best of luck with your endeavor. I taught overseas for a few years and have thought about starting a pool club should I decide to teach in the US. If enough schools in a given area had clubs, you could start an intramural league. It would be a great opportunity to change the character of the game in this country. If I achieve the financial success I'm hoping for, I'd definitely contribute to a school pool club in my local area.

As Bart Mahoney's post implies, the reputation of pool is a school club's biggest obstacle. As disciplined and respectable as a school club might be, parents will yank their kids out in a heartbeat if they get the wrong impression of the game as a whole.
 
Last edited:
I highly suggest that each student be given a cue, case and accessories of their own like they do in the Mickey Bowling leagues by giving each child their own bowling ball and bag. This can be accomplished by charging a small weekly fee to each student.

I am positive that you will be able to get an American cue company involved that would help sponsor your efforts by either donating cues or by making them available at a reduced cost.

If I can help you in any way please call me at you convenience. The 800# below rings directly to my cell phone.

Best of luck,
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top