Do you introduce your kids to pool?

Do you introduce your kids to pool?

  • Yes, I'm all for it. I let them decide.

    Votes: 95 91.3%

  • No, it's not a world fit for kids.

    Votes: 9 8.7%
  • Total voters
    104
i had a table in the house since my kids were 4 and 6 years old. my younger daughter never took an interest in playing, but my son loved the game. he played since before he could put his hands on the bed of the table, so i always moved the cue ball over to the rail for him. the kid was excellent at bank shots and shooting off the rail later in life. as he grew up, he was always on the table with lots of his friends, and i was always happy to see them enjoying themselves. the apa required players to be 21 years old, so he joined my team as soon as he turned 21. he was off and on , depending on jobs he was working, but played for us the last 3 seasons. we lost him suddenly and violently last august at age 26, and he didn't live to see the team make it to the vegas qualifier only a few weeks later. we became good friends during his last year playing pool together. pool was always an enjoyable part of his life and i'm glad i was able to give him that.
 
Flettir said:
Hello,

I was stationed at Ft Bragg, NC when my son was born. we had a pool table in our den. When he was 11 months old I cut down a broken pool cue and put the 2' section in his hands and stood him on the pool table and let him walk around hitting the balls in. By the time he was 2 - 3 years old he pulled a milk crate around the table and shot pool. He knew the rules and could even beat some of my friends at pool. It always amazed everyone how he could do it.

When we went to Germany he would go to the post recreation center and play pool or play basketball. He was a great shot but could not dribble at all. Bought him his own basketball and told him to take it with him wherever he went after school was out. He learned to dribble. I also encouraged him to take up Karate at about 8 or 9 to help with self discipline and self control. He also played football in grade school and really seem to enjoy that once I taught him the main trick to football. Hit them harder than they hit you and you will not get hurt.

All in All I think he turned out pretty good, esp for someone who was exposed to pool at the ripe young age of 11 month. BTW, you all know him as Iron Mike Davis.
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I met your son at Drexeline What a nice person and quiet!

The first time was when he was starting to play in Joss events he would come in the friday's before sat. event and practice on the tables.

A real treat was when Drexeline had a 6x12' snooker table and Mike would practice combination shots for hours on it!!!

Bob Maidhof(Drexeline owner) gave my grandson a baby cue when his was born!
He was able to screw cue together at 2 years and also unscrew put into the case when we were done playing!
He likes to crawl around table but will also stand on stool and shoot in shots I have video of him doing this at age 2.
My Grandson was pocketing balls with a closed bridge since age 2 on my
9' home table
He is a very advanced child he is now 4(oct) and is ready to start playing the game for real!( his father is a mechanical engineer)

my wife and I play league pool and both of us won APA vegas qualifiers!

I was at Bragg for boot camp 1968 ?

You should and are proud of Mike , Shawn Wilkie another fine young man has a military family background also and did great at VF last year!

Thanks for post!:cool:
 
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i introduced mine to pool on the home table,but i discouraged in the strongest possible way them going to a pool room or bar,and gambling. i never met anyone who i thought was better off for either,and thousands who ruined their life,messed up educations,careers and marriages.
many of the best players to ever live have dropped by,played games and tried to borrow money and not one of them disagreed with these thoughts.
 
I would, but I wouldn't take them while it's busy. I'd also prefer to take them to a non-smoking hall.
 
I have had a pool table in the house since my youngest was about 4. I introduced both my kids to pool before they could walk.

My daughter never cared for it but my son took to it right away. He loves playing and is getting pretty damn good. He is 8 now and is starting to play pretty strong. He beats everybody at a large boys and girls club... including the teenagers. He also whips up on my 17 year old daughter :) She now wishes she paid attention to me early on...


As far as it being a good thing... Of course it is. If he was not hitting balls with me everyday he would, most likely, be staring at a rectangle on the wall like 99.999% of American children. Instead, my son will learn a skill that will bring him pleasure for the rest of his life. He also gets the satisfaction of master a very hard game. Not too many people have what it takes to play pool well. Its a very hard game. By the time he is an adult, he will be the best player he knows. every child should master something before adulthood...


Imagine playing on a 9 footer with very stingy 4.5" pockets for a decade in secret. With an A player teaching you all their secrets... I wish I was that lucky :)
 
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I Introduced my 10 year old to pool about 4 months ago,He loves it. He plays in an eight ball tournment every tuesday, And is showing promise.

Just recently he asked me about 1 pocket so I showed him a bit as did others in the hall. Everyone has been real kind to him and are helping him along.

Click the link below to see a clip of him playing in his first 1 pocket tournament, just recently.

I wish I had his burning desire to play.

I did tell him that right now he can take it as far as he wants to. But that there is no money in pool right now , Maybe by the time he reaches his teens or twenties.?:smile:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3xs2f1tCB8
 
i introduce my kids to the pool on a daily basis... usually after a cup of coffee or a large burrito
 
Yep

Bought my 3 yr old a 3 foot table for christmas. Next year it gets shimmed and simonis!! BTW Target has a great little table for 39.99. Might even put k-66 rails on it...
 
Both my kids, ages 15 and 11, play in junior leagues and my oldest plays in tournaments with me. I think pool is a great thing for kids. It teaches discipline, patience, and how to handle different situations. I do not allow my kids to gamble though. Pool is a family event for us and I could not be happier.

JMP
 
Definitely!!

She started at about 5 with a short stick, is now at 12 on a mid length, one but rarely plays these days. I'm waiting for her to want to again....

I would hesitate (with a young child) if playing meant going to a pool hall though. There is plenty there that I'd just assume NOT expose her to until she gains a good sense of self, and who she wants to be.

..... I know... she's a bit sheltered, but I like that better than the alternative. JMO

td
 
JMP said:
Both my kids, ages 15 and 11, play in junior leagues and my oldest plays in tournaments with me. I think pool is a great thing for kids. It teaches discipline, patience, and how to handle different situations. I do not allow my kids to gamble though. Pool is a family event for us and I could not be happier.

JMP
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Here is a post I wrote about my son quite some time ago. Read it, and then I'll tell you what he's doing now.

yet another VNEA PATCH story.

While registering at VNEA Junior nationals in Sioux City, IA with my
16-year-old son a few weeks ago, Mike said 'what are these?' referring to
a bunch of patches in a box that indicated the registrants should take
one. I explained that the patch is used to mark the intended 8-ball
pocket. Mike was pretty nervous for the singles competition for several
reasons: he had never traveled to play pool before; the kids in his local
junior league had been talking about 'nationals' all winter; due to a
registration screw-up, Mike was not going to be able to play in the team
competition; and the format--race-to-three, single elimination-- was
pretty brutal.

His first match was against a local (Sioux City) kid. Mike won the first
game. During the second game, Mike made a nice run, fixing some problems
and getting down to the 8-ball for which he had a 3-foot straight-in shot
to the corner pocket. The patch--of course--was sitting at the other end
of the table. I was screaming inside my head and silent on the outside as
Mike pointed to the pocket and bent down to address the ball. Then, as if
toying with my emotions, he stood up and reached to the other side of the
table (Phew! I thought.). His reach continued past the patch to the cube
of chalk. He chalked up, bent down, and shot. I couldn't hear what was
said, but I watched his opponent walk over to him, say a few words, and
point to the patch. Then Mike's face dropped and his eyes just closed for
a few seconds as he prepared to break the next rack in the loser-breaks
format. The letdown of recognizing what he thought was a 2-0 lead in a
race to 3 was really 1-1 took its toll on a few shots, but he did come
around in time and went on to win the next two games.

Mike's second match was against a kid from Winnepeg, Manitoba. Mike went
win, win, loss, win to take the match. At this point, most of the
original 250 or so participants in Mike's age group and most of the people
he knew were out. He was feeling pretty good during the long wait for the
next--his final--match. The only exchange we had about the patch incident
was that he said "I can't believe I did that." I replied that it's easy
to forget about the patch when you're nervous and not used to using it,
and told him I thought he was playing well and making good decisions.

The next opponent was a good shooter from Council Bluffs, IA. In the first
game, they each had one ball left, and Mike executed a nice safe that left
his opponent hooked and down the length of the table from his ball. The
opponent executed a real nice kick shot that left the cueball behind the
8-ball. Mike fouled and then lost the game. In the second game, Mike's
opponent had a nice run and got down to the 8-ball with a nearly
straight-in shot to the corner pocket. The patch--once again--was at the
other end of the table. In fact the parallels with the first match were
uncanny. The 8-ball shot was similar, the patch was at the other end of
the table, the shooter had executed a tough run to get there, the shooter
was up 1-0, and I was once again screaming inside. The kid bent over and
shot in the eight ball. Just like before, I couldn't hear the words as I
watched Mike walk over and say something pointing to the patch. Just like
before, I watched a look of incredulous despair suddenly appear on the
shooter's face. Yet unlike before, the shooter this time proceeded to
rack the balls (as the winner) for the next game.

What I didn't hear was Mike saying "The patch was over here" (pointing to
the patch). "Is that where you intended?" (indicating the pocket the 8
went in). The kid's face dropped as he said "Oh no!!! yes!." Mike
immediately followed with "that's fine; nice out." Sometime
during the next game, the opponent came up to me and asked if I was Mike's
father. Then he said "he showed some real good sportsmanship." The
opponent went on to win the next game, winning the match.

There are times when it's easy to do what you consider the right thing,
and there are times --like this--when it's hard. And there are times when
it's easy to find an excuse to do what gives you the outcome you want.
[It IS the rule, or It happened to me.].

Although Mike did what I think I would have done, I would not have been
unproud if Mike had chosen a different path. I think it's fine to take the
position that it's a clear rule and we should abide by it. My point here
isn't to say what is right or wrong in this situation. My point is that
Mike had his own standard, and it was a standard he held pretty high, a
standard that survived a tough test. For that I'm proud of him.

--
mike page
fargo

Ten years have passed since that July 1998 incident.

Mike is now editor-in-chief of the law review at an ivy league law school. He and his wife will be home for a visit around new-years. Mike & I will play as a team in the annual pot-luck scotch doubles pool tournament at the local pool hall.

Mike never really plays these days. Though he did say he's so-far-unsuccessfully had his eye out in Ithaca NY for a bar that might have a player or two.
 
mikepage..........................FANTASTIC read!!!!

My son is playing and is 11 years old. Plays pretty well. Competes with adults at local tourneys. The thing I see in these young kids playing pool are:
Poise / Confidence / Self esteem / Sportsmanship / Positive attitude at the table / Competitive spirit etc............

All of those characteristics that they need to be successful in life..................they are learning at the table. The argument of GOOD elements and BAD elements in the pool room............................that is life and they will choose their path. Just like your son in that match. Either path was correct..............................the one he chose was honorable!!!

My son is a competitor...............football / basketball / wrestling / pocket billiards...................and I watch silently and in awe of his ability, sportsmanship, confidence, and team leadership.

At 11 years old I was playing TONKA TRUCKS!

So introduce your kids to pool???? YES YES YES

Mike
 
SpiderWebComm said:
Pool is very addicting. I know I'm in the minority, but if I had kids I wouldn't introduce them to pool until they graduated high school first. My inability to control "pool" in my high school years cost me entrance into the Air Force Academy (because gambling until midnight was more important than studying... and nothing my dad said/did changed my mind... because I thought I knew everything).

Like I said, I KNOW I'm in the minority here.
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Dave, if that's the case, I guess I am in the minority too as I was scared that my son would become one of the many income impaired pool players and chose to push him toward education and kept the extent of my hobby secret from him for more than 20 years. My son had glimpses of my obsession but never knew the depth of my compulsion. :smile: :embarrassed2:

It is probably my own personal insecurities and fears for myself that kept me from sharing my passion with my son but I didn't want to tempt fate.

Now he is an IT manager for a large insurance company and I can put the bite on him instead of the other way around. :yeah: :yeah:

JoeyA
 
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I have three children and each of them has their own cue. My three year old has a Keith Josey jump cue he uses while I gave my daughters their choice of my many cues. One chose a Troy Downey custom and the other chose an Ariel Carmeli. I do not think they will be addicted to the gambling side since their dad does not gamble playing pool and we have a table in the house. It has been fun watching my 9 year old improve as she gets bigger.

It is a great game and something I can share with them for the rest of my life. I am enjoying the journey.
 
Yes, my 8yr old son has started playing pool. We have a 7' Diamond table and a 9' Diamond table and I bought him his 1st custom cue for Christmas.. Also, the place we go to play pool in pool league is family oriented and he has alot of fun there.
 
I taught my three daughters to play. They did not really stick with it as their friends did not play. It is an individual sport that they can play and enjoy for the rest of your life. I also taught them to play golf. I played high school football, but will never put the pads on and play again. Pool is a game for a lifetime.

I also told them you can learn a lot about a boy by taking him to play pool or to golf with him. Is he honest? How does he react when things are not going his way? How does he handle anger? Can he accept being beat by a girl?

They have all come back to me and thanked me for teaching them to play pool. They are able to go out with friends and not feel like they will embarrass themselves on the table.
 
I've worked with a LOT of kids, of all ages...including my own (who just turned 27). Many of my students have me come back and work with their kids, the next time I see them.

I started my own kid when he was about 5 or 6, just knocking balls around, in our university gameroom (where I taught a regular semester course). I taught him to use a regular length cue, but lightweight (15 oz.). By the time he was 10 he could play fairly well (pocket balls, but not much position play). I NEVER pushed it on him, as I wanted him to make his own choice. One of the main things I harped on was learning the rules, and being a good sport (very nice post by Mike Page)! By the time he was a teenager he could run a rack, but still had trouble "toning down" his desire to smack the balls. Again, I never pushed him with instruction, unless he wanted it. When he went to Europe, at 18, he could play, and he had learned a few trick shots (to impress the girls, and win a few beers...LOL). Since then, he still keeps his skills, but has never had much interest in learning the finer points of the game...which is okay by me (I had a dad who pushed me HARD into playing football...and I HATED it...so I was determined that I would never do that to my own kid). Now when we play (which is every time I see him, but unfortunately not that often), I ask him if he wants to just play, or learn something! LOL Usually he says, "Just play Dad!"...and after drilling him a few games, he says, "Okay, teach me something!" You gotta love it!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
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