Getting Youth Interested IN POOl

mreightball

mreightball

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Silver Member
Hello out there:
My personal opinion about the industry is that we need to get pool as a sport in schools. We need the younger generation learning the game so as they grow up they are familiar with the game and want to play it.
As you know any sport in school is all about beating the other school or having a better team then the other school. Pool allows students who are not sports jocks to be in a sport that they can be competitive in. Boys/girls/handicapped/and nurds can play and be good at it. I am seriously thinking of donating tables to schools in my area to get this going.
Without the younger generation getting involved where is the industry going. All down hill.
Please respond with thoughts
Thanks
Ron
www.abctables.com
 
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Reactions: JAM
This topic has been brought up in the past, and I think most everybody agrees with you. It is the "how" that is difficult.

That said, there are ongoing activities for our youth, helping them to get interested in pool competition.

Check out this article on the Main Page of AzBilliards: http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.cfm?storynum=5418

....The SUMC Billiards and Games Room features 16 professional size pool tables and will be the stage to an expected 180 young athletes competing for academic scholarships, prizes and an invitation to represent the United States at the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) Junior World Championships. Junior contestants earned their right to participate by winning a BEF recognized qualifier or were nominated through their local junior pool league...Juniors will travel from 30 different states to compete in this year?s event and over 30 colleges will be represented by billiard athletes. For a complete list of junior players, visit www.BilliardEducation.org....

So there are some ongoing efforts, but of course, more activities in this arena would certainly be a good thing, as you stated! :)

JAM
 
If you want todays youth to play pool you better put a lot of bells and whistles on it. Like when a ball drops bomb sound goes off. When you sink 3 in a row another type of sound and so on. blinking flashing lights in the diamonds when you win would be a nice touch too. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
If you want todays youth to play pool you better put a lot of bells and whistles on it. Like when a ball drops bomb sound goes off. When you sink 3 in a row another type of sound and so on. blinking flashing lights in the diamonds when you win would be a nice touch too. Johnnyt
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sounds more like you're trying to get them involved in the casino slots...

all joking aside, i think its a great idea. however, the stereotypical image of pool/billiards in America sucks. i.e. hustlers, gamblers, drinkers, smokers, druggies, etc.

if we could turn the sport as a whole into a more prestigious event, i'm sure people are more apt to let their kids into the scene.

I think pool overseas is seen more of a prestigious sport, and i think in china and taiwan, they actually have billiards in their school systems..?? correct me if i'm wrong.

none the less, i'm all about spreading the "pool love".
 
thomba02 said:
sounds more like you're trying to get them involved in the casino slots...

all joking aside, i think its a great idea. however, the stereotypical image of pool/billiards in America sucks. i.e. hustlers, gamblers, drinkers, smokers, druggies, etc.

if we could turn the sport as a whole into a more prestigious event, i'm sure people are more apt to let their kids into the scene.

I think pool overseas is seen more of a prestigious sport, and i think in china and taiwan, they actually have billiards in their school systems..?? correct me if i'm wrong.

none the less, i'm all about spreading the "pool love".
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You hit the nail on the head when you said in China and Taiwan the have it in the school system. Thats what we need here in the USA. We need local venders and contributors to help fund the expense to get this into the schools at no cost to the schools. I would volunteer my time and efforts at no cost supplying and putting tables in the schools in my area and teaching them how to move the tables to the side when they need to use the space.
Anyone have any more ideas?
 
thomba02 said:
the stereotypical image of pool/billiards in America sucks. i.e. hustlers, gamblers, drinkers, smokers, druggies, etc.
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Keep in mind that this image is pushed by a large majority of the pro and amateur players out there. Anyone who's been to the Super Billiards Expo or Derby City I'm sure has experienced the Sodom and Gomorrah of this game/sport/industry.

Its always fun peoplewatching to check out the SBE basement at 2 AM packed with people who haven't slept for two days walking around with fists full of cash trying to find a money game. Before the SBE basement went smokefree, an hour down there would make you feel like you just sucked down a pack of Camel non-filters. Hell, even that little Anna K. who probably isn't old enough to legally enter a casino says that gambling is her main training tool.

Don't get me wrong... I love to gamble. All I'm saying is that the industry needs to make a choice. Either take the high road or the low road. There's money to be made either way, but you've gotta choose. As the great philosopher Mr. Miyagi said "Walk left side, safe. Walk right side, safe. Walk middle, sooner or later get squish just like grape."
 
personally, i dont have a problem with the gambling...if you look at all other major sports, theres always some kind of wagering going on.

what i have a problem with are the people who play pool on booze, weed, speed, etc. and then there are those who have bad attitudes, dress in baggy clothing as if they're a 'gangsta', sharks, hustlers, etc.

if we can clean up the image of pool and have dress codes for all tourneys and pool related events, i'm sure the sponsorship would pour in.

sportsmanship is another issue i see a problem with. there are those who will lose and complain and then bully people around...all this stuff has got to go.
 
JAM said:
This topic has been brought up in the past, and I think most everybody agrees with you. It is the "how" that is difficult.
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Kids today want a Cell Phone so they can TEXT Message their friends, 7 x 24 x 365, and Play Video GAMES.

Poll is not cool as there is no instant gratification, like a Video Game you can memorize.

The challenge of Breaking a Rack of Balls, and having something totally different to deal with each time you Break is NO FUN to quote my Step Grandsons.

I have 4 Step Grandsons, and only the 3 y/o can not wait until he is BIG ENOUGH to Play Pool.:smile:
 
Johnnyt said:
If you want todays youth to play pool you better put a lot of bells and whistles on it. Like when a ball drops bomb sound goes off. When you sink 3 in a row another type of sound and so on. blinking flashing lights in the diamonds when you win would be a nice touch too. Johnnyt
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That is exactly the problem I see. They want fast-twitch games with lots of sizzle. However, I still think if the OP has the resource to try to get it going in his area, it is an experiment worth trying.
 
Most youth centers have pool tables how about going in and doing some trick shots to get their attention and giving free lessons.
 
I think if it is a sport in school there is that competition factor. The rivalry of one team beating another. If we could get some of our local stores or people to offer some sort of money donated towards a scolorship fund to go to students who can excel in the sport it will make it a little more of an incentive to participate. We have to create the interest in the game to get the results we are striving for. I went to my sons graduation this year and there were different people who donated money to chosen students for different types of things. One parent donated money in a memorial to her son who died in a car accident. I didn't realize that this went on. Bear Asprin company in my area donated money. Local associations donated money. This is just a thought but I bet it would work.
 
bigshooter said:
Most youth centers have pool tables how about going in and doing some trick shots to get their attention and giving free lessons.
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I think this might help more than most think. If all the pros went to one youth center or school in their area a few times a year for FREE (it's called giving back to the sport) it might pump some new blood into pool. They could give it a cool name. Pool is cool? Need somthing better than that. While the pros are doing their thing the ones that can come across right to kids could tell stories of the road. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
I think this might help more than most think. If all the pros went to one youth center or school in their area a few times a year for FREE (it's called giving back to the sport) it might pump some new blood into pool. They could give it a cool name. Pool is cool? Need somthing better than that. While the pros are doing their thing the ones that can come across right to kids could tell stories of the road. Johnnyt
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This would deffinately create interest but only with the people who realize who the Pro is. If the youth don't know who that person is they would have no interest. Im sure there are kids out there who know who the best Basket ball / football / baseball / golf / tennis / and other sports greats are but how many know who the best Pool Players are?
 
mreightball said:
I think if it is a sport in school there is that competition factor. The rivalry of one team beating another. If we could get some of our local stores or people to offer some sort of money donated towards a scolorship fund to go to students who can excel in the sport it will make it a little more of an incentive to participate. We have to create the interest in the game to get the results we are striving for. I went to my sons graduation this year and there were different people who donated money to chosen students for different types of things. One parent donated money in a memorial to her son who died in a car accident. I didn't realize that this went on. Bear Asprin company in my area donated money. Local associations donated money. This is just a thought but I bet it would work.
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I think it is a great idea and I believe to a certain extent you are on the right track. However, you have a mountain to climb. What you are thinking of doing is soo hard even on just a local level, I do not want to be negative but I hope that you have alot of time to organize this. Just putting pool tables in a school or two will not encourage them to learn and practice, they have to have a structured league for the schools to be able to all play against each other. AGAIN, I admire your willingness to get involved and donate the tables and I hope that something like this will work.
 
mreightball said:
This would deffinately create interest but only with the people who realize who the Pro is. If the youth don't know who that person is they would have no interest. Im sure there are kids out there who know who the best Basket ball / football / baseball / golf / tennis / and other sports greats are but how many know who the best Pool Players are?
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A few posters put up around schools, teen hang-outs, and malls would help. One big poster for all over the country with a big bumper sticker of who, when, and the date he or she will be putting on the show in that area. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
I think this might help more than most think. If all the pros went to one youth center or school in their area a few times a year for FREE (it's called giving back to the sport) it might pump some new blood into pool. They could give it a cool name. Pool is cool? Need somthing better than that. While the pros are doing their thing the ones that can come across right to kids could tell stories of the road. Johnnyt
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Johnny, I have been thinking for a while on this kind of thing. While I am on the road with Earl and Johnny I would like to stop in at some boys and girls club and do an hour or so trick shots and sign autographs etc. It may not happen on the West coast coming up but maybe when we hit Texas hopefully in September.
The problem is fitting it in between stops and then hoping that anyone knows who they are. Chances arew all you have to say is world champions and the kids will dig it.
When you say do it for free though, that is hard for the players unless they are locals or are there anyway. Alot of these guys don't have alot of money to spend on travel, you know what I mean? They have to be there.
 
Maybe steal a page from Coca Cola's Masked Marvel's of the 1920'-1930's. The pros could where masks. Then no one would know who they were. But might get teens talking about it. If pool could ever tap into the teen $$$ it would be the bigest boost ever for it. Johnnyt
 
The Billiard Education Foundation does alot to help get kids involved in pool. They hold their junior nationals qualifiers around the country at local poolrooms and then their national tournament.
My husband teaches pool to kids at the police athletic league 2 days a week. Maybe on the local level people could get involved with their police athletic leagues and help mentor the kids.
I think getting pool in schools is the best idea but, in my case we still allow smoking in the poolroom. I think that is going to have to go if we want to bring kids into the poolroom.
 
Johnnyt said:
Maybe steal a page from Coca Cola's Masked Marvel's of the 1920'-1930's. The pros could where masks. Then no one would know who they were. But might get teens talking about it. If pool could ever tap into the teen $$$ it would be the bigest boost ever for it. Johnnyt
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Man, I can't figure out if this idea is the most dopey thing I have ever heard or the greatest thing I have heard. Like the wrestling the winner gets to unmask the other one. You know it's ideas like this that people would think stupid that actually work. Watch someone will do it and make millions.
 
bfdlad said:
Man, I can't figure out if this idea is the most dopey thing I have ever heard or the greatest thing I have heard. Like the wrestling the winner gets to unmask the other one. You know it's ideas like this that people would think stupid that actually work. Watch someone will do it and make millions.
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If it helps pool I hope whoever does it makes a killing. I have enough money.

Do you know what the scibble on a script from your doctor to the pharmacy really says? The doctor is telling him "I got my money from him, now you get yours". Johnnyt
 
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