Getting Youth Interested IN POOl
- Thread starter mreightball
- Start date
When do they have time to play? Its not like firemen who have to wait around the fire house for a fire.
We have a nice bar box in our church, the kids love it.
What I am working on............
I went back to College about 3 years ago to get a degree in Social Studies Education. I have done a lot of student teaching and practicum in the county I live in. There are many fellow teachers that know I play pool and play decent and have knowledge, and they have recommended, to the Superintendent, to allow me to run some type of school pool league. One of the local middle schools has a very nice 9 ft Brunswick and I have actually played on it and of course my students and other staff was amazed. I explained to them that I got really interested in pool while in high school because it was an individual sport that I had a lot of talent for and got the glory when I won and could only blame myself if I lost. When I explained the amounts of pressure that are placed on the individual that is playing in a competition, they thought it would be a great idea. So, I'm brainstorming and trying to put my plan in motion. One thing I really wanted to do is eventually have some sort of fund to give out small grants and scholarships through the "Billiard Program". I know it would be tough to get a lot of money, but it is a start and with the unbelievable amounts of college tuition and cost (trust me I know) any amount would help. I have came up with an idea to start an after school pool league at the middle school with the table. This school is an inner city school and falls under Title I, which means they have a huge amount of children (92%) that get free lunch. Most of these kids have single parent families and are known for getting into trouble. I think I have a great chance to make a difference and can't wait to get the opportunity. Sorry for the long post, but I've thought about starting a thread myself on the topic, and since mreightball got the thread started, I figured I'd elaborate.
I went back to College about 3 years ago to get a degree in Social Studies Education. I have done a lot of student teaching and practicum in the county I live in. There are many fellow teachers that know I play pool and play decent and have knowledge, and they have recommended, to the Superintendent, to allow me to run some type of school pool league. One of the local middle schools has a very nice 9 ft Brunswick and I have actually played on it and of course my students and other staff was amazed. I explained to them that I got really interested in pool while in high school because it was an individual sport that I had a lot of talent for and got the glory when I won and could only blame myself if I lost. When I explained the amounts of pressure that are placed on the individual that is playing in a competition, they thought it would be a great idea. So, I'm brainstorming and trying to put my plan in motion. One thing I really wanted to do is eventually have some sort of fund to give out small grants and scholarships through the "Billiard Program". I know it would be tough to get a lot of money, but it is a start and with the unbelievable amounts of college tuition and cost (trust me I know) any amount would help. I have came up with an idea to start an after school pool league at the middle school with the table. This school is an inner city school and falls under Title I, which means they have a huge amount of children (92%) that get free lunch. Most of these kids have single parent families and are known for getting into trouble. I think I have a great chance to make a difference and can't wait to get the opportunity. Sorry for the long post, but I've thought about starting a thread myself on the topic, and since mreightball got the thread started, I figured I'd elaborate.
Video pool?
Have them try to take command of a video pool game. They could then try to transfer that memorization to the actual game. It would be interesting if that would work. It might be worth a try if you havn't thought of it already. Work on that little guy! Good luck.
CocoboloCowboy said:
Have them try to take command of a video pool game. They could then try to transfer that memorization to the actual game. It would be interesting if that would work. It might be worth a try if you havn't thought of it already. Work on that little guy! Good luck.
Getting youth interested in pool must start in the home. Parents, make your kids gamble their allowance with you every single week. After you wail their ass at some 9-ball say, "Geez, you know what, if you practiced more and got more interested in pool maybe you wouldn't lose all of your allowance like a sucker". Viola! they'll get in to pool because they want to keep their allowance
Thanks 1on1 for the input I deffinately think you are on the right track.
What part of the country are you from?
Let me know how you make out.
What part of the country are you from?
Let me know how you make out.
Midwest
Indiana specifically.
mreightball said:
Indiana specifically.
I think one place that this kind of thing can be fostered is in universities. If you are a college student anywhere and want to start a pool club and a team to compete against other colleges and universities give it a shot. I'm sure there are also a lot of people on this board that would be more than happy to give suggestions or advice. I have been there and done it, and now the pool club and team is thriving at Indiana University. Every year colleges from all over meet at competitions at Michigan University and Virginia Tech. If anyone is interested in knowing about it feel free to send me a pm.
StraightPoolIU said:
This is a great thing. However, I think the influence needs to be started in middle school. The kids that fall in love with the game, as I'm sure many of them will, can then begin to set goals and see a future in pool. The main focus is for them to see pool as a way to get an education through grants and scholarships. The BCA JR Nationals has always did good by this, but something makes me think they can do more. I was always motivated by the tournament when I started playing and I had a blasts and made lots of new friends. I would of loved to had a chance to play in the college tournament, but have never seen any information about it.
bigskyjake said:
I take my daughter to the pool hall every once in a while and she loves it. She has her own little posh cue and she uses a little stepping stool to see over the table. She is five now and really enjoys hitting the balls. She has gotten the concept of hitting the colored balls with the white one and trying to get them in a pocket. So I say she is learning a little bit. I try not to be to hard on the fundamentals with her at this point. I want her to have fun and if she wants to hit the colored balls with the cue and pocket them that way I let her. I once got into a game while she was with me and I beat the guy. He came up to me as my daughter and I were packing up and handed me the money he owed me. I didn't think anything of it until she asked my why the man gave me money. I told her because I beat him at pool and she said okay. Then a week ago we were playing outside and she ask me to race her to my car and I said okay, and starting running... she was a lot closer and I didn't try to hard but the minute she touched my car she turned and put her hand out and told me to give her the money I owed her...
Anyways, I think having billiards in school is a great idea, and I know that there are a few states where they do have school programs like this. I can't remember off the top of my head which ones, I want to say Minnesota or Indiana but I am probably wrong. I think the game kids should learn in school is 14.1 and One Pocket. Although I honestly believe that One Pocket is a gamblers game but it has a lot of things that encompass the game that I would want my kids to learn. Like Patience, knowing when to be aggressive and when to duck or be passive. How to move so your opponent doesn't have a shot or a good shot at his hole. The whole strategy is really a good life lesson I think.
One other note here... I don't think gambling is that big of a deal or a bruise on the cue sports. I think allot of people here are on the side of the fence that says "Gambling is ruining our sport" but failed to realize their isn't a sport that doesn't involve gambling. I know just as many pool gamblers as people who gamble on football, golf, tennis, baseball, etc, etc, etc. I had a few friends that bet on whether figure skaters got a specific point during their shot thing, and the spread between the points of two different skaters. Maybe a quarter of the folks I have meet actually had a gambling problem but they still bet on stuff. The craziest thing I saw was a two guys betting on a flipped coin for 20 dollars. Gambling is all around and I don't think the discussion of it is very valid in this thread as I am sure that no parent is going to go so far as to say, "Hey son, I know you are a good pool player but because the sports is evolved with gambling your cannot play". I don't think there is a sport the kid would be able to play... not even cricket!
maybe other youths turn out like this. http://www.billiardsdigest.com/new_current_issue/feb_08/story_2.php
the gambling issue
I have to agree that it is really unfair to say that pool has a bad image due to gambling. Honestly, gambling taught me a lot when I was introduced to the game. Have you ever been to the arcade places that require kids to save tickets in order to use them to purchase things at the arcade? Is this not teaching kids how to gamble at a very young age? I mean seriously, they have to keep spending their money and try to get higher scores, which results in more tickets to spend on the over priced merchandise. Almost as bad as truck stops. Also, our government is allowing casinos to go up on every corner in the country. I'm sure the kids are well aware of the huge billboards and things that are trying to coax their parents into blowing their money. It really is time to let go of that excuse in regards to pool. Many successful people gamble in their means, and in my personal opinion, people can do whatever they want with the money they earn.
I have to agree that it is really unfair to say that pool has a bad image due to gambling. Honestly, gambling taught me a lot when I was introduced to the game. Have you ever been to the arcade places that require kids to save tickets in order to use them to purchase things at the arcade? Is this not teaching kids how to gamble at a very young age? I mean seriously, they have to keep spending their money and try to get higher scores, which results in more tickets to spend on the over priced merchandise. Almost as bad as truck stops. Also, our government is allowing casinos to go up on every corner in the country. I'm sure the kids are well aware of the huge billboards and things that are trying to coax their parents into blowing their money. It really is time to let go of that excuse in regards to pool. Many successful people gamble in their means, and in my personal opinion, people can do whatever they want with the money they earn.
Off the youth pool subject for a minute, what about that video on WWW.THEACTIONREPORT.COM where bucktooth was on there with the keno board. That was great for those people who could not be there to see it in person.
Just because that how you learned how to play doesnt make it right.
How can you relate ticket rewards to gambling??
Since you frequent casino's how often do you see these people just keep gambling their rent money, lose it then end up on the street?
What a glorious image for the youth of america
How can you relate ticket rewards to gambling??
Since you frequent casino's how often do you see these people just keep gambling their rent money, lose it then end up on the street?
What a glorious image for the youth of america
AngryPanda said:
I don't remember saying that's how I learned how to play. I said I learned a lot from gambling. What I learned had a lot more to do with life and responsibility then pool. It taught me to manage my money, don't bet more than I can afford, make sure my bills were paid, etc. Keep in mind I did not gamble a lot of money, just what I can afford. Also, unfortunately, with a huge lack of tournaments and such, gambling and winning was the only reward I received at a young age. If I couldn't beat a certain person, I practiced harder and harder, til I beat them.
In my opinion, the tickets that amusement places require kids to use to purchase tv's, dvd's, and other electronic things are simply a beginning of gambling as under a huge umbrella, if you will. They are required to spend money and continue to "gamble" on the skee ball game until they hit a jackpot that might dispense 500 tickets or so, getting them closer to the merchandise they want in an exchange for the tickets. Maybe you don't see any resemblence or connection but many do.
Also, I never said I frequent casinos, did I? And it is not a glorious image for youths seeing the casino gambling. However, there is a difference between betting on your skill and casino gambling, again, just my opinion.
$TAKE HOR$E said:
How is this related to the thread?
you were talking about gambling, thats all.