I’ve been a member of this forum for several years now, all as a result of my son becoming interested in playing pool. I’m pleased to say that he’s not only become interested, but has developed some skills at the game.
Part of the reason he has improved has been his participation in BEF sponsored Junior events, such as the Junior Nationals and the WPA sanctioned Junior World competitions. The US Junior Nationals just concluded and the number of entries was as large as it has been in many years, and the greatest growth was in the U14 boys, where more than 40 boys competed, some as young as 9, and from all over the US including the Virgin Islands.
I know that it is a frequent lament on this forum that pool in the US is in trouble, that there should be more ways to support the future of pool, and that “someone” should do more to make it happen. The BEF, under the leadership of Laura Smith and a group of volunteers, goes about its business to encourage and organize events all over the US where kids are able to compete against each other to qualify to go to the Junior National Championships. The winners of that event in each of the age groups are in turn invited to attend the Junior World Championships to represent the United States. In the last few years, the North American contingent has included a two-time winner of the women’s division, Brittany Bryant, and last year’s World Junior silver medalists in each division, Brianna Miller and Jesse Engel.
This year, the Junior World Championships are being held in Kielce, Poland, and will take place August 31- September 4. BEF plans to send the three top finishers in the Boys 18 and under division, as well as the winners of the Girls U18, the Girls U14, and the Boys U14, six competitors in all.
Like the rest of the world, BEF has seen its finances take a hit as the economy has crashed. Details are still developing, but there’s no doubt that sending our kids will be expensive. If you think young players are the future of pool, and see the need to keep kids involved, here is your chance to help.
Go to the BEF website, http://www.billiardeducation.org/ and click on the ‘Donate To Help Kids’ button and use a credit card or Paypal to send whatever you can. For all of you who think that pool has no future, I’m here to tell you that this IS the future, the future is now, and each of you can help make sure that the US team continues to compete with the best young players in the world.
Please help if you can, if in no other way than to spread the word in your own pool halls and with your own teams and players. Every dollar counts. Remember that the BEF is a 501c (3) charity so your donation is not only helping the BEF but is also a tax deduction.
Thanks for reading. Please try to help, be the ‘someone’ who helps the future of pool. To get the ball rolling, I’m pledging $500 to the cause.
Bill Crockett
Part of the reason he has improved has been his participation in BEF sponsored Junior events, such as the Junior Nationals and the WPA sanctioned Junior World competitions. The US Junior Nationals just concluded and the number of entries was as large as it has been in many years, and the greatest growth was in the U14 boys, where more than 40 boys competed, some as young as 9, and from all over the US including the Virgin Islands.
I know that it is a frequent lament on this forum that pool in the US is in trouble, that there should be more ways to support the future of pool, and that “someone” should do more to make it happen. The BEF, under the leadership of Laura Smith and a group of volunteers, goes about its business to encourage and organize events all over the US where kids are able to compete against each other to qualify to go to the Junior National Championships. The winners of that event in each of the age groups are in turn invited to attend the Junior World Championships to represent the United States. In the last few years, the North American contingent has included a two-time winner of the women’s division, Brittany Bryant, and last year’s World Junior silver medalists in each division, Brianna Miller and Jesse Engel.
This year, the Junior World Championships are being held in Kielce, Poland, and will take place August 31- September 4. BEF plans to send the three top finishers in the Boys 18 and under division, as well as the winners of the Girls U18, the Girls U14, and the Boys U14, six competitors in all.
Like the rest of the world, BEF has seen its finances take a hit as the economy has crashed. Details are still developing, but there’s no doubt that sending our kids will be expensive. If you think young players are the future of pool, and see the need to keep kids involved, here is your chance to help.
Go to the BEF website, http://www.billiardeducation.org/ and click on the ‘Donate To Help Kids’ button and use a credit card or Paypal to send whatever you can. For all of you who think that pool has no future, I’m here to tell you that this IS the future, the future is now, and each of you can help make sure that the US team continues to compete with the best young players in the world.
Please help if you can, if in no other way than to spread the word in your own pool halls and with your own teams and players. Every dollar counts. Remember that the BEF is a 501c (3) charity so your donation is not only helping the BEF but is also a tax deduction.
Thanks for reading. Please try to help, be the ‘someone’ who helps the future of pool. To get the ball rolling, I’m pledging $500 to the cause.
Bill Crockett
