Instructor Qualification

S

Six Shooter

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
What exactly qualifies an instructor to be an instructor?

There are those that have been through the BCA qualifications. There are those that haven't.

In either case, you have instructors on both sides of this fence and since there is no regulatory council (i.e.; Federal, State, County, Local) that recognizes a "certified" instructor.

Just curious about the certification processes and wondering at what point an individual can and will be recognized as an instructor whether or not said certification is BCA level or not.

Thanks in advances for any responses.
 
Six Shooter said:
What exactly qualifies an instructor to be an instructor?

There are those that have been through the BCA qualifications. There are those that haven't.

In either case, you have instructors on both sides of this fence and since there is no regulatory council (i.e.; Federal, State, County, Local) that recognizes a "certified" instructor.

Just curious about the certification processes and wondering at what point an individual can and will be recognized as an instructor whether or not said certification is BCA level or not.

Thanks in advances for any responses.
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The BCA program has specific requirements for the four levels of certification. Those are available on the BCA website at:
http://home.bca-pool.com/
hover on "Learn Pool" and click on "Instructor Program"

Briefly: for the first level of BCA certification, the typical instructor candidate will attend a 3-day course and receive a certification recommendation from an "Advanced" or higher instructor.
 
What does it take to become a Doctor or Auto mechanic?

About the same requirements for becoming a pool instructor.

If we had our options of several eye surgeons, what would the main factor be in choosing that surgeon?


I know many who claim to be a Master Instructor. I work with many whom are BCA Master Instructors.

A very proud BCA Master Instructor
randyg
 
At the risk of offending some instructors, I believe that some people are "born" teachers and derive much pleasure from watching students acquire skills and utilize them. Again, in my not so humble opinion, no amount of instruction can create a "teacher". I recently had the privilege of attending Randy Goettlicher's pool school in Dallas. If you can get instruction from him either in Dallas or in one of his satellite schools taught around the U.S. by all means take advantage of it. His knowledge and enthusiasm are unsurpassed in my experience. Also, not all students relate to their instructors. It facilitates the learning process if your personalities "click".
A former school teacher,
Nell Drake
 
I agree 100% with this post. Randyg is, imo, the best out there, and I consider myself fortunate to have studied under him, as well as sharing teaching concepts with him. We team teach many pool schools around the country, and the students that attend those schools are getting the best of both of us. Both Randy and I teach full time, and teach the same principles, although we each have our own individual styles of communication. We also try to reinforce the same thing in all our SPF family of instructors.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

nelldrake said:
At the risk of offending some instructors, I believe that some people are "born" teachers and derive much pleasure from watching students acquire skills and utilize them. Again, in my not so humble opinion, no amount of instruction can create a "teacher". I recently had the privilege of attending Randy Goettlicher's pool school in Dallas. If you can get instruction from him either in Dallas or in one of his satellite schools taught around the U.S. by all means take advantage of it. His knowledge and enthusiasm are unsurpassed in my experience. Also, not all students relate to their instructors. It facilitates the learning process if your personalities "click".
A former school teacher,
Nell Drake
Click to expand...
 
I think the best qualifier for any instructor is word of mouth. I've seen certified instructors I wouldn't pay a penny for and I've met individuals with no certifications that changed my life with pool.

The proof is always in the puddin' ... certs or not, mediocre instructors never make it in the long run.

Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk
 
Doctor?

randyg said:
What does it take to become a Doctor or Auto mechanic?

About the same requirements for becoming a pool instructor.

If we had our options of several eye surgeons, what would the main factor be in choosing that surgeon?


I know many who claim to be a Master Instructor. I work with many whom are BCA Master Instructors.

A very proud BCA Master Instructor
randyg
Click to expand...

Correctomundo Randy! What do you call a doctor who finishes at the bottom of his class? DOCTOR!!
 
I have no doubts that Mr. G and Mr. Lee are very proud of their abilities to instruct on a master level and will always wish them the best.

Where am I heading with this topic?

Is it really a necessity to have the moniker of BCA other than for the obvious marketing reasons in order to be an instructor?

Not all acclaimed instructors (self acclaimed or not) have the BCA label behind them.

I realize that the BCA classes are by far the most popular and really wish that I could afford them right now but it just simply does not fall within my own budget at the moment and the likelihood of me and/or my wife may very well be transferred to another city/town b/c of the company we both work for and I don't want to commit to taking the classes until I know whether the possible transfer(s) will be imminent.

Yes. I do want to become an instructor and have always had a tender spot to see a newer player struggle with something that tends to be much easier for those that have a little seasoning and experience on the table.

But, in the event that I don't have the BCA instructor classes, does this mean that I can not, under no circumstance, be an instructor?
 
Six Shooter said:
I have no doubts that Mr. G and Mr. Lee are very proud of their abilities to instruct on a master level and will always wish them the best.

Where am I heading with this topic?

Is it really a necessity to have the moniker of BCA other than for the obvious marketing reasons in order to be an instructor?

Not all acclaimed instructors (self acclaimed or not) have the BCA label behind them.

I realize that the BCA classes are by far the most popular and really wish that I could afford them right now but it just simply does not fall within my own budget at the moment and the likelihood of me and/or my wife may very well be transferred to another city/town b/c of the company we both work for and I don't want to commit to taking the classes until I know whether the possible transfer(s) will be imminent.

Yes. I do want to become an instructor and have always had a tender spot to see a newer player struggle with something that tends to be much easier for those that have a little seasoning and experience on the table.

But, in the event that I don't have the BCA instructor classes, does this mean that I can not, under no circumstance, be an instructor?
Click to expand...


Instructors who are certified by the BCA can say that they have at least some training in the art of teaching pool. The higher the level they wish to achieve, the more training and teaching are required.

However, you're right in that it still doesn't guarantee that they will be a great teacher. I've had school teachers and college professors who were properly qualified, yet I thought they were terrible teachers.

I don't think any certification program in any education system can guarantee a great teacher. It's the same with any profession. There are those who shine and those who just go through the motions.
 
FranCrimi said:
Instructors who are certified by the BCA can say that they have at least some training in the art of teaching pool. The higher the level they wish to achieve, the more training and teaching are required.

However, you're right in that it still doesn't guarantee that they will be a great teacher. I've had school teachers and college professors who were properly qualified, yet I thought they were terrible teachers.

I don't think any certification program in any education system can guarantee a great teacher. It's the same with any profession. There are those who shine and those who just go through the motions.
Click to expand...


TAP-TAP-TAP
randyg
 
Six Shooter said:
I have no doubts that Mr. G and Mr. Lee are very proud of their abilities to instruct on a master level and will always wish them the best.

Where am I heading with this topic?

Is it really a necessity to have the moniker of BCA other than for the obvious marketing reasons in order to be an instructor? NO

Not all acclaimed instructors (self acclaimed or not) have the BCA label behind them. TRUE

I realize that the BCA classes are by far the most popular (wonder why?) and really wish that I could afford them right now but it just simply does not fall within my own budget at the moment and the likelihood of me and/or my wife may very well be transferred to another city/town b/c of the company we both work for and I don't want to commit to taking the classes until I know whether the possible transfer(s) will be imminent.

Yes. I do want to become an instructor and have always had a tender spot to see a newer player struggle with something that tends to be much easier for those that have a little seasoning and experience on the table.
Sounds like you are on the first step to becoming a very good Instructor!

But, in the event that I don't have the BCA instructor classes, does this mean that I can not, under no circumstance, be an instructor?
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Instructor, yes. Certified, no.
 
Thank you to all

Many thanks to all of you that provided your own words of wisdom and Mr. G's words of kindness.

I'll eventually get around to taking the BCA classes.

Until then, I will just keep trudging along as best I can.
 
FranCrimi said:
Instructors who are certified by the BCA can say that they have at least some training in the art of teaching pool. The higher the level they wish to achieve, the more training and teaching are required.

However, you're right in that it still doesn't guarantee that they will be a great teacher. I've had school teachers and college professors who were properly qualified, yet I thought they were terrible teachers.

I don't think any certification program in any education system can guarantee a great teacher. It's the same with any profession. There are those who shine and those who just go through the motions.
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Hats off, MyLady :-)
 
Tennesseejoe said:
What are the qualifications needed to attend the Certification Course" besides $750?
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Every course instructor has their own way of determining if you are ready to take the course. For myself, I have the person fill out a questionnaire prior to payment. That would give me a feel for the knowledge base of the player wishing to become an instructor as well as how they would handle certain teaching situations. Sometimes I may ask the person to shoot a bit first as well.

Speaking for myself, I don't accept any $750 check that comes my way. It would be doing the program a disservice to do so.
 
Tennessee...For my student instructors, they should have a strong desire to teach, and good communication skills. You don't have to be a great player to be a good instructor, and you will learn the skills you need, in the 3 day class. I also give a written and skill test, to complete the instructor class.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Tennesseejoe said:
What are the qualifications needed to attend the Certification Course" besides $750?
Click to expand...
 
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