Instructors: At what point in your pool journey did you KNOW that you wanted to become an instructor?
I'll take my answer of the air.
Thanks.
I'll take my answer of the air.
Thanks.
Instructors: When Did You Know...
- Thread starter BasementDweller
- Start date
There are people who are of the opinion that you don't have to be a really strong player to be a good instructor, and that's fine if that's their thing. I think there is validity in that point of view.
But that formula never worked for me. My decision to become an instructor came when I felt I earned that right. I was competing well and having decent finishes in tournaments. I practiced every day and broke my own game down from start to finish, inch by painful inch.
It was at the point when I realized I could put myself in the shoes of just about any player at any point in their playing career, beginning through advanced, that I felt I was ready to help other players.
But that formula never worked for me. My decision to become an instructor came when I felt I earned that right. I was competing well and having decent finishes in tournaments. I practiced every day and broke my own game down from start to finish, inch by painful inch.
It was at the point when I realized I could put myself in the shoes of just about any player at any point in their playing career, beginning through advanced, that I felt I was ready to help other players.
When do you know
Yes.
I gave my first lesson in 1965 (while managing a billiard center for one summer), because I was asked. I wasn't qualified by any means. Bowling was still my primary sport (till the '70s), and my pool knowledge was limited to only the basics.
I had already been a Certified Bowling Instructor for six years, so I knew I had some teaching skills (I've also taught in classrooms since). It was after having one of my best years in 1992 that I was asked by the BCA at the national tournament to consider becoming a sanctioned instructor. I had a pretty good rep as a captain/coach of championship teams, but realized that I needed more knowledge, so I began a concerted effort to read more books, attend clinics and watch/record/study every pro match I could.
As my own game dropped off in my sixties, I took vicarious pleasure in seeing my students succeed. I began writing articles for several pool mags, and served as "resident instructor" in a number of establishments after becoming certified.
I can be a demanding teacher, and not all students are thrilled about this. That's OK. As you well know, teaching can be a challenging undertaking. But when I get a good review or recommendation, that makes it all worthwhile.
Yes.
I gave my first lesson in 1965 (while managing a billiard center for one summer), because I was asked. I wasn't qualified by any means. Bowling was still my primary sport (till the '70s), and my pool knowledge was limited to only the basics.
I had already been a Certified Bowling Instructor for six years, so I knew I had some teaching skills (I've also taught in classrooms since). It was after having one of my best years in 1992 that I was asked by the BCA at the national tournament to consider becoming a sanctioned instructor. I had a pretty good rep as a captain/coach of championship teams, but realized that I needed more knowledge, so I began a concerted effort to read more books, attend clinics and watch/record/study every pro match I could.
As my own game dropped off in my sixties, I took vicarious pleasure in seeing my students succeed. I began writing articles for several pool mags, and served as "resident instructor" in a number of establishments after becoming certified.
I can be a demanding teacher, and not all students are thrilled about this. That's OK. As you well know, teaching can be a challenging undertaking. But when I get a good review or recommendation, that makes it all worthwhile.
In the grand scheme of things I'm still new to pool, been playing a little under 10 years. I've always been a student of the game, reading books, watching DVD's and matches on youtube. Every team I've played on I was automatically the person they turned to for coaching/timeouts.
But I wanted to step my game up so I went to take lessons myself. It was at this point where the instructor said I was about his skill along with more knowledge of the different systems and everything. He asked me to work for him and help teach. That was a few years ago and I'm still teaching and loving it.
But I wanted to step my game up so I went to take lessons myself. It was at this point where the instructor said I was about his skill along with more knowledge of the different systems and everything. He asked me to work for him and help teach. That was a few years ago and I'm still teaching and loving it.
I never went out of my way to become an "instructor". My career as a teacher started when somebody came up and started asking questions about how to do this and how to do that. I was just shooting at a table in the corner of the room minding my own business when that happened. 27 years later, I still have people coming up to me at the table in the corner of the room to ask me to show them how to shoot a better game. I still consider myself more of a player than a teacher.
I had been "teaching" my childhood friends to play tennis and snow ski (my two passions as a child) since I was 8, as I am an only child, and wanted friends to do these activities with. My dad was a recreation director, and so teaching was kind of passed down to me. When I got to college in CO (attending on a ski racing scholarship) I was turned on to pool by renowned trick shot entertainer Jack White (RIP), and that began to fuel my passion to play and teach. I started a class at WSC in 1977. That lead to a formalized semester class that I organized and implemented at Montana State University (1987-1995), that turned out a collegiate national champion, and another 2nd & 3rd place finisher at the ACUI Collegiate championships.
I was also one of the first BCA Certified Instructors, when the program was formalized in 1988. I have taught with many of the games finest instructors, including Jerry Briesath, Stan Shuffet, Randy Goettlicher, Joe Tucker, and Mark Wilson, among others. I have learned from all of them, and enjoyed working with each of them, and am fortunate enough to call them each my friend. I'm proud to have been chosen as one of three (Mark Wilson and Jerry Briesath the other two) instructors to work three years at the BCA Summer Youth Cue Camp, which turned out several fine players, including Sarah Rousey.
I joined forces with Randyg about 12 years ago, and we have continued the evolution of SPF training nationwide. We now have over 120 instructors in our SPF instructor group, meaning that we have a nationwide group of talented, experienced instructors who all teach the same basic concepts. All SPF instructors are PBIA...not all PBIA instructors are SPF trained. Find one near you, by contacting myself or randyg here on AzB. We also have an SPF instructor FB page, that was put up by our Jacksonville FL SPF/PBIA instructor, Bill Pelham (juslpooln here on azb)! Not all of our instructors have joined that page, but we encourage all of them to sign in!
I LOVE teaching, and will be helping players to improve their pool games for many years to come! :grin-square:
Scott Lee
I was also one of the first BCA Certified Instructors, when the program was formalized in 1988. I have taught with many of the games finest instructors, including Jerry Briesath, Stan Shuffet, Randy Goettlicher, Joe Tucker, and Mark Wilson, among others. I have learned from all of them, and enjoyed working with each of them, and am fortunate enough to call them each my friend. I'm proud to have been chosen as one of three (Mark Wilson and Jerry Briesath the other two) instructors to work three years at the BCA Summer Youth Cue Camp, which turned out several fine players, including Sarah Rousey.
I joined forces with Randyg about 12 years ago, and we have continued the evolution of SPF training nationwide. We now have over 120 instructors in our SPF instructor group, meaning that we have a nationwide group of talented, experienced instructors who all teach the same basic concepts. All SPF instructors are PBIA...not all PBIA instructors are SPF trained. Find one near you, by contacting myself or randyg here on AzB. We also have an SPF instructor FB page, that was put up by our Jacksonville FL SPF/PBIA instructor, Bill Pelham (juslpooln here on azb)! Not all of our instructors have joined that page, but we encourage all of them to sign in!
I LOVE teaching, and will be helping players to improve their pool games for many years to come! :grin-square:
Scott Lee
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HI all,
very similar for my case- many ppl came over to me in pool-rooms or in clubs to ask for help. And this already in a very early stage.
I always was very *angry*, because i wasn t able to find good instructional material in the early 80s. And the big guns always have been very far away to practice with or to earn knowledge- This changed with spending time in 2 poolrooms (with same owner)- where i really was able to earn tons of knowledge by meeting daily national and international champions (3c, cadre, 1c). This was a big push for me- to get so much more understanding.- then the first 3 books found their way to me (99 critical shots on pool and the Byrnes Collection)- and together with the earned knowledge from lessons with the carom guys the understanding came more and more-
but still i was a *player*- but was always a bit sad, that it wasn t the same in pool like in other sports, where you *learn from the start* how to do it right.
Then i made a break for 10-11 years without pool, started in 2009 again. And here my real journey started, after my knee broke i found here the way to compensate my re-found and re-lost love to pool.
AZB has here a big help for me- also Scott Lee and Randy Goettlicher, and many other Forum Guys as well.
Everything happens for a reason- so my accident had a positive aspect- it pushed me towards *teaching* and *instructing*.
Ppl from different countries contacted me-first i was surprised...then honored- and if oyu then see and feel this deep thankful mind/face from a student, then you know that teaching is your passion.
i love it, even if i would love to have more time- it s still just next to my daily work. (unfortunatley, lol).
Teaching changed big parts in my life-for sure. Travelled other countries to teach-- and in the last year i taught the first time other humans to become instructors- the biggest expririence in my *pool life* til now. That was so satisfying, to help here this association to start an instructor program from zero. I will never forget this, and it pushed me to have much more ideas in the future.
Teach what you know- and learn what you don t ---- this quote (RandyG) changed many things for me. And together with my own favourite quote: practice what you preach you can use it in every part of your life
Randy: if you read this here-- still waiting for your response to my email
all may have smooth stroke
Ingo
very similar for my case- many ppl came over to me in pool-rooms or in clubs to ask for help. And this already in a very early stage.
I always was very *angry*, because i wasn t able to find good instructional material in the early 80s. And the big guns always have been very far away to practice with or to earn knowledge- This changed with spending time in 2 poolrooms (with same owner)- where i really was able to earn tons of knowledge by meeting daily national and international champions (3c, cadre, 1c). This was a big push for me- to get so much more understanding.- then the first 3 books found their way to me (99 critical shots on pool and the Byrnes Collection)- and together with the earned knowledge from lessons with the carom guys the understanding came more and more-
but still i was a *player*- but was always a bit sad, that it wasn t the same in pool like in other sports, where you *learn from the start* how to do it right.
Then i made a break for 10-11 years without pool, started in 2009 again. And here my real journey started, after my knee broke i found here the way to compensate my re-found and re-lost love to pool.
AZB has here a big help for me- also Scott Lee and Randy Goettlicher, and many other Forum Guys as well.
Everything happens for a reason- so my accident had a positive aspect- it pushed me towards *teaching* and *instructing*.
Ppl from different countries contacted me-first i was surprised...then honored- and if oyu then see and feel this deep thankful mind/face from a student, then you know that teaching is your passion.
i love it, even if i would love to have more time- it s still just next to my daily work. (unfortunatley, lol).
Teaching changed big parts in my life-for sure. Travelled other countries to teach-- and in the last year i taught the first time other humans to become instructors- the biggest expririence in my *pool life* til now. That was so satisfying, to help here this association to start an instructor program from zero. I will never forget this, and it pushed me to have much more ideas in the future.
Teach what you know- and learn what you don t ---- this quote (RandyG) changed many things for me. And together with my own favourite quote: practice what you preach you can use it in every part of your life
Randy: if you read this here-- still waiting for your response to my email
all may have smooth stroke
Ingo
Great question Chris, I could most likely write a short novel to properly explain it, but I will keep it short.
I am by nature very analytical if I am going to put my heart and soul into it I am going to gather as much info about it as possible. Using what I had learned from other sports and the info I gathered I became a pretty good player in the early 90's after about 2 years. Working in a pool room a lot of people came up to me asking for pointers offering some sort of compensation( money, beer, dinner) so I began helping.
Playing in league for twenty years + with 95% of those being captain/coach, I gained a greater understanding how to communicate to players of all speeds.
During this time I had taken up golf, I did the same read everything I could get my hands on and taking lessons from 7 different teaching pro's. Seven seems like a lot I suppose but the seventh teachers philosophy on teaching stopped me from searching.
I became a pretty decent player breaking 80 after only 3 years. The one thing that made his teaching style so great is he used took in consideration my ability, hours I could practice, and goals I wanted to meet. He then through video analysis, handouts and my input helped me to develop a swing plan I could take to the course and compete without going to the driving range and practicing 4-6 hours a day 4-5 days a week. I have went 6- 12 months without hitting a golf ball and still shot bogey golf, without warming up first.
You might ask why that is important, I meet Scott Lee of all of the other pool pro's and teachers that I had went to before had never seen such a well thought out structured program that really focused on 85% of the pool playing public. The program changed the whole way I perceived teaching and how the game should be learned. I have to admit changing after 20 years was not something I took to heart immediately but I gave it a go.
After I understood and seen the results of this program, there was no way I could not get on involved. I have taken a high maintenance pump stroke and what I found out later not so good fundamentals and turned it to; hit a couple 3 speed lags on the table I am playing on to compare to my home table and jumping up without fear of being instroke or missing. No need to practice 4-6 hours a day to keep up with the old stroke and PSR.
I have always wanted to better this sport and this is just another great avenue for me to do so. Nothing better to me than seeing your student having that aha moment. I almost enjoy it more than playing. Thanks to Scott, Randy and all that has put this great program together and also improving the teachers and players in this sport we love.:thumbup:
What was the question again?
"you have to give it away to truly keep it"....and such is life.
When I was 12 years old traveling around northern Missouri giving Tennis lessons out of an old 49 Plymouth. I knew then that "the games would be my teacher," and it would be my duty to pass on the knowledge, like they say "you have to give it away to truly keep it"....and such is life.
When I was 12 years old traveling around northern Missouri giving Tennis lessons out of an old 49 Plymouth. I knew then that "the games would be my teacher," and it would be my duty to pass on the knowledge, like they say "you have to give it away to truly keep it"....and such is life.