Is certification absolutely necessary to teach pool to beginners and intermediates?

Alex7462

Alex7462

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For the past few months I've been seriously thinking about teaching the game to beginner and intermediate players. I'm a skilled advanced level player with many years of experience and knowledge. I also have several local tournament wins under my belt in NJ & PA. My passion for pool is very deep, and I know for sure that I would make a positive impact on anyone who's trying to improve their game, and take it to a higher level. I currently don't have any formal certification to teach but I don't want that holding me back, because I want to start very soon. My plan is to post an ad on Craigslist and possibly make personal business cards to hand out and see what happens from there. If I am lucky enough to get a student, I would have to go to my local poolroom to give my lessons, as I don't have my own private table in an office setting. As for a starting rate, I would charge $30 an hour, and a portion of that would cover our table time. I want to make sure that I'm doing the right thing, so I'd like to get some honest opinions on this before I start making any arrangements, thanks.
 
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No certification is needed. I teach people all the time but I don't charge anything.:smile:


Beware of the scammers on craigslist. Someone will say he is out of the country but wants his little girl to get lessons but the nanny will be coming along and he'll need to send you a large check for lodging for the nanny and daughter.

His name will be Fred Norbis.
 
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No, you don't need certification to teach pool. Pool instruction is an unregulated industry. There are no local, state, or federal agencies that require licensing to teach pool. And to my knowledge, there are no civil liabilities involved that would make "official certification" a protective blanket for you.

Also, your $30/hour (including table time) sounds very reasonable, providing you have a solid curriculum.

Good luck! :thumbup:

Roger
 
Alex7462 said:
For the past few months I've been seriously thinking about teaching the game to beginner and intermediate players. I'm a skilled advanced level player with many years of experience and knowledge. I also have several local tournament wins under my belt in NJ & PA. My passion for pool is very deep, and I know for sure that I would make a positive impact on anyone who's trying to improve their game, and take it to a higher level. I currently don't have any formal certification to teach but I don't want that holding me back, because I want to start very soon. My plan is to post an ad on Craigslist and possibly make personal business cards to hand out and see what happens from there. If I am lucky enough to get a student, I would have to go to my local poolroom to give my lessons, as I don't have my own private table in an office setting. As for a starting rate, I would charge $30 an hour, and a portion of that would cover our table time. I want to make sure that I'm doing the right thing, so I'd like to get some honest opinions on this before I start making any arrangements, thanks.
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Sounds like you are on the right track.
Most all of us started this way.

Good luck
randyg
 
Alex7462 said:
For the past few months I've been seriously thinking about teaching the game to beginner and intermediate players. I'm a skilled advanced level player with many years of experience and knowledge. I also have several local tournament wins under my belt in NJ & PA. My passion for pool is very deep, and I know for sure that I would make a positive impact on anyone who's trying to improve their game, and take it to a higher level. I currently don't have any formal certification to teach but I don't want that holding me back, because I want to start very soon. My plan is to post an ad on Craigslist and possibly make personal business cards to hand out and see what happens from there. If I am lucky enough to get a student, I would have to go to my local poolroom to give my lessons, as I don't have my own private table in an office setting. As for a starting rate, I would charge $30 an hour, and a portion of that would cover our table time. I want to make sure that I'm doing the right thing, so I'd like to get some honest opinions on this before I start making any arrangements, thanks.
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Sounds good, Alex. What helped me a lot was watching a few other instructors teach. Also, and even better, would be taking a lesson from 2 or 3 different, more experienced instructors. From there, you should get a good feel for how to present and incorporate your own ideas.
 
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While certification is not necessary, it doesn't hurt. What I feel is necessary, is a larger desire to actually help others over making a few extra dollars. That means, just because one can play fairly well, does not mean that they can teach others how to play well.

First thing you should know is what causes what. Learn at least some of the science of the game, so you don't end up saying things that are impossible to do. Also, learn what to look for and why, and how to teach someone why they should correct something and how to correct it.

I've seen far too many people trying to teach by doing non-productive things like setting up a 45 degree shot, and just telling the student to shoot it over and over until they figure out how to aim it. All the while, one can easily see that the students stroke is so bad that they never will have any consistency making the shot. Many don't understand that the stroke is the first and foremost thing to learn. It's all you can control. Everything else comes off that.

Always remember that the idea is to help them, not just show them what you do. What you do might not work for them. You have to figure out what works for them.
 
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Good Luck, I posted a ad on Craigslist for Pool Lessons and got many scammers as mentioned above Hope you have more good fortune than I did
 
You'll do great. However, If I were you I wouldn't watch other teachers or worry about certification. The important thing is to keep your "voice" and don't become a company clone. Every student is different and responds to different style input,
 
Alex...Lots of good information posted here. I agree with Bambu that getting a lesson from a couple professional instructors, just to solidify or verify what you want to teach is a good idea. I have seen even pro players who did not understand how to describe tangent line physics, or verbally define how to develop a repeatable stroke. I have worked with many like yourself, who want to teach others, but not necessarily pursue professional certification. Tell us where you are, and maybe we can steer you to someone who can help you.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Alex7462 said:
For the past few months I've been seriously thinking about teaching the game to beginner and intermediate players. I'm a skilled advanced level player with many years of experience and knowledge. I also have several local tournament wins under my belt in NJ & PA. My passion for pool is very deep, and I know for sure that I would make a positive impact on anyone who's trying to improve their game, and take it to a higher level. I currently don't have any formal certification to teach but I don't want that holding me back, because I want to start very soon. My plan is to post an ad on Craigslist and possibly make personal business cards to hand out and see what happens from there. If I am lucky enough to get a student, I would have to go to my local poolroom to give my lessons, as I don't have my own private table in an office setting. As for a starting rate, I would charge $30 an hour, and a portion of that would cover our table time. I want to make sure that I'm doing the right thing, so I'd like to get some honest opinions on this before I start making any arrangements, thanks.
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At the risk of sounding cynical, I'll say that it makes no difference to me if an instructor is certified or not. I've had too many horrible experiences with certified instructors (not in pool, but in other pursuits) and great experiences with someone who was "just trying to help."

IMHO the most important thing to be a good instructor (of anything) is to
learn to communicate. It's amazing -- and depressing -- to see how many lessons fail because the instructor hasn't taken the time to think about how he's going to best communicate ideas to his students. They ramble, they go off on meaningless tangents, etc. Remember, your student is a blank page and has no ability to distinguish the important from the unimportant. Simple advice: don't say anything that the student doesn't absolutely need to know to perform the task. Be focused and concise.

Don't talk in jargon! Make sure you use everyday words to communicate an idea. This is very difficult because jargon usually incorporates three or four sentences into one word -- and we'd rather use one word than 40. But there's a 95% chance that the student has no idea what bridge hand, back swing, english, tangent line, draw and countless other words mean. The danger is this: a student stops learning when confronted with a word or two they don't understand. The "non-understanding" is like a constant nagging sore; their mind will not let them move on...it will keep telling them "you can't do this because you don't understand." After five or six jargon non-understandings the student is in a downward spiral that makes learning impossible.
 
Think the most important thing is having something to teach, the ability to understand student strengths, weaknesses, and last ing able to communicate with the student so they can understand what you are teaching them.

We have this guy where I live, he has owned several Bars with Pool Tables, owned a Pool Room or two. Went to some instructor course by some big name teacher of teachers.

But IMO is a lousy teacher, as his ability to communicate is limited to very few people because he is an inflexible thinker. He gets $50.00/hr. to learn you, and if you don't get hi ideas, you could get called STUPID as a BONUS...LOL

He also don't under stand that a person who is 6' 3", is different from the person who is 4' 11" tall. Also as we get older our bodies do not move or flex like a 20 y/o.

So because of these short comings Mr. Inflexible is a crap instructor. He has knowledge, but is incapable of communicating with many people.

BTW We have a local Pro Player who travels the Valley of the Sun teaching for $20.00/HR. FYI.
 
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The only thing I will add is if you are going to teach the under 18 crowd I would make sure that a parent or legal guardian was present at all time.
I think your rate of $30 an hour including table time is very cheap.
Back in the 80's in Jersey I got $25 per hour with no table time included.
 
Alex7462 said:
. I currently don't have any formal certification to teach but I don't want that holding me back, because I want to start very soon.
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what exactly does it take to get "CERTIFICATION" ?
can you start without it and work on getting it at the same time?
 
michael4 said:
what exactly does it take to get "CERTIFICATION" ?
can you start without it and work on getting it at the same time?
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A PBIA (formerly BCA) first-level certification is a 3-day course. The cost is about $30/hour. When I give the course, I try to make sure the candidate plays at a level that will allow demonstration of the various shots. There is also a written test. Here is the outline of the course: http://www.sfbilliards.com/richandout.pdf
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7OZ...B&gl=GB&guid=&persist_app=1&app=desktop&guid=

The above link is of Gareth Potts hosting a lesson with several players who won a chance to be taught by Gareth. Now, obviously his sponsor and the uploader and host of the event have asked him to do this and he felt obliged, and he clearly is trying to help the players out. But I wouldn't pay to be in those students shoes. He is a great player but teaching at this time in his life isn't for him. At one point, perhaps not in this video but another he tries explaining the stun shot. For me a stun shot is a sliding cue ball and have been taught that by many instructors but he places OBs on the rails and shows how stun can hit any of these balls...when he is clearly drawing back and using follow. Not understanding technicalities like this will confuse some players.

What he does do is ask a player to hit a ball and tries to improve their stance and basic fundamentals from what he's observed. Great! That's where all instructors should start. But he only knows how he does things so tries to get them all to stand and stroke like him. Chances of all students improving by copying what Gareth does? Not as good as if Gareth was to take each student individually and use what they already have. You can't mold every player into a carbon copy of yourself.

I personally think the natural progression in lessons for a student that is a regular customer should be perfecting the fundamentals and once these start looking good move on to getting the ball in the hole. When they start getting the ball in the hole more you can move to positional play and spin on the CB. After this its gameplay, tactics and the mental side. All the time there has to be work done on the stroke and fundamentals.

Hopefully this post and points out a few things on how not to host a lesson. I can't tell you how to host a lesson, that's all down to you and I'm sure you'll do great.

Best of luck,
 
Alex7462 said:
For the past few months I've been seriously thinking about teaching the game to beginner and intermediate players. I'm a skilled advanced level player with many years of experience and knowledge. I also have several local tournament wins under my belt in NJ & PA. My passion for pool is very deep, and I know for sure that I would make a positive impact on anyone who's trying to improve their game, and take it to a higher level. I currently don't have any formal certification to teach but I don't want that holding me back, because I want to start very soon. My plan is to post an ad on Craigslist and possibly make personal business cards to hand out and see what happens from there. If I am lucky enough to get a student, I would have to go to my local poolroom to give my lessons, as I don't have my own private table in an office setting. As for a starting rate, I would charge $30 an hour, and a portion of that would cover our table time. I want to make sure that I'm doing the right thing, so I'd like to get some honest opinions on this before I start making any arrangements, thanks.
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I would say the answer is no, but with a added comment. I used to have several pros come in my room and I have to say, the ability to play has little to do with the ability to teach. One guy a world champion who used to charge $50.00 an hour was about the worst I ever saw. Basically they paid $50.00 an hour to play with him. He never seemed to have any kind of structured teaching plan. I know he never kept track of what they had worked on or the students progress. He just kept taking their money till they stopped coming back. I usually ended up losing a customer because they would stay away so as not run into him again and get hustled into another lesson they really don't want.

If you are going to teach you need to have a teaching method beyond just playing with the student and making random comments. One thing that is very important I believe is something that is done when teaching music, it has to be fun. You want the person to see some progress maybe as soon as just a few lessons. I saw Jerry Bryseyth, I am not sure of the spelling of his name, do a demonstration. He took a girl who had all but never played pool before. He spent one hour with her and it was amazing, he had her making balls and even playing a little position in just one hour of working with her. With that kind of almost instant results you will have a very excited student ready to want to play the game.

People have a short attention span and a lesson can not really be too long either I believe.. When I used to take Guitar lessons they were about 45 minutes. We usually worked on what the last lesson covered to see how I was doing. And then a little was added for the next lesson. Then we usually had a little fun and played some together. The real learning takes place during the week as I practiced before the next lesson. Pool is an acquired skill, You could tell someone everything you know about the game and they will not play any better. They have to play and for this they have to have fun, it can't be work. Most people don't want to be a pro they just want to play good enough to enjoy the game and not embarrass themselves. After that it is up to them how far they want to take it.
 
Does anyone know anybody in south eastern Wisconsin (Milwaukee area) who offers instruction? I have been looking but it seems its not the easiest thing to find.
 
gerard soriano said:
Good Luck, I posted a ad on Craigslist for Pool Lessons and got many scammers as mentioned above Hope you have more good fortune than I did
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If you do advertise on Craigs List as an instructor - here is a single trick that will prevent you from getting scammed.

Respond and ask what city they are (or will be) living in - nothing else. If they do come back (rarely), repeat the question. Eventually, they will take you off their listing.

BTW - you won't get many students this way. However, when you do get the PBIA instructor certification - they provide a "marketing/self-promotion" manual.

Walt Zincavage and I wrote this for the PBIA Instructors.
 
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