Pool could learn something from Gaelic Football

[336Robin]

I just took a group trip to Ireland. We had a guide and tour bus and I learned a lot about the place, the country, its past and about the sports there. Pool could learn a lot about marketing from Gaelic Football. None of the players gets paid. Its all volunteer. People play for pride and their team which is divided up by county or clan. Its very popular. They have a huge athletic organization the GAA and they build large stadiums for it. Everyone who plays wears their jersey around and people are friends to them like a bunch of superstars. Its truly an awesome thing they've done with their native sport. We could do this with our homerooms/bars. We just make it about the Pool and the Pride. This wouldn't have to affect Pool Leagues or any other part of the business but it does put the room owner in the seat of a team captain or he could just appoint one.

http://www.gaa.ie/ the association website

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEAbWrdB9XU an explanation of how the game is played after that video keep watching and see what kinds of crowds these people get and how the fans react to the players and how they root for their teams!

 

[ceebee]

There's always something to be said about having fun, while you're competing. I've actually heard several very good players say, "if I couldn't make any money at it, I wouldn't play the game"...

We have a superb player in my town & he quit playing because he was bored with it, The money has dried up around Tulsa, because of the Casinos.

 

[BmoreMoney]

I can totally see what you're saying BUT, those are some TOUGH sobs if your talking about what we call Rubgy. You get serious street cred with that. If you're talking about actual soccer ( American ) lololol, no shot over here!!!

 

[Black-Balled]

He said Gaelic.

 

[BmoreMoney]

He said Gaelic.

I take Gaelic as Scotishor rather Irish, I still have no f 'in idea what they are doing over there lol!

 

[336Robin]

Gaelic

Gaelic as in Irish. You're right you have to be one tough dude to play that game.What I like about it is the absence of equipment so its easy to have teams. All you need is a field and a bunch of fellows. Not a serious contact sport so not nearly as many injuries either.

 

[app4dstn]

Gaelic as in Irish. You're right you have to be one tough dude to play that game.What I like about it is the absence of equipment so its easy to have teams. All you need is a field and a bunch of fellows. Not a serious contact sport so not nearly as many injuries either.

Hmmmm. Seems to me that pool suffers from a dearth of equipment that needs frequent replacement. I've never enjoyed such a cost efficient activity. (Makes surfing look costly. )

That's just my opinion, but going further, how can the activity grow back to its previous level if the parent industry is up against that dynamic? Hate to be a naysayer but that seems obvious to me.

 

[336Robin]

For you maybe

Hmmmm. Seems to me that pool suffers from a dearth of equipment that needs frequent replacement. I've never enjoyed such a cost efficient activity. (Makes surfing look costly. )

That's just my opinion, but going further, how can the activity grow back to its previous level if the parent industry is up against that dynamic? Hate to be a naysayer but that seems obvious to me.

For the player yes, for the owner no. The tables need recovering, leveling and other things done to them. If pool room charged what was needed a table would be $12 an hour something our demographic cant afford.

 

[Black-Balled]

Gaelic as in Irish. You're right you have to be one tough dude to play that game.What I like about it is the absence of equipment so its easy to have teams. All you need is a field and a bunch of fellows. Not a serious contact sport so not nearly as many injuries either.

That's it. I am so damn sick with all these threads that seek to harm pool.

There aren't any sports other than pool, so we have to stop telling people about them.

Title of thread notwithstanding...

 

[Avathar]

I think Gaelic Football is abolutely amazing, though I find that Hurling is even cooler ...

I doubt that the mentality of the irish national sports could easily be copied though, specially not to the US, as people seem to need rewards further than pride in the US to play any game (I guess this is the reason why so many people actually go for handycap matches and leagues ...)

The German pool organization is kind of pure "honor" based as there is naught to win but the game itself and the chance to step up to a higher level league for the next season ... in some regions we have lots of players, in other not so much, so it is not the system, but really the general feeling about pool I suppose ...

Anyway, let's keep dreaming!

 

[336Robin]

Agreed

I think Gaelic Football is abolutely amazing, though I find that Hurling is even cooler ...

I doubt that the mentality of the irish national sports could easily be copied though, specially not to the US, as people seem to need rewards further than pride in the US to play any game (I guess this is the reason why so many people actually go for handycap matches and leagues ...)

The German pool organization is kind of pure "honor" based as there is naught to win but the game itself and the chance to step up to a higher level league for the next season ... in some regions we have lots of players, in other not so much, so it is not the system, but really the general feeling about pool I suppose ...

Anyway, let's keep dreaming!

This is where we define ourselves as a game or a sport. Its clear that looking at Pool as a vocation for the players isnt working all that well. The next logical step is to look at it as though its something you do for yourself perhaps as a release from the stress of a working life.To me that is the purest form of it that's possible. It seems the minute that money gets involved something happens to it that makes it hard to market and hard to sell to the general public. Gaelic Football doesn't have that problem. You see fans in the stands standing, cheering and holding their children above their heads when goals are scored. You have pretty women admiring physically fit young men. You have the pride of playing for their county or their clan. Sports arenas are getting built. To me its simply amazing how well its working for them. Yes dreams.