There are very few (if any) professional pool players. Most players work for a paycheck and that is not a professional’s way.
To get pool playing out from the smoking rooms and tardy reputation there is a need for a Professional Pool Players Association. In many sports there are players’ associations and it seems to me, though I know little about the subject, that they are formed more like unions.
A professional association such as the American Medical Association or the American Psychological Association is formed for different purposes and they have a significant impact on the practice of their respective disciplines. Their impact includes not only acceptable practices, but to some extent earnings, self policing, and standards. Pool players could achieve this level of development if they formed an association to further the interests of pool and billiards.
Voting membership would be restricted to players who have placed in the top three in “X” number of tournaments over the last five years, have applied for membership, and been accepted by the membership committee.
Associate (non-voting) members would be “B” level players
Supporter would be all others.
Members who do not meet the requirements for membership because of lack of winning in the last five years could become “emeritus” non-voting members.
Such an association would have committees that set standards for equipment, rules for various games, ethical conduct, public relations, archival materials, perhaps a hall of fame, and similar activities.
Over time a credible association would “recognize” tournaments that they found acceptable and would hold annual gatherings to coordinate their business and recognize their members.
Currently most of these things are under the control of tournament sponsors and anyone other than the players. The idea here is to get away from the money making goal and make pool a highly credible sport, the money will follow such an association.
A “working person” is employed for a wage or a fee. They care nothing about the process and have no real commitment to the employer. A professional does not work a 40 hour week for any employer, they work to further their profession. Do not misunderstand me, I am not demeaning those who “work” for a living, it is a very honorable life style. None-the-less there is a difference.
These thoughts are of course idealistic but they are the place to begin if pool playing is to gain respectability.
To get pool playing out from the smoking rooms and tardy reputation there is a need for a Professional Pool Players Association. In many sports there are players’ associations and it seems to me, though I know little about the subject, that they are formed more like unions.
A professional association such as the American Medical Association or the American Psychological Association is formed for different purposes and they have a significant impact on the practice of their respective disciplines. Their impact includes not only acceptable practices, but to some extent earnings, self policing, and standards. Pool players could achieve this level of development if they formed an association to further the interests of pool and billiards.
Voting membership would be restricted to players who have placed in the top three in “X” number of tournaments over the last five years, have applied for membership, and been accepted by the membership committee.
Associate (non-voting) members would be “B” level players
Supporter would be all others.
Members who do not meet the requirements for membership because of lack of winning in the last five years could become “emeritus” non-voting members.
Such an association would have committees that set standards for equipment, rules for various games, ethical conduct, public relations, archival materials, perhaps a hall of fame, and similar activities.
Over time a credible association would “recognize” tournaments that they found acceptable and would hold annual gatherings to coordinate their business and recognize their members.
Currently most of these things are under the control of tournament sponsors and anyone other than the players. The idea here is to get away from the money making goal and make pool a highly credible sport, the money will follow such an association.
A “working person” is employed for a wage or a fee. They care nothing about the process and have no real commitment to the employer. A professional does not work a 40 hour week for any employer, they work to further their profession. Do not misunderstand me, I am not demeaning those who “work” for a living, it is a very honorable life style. None-the-less there is a difference.
These thoughts are of course idealistic but they are the place to begin if pool playing is to gain respectability.