Skill Level of BCA instructors.

JMS

JMS

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I just found this page when I googled Tom Simpson. I guess Tom gave this person some lessons and they passed the BCA instructr program. I find it pretty funny and at the same time quite disturbing. The person on the page says they are a recognized BCA instructor, however they also admit that they are an APA skill level 2 in 9Ball and 3 in 8ball. I thought you had to be a very good player to be a recognized instructor, boy was I wrong. Goes to show you, get lessons with someone with a proven track record or a pro.

http://www.billiards-for-beginners.com/about-me.html
 
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I can't speak for the instructor you named, but NONE of our instructors (we have 100+ in our SPF family) would have that limited ability. IMO, an APA 2 or 3 does not have the integral skills to teach someone else, as they are a beginner themselves. While the "recognized instructor" status is the entry level in the BCA certified instructor program, we feel that certain skills are necessary to convey more than basic simple concepts, like SPF. On the other hand, anyone who clearly understands SPF (whether they are a certified instructor or not) should be able to communicate them to another player, regardless of skill level.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

JMS said:
I just found this page when I googled Tom Simpson. I find it pretty funny and at the same time quite disturbing. The person on the page says they are a recognized BCA instructor, however they also admit that they are an APA skill level 2 in 9Ball and 3 in 8ball. I thought you had to be a very good player to be a recognized instructor, boy was I wrong. Goes to show you, get lessons with someone with a proven track record or a pro.
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Some schools require new instructors to meet very strict guidelines. Some schools require new instructors to meet their financial criteria.

Like anything, it pays to shop around.

Steve
 
I seriously doubt your claim. I just do not see anyway Tom could be an APA 2 skill level. In fact, if not true you are being slanderous. Please post where you got his from!
 
Bigkahuna said:
I seriously doubt your claim. I just do not see anyway Tom could be an APA 2 skill level. In fact, if not true you are being slanderous. Please post where you got his from!
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I didn't read the original post to be saying Tom S. played at this level. I think the reference was made about someone else. I've played Tom before, and he is a fine player. Also, the story sounds a little fishy to me.
 
mikepage said:
I didn't read the original post to be saying Tom S. played at this level. I think the reference was made about someone else. I've played Tom before, and he is a fine player. Also, the story sounds a little fishy to me.
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OK I stand corrected but I still do not see how any "BCA Recognized" instructor could be a two. I mean what did the BCA "recognize", that the guy couldn't play?
 
Bigkahuna said:
OK I stand corrected but I still do not see how any "BCA Recognized" instructor could be a two. I mean what did the BCA "recognize", that the guy couldn't play?
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As I said, the claim sounds goofy to me.

The process I went through to get BCA recognized was pretty extensive. I learned a lot doing it and I was evaluated in many ways.

But the process did not include making sure I can string racks together or anything like that.

I know many instructors, and all the ones I know are at least reasonably sporty players. I'm one of the weaker ones.
 
mikepage said:
As I said, the claim sounds goofy to me.

The process I went through to get BCA recognized was pretty extensive. I learned a lot doing it and I was evaluated in many ways.

But the process did not include making sure I can string racks together or anything like that.

I know many instructors, and all the ones I know are at least reasonably sporty players. I'm one of the weaker ones.
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Still I like a lot of the information you put out there and wish I was closer to you for a visit.
 
There was a time that the requirements for being a recognized instructor was practically just knowing how to spell pool. I think most of those have been weeded out over the last 15 years or so but there may still be a few left.

There is a difference between knowing the game, teaching the game and playing the game. I personally never found it helpful to get instuction from someone that had trouble performing what they were teaching. I'm sure there are very competent instructors out there though that are not really good players.
 
JMS said:
I just found this page when I googled Tom Simpson. I find it pretty funny and at the same time quite disturbing. The person on the page says they are a recognized BCA instructor, however they also admit that they are an APA skill level 2 in 9Ball and 3 in 8ball. I thought you had to be a very good player to be a recognized instructor, boy was I wrong. Goes to show you, get lessons with someone with a proven track record or a pro.
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I have been waiting for a subject like this. My best analogy of the the situation is. A good winning football coach can't get out on the field and play better then others. An guy I work with is a part time swim coach but admits he doesn't swim. I myself love pool have never claimed to be good but realize I can call almost every shot and position from my chair when watching high level matches. I credit this to knowing a lot about the sport of billiards. I give great advice to my friends and my league partner but I myself can't always deliver. Some people have a good visual mind that can me adapted into teaching others. But don't have the physical/mental attributes and to be good and deliver at what they see in there mind.

So to answers your question as long as you know what you're talking about doesn't mean you have to be able to deliver too.


IMO

TJ
 
I've never seen him play but I think Bob Jewett would be heads up on the list of pool knowledge. Practice makes the player. Knowledge of how to practice makes the player better.

Bob Jewett's web page is www.sfbilliards.com
 
Well as far as I'm concerned you may not have to be a world class champion, but there are extremes. How in the world can you teach something you can't even demonstrate. IMO this is a bit much.

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One of my favorite lines comes from Danny DiLiberto " If you knew what you didn't know, you wouldn't not know it." LOL, you may think you are telling someone the right thing, but how in the world could someone with that little playing ability know or feel or display what is correct.....
 
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As has already been mentioned. I remember that the BCA had different classes of instructors.

I looked into it years ago, and at that time at least, you could become a "recognized" instructor by pretty much passing a written test about pool knowledge. Absolutely NO requirements were put on performance at all.


I believe that the goal of this program was to encourage sound pool information to be imparted. Let's say you were a room owner, who had a love of the game, but were not much of a player. He could become a BCA "recognized " instructor to be able to correctly introduce a beginner to the game. It simply means that you have been given the correct information and passed a test showing that you understand it.

Think of all the terrible and misguided advice you hear around a pool room with beginners. Have you ever watched a beginner ask for help on how to get good draw? You might see several of the average to good players and the "wannabees" jumping to give this guy advice as to how to do it. You will hear all kinds of conflicting techniques and advice, most of it not too practical or clear to the "student".

I really think that the idea of the BCA program was to discourage a lot of the false information floating around out there. Now at least more people will have the proper concepts to discuss instead of more misinformation.


So I beleive they had 1 BCA recognized insstructors, 2 BCA certified instructors, and 3 BCA master instructors.

I am not sure how much things have changed since then. But that was my take about how it was when I looked into it before.


Maybe someone else can explain it better?


Jw
 
I checked out the link and she seemed pretty up front about her abilities which was good. I can't see anyone really being confused about her intentions.

Unless she's a super shrewd APA leaguer foraging for new SL2's and 3's? :D
 
1. Recognized
2. Certified
3. Advanced
4. Master

The 4 levels of the BCA Instructor Program.......SPF=randyg
 
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