Some Of the reasons kids don't play pool

[Johnnyt]

Here are few of the reason that youth don’t get into pool anymore. One big reason is the father’s fault. Up until the 1960’s a big percentage of boy’s fathers taught them how to fish and hunt, drive and work on a car, about sex, how to work with their hands and how to play pool. IMO it was good bonding.
Today a big percentage of families live in cities where there is no place to hunt or fish. Kids learn how to drive in school and the days of the backyard mechanic are over unless you own a computer the plugs in to a car to tell you what part to change. If you were a teen during or after the Woodstock era or beyond you know Dad isn’t needed to have that talk to you about sex and bring you the red light district. As far as working with your hands, very few things can be or are worth fixing today. We just go buy the next new thing to replace it. There are very few youth centers around now and the ones that are don’t have pool table, or if they do there is no one there to teach pool.

Now every father didn’t bring their son to the poolroom when I was growing up, but a lot of fathers did. Mine took me to my first bar where there was a pool table, so I got two for one. We’d go to the boxing matches at Madison Square Garden, the Polo Gounds, Ebbits Field, and the house that Ruth built. As far as sex went, the nice lady down the street helped me with that at 13. Johnnyt

 

[paksat]

well i'm happy your dad made sure you got your virginity properly sorted at the appropriate age, splendid work.

 

[ARROWCRUSHER]

I agree 100% ,,I started my son who is 10 , around a year ago and even know he doesnt get much playing time cause all the sports and other activities he is in he has really come a long way. He actually has progressed more than guys I know that play in some bar room leagues. I only take him to play on 9ft/ tables but some of the guys that show up there but like I said play in Bar leagues say they can not keep up with him. LOL .. There are no other places to take him that have a bar tables but for barely being able to reach the tables he is playing better then some of the men that play there. There aren't any places for the kids to play pool anymore to ever gain a interest in the game. Especially in my area , there is not even any arcades or youth clubs like there was years ago. I try to get some of his friends to come along with him but they have no interest they would rather sit infront of a computer or Tv,,playing video games.. His one friend told him how good he was at pool to and when we asked him to go along he just sat there and said " oh I only play on the computer" I never played for real...LMAO !! Thats another problem with todays kids as well !! << ED

 

[decent dennis]

i don't agree that pool is boring.every time you break the balls they line up different,and it's a challenge to solve the lay of the land.most people[not just kid's] are into instant gratification these day's. they would rather play video games or text.hell there to lazy to even talk on the phone. sorry to go off line .just venting.

 

[gatorcc]

Those are all valid reason Johnnyt. I will say however that where I am taking lessons, Georgia Billiard Academy, there are a lot of kids there on Saturdays taking lessons. It's a smoke free and alcohol free environment. These places unfortunately a few and far between. The stigmata of pool is another reason kids aren't playing pool. Parents don't want there kids going to a bar to play pool.

 

[ridinda9]

Kids DO play pool , as long as they have access to it !

The biggest issue is , WHERE would they play pool ? Too many 'pool halls' are 18+up only , bars are of course off-limits , and even in bowling alleys , the poll tables are too frequently IN the bar area .

However , in the places that they have access to tables , IMPE , such as Boys & Girls clubs or rec centers , the tables are in constant use with others always waiting for "next" .

In partial agreement with JohnnyT , though , the increasing number of single-parent families may contribute to the problem . If there's no Daddy in the picture , who will teach them to play . . .?

 

[Winston846]

Reasons kids don't play pool...

1. Facebook
2. Twitter
3. Jersey Shore
4. XBox 360, Playstation 3, Wii
5. Cell phones, iPods, etc.
6. Shopping malls

I could go on, but I think everyone gets the hint. Kids today have too many other things to do. You're far more "cool" if you excel at Call to Arms: Black Ops than if you excel at pool. Back then, all we had was pool.

 

[NewStroke]

Most kids are much dumber these days and cannot resolve simple problems. Put them on a pool table and it's complete meltdown. Besides that, kids today want everything now, pool takes practice and patience. I could go on, but what's the point?

 

[jalapus logan]

Those are all valid reason Johnnyt. I will say however that where I am taking lessons, Georgia Billiard Academy, there are a lot of kids there on Saturdays taking lessons. It's a smoke free and alcohol free environment. These places unfortunately a few and far between. The stigmata of pool is another reason kids aren't playing pool. Parents don't want there kids going to a bar to play pool.

It is good to see that others view pool as religiously as I do. I was shooting against the ghost the other day and my hands looked like this after I was done playing:

I felt crucified...

 

[Sarnia Shorty]

1. Facebook
2. Twitter
3. Jersey Shore
4. XBox 360, Playstation 3, Wii
5. Cell phones, iPods, etc.
6. Shopping malls

I could go on, but I think everyone gets the hint. Kids today have too many other things to do. You're far more "cool" if you excel at Call to Arms: Black Ops than if you excel at pool. Back then, all we had was pool.

Winston,

Just to help your coolness a bit, it's "Call of Duty".
On the other hand I would like to say that I excel at both Black Ops and Pool and my friends give me a lot less grief for playing pool than they do for playing video games all day.

 

[Papa Red]

With the new smoking laws a fews years back it forced the pool rooms to declare themselves a bar to allow smoking, which no one under 21 is allowed! This was a major down turn for introduction of kid to pool and the closing of some pool rooms in some areas. A lot of players smoke and drink so they will go some where that allows both, causing the closings.

 

[greyghost]

Kids DO play pool , as long as they have access to it !

The biggest issue is , WHERE would they play pool ? Too many 'pool halls' are 18+up only , bars are of course off-limits , and even in bowling alleys , the poll tables are too frequently IN the bar area .

However , in the places that they have access to tables , IMPE , such as Boys & Girls clubs or rec centers , the tables are in constant use with others always waiting for "next" .

In partial agreement with JohnnyT , though , the increasing number of single-parent families may contribute to the problem . If there's no Daddy in the picture , who will teach them to play . . .?

dam right........matter of fact i've never had a kid come to my place and NOT GO CRAZY ON THE TABLE from ages 3 to 17 they all love to play none of them have said oh no i'd much rather play your nintendo wii.

-Grey Ghost-

 

[hunger strike]

video games

I played video games a lot when I was a kid. I think my dad was a little intimidated trying to teach me anything. Consequently I only played pool one single time with my dad, ever. And that was decades ago when we only had Atari. Just tell the kid you want him to do something real with other human beings. And pool IS active, much more so than vid games and internet porn.

 

[PaulieB]

Kids don't play pool because there aren't enough nice ladies down the street having sex with 13 year old boys anymore?

 

[evanlockhart]

Most kids are much dumber these days and cannot resolve simple problems.

Lol and while this is true, AZB isn't exactly the poster child for intelligent people either. And i'm just speaking from a grammar/spelling/reading comprehension level and ability to convey one's self.

I'd say that it has to do more with the exposure. How many of you have gone out of your way to show kids the game?

 

[tom mcgonagle]

I kept my kids out of pool rooms. I watched some of my friends bring their kids into rooms and they wanted to act like the jerks and wise guys in the rooms. I wouldn't have been able to tolerate that behavior. I felt it was easier to stop playing than it would have been trying to find good examples for them to follow.

It's a shame I had to think that way.

 

[book collector]

Reasons

They can't be a world champion the first time they play.

 

[genomachino]

I couldn't agree more.............

Those are all valid reason Johnnyt. I will say however that where I am taking lessons, Georgia Billiard Academy, there are a lot of kids there on Saturdays taking lessons. It's a smoke free and alcohol free environment. These places unfortunately a few and far between. The stigmata of pool is another reason kids aren't playing pool. Parents don't want there kids going to a bar to play pool.

Teaching the kids is a huge part.

If anyone gets down and tries something and they really suck it's hard to get to like it no matter what it is. Pool is no exception.

These teachers around the country are doing some great work and it takes a special person to do this. They run these junior leagues and teach for no money, only the gratification of helping these kids learn and enjoy the game.

I help the kids every chance I get. I feel if they are successful right away and can put the ball in the hole the game is fascinating.

And kids learn really fast if they are taught correctly. And when you teach a kid they will never forget where it came from. It's a reward you can keep forever.

For those of you that are working with the kids my hats off.

For the rest help us out. You'll get back more than you could ever recieve.

Have a great day geno......

 

[nilsm]

The VNEA has a strong youth program, with 400-600 players from all over North America and some other countries that go to Junior Nationals in June each year. If you want to get a youth program started in your community, you might contact them.

 

[bobroberts]

Johnny you forgot to mention going to the Bronx zoo.

I don't understand all the threads about pool is dead or why kids don't play.
First off i see on TV a lot of pool tables in commercials and in sit-coms besides in the crime dramas where they always show the bad guys playing pool. In the UFC there is always a pool table in the house where the guys live.

I taught my kid to fish and play pool and he can play, but he has so many other options that we didn't have.
He earned his black belt in karate by the time he was 13.
He started playing Sega and then moved onto playstation 360.
He also plays paintball with the guys.
Then there are of course the girls he is chasing.
Plus he has the world at his fingertips with the internet.
Now he doesn't really want to fish or shoot pool unless he comes to the house and plays on my table.
I believe once he gets older and settles, he will get into pool, fishing,and maybe hunting. That's some of the reasons why kids don't play.
Another reason why they don't play as we use to is because,
there are not many rooms that can afford to keep their doors open with just pool tables and snacks. They need the liquor license and that another reaon why less kids play today.