Teaching Kids

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bes

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
My GF's 6 year old daughter has taken some interest in pool after coming to the hall with me on several (OK numerous) occasions. I would like for her to learn to play and enjoy the game. I got her a cue (though it would help her interest) for Christmas. I'm looking for help and suggestions regarding the best way to proceed.

My thoughts and what I'm doing now: She is too short to easily do anything but a rail bridge, so I've been moving the cue ball, or letting her to get in the "right" (about 4 to 6 inches seems to work) distance from the rail for her shots.

I put balls almost in the jaws so she can sink plenty of shots - she gets frustrated when she misses too much.

I'm thinking that just getting her used to stroking the cue ball and making balls will help. She doesn't seem receptive to a lot of coaching right now. I don't want her to lose interest, but also don't want her to develop too many bad habits.

Am I helping, hurting, some of each? I'd really like suggestions expecially how to make her want to learn, while keeping it fun.

bes
 
You're doing fine. Keep it fun for now. 6 is pretty young. Follow her lead. If she wants to learn, it will be obvious. You can't push her into it, but if she wants to go there, you can guide her along.

Steve
 
bes...Big mistake to have her shooting the CB into other balls. It's too soon. First thing is to just let her shoot ANY ball into a pocket (no CB involved), with just the cuestick. That will have her "pocketing" balls quickly, and may peak some interest in further development. She's quite young, and obviously height challenged. That can be modified with having her stand on a milk crate, wooden box, or something like it. The best bridge for her now is a fist bridge (knuckles on the cloth, cue on thumb). The rail bridge is fine too. Have her pretend that the CB is a 'happy face', and have her try to "punch him in the nose" with the cuestick. Hope this helps.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

bes said:
My GF's 6 year old daughter has taken some interest in pool after coming to the hall with me on several (OK numerous) occasions. I would like for her to learn to play and enjoy the game. I got her a cue (though it would help her interest) for Christmas. I'm looking for help and suggestions regarding the best way to proceed.

My thoughts and what I'm doing now: She is too short to easily do anything but a rail bridge, so I've been moving the cue ball, or letting her to get in the "right" (about 4 to 6 inches seems to work) distance from the rail for her shots.

I put balls almost in the jaws so she can sink plenty of shots - she gets frustrated when she misses too much.

I'm thinking that just getting her used to stroking the cue ball and making balls will help. She doesn't seem receptive to a lot of coaching right now. I don't want her to lose interest, but also don't want her to develop too many bad habits.

Am I helping, hurting, some of each? I'd really like suggestions expecially how to make her want to learn, while keeping it fun.

bes
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Steve and Scott!

I definitely want her to have fun. Making some balls is fun. She rarely misses when the object ball is within an inch or two of the pocket (with cue ball just off the opposite rail).

My only "instruction" is telling here to try to hit the middle of the cue ball with your tip and aim it at the middle of the other ball.

She seems to already be doing "some aiming". When I put the object ball a little to the right of the pocket, she seems to know to hit the cue ball further right to cut it in. We aren't talking thin cut here though...

I just want her to have fun - hope she is at least 8 or 9 before she starts beating me!

bes
 
I've been teaching my two kids the game also, just pocketing balls only with no cb. I make them aim at a specific point in the pocket, and not just the whole thing. I've found this aiming technique to help me also.

Same as in golf, pick a point inside the cup to aim at, not just the whole thing.
 
My son started playing when he was around 6. The only thing I would let him do is pocket balls into pockets, NO cue ball. I brought a skid home from work so he would be tall enough to have a proper stance, no "side winding". He would drag the skid from shot to shot.
I introduced the cue ball at about 8 or 9. He is now 14 and has a better stroke than I do, and hits the balls very well.

Mik
 
Teaching young kids

I agree that the cue ball should not be introduced this early.

Some suggestions:
If she shoots real fast try to introduce pocket speed.
I worked with an 8 year old that was height challenged and made it difficult, but I bought him a junior cue which helped. The main points with him that helped him improve alot were: "Elbow up" (form), "take aim" (really take your time aiming) and "Point at the target" (follow through and stay pointed at the target). It got to a point where if he did all 3 things he was making most shots.

This 8 year old excelled at something else that surprised me. KICKING. Set an object ball near a rail and have her try to kick the ball into a pocket. You might be surprised how fast the kids can pick this up. If the kid has fun and wants to learn, they will learn faster than any adult.

Also to add a competitive aspect by practicing speed. Just like lagging, but do 1 table length, 2 lengths (lag) and 3 lengths. Play each speed to a certain number of points and have fun. Kids pick this up really quickly too.
 
Beware the side-arm!

bes said:
My GF's 6 year old daughter has taken some interest in pool after coming to the hall with me on several (OK numerous) occasions. I would like for her to learn to play and enjoy the game. I got her a cue (though it would help her interest) for Christmas. I'm looking for help and suggestions regarding the best way to proceed.

My thoughts and what I'm doing now: She is too short to easily do anything but a rail bridge, so I've been moving the cue ball, or letting her to get in the "right" (about 4 to 6 inches seems to work) distance from the rail for her shots.

I put balls almost in the jaws so she can sink plenty of shots - she gets frustrated when she misses too much.

I'm thinking that just getting her used to stroking the cue ball and making balls will help. She doesn't seem receptive to a lot of coaching right now. I don't want her to lose interest, but also don't want her to develop too many bad habits.

Am I helping, hurting, some of each? I'd really like suggestions expecially how to make her want to learn, while keeping it fun.

bes
Click to expand...

How short is she?
I think it's very important with young children to make sure they can reach the table to be able to use a normal stroke and NOT a side-arm stroke. We all know that a few old pros played with the side-arm style, but they became great IN SPITE of their style, not because of it. If they begin with the side-arm stroke, it will be very difficult to correct later on.
Use something (milk crate) for the child to stand on until they're tall enough to use a proper arm swing.
But the MOST important thing in working with kids is to HAVE PATIENCE with them! Avoid tough criticism, but praise them for each and every accomplishment.
Whether or not she is drawn to the game, actually depends largely on your attitude as she sees it! If she sees that you really enjoy playing, she will be more likely to want to play. If she sees you complaining (about your misses, her misses, etc.) she will be less likely to become enthusiastic.
In addition, I would give her the opportunity to watch the women pros on tv and the accolades they receive with success.

Donny L
PPIA/ACS Instructor
Gainesville, Fl
 
Teaching kids

Get her a short but stable stool or platform she can stand on so that she is able to reach over the rails when needed.
 
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