What if?----An idea to link professional and amateur pool

[VIProfessor]

After a few months of reading and participating in discussions about why there is such a poor market for men's professional pool, I have come to an obvious but important conclusion. The obvious place to look for the fan base is in the amateur leagues. There are hundreds of thousands of players who obviously enjoy pool, but who do not know or identify with the professional players or go out of their way to attend pro tournaments or to watch professional pool on TV.

In short, there is an artificial disconnect between pool the game and pool the sport. The reasons for this, in my mind, are two-fold: First, there is no structured tier system by which one can advance from league player to top amateur/semi-pro to touring professional. This would act as the feeder system to the professional ranks and provide the setting for players of all levels to engage in fairly equal competition. The second is that to date there has been no effective means of really pulling league players into the world of top-level pool. I've been thinking that they following two ideas could work in tandem towards this end. They would certainly be just the first steps in the long comprehensive process that is needed for pools continued survival and future prosperity.

1. What if there was a feeder system wherein the winner of BCA-sanctioned state championships, as well as top finishers in BCA, APA and VNEA national tournaments were given entry to pro tournaments such as the U.S. Open, Derby City Classic, etc.? Even if they don't end up doing well, it is an added incentive and an added link between the amateur and pro game, and it could be the beginning of a tiered system of competition by which players progress up in class and ranking and are able to engage in regional and national competition at their respective levels.
2. What if the three major leagues provided that a surcharge will be added to the player's fees which, in conjuction to contributions from the room owners, would be used to engage professional players to give exhibitions, play challenge matches and give instruction at local leauge events. This will expose the league players to the professionals so that they will be able to personally identify with pro players and become their fans. It will also act as a much need source of additional income for pro players--kind of like a speaker's circuit, and it will boost pool room revenues by having more exhibitions taking place around the country. Finally, it will expose many recreational players to what world-class play really is and potentially inspire them to play and practice more, or to at least follow the sport.

What do you guys think? If we can agree on concepts such as these (or any others), we can utilize our numbers to lobby the various organizations to adopt these ideas as policy and make a difference in our sport.

 

[Neil]

.............

 

[JonoNZ]

Taiwan

Taiwan in a sense already does this. They have there players ranking from the bottom to A+ to open. Tournaments are open to players of a certain grade and to move up a level you need to win a couple of tournament, or something similar.

Seems to be working for them now isn't it

 

[Snapshot9]

Structure

is what is needed. There is no real ladder structure in Pool. Look at any popular sport when it came into being, and it was developed by providing different achievement levels within the sport.

Without getting logn winded - The 2 areas that need attention are:

1) Youth organizations. Provide a Pool framework for kids to grown up with. I don't see any reason why Pool could not be a sport within Jr. and Senior High, and continuing into college. In gaining knowledge about Pool, it has benefits for other parts of your life, like a systematic approach to things, planning ahead, completing each step to continue to a goal, good sportsmanship, team play. If you don't believe it works, just look at McDonalds ... LOL

2) Is the Semi-Pro level. Right now pros can enter any Open event, and take it off. There should be structure and events only for the Semi-Pro level, and leagues too. Most of these are working guys that got good, some shortstops not quite on a pro level, etc.. I think anyone making it
to this level, would be a lifer in Pool, and have an interest in the Pro level events and players.

And a third I would throw in, more a wish for than anything else since I am getting older, is for Senior leagues and events, and tours that encompass the country, not just Florida.

Providing the necessary structure in Pool helps it develop as a sport and not just as a game. I can't wait to get a Casino open here in 2009 because I know they hold good Pool tournaments.

 

[Bugz]

The only Flaw I see

If i remember the rules for APA correctly. Once you are recognized as a Pro, you are Banned from APA leagues and tournaments.

So if we feed into the pro circuit. If those players can not cut it, their pool careers are over.

 

[VIProfessor]

The only Flaw I see

If i remember the rules for APA correctly. Once you are recognized as a Pro, you are Banned from APA leagues and tournaments.

So if we feed into the pro circuit. If those players can not cut it, their pool careers are over.

Ahh, exactly! This naturally leads to the development of true semi-pro regional tours from which top-level pros are barred, thus creating another distinct tier of competitive play. At that point, you would have, in terms of regionally or nationally organized play, your amateur leagues and tournaments, semi-pro tours and tournaments, and your open regional and national tournaments--and they could possibly grow and create further gradation from there!

 

[Johnnyt]

I like it VIP. Johnnyt

 

[VIProfessor]

Keep those reactions coming! There is no need for this to be limited to speculation. My thinking is that once we have a critical mass of opinions and contributed ideas, we can put together a formal proposal and present it to the BCA, APA, VNEA, UPA, etc. This forum is filled with members and major players in all the organizations, and I believe we can make something happen!

 

[jgpool]

Structure

is what is needed. There is no real ladder structure in Pool. Look at any popular sport when it came into being, and it was developed by providing different achievement levels within the sport.

Without getting logn winded - The 2 areas that need attention are:

1) Youth organizations. Provide a Pool framework for kids to grown up with. I don't see any reason why Pool could not be a sport within Jr. and Senior High, and continuing into college. In gaining knowledge about Pool, it has benefits for other parts of your life, like a systematic approach to things, planning ahead, completing each step to continue to a goal, good sportsmanship, team play. If you don't believe it works, just look at McDonalds ... LOL

2) Is the Semi-Pro level. Right now pros can enter any Open event, and take it off. There should be structure and events only for the Semi-Pro level, and leagues too. Most of these are working guys that got good, some shortstops not quite on a pro level, etc.. I think anyone making it
to this level, would be a lifer in Pool, and have an interest in the Pro level events and players.

And a third I would throw in, more a wish for than anything else since I am getting older, is for Senior leagues and events, and tours that encompass the country, not just Florida.

Providing the necessary structure in Pool helps it develop as a sport and not just as a game. I can't wait to get a Casino open here in 2009 because I know they hold good Pool tournaments.

You are corect about structure, it is needed. ONE structure, or many structures under ONE structure control.
Your number 1 comment is also correct, the kids must be taught and the schools is the starting point. I think I read that the Phillipines has a high school program just like football and baseball. Leagues and matchups between schools. One thing it can teach that you failed to mention is Physics. Some of the best pool realted articles that I have read have been about the Physics of the game. It really is fascinating. Kids could get a Masters degree in Physics and a have a minor degree in 9-ball. Just my thoughts.

 

[CreeDo]

I like the second part of your idea. It seems like only the 7s (higher-level APA rank) can really recognize a great pool name besides maybe Allison Fisher. I was shocked that a good player on my team didn't know who Efren Reyes was. I think pro sports advance when people become fans of the players, not just the sport itself.

I always have liked the world poker tour presentations where they have little player biographies and interviews and you can see them talk a little trash or joke around.

I'd cheerfully throw a couple of extra bucks into the pot to get a pro player into my area. The fee to get one doesn't seem half as stiff if you spread it out among a bunch of league players.

Dunno if that would actually help with the stated goal of linking pro and amateur pool but I think it'd get amateurs a little more into it and would be a nice thing in general.

 

[RunoutalloverU]

If this would happen it would be an answer to my prayers. Thank you so much for posting this idea. In southern california, for semi-pro to pro players, we have very little by way of tournaments. Once a month at Hard Times in Bellflower, the pechauer west coast tour (its eaisier to find info about Hoffa's whereabouts) and hollywood billiards (sometimes). Other than that its just gambling. Oh and one more thing I would like to add to the structure of the amatuer to semi-pro to pro stucture is.... tabel dimension consistency. My God why doesnt anyone mention this, I dont know what it should be exactly, but for sure 4 inch wide pockets. Thats it thanks for the brilliant and well needed post.

 

[Bugz]

Ahh, exactly! This naturally leads to the development of true semi-pro regional tours from which top-level pros are barred, thus creating another distinct tier of competitive play. At that point, you would have, in terms of regionally or nationally organized play, your amateur leagues and tournaments, semi-pro tours and tournaments, and your open regional and national tournaments--and they could possibly grow and create further gradation from there!

My point is why lose the money they make in the amateur leagues, to try a whole new revenue. Although your intentions are great, and i'm with you 100%. I can not see ppl like Jeff Sargent leaving the APA for tougher competition. I don't see enough ppl wanting to take that step to a Semi-pro level where they won't dominate, when they dominate in their leagues and tournaments in their areas.

The only possible solution, would be to make a Semi-pro league. It's simple, absoultly no Handicap system. Would their be enough ppl to make this work though? Would a C or B player play in that league to get better, while dishing out a ton of cash?

I would like to think, most ppl play in Leagues because it's a weekly thing. Why would a good player want to only play in tournaments and give up their 'league night out'?

 

[Str8PoolMan]

is what is needed. There is no real ladder structure in Pool. Look at any popular sport when it came into being, and it was developed by providing different achievement levels within the sport.

Without getting logn winded - The 2 areas that need attention are:

1) Youth organizations. Provide a Pool framework for kids to grown up with. I don't see any reason why Pool could not be a sport within Jr. and Senior High, and continuing into college. In gaining knowledge about Pool, it has benefits for other parts of your life, like a systematic approach to things, planning ahead, completing each step to continue to a goal, good sportsmanship, team play. If you don't believe it works, just look at McDonalds ... LOL

2) Is the Semi-Pro level. Right now pros can enter any Open event, and take it off. There should be structure and events only for the Semi-Pro level, and leagues too. Most of these are working guys that got good, some shortstops not quite on a pro level, etc.. I think anyone making it
to this level, would be a lifer in Pool, and have an interest in the Pro level events and players.

And a third I would throw in, more a wish for than anything else since I am getting older, is for Senior leagues and events, and tours that encompass the country, not just Florida.

Providing the necessary structure in Pool helps it develop as a sport and not just as a game. I can't wait to get a Casino open here in 2009 because I know they hold good Pool tournaments.

Here in the Dallas area, there is a High School Billiards League involving 10 schools from 5 different school districts. It is sanctioned by the BCA and the Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) and players can even be eligible for college scholarships through the BEF. Hopefully, something like this will catch on and spread.