What is the cheapest pool credential?

336Robin said:
I kind of doubt that. I know a guy that gives lessons local here and he might get 10 students a year for a $30 dollar lesson, plus there is up keep on that cert so you have to be out there pushing for students...guess that counts me out. I really don't want another whole career, just part time.
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That's not a bad way of lookin at it, its reasonable. (Though personally, I wouldn't schedule one hour lessons for a lot of reasons......especially for $30/hour.)
Maybe a better way of looking things in $30/hour perspective:

-First 30 or so hours of your time goes to the investment: 30 hours X 30/hour= $900
-First hour of every year goes to the membership.

A lot depends on where you live, I was lucky to have a large population to draw from.
 
Bambu said:
That's not a bad way of lookin at it, its reasonable. (Though personally, I wouldn't schedule one hour lessons for a lot of reasons......especially for $30/hour.)
Maybe a better way of looking things in $30/hour perspective:

-First 30 or so hours of your time goes to the investment: 30 hours X 30/hour= $900
-First hour of every year goes to the membership.

A lot depends on where you live, I was lucky to have a large population to draw from.
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That's a way of looking at it. I have 50k worth of stuff to do commercial lawncare with but its paid for thank good ness but there is business and Im in a rural environment which can make things interesting that's for sure. I would have to really go after them and that's not really me.
 
336Robin said:
That's a way of looking at it. I have 50k worth of stuff to do commercial lawncare with but its paid for thank good ness but there is business and Im in a rural environment which can make things interesting that's for sure. I would have to really go after them and that's not really me.
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Maybe you'll be better off without getting the credential then? Things like that are always nice to have, but will they bring you the tangible benefits that you desire, and are you willing to do what it takes to make the whole deal worthwhile for you personally? I can't even touch those questions; only you can know for sure.
 
336Robin said:
I actually put it up on my website today that I will teach lessons. I taught one last week and was able to help the guy. I didn't think it was hard it was more figuring out where he was in his game. What he knew and didn't know. Watching his fundamentals and stroke.
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I think this is what teaching is all about....
Every student has a different game and a unique perspective.
Your goal should be to get good at seeing who you're talking to...
....avoid the cookie cutter methods.

Your credentials will be how many students speak well of you.
 
Straightpool_99 said:
I don't get it? You wrote a book on pool, yet you want to buy what is basically overpriced toilet paper, some cheap, low maintainance credentials? Since pool is so disorganized there is no point in having any credentials at all. By all means take an instructors course if you intend to learn from it, but if it is just to get you through the door, don't bother.

You basically want a meaningless diploma in order to teach, right? Why would you even want that? You go to a regular pool hall, I recon? Make friends with the house man or staff. Give them free lessons, show them something they don't know or can't do. Then have them refer people to you for lessons. Or at least have them confirm that you are an instructor when you advertise your services. Or do the same thing with some local players. If you want to build a reputation, be a bit selective with your customers. Teach the young ones with great potential for improvement, that way you can get partical credit for their success. You can always teach hopeless Harry who can't run 3 balls later. He's going not going anywhere, with your without your help. If you just want to teach for the enjoyment of it, then by all means teach Harry, but then I don't see why you would want the credentials in the first place.

If you can't show people something they can't do, or don't know, you have no business teaching anybody anything, diploma or no. I think you are quite a knowledgable fellow, so I can't see why you would want to be a part of basically a racket just to teach someone pool. Teach someone, then let the word of mouth do the rest or do some advertising at the pool hall to get you started.
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You make a lot of good points. I do play well and better under pressure.

I guess I was thinking that the credential might send me a few customers but perhaps not as you suggest because there are levels to the instruction I would be a 1....they go up to 4.

Were I paying I would say..give me a level 4. So the help from the certification might not really help. You make good points. Thank you.
 
Wow! "over priced toilet paper"? Why don't you say how you really feel! LOL You obviously know nothing about teaching, teaching methods, or teaching credentials. Can someone who knows how to play well be an effective teacher?...sometimes, sometimes not. Teaching well and playing well are two different skill sets. Having the ability to diagnose a student's problems or issues takes a good eye, video analysis, and a game plan designed around that student's particular needs. I will say that regardless of the expressed desire/perceived need of the student, an accurate and repeatable stroke is the place to begin. Without that, any real, or permanent improvement will most likely be lacking, in the long run. Since you live in Europe, have you taken any instruction from any instructors?

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Straightpool_99 said:
I don't get it? You wrote a book on pool, yet you want to buy what is basically overpriced toilet paper, some cheap, low maintainance credentials? Since pool is so disorganized there is no point in having any credentials at all. By all means take an instructors course if you intend to learn from it, but if it is just to get you through the door, don't bother.

You basically want a meaningless diploma in order to teach, right? Why would you even want that? You go to a regular pool hall, I recon? Make friends with the house man or staff. Give them free lessons, show them something they don't know or can't do. Then have them refer people to you for lessons. Or at least have them confirm that you are an instructor when you advertise your services. Or do the same thing with some local players. If you want to build a reputation, be a bit selective with your customers. Teach the young ones with great potential for improvement, that way you can get partical credit for their success. You can always teach hopeless Harry who can't run 3 balls later. He's going not going anywhere, with your without your help. If you just want to teach for the enjoyment of it, then by all means teach Harry, but then I don't see why you would want the credentials in the first place.

If you can't show people something they can't do, or don't know, you have no business teaching anybody anything, diploma or no. I think you are quite a knowledgable fellow, so I can't see why you would want to be a part of basically a racket just to teach someone pool. Teach someone, then let the word of mouth do the rest or do some advertising at the pool hall to get you started.
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Looking at it from a purely business perspective, certifications always help your marketing potential attracting students/customers, provided you can also put in the hours to go about that side of it effectively also.

And it's rarely wrong to invest in yourself. If it's a skillset that you feel can be significantly improved, it's usually worth doing regardless of the costs, within reason of course.

Wouldn't surprise me if it has the side benefit of making you a better player also. There's alot involved in making such a decision, but I would say there are far more reasons to do it, than to not do it, depending on your motivations.
 
As much as several of my guy and girl friends ask me to teach, maybe I should get certified :grin:. I am blessed with some ability to not only play but to explain things to others to which I did a lot when I used to play APA.

When I coached I always got joy out of watching the player on my team execute a great safety, kick, bank, or just shot in general. I sometimes get more excited then they do after the shot lol.

I do agree with Scott that just because someone can play does not guarantee they can teach (and vice versa). A good teacher pays attention and listens to the students needs while being able to help dissect the student's game down. The teacher needs to be able to explain and demonstrate concepts and do everything they can to help give the student the tools to succeed. What the student does with the tools is up to them after the lesson(s).
Matt
 
DJ14.1 said:
Looking at it from a purely business perspective, certifications always help your marketing potential attracting students/customers, provided you can also put in the hours to go about that side of it effectively also.

And it's rarely wrong to invest in yourself. If it's a skillset that you feel can be significantly improved, it's usually worth doing regardless of the costs, within reason of course.

Wouldn't surprise me if it has the side benefit of making you a better player also. There's alot involved in making such a decision, but I would say there are far more reasons to do it, than to not do it, depending on your motivations.
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I appreciate your advice, several folks have made some good points I just need to figure out how deep into this I want to go. I had 29 yrs of burnout stress and now that Im out of that, I do a big hesitation at commitment but I do love playing pool so were I to invest I don't want to feel as if I have a new job. Im worn out of pushing things and people.

At this point I would say that I will make a decision after I have a few students so I will get me some cards made and go around and give them out on league night a few places and see what happens.
 
336Robin said:
I appreciate your advice, several folks have made some good points I just need to figure out how deep into this I want to go. I had 29 yrs of burnout stress and now that Im out of that, I do a big hesitation at commitment but I do love playing pool so were I to invest I don't want to feel as if I have a new job. Im worn out of pushing things and people.

At this point I would say that I will make a decision after I have a few students so I will get me some cards made and go around and give them out on league night a few places and see what happens.
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From the tone of what you're saying, my gut instinct is that the certification is a plunge that you don't really want to do yet. Or rephrasing, you might be happier just helping a few players, making a few bucks here and there, and fulfilling your personal desire to teach. When I think certifications, I think words like "full-time", or "alot of the time" in terms of commitment. I could be totally off-base, we've never even met before. But if you have so many other things going on as you said before, do you really want to take this one on too? I have that problem too; there's only so many hours in a day to commit time too. I can't sleep sometimes because of the things I want to do, but make a conscious decision to NOT do. It burns at me all the time.
 
Not sure there's a credential out there that would really mean all that much for you anyways. You're resume is the only form of credentials you need to prove your worth to a student. I had no problem spending 1K on a weekend lesson with Allison Fisher. Don't know or care is she has any "credentials". Probably never would have heard of them if she does. In fact until you posted this I didn't know if there really was such a thing. Been playing for over 20 years, but none of that kind of stuff means much to me.

Since you're a published author on the subject, that is way more impressive to a potential student than some piece of paper from the Billiards Something College of Pocket Congress of Needsmoney Certificate of authenticity which they would have zero tangable idea of it's value. In fact I would throw in a copy of your book as some kind of starter package of 4 lessons or something like that.
 
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RussPrince said:
Not sure there's a credential out there that would really mean all that much for you anyways. You're resume is the only form of credentials you need to prove your worth to a student. I had no problem spending 1K on a weekend lesson with Allison Fisher. Don't know or care is she has any "credentials". Probably never would have heard of them if she did. In fact until you posted this I didn't know if there really was such a thing. Been playing for over 20 years, but none of that kind of stuff means much to me.
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I agree with you. I think 1k for a weekend with Allison is worth it. My thing is that I want to work with people that are enthusiastic about learning something without that anything you do is going to be a waste.

I think a lot of people including myself feel that way as long as you get what you are paying for that's the main thing.
 
Thats a lot of it.

DJ14.1 said:
From the tone of what you're saying, my gut instinct is that the certification is a plunge that you don't really want to do yet. Or rephrasing, you might be happier just helping a few players, making a few bucks here and there, and fulfilling your personal desire to teach. When I think certifications, I think words like "full-time", or "alot of the time" in terms of commitment. I could be totally off-base, we've never even met before. But if you have so many other things going on as you said before, do you really want to take this one on too? I have that problem too; there's only so many hours in a day to commit time too. I can't sleep sometimes because of the things I want to do, but make a conscious decision to NOT do. It burns at me all the time.
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DJ,
That's me. I tend to get over involved and that's what I don't want to do. On one hand I would like the certification for the sheepskin, but on the other hand I don't need it but some help learning how to help people would be nice.

I have a kid in college, so things I do need to be able to make financial sense and I do not want to feel obligated to make what I do for fun a full time job.

I know two PBIA instructors and have a high regard for both of them and the institution they represent. They are some fine well qualified people.

I want to make that clear but its the money and my need for it that matter to me. College don't pay for itself. Im retired from public work. I want to stay semi retired at least.

I
 
336Robin said:
I agree with you. I think 1k for a weekend with Allison is worth it. My thing is that I want to work with people that are enthusiastic about learning something without that anything you do is going to be a waste.

I think a lot of people including myself feel that way as long as you get what you are paying for that's the main thing.
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Well let's face it, almost all instruction is going to be mostly "wasted". You'll likely not be training people to be members of the next mosconi cup team. Any student you get at all will be somewhat enthusiastic about the game or they wouldn't be there. However if they show enthusiasm or not it's just your job to give them the best coaching you can. It's up to them to use or waste your information. Most people will hit a wall and not be able to improve due to lack of proper fundamentals and disciplin. Analyzing, and figuring out how to get a person over even the smallest hump in their own game is the best a good teacher can hope to do.
 
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336Robin said:
I want to make that clear but its the money and my need for it that matter to me. College don't pay for itself. Im retired from public work. I want to stay semi retired at least.
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Start advertising like crazy. Craigslist, bulletin boards (the paper kind you find at places) pool halls, whatever. If you're near any colleges or universities there's likely lots of kids looking to get better than their drinking buddies. Try to get your name out. Raffle off some books, or some free lessons. Get involved where you can that makes sense.

When you get a student start at the absolute bottom ground and don't show them anything they are not ready for. I'm not talking about withholding information, but try to keep them coming back for more. The first lesson with a student may not even need to involve hitting a ball at all. The very basics of stance, posture, grip, alignment, etc... alone would take hours to teach someone new or to correct a veteran player.

You can even make up your own bs certificate that includes a free copy of your book when they "graduate" or get to a certain level/number of lessons. You could even give out plaques or trophies or whatever. That stuff is not expensive and if it means getting a bunch of lessons out of somebody it would be worth it...
 
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RussPrince said:
Start advertising like crazy. Craigslist, bulletin boards (the paper kind you find at places) pool halls, whatever. If you're near any colleges or universities there's likely lots of kids looking to get better than their drinking buddies. Try to get your name out. Raffle off some books, or some free lessons. Get involved where you can that makes sense.

When you get a student start at the absolute bottom ground and don't show them anything they are not ready for. I'm not talking about withholding information, but try to keep them coming back for more. The first lesson with a student may not even need to involve hitting a ball at all. The very basics of stance, posture, grip, alignment, etc... alone would take hours to teach someone new or to correct a veteran player.

You can even make up your own bs certificate that includes a free copy of your book when they "graduate" or get to a certain level/number of lessons. You could even give out plaques or trophies or whatever. That stuff is not expensive and if it means getting a bunch of lessons out of somebody it would be worth it...
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What you're saying may be good for business but not for the students & I disagree with that approach unless I read wrong.

I good teacher should get a student along as fast as the student can take it & if that is one lesson then so be it.

A student should not be milked for their money.

If I read you wrong then I apologize.

Best 2 You & All,
Rick
 
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