youngstown
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- Joined
- Jan 15, 2015
- Messages
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Last year around this time, I started letting my older 2 boys play pool. Once they started enjoying it, I wanted to teach them to play 1P, so I started off giving my 9 and 11 year old boys a 15-1 spot with a handspan. The handspan changed to a "fist-bump", and eventually to a "finger/bump" before they no longer were allowed to touch the cue ball. This has evolved to a 14-2 spot, but now they both get the hit, two picks, and penalty-free fouls, including intentional fouls. They seem pretty evenly matched between them, but they don't play each other often. Besides their guaranteed arguing, they just prefer playing dad
Andrew, my oldest, gets hot off the break at times, often getting the corner ball in or near his pocket. He hits it slightly harder than he should if he wasn't picking two, but since he is, it's definitely to his advantage. Getting out of these breaks is hard at times, since he often hangs a ball, which makes it very enjoyable for both of us, but especially him, lol. He really enjoys beating me! His record is two consecutive 2 & outs from the break.
Austin, my second oldest, is barely tall enough to shoot, and I encourage him to use a platform but often he gets tired of pushing it around. He is more patient than his older brother, but maybe not quite as consistent with shooting. His break is more consistent, but usually not devastating, since he breaks like it's a normal game with no picks.
I don't let up on them, not consciously anyway. Even if I hear their conceding words and tones once they think the game is about to be over. I try to discourage any form of poor sportsmanship whatsoever but occasionally I don't say anything at all, instead I just bear down even more just in case they're subconsciously asking for me to give them one more chance. I don't want to give them positive feedback for saying even the slightest losing remark.
It's rare that I can finish up on either of them if we play enough games. It's probably my discipline that is at fault since I sometimes underestimate them. They are learning how to win. I don't want to reduce the spot too early, so even though they keep asking for less of a spot, as a way of getting acknowledged of their improvement, I'm steadily holding the line. I can still win, if I stay careful, so I don't want to reward them for my errors. Besides, they enjoy winning, and I enjoy being allowed to play them hard. I might not always be as careful with them as I would with an opponent that I gamble with, but I never miss balls on purpose.
I usually get 3 to 5 games in with each of them right before their bedtime. I'll try to post updates when I can as a way to look back on their progress.
Andrew, my oldest, gets hot off the break at times, often getting the corner ball in or near his pocket. He hits it slightly harder than he should if he wasn't picking two, but since he is, it's definitely to his advantage. Getting out of these breaks is hard at times, since he often hangs a ball, which makes it very enjoyable for both of us, but especially him, lol. He really enjoys beating me! His record is two consecutive 2 & outs from the break.
Austin, my second oldest, is barely tall enough to shoot, and I encourage him to use a platform but often he gets tired of pushing it around. He is more patient than his older brother, but maybe not quite as consistent with shooting. His break is more consistent, but usually not devastating, since he breaks like it's a normal game with no picks.
I don't let up on them, not consciously anyway. Even if I hear their conceding words and tones once they think the game is about to be over. I try to discourage any form of poor sportsmanship whatsoever but occasionally I don't say anything at all, instead I just bear down even more just in case they're subconsciously asking for me to give them one more chance. I don't want to give them positive feedback for saying even the slightest losing remark.
It's rare that I can finish up on either of them if we play enough games. It's probably my discipline that is at fault since I sometimes underestimate them. They are learning how to win. I don't want to reduce the spot too early, so even though they keep asking for less of a spot, as a way of getting acknowledged of their improvement, I'm steadily holding the line. I can still win, if I stay careful, so I don't want to reward them for my errors. Besides, they enjoy winning, and I enjoy being allowed to play them hard. I might not always be as careful with them as I would with an opponent that I gamble with, but I never miss balls on purpose.
I usually get 3 to 5 games in with each of them right before their bedtime. I'll try to post updates when I can as a way to look back on their progress.