STAR Academy... Pottr's perspective

[markz]

I'm sure pottr being a dad himself and knowing how he was as a kid understands Luke could easily lose interest in snooker.

Luke has obviously shown an aptitude for the game and enjoys it or pottr being the honest and straight forward guy he is wouldn't have shelled out 600 notes for a weeks course. Like he said they could have had a good holiday abroad.

All pottr has done is give an honest review of the service he got, I'm sure we would all expect to get better value from a snooker academy. As for coaching, some coaches may not be the greatest of players but can teach well. I think if your paying substantial amounts for a coach you should get both. I'm only an average player and clear the line up regular and I'd never consider myself good enough to coach whether I took a course or not. Don't think I'd be paying for coaching from someone that can't hit a ton on a line up.

[Terry Davidson]

Phew! That was close.....Thank goodness I can still do clearances on the line-up

[pottr]

It's different for you, Terry... In your prime you have reached a pretty scary standard... You have been there and done it, hence your opinion carries weight and is to be respected...

And yes, I know my lad could lose interest in snooker... I certainly don't force him to play. I just make sure that if he's gonna do something, he gives himself the best chance to succeed... Which is what parenting is at the end of the day. You ensure your kids have the best chance to succeed.

[alabadi]

I think it's same as when we book a holiday we all want to get our money's worth, we look at resort and hotel reviews and pick one we think sounds good.
But sometimes through either unfortunate circumstances or whatever we don't get what we thought or the experience isn't up to the standard portrayed .

Sometimes it's just one of those unfortunate things it doesn't mean that the place is bad all off a sudden , we just had a bad experience, where others didn't .

[Terry Davidson]

It's different for you, Terry... In your prime you have reached a pretty scary standard... You have been there and done it, hence your opinion carries weight and is to be respected...

And yes, I know my lad could lose interest in snooker... I certainly don't force him to play. I just make sure that if he's gonna do something, he gives himself the best chance to succeed... Which is what parenting is at the end of the day. You ensure your kids have the best chance to succeed.

Thanks for the 'pretty scary standard'. I don't think I scared the likes of Darren Morgan, Martin Clark, David Roe, Mick Price or Steve James in those days but every once in awhile I had a good result.

[markz]

Thanks for the 'pretty scary standard'. I don't think I scared the likes of Darren Morgan, Martin Clark, David Roe, Mick Price or Steve James in those days but every once in awhile I had a good result.

I think Steve James has taken up coaching in the last couple of years Terry. He was great to watch back in the day. If you were playing those guys regular that is some standard.

[Byrom]

I think many of us are good players but coaching is totally different, I have not got the temperament to teach anyone and would get the complete arse if they were not doing what they were told, and coaching one of your own would be very hard to stay calm imho

Well he gives everyone advice and routines on here - so just wondered why he could not just devote a one day or something to devising a program of routines and teaching - I think
If he did this for his lad just once a week he would improve - and have things to work on himself the rest of the week. As for the temperament bit - pottr seems pretty chilled to me so I don't think that is an issue but if a person cant keep calm teaching someone something then either yes don't do it or be honest with yourself and change a bit in themselves to try and develop a little patience and understanding - enjoy and laugh it off rather than look at life so seriously. Snooker is a game to be enjoyed I think best to stay positive - little raindrops can beget a waterfall.

You could add a trick shot challenge and make it a bit of fun - I think its important to make it fun - and rewarding or boredom soon sets in.
Two hours of focused practice is better than eight hours of messing. Focus for an hour then reward with food or drink and focus for and hour and reward with praise. Throw in some fun trick shot challenge - new one every week - have some fun with your lad. Keep a diary of improvements - job done.

[pottr]

We do have a little structured time like that to be fair Byrom... You're right with all your comments.

[alabadi]

[QUOTE=Byrom;853500]

You could add a trick shot challenge and make it a bit of fun - I think its important to make it fun - and rewarding or boredom soon sets in.
[\QUOTE]

I remember a few years back when my kid went to the snooker academy, at the end of a session Alan Trigg would do a few fun games one was placing a folded £20 note and asking the kids to place the cue all in baulk and try and roll it to land on the note. Whoever got it kept the £20.
Obviously it was way too difficult for juniors plus with the fold whoever got it close to acheiving in their hope were dashed when it rolled off due to the crease.
it was a bit of fun plus cueball control

[Byrom]

Yes well he is a very good coach and that is a very good challenge to help you focus on precise positional safety play - I used to do that too with my mate placing a few loose balls around the bottom of table try get the opponent to place the fiver anywhere behind the baulk line and playing anywhere from the d you had to find the right line clipping off a red and find the angle back into baulk past the colours and land the white on the fiver where ever your opponent had placed it or he could choose to leave it where it was up to 3 times - it is a fun game that helps to challenge and focuses you to work on very precise position and pace of the shot rather than just being lazy and playing into an area - I did it for a fiver - either learn the angles the speed of the tables the bounce off the cushions and implemented the use of side on my safety when needed - like the figure of 8 safety or maybe straightening up the angle back to baulk with check - I lost my money playing better players at first - so I soon learnt it.

Still aim for that imaginary fiver in games now.

[Terry Davidson]

I think Steve James has taken up coaching in the last couple of years Terry. He was great to watch back in the day. If you were playing those guys regular that is some standard.

I think most of the top amateur players in my day turned pro in 89 when they opened it up and almost all of them reached the top 32 or better. Peter Ebdon was there along with Glen Wilkinson, Jeff Cundy and quite a few others I would have to look up. My best ranking in the top 100 amateurs run by SnookerScene was 30 so like I said I didn't really scare the best amateur players.

[bazzarooney]

Glad I read this as I have been seriously thinking of taking my 8 year old son to this academy this summer , glad I didnt now , although we have been to the the star academy and found it to b a great snooker venue ,also I would have stayed with my boy so maybe he wouldnt have messed about , kids left unattended will mesd about , so star are wrong in not superviseing the kids!

[GeordieDS]

That's one way to waste £600 by the sounds of it

[DeanH]

STAR Academy... Pottr's perspective

It is a shame that pottr paid the money and didn't get what he expected

John Wood runs children snooker days that sound more like pottr was looking for. He is probably too far for pottr being around London.

[Ramon]

Well, I do'nt ve children, but I can imagine if you sign up your kid for this kind of schools ,, is not just for coaching but also the atmosphere !! he can meet other players and play a few games and this way get more motivated to learn snooker !!
just a thought !!