Super Pool After School' & Board Games Club- Week Four

This was the last week of the billiards and board games club.  It was great seeing the children's skill and enthusiasm increase for both the pool and board games from week to week.  Here are some quotes I thought were memorable, so enjoy!

"Big money!"

"Eh, it's Polo Park!"

"Monopoly, I can't believe they did this!"

"That's not the Golden Boy, he's naked for some reason!?"

"It is! Disgusting..."

"Mr. Reyes I did a trick shot!  And I think I sank five balls!"

Thank you again for all the support for this super club, 'til next time...
Mr. Reyes

The benefits that can result from children learning to play cue sports are definitely points to consider:

1. It teaches kids problem solving and how to develop strategies. For example, if the situation of the balls on the table doesn’t present a good shot, they can learn to take shots that will set their opponents at a disadvantage.

2. They learn situational logic. This leads to formulation of different ideas and strategies depending on a given situation.

3. Billiards offers character-building benefits. Your child will learn one of the basic tenets of sportsmanship which is to understand that they can’t always win and to congratulate opponents when they gain a victory over them. 

4. Children can realize when they make mistakes. They can learn to analyze when the wrong step or action was taken and learn from it, which can apply to other areas in their life.

5. Pool improves hand-eye coordination. Abundant evidence proves that sharpening this functional skill improves hand writing and other fine motor skill activities. This also improves a child’s confidence, as they are less likely to be clumsy. Children with weak hand-eye coordination have trouble gripping objects and aiming, which can accidentally class them as learning disabled in certain academic contexts. 

6. It can be a gateway to other sports. When a child is more confident in the functioning of their own motor skills, they may feel up to trying other sports, also.

7. They can become more spatially aware, which improves abilities later such as driving a car or adopting a craft.

8. Pool is mathematical. It teaches kids to make mental calculations and make mental judgements about distance, angle and speed required for the cue ball to reach the object ball and land it in a pocket. 

9. The game helps build focus. Playing pool requires a great deal of concentration, and the act of placing such focus in the context of fun is a positive way to train kids’ minds to reign in their focus to one action.

10. The game ties together the whole family. You can create a rewarding bonding experience with your children over family game nights around the pool table.

http://www.connellytucson.com/content/10-surprising-reasons-why-kids-should-play-pool-1