YOUTHS THINK IT’S COOL TO PLAY POOL IN SCHOOL Instead of running laps around the track or doing push-ups, junior high and high school students in some parts of the country are playing pool. The Billiard Congress of America (BCA) and the Billiard Education committee (BEF), the charitable arm of the BCA, are doing their part to send pool to school. The committee held during the fourth quarter of 2001 to discuss plans to expand billiard education classes into schools around the country. Stephen Ducoff, BCA Executive Director, implemented a BCA board directive by forming the BCA Education Committee to develop a comprehensive youth-oriented program to bring a new generation of players and consumers to the sport. "The Education Committee is charged with developing billiard education programs and hands-on experience to promote billiards as a ‘lifetime sport’", explained Mr. Ducoff, "Committee members aim to establish a specific school program curriculum that certified billiard instructors can teach in cooperation with supervisory physical education teachers. BCA certified instructor Barton Mahoney attended the meeting and said the BCA was "extremely supportive and very excited" about the youth program. BCA staff liaison John Lewis feels "quite happy with the current success of the established youth programs and hopes to increase the number of programs nationwide." One very successful billiard physical education program is at Del-Campo High School and taught by high school instructor Madeline Davis and billiard instructor Barton Mahoney. Del-Campo High has over 2,000 students and is located in Sacramento, CA. Every year 200 students sign up to take the class, but only the first 70 are accepted. For an hour and a half, Monday through Friday, students meet at HardTimes billiards to learn about the history of billiards, skill development, strategies, rules and competition. "Some of these kids have told me that the pool class is motivating them to attend their other classes," Ms. Davis told the Education Committee. "This program gives all students an opportunity at developing their personalized sporting development. It gives them [kids] a chance to become a competitor where they may not otherwise have a chance. Billiards is for all people; that is the strong aspect of this program," said Mr. Mahoney. Youth programs will be funded by resources redirected from the BCA All American Tour (AAT), an amateur tour coordinated by the BCA and sponsored with monetary and product donations from manufacturers and retailers. While the AAT was a popular and successful event, the BCA feels the resources would be better spent on bringing a new generation of players into the game. "We feel this program is an investment that will last a lifetime. The future of the sport lies in our younger generation of players and we hope to cultivate a life-long interest from an early age," said Amy Long, BCA Director of Marketing and Business Development. Mahoney, Davis, Tom Riccobene, coordinator of a weekly junior program in Albuquerque, NM, and BCA staff liaisons John Lewis and Bill Meacham gathered to plan a three-year course of action to propose to the BEF and the BCA Board of Directors. The committee is considering attending and presenting at various youth-oriented national conventions to increase awareness as well as inform other instructors about this fun alternative to the standard physical education class. The Billiards Congress of America is a national nonprofit organization, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, whose "mission is to provide exceptional value to our Members by promoting and growing cue sports worldwide."