-----------------------Los Angeles Billiard Academy-----------------------
For many years, there were no structured pool schools available in the Los Angeles area. Recognizing this need, PBIA/ACS Advanced Instructor Jay Ataka took on the challenge of creating a pool school with creative, engaging, and effective curriculums designed for beginner and intermediate players.
With the generous support of Good Times Billiards in Lakewood, California, Jay launched Pool Dojo in Spring 2022. The program began as free, once-a-week lessons open to everyone. Because the sessions were accessible, enjoyable, and incorporated a variety of visual learning aids, Pool Dojo quickly attracted many students from the community.
Through these weekly lessons, we gained valuable experience working with a diverse group of students ranging in age from 8 to 83. Each student brought unique backgrounds and learning needs, including individuals with different health conditions, developmental disabilities, and physical challenges. This experience helped us better understand how to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all players.
After running Pool Dojo for three years, we received numerous inquiries from students hoping for a more structured “Pool School” program.
Before developing our curriculum, we researched established pool schools throughout the United States and studied instructional methods from other sports, including tennis, baseball, golf, and more. We carefully incorporated these insights with the PBIA instructional guidelines to create a comprehensive curriculum designed to help students build strong fundamentals, develop skills systematically, and enjoy the lifelong journey of playing pool.
-----------------Key Benefits of a Prepaid Curriculum----------------
Short-Term Goal: Structured Skill Development
Prepaid class structure: Five short, focused 60-minute sessions designed for steady improvement.
One-on-one instruction: Lessons are customized to each student’s skill level, goals, and learning pace.
Practice between sessions: Students have dedicated time to apply what they learned and build confidence.
Commitment from both sides: A prepaid program creates accountability for both the student and instructor.
Better scheduling: A planned curriculum helps coordinate schedules for the student, instructor, and pool room.
Long-Term Goal: Building a Path for Success
Clear progression: Students can understand their next steps and continue developing their skills.
Visible accomplishments: Students can recognize their improvement through measurable progress.
Developing a routine: Students build the habit of regularly visiting the pool hall and practicing.
Added value: Students receive free table time from 10 AM–5 PM on their scheduled lesson day (Saturday classes) to practice and reinforce their learning.
Importance of Visualization in Learning:
Learning Through Seeing and Doing. Use lots of visual aids during lessons: Students learn better when concepts are demonstrated visually. Attention spans are often limited to approximately 5–15 minutes, so lessons should include frequent interaction. More doing, more showing, less talking: Students should spend more time practicing than listening.
Table demonstrations matter: What students see on YouTube or online videos does not always translate directly to their own pool table. Real-time demonstration helps connect concepts to actual play.
Video Feedback and Review:
Immediate video review: Record shots and review them with students during the lesson to help them understand adjustments.
Share lesson videos: Send recorded shots or demonstrations to students after each session for future reference.
Create learning resources: Students can revisit key techniques outside of class.
Practice and Reinforcement:
Homework is essential: Assigning specific practice tasks helps students develop consistency and ownership of their improvement.
Review before introducing new concepts: Reinforcing previous skills ensures a strong foundation before moving forward with new techniques.
Overall Goal:
Create a structured learning experience where students understand what they are learning, why they are learning it, and how to continue improving beyond each lesson.