The Billiard Congress of America today announced it has reached an agreement with the Billiard Education Foundation’s Board of Trustees to assume oversight and day-to-day management of the organization.

The Billiard Education Foundation, formed in 1993 as a non-profit charity, is committed to promoting a lifelong love of pool and building the next generation of players through youth programs and academic scholarships. 

Key programs of the BEF include the annual BEF Junior National 9-Ball Championships, annual Junior State Qualifiers, annual selection and support of juniors competing in the WPA World Junior 9-Ball Championships, academic scholarship and awards, Pool in School programming and curriculum development, and junior instruction in partnership with the Professional Billiard Instructors Association. 

“With the recent partnership of the two organizations on the BEF Junior Nationals and Atlantic Challenge Cup, both organizations saw the benefit of joining together to promote the game of pool to a new generation of players,” said Billiard Congress of America Chairman Brian Igielski.  “I’d like to thank the Billiard Education Foundation’s Board of Trustees and Billiard Congress of America’s Board of Directors for their support in making junior pool a priority.  We’ll look forward to continuing the momentum we’ve seen the industry express for our junior programs.”

“This partnership is a great addition to the ever-growing support we are dedicated to provide junior players and their parents,” said Billiard Education Foundation President Tom Riccobene.  “Across America, in this the foundation’s 30th anniversary year, more teachers and coaches than ever now recognize that playing pool promotes positive growth in social, cognitive and physical skills.  On behalf of these professionals, as well as our fantastic group of volunteers and trustees, we want to thank the Billiard Congress of America for their commitment to help us each and every day to promote, operate and grow our junior programs.”

About Billiard Congress of America
Founded in 1948, the Billiard Congress of America is a non-profit trade organization dedicated to growing a united, prosperous and highly regarded billiard industry through BCA leadership. The BCA seeks to enhance the success of its members and promote the game of billiards though educational, marketing and promotional efforts, annual industry trade shows, tournaments and other programs designed to encourage billiards as a lifestyle and make pool everybody’s game. For more information, visit bca-pool.com or call 303.243.5070. 

The 30th annual Jr National Championships kicked off on July 10th in New Orleans with over 160 players in 8 divisions. Our champions are listed below:

18 & Under Boys - Jordan Burden
16 & Under Boys - Kaiden Hunkins
14 & Under Boys - Joey Tate
11 & Under Boys - Kyle Yi

18 & Under Girls - Michelle Jiang
16 & Under Girls - Aryana Lynch
14 & Under Girls - Tiana Jiang
11 & Under Girls - Bethany Tate

Details on results can be found on the CompuSport page.

Also, Pool and Billiard magazine wrote an article on the event, so make sure to check that out too.

Billiard Education Foundation Crowns Artistic Pool Junior Champions!

The magnetic sport of Artistic Pool celebrated 25 years of competitive challenge July 11 – 13, 2018 at the BEF Junior Nationals in New Orleans, LA. Players showed up in record numbers to take the ever – popular “speed control / lag challenge” with 8 BEF National Junior Championship division titles on the line.

The preliminary rounds of competition on the first two days revealed a host of talented players seeking a gold medal and national title recognition in each division, plus a special cue ball donated by Aramith in a customized clear box holder. Each ball was autographed by Nick Varner and Tom “Dr. Cue” Rossman. Second place finishers after the final rounds would each receive a silver medal and an Aramith signed ball.

National champions / runner-ups for the boys were: Samuel Hoffman / Jordan Roberts (18 & under), Cody Mofield / Eric Robers (16 & under), Ivo Linkin / Jayden Liu (14 & under), and Patrick Tafoya / Max Moore (11 & under). The national champions / runner-ups for the girls were: Hailey Fullerton / Michelle Jiang (18 & under), Aryana Lynch / Vivian Liu (16 & under), Tiana Jiang / Skylar Hess (14 & under), and Hayleigh Marion / Bethany Tate (11 & under).

A record – breaking performance by Aryana Lynch was achieved when she scored the highest points total ever for five lags (63 points) and ten lags (108 points). The five lag score registered is the highest among any junior, amateur, or professional player that has ever taken this “repeatable stroke” challenge. Congratulations, Aryana!

Note: All champion and runner-up players were placed on a special online registry for documented Artistic Pool competitions (trick shots and so much more) since 1979. A “legacy listing” for 342 events and 783 overall / division champions can be found at:

http://www.drcuepromotions.com/past-present-future/

Two bonus divisions were also held this year so everyone could join in the competitive challenge and family fun. Terry Fullerton (father of Hailey and Ashley) won an “adult only” division, while Hailey and Terry Fullerton won an “adult / junior partner team” division. Congratulations to ALL players and parents that participated in and / or won select awards / prizes in the various Artistic Pool Divisions!

A special thanks to the BEF (Billiard Education Foundation) for hosting the 2018 BEF National Junior Artistic Pool Championships and for providing medal / ribbon awards for first and second place in each junior division, plus special prizes for the Adult and Adult / Junior divisions. Thank you also to Aramith for the cue balls and custom holders.

Best Victories...The “Artistic” Way!

Tom “Dr. Cue” and Marty “Ms. Cue” Rossman Artistic Pool Founders and Sport Crusaders

Live Streaming of the 2018 BEF Junior National Championships will be posted @ On The Wire Creative Media and the Billiard Education Facebook pages...First match at approximately 9am CST / 7am PST / 10am EST.

Live brackets will be provided by CompuSport.

Please stay tuned for match updates, player interviews and more..

Support our Juniors !!!!

COMPUSPORT

https://compusport.ca/CS/Tournaments

BiLLIARD EDUCATION FOUNDATION

https://www.facebook.com/BilliardEducationFoundation/

ON THE WIRE CREATIVE MEDIA

https://www.facebook.com/onthewirepromotions/

We are proud to have Nivecraft/Pocket Lathe Pro as a sponsor for the BEF. They have always been committed to our junior program and we would like to personally thank Michael Niver for his continued support.

"Our goal is to provide fun NEW innovative products to consumers with simple solutions to common problems. Nivecraft strives to provide unique products that have great value. Nivecraft is committed to providing quality products and excellent service to resellers/distributors to develop long term partnerships for success. Our products are fully field tested and will stand the test of time. If you ever have a problem with a Nivecraft product or delivery, please e-mail me directly and explain your issue. I will personally respond to you with a rapid solution. “

https://www.nivecraft.com/home.html

We are proud to have Ultimate Team Gear as a sponsor for the BEF. They have always been committed to our junior program and we would like to personally thank Charles Peterson for his continued support.

It is our great pleasure to continue our work with the Billiard Education Foundation. At Ultimate Team Gear we have had the opportunity to outfit players of all levels including professional players at the highest caliber, but being able to help the youth players is just as important to us. We believe in the work and opportunities the BEF provides to the next generation of pros, and are proud to be able to partner with them.

https://www.ultimateteamgear.com

We are proud to have Dr. Dave Alciatorie's AZ Billiards Challenge as a sponsor for the BEF. They have always been committed to our junior program and we would like to personally thank Dr. Dave Alciatorie for his continued support.

Dr. Dave is a PBIA Advanced Instructor and an instructional author. He wrote the "The Illustrated Principles of Pool and Billiards" and has published numerous instructional videos, including the "Video Encyclopedia" series. All of his instructional products are available for purchase at: DrDaveBilliards.com. Dr. Dave created and maintains the popular billiards resources website billiards.colostate.edu, and is Dean and cofounder of the Billiard University (BU). He was instrumental in developing the BU assessment tools, rating system, and instructional resources. Dr. Dave is also a long-time monthly instructional columnist for Billiards Digest (BD) magazine and an active participant on the AZB online discussion forum. He is a devoted pool and billiards enthusiast and an expert in understanding the physics of the game. Dr. Dave offers private lessons and intensive courses through Dr. Dave's Pool School and the Billiard University Summer School Boot Camps. He also has an active Facebook page and YouTube Channel.

For his "day job," Dr. Dave is a mechanical engineering professor at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. He is a passionate teacher and an experienced textbook author, and he has received many awards for his contributions. His teaching and writing experience has helped him develop skills for presenting and illustrating difficult concepts in a concise and understandable way.

http://billiards.colostate.edu/dr_dave.html

We are proud to have Pool & Billiard Magazine as a sponsor for the BEF. They have always been committed to our junior program and we would like to personally thank Shari Stauch for her continued support.

Pool & Billiard Magazine is the sport’s oldest monthly magazine and boasts the largest readership of billiard businesses, players and fans.

The company was founded in 1983 by Harold Simonsen and his oldest daughter Shari, originally titled the Pool & Billiard Scratch Sheet. The infant publication grew out of their relationship with the sport through the family business, Harold’s Pool Parlour, opened in the Chicago area in 1976 and operated for over 20 years before P&B relocated to Charleston, South Carolina.

Pool & Billiard Magazine proudly claims many “first” innovations in promoting the sport:

⇒ Launched the first contemporary monthly magazine for pool and billiards.

⇒ Developed and published a professional player annual ranking system.

⇒ Ran first-ever national television campaign for billiards and conducted the “How to Advertise on TV” seminar at BCA Trade Expo. Created the first annual reader demographic survey, the “Player & Fan Poll”.

⇒ Published the first annual Upscale Billiard Clubs issue, the first annual issues on The Legends of the Sport, Instruction, Cues and Tables.

⇒ Created the sport’s first magazine online website.

http://poolmag.com/

We are proud to have Billiards Digest as a sponsor for the BEF. They have always been committed to our junior program and we would like to personally thank Mike Panozzo for his continued support.

Since 1978, Billiards Digest has been the pool world’s best source for news, top-flight instructional content, tournament coverage and player profiles.Billiards Digest is a monthly, full-color, glossy magazine covering every aspect of pool, written by the best professional billiard journalists. The magazine's content includes some of the best instructional columns anywhere (with monthly contributions from well-respected players Tony Robles and Nick Varner), professional and amateur coverage, industry news, personality profiles, billiards history and culture, and much more.

http://www.billiardsdigest.com

We are proud to have Presidential Billiards as a sponsor for the BEF. They have always been committed to our junior program and we would like to personally thank Elaine Gerber for her continued support.

Presidential Billiards offers a variety of fine products including a large selection of pool tables and game room furniture encompassing models from entry level to heirloom quality and featuring exotic hardwoods and hand carving. Tomorrows heirlooms today, Presidential Billiards’ pool tables and game room furnishings are designed and built to provide a lifetime of enjoyment.

As a quality billiard table manufacturer, our pool tables set the standard for playability and performance in the industry. All Presidential pool tables feature top grade materials, quality construction, unique design, and a lifetime warranty. Our tables are manufactured by craftsmen using highly advanced computerized woodworking equipment in our state-of-the-art facilities.

https://www.presidentialbilliards.com