Mark Griffin | Billiard Coach

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Team Support

Posted on 15. Aug, 2010 by Mike Fieldhammer.

Team Support. The sum can be greater than its parts.

My most recent memorable experience is winning the BCAPL National Team tournament in Las Vegas in May. The five man squad sardonically named “Who Needs a Billiard Coach?!” fought through a field of 674 teams to take the top prize of $11,000. The whole event was an exhilarating ride for me, propelled by the support of my team: Brian Haffner, Jared Bailey, Dustin Morris, and Jesse Engel.

A photo collage I framed and presented to each teammate. Click for larger view.

Team chemistry is a phrase that is tossed around, but is just one piece of having a successful team. Chemistry implies that there may be many elements blended into a concoction of a cohesive team. Perhaps one of the most important elements is the support of one’s teammates.

Our team was successful l in believing in each other and affirming each action our teammates made. Examples of this blind trust are as follows. For example, if Dustin played an unsuccessful combination shot in an effort to continue his run instead of shooting a solo ball in a different pocket, Jesse said, “Good try, you’ll get another shot this game. Your opponent isn’t getting out here.” We never took issue with a shot or a decision made by a teammate. Or if Brian missed a jump shot instead of kicking the ball which would have been my choice, I didn’t say “Why didn’t you kick at it?” Placing a seed of doubt in his head or shaking his confidence could be the beginnings of a skid in his and the team’s performance.

Players on our team tried to sweat other teammates matches whenever possible. Caring enough to watch and root them on is an obvious sign of support. Even during a team match, I could hear Jared’s voice say, “Good shot Fieldhammer!” and it would further my resolve to win that game knowing he was spurring me on. Players on our winning team are selfless. We cared about our own performance only as it related to the team goal of winning matches. Never was heard, “Well, I got mine” when a player came to sit down after winning a game.

At its best, unconditional support for one’s teammates can be a catalyst to launching the team to heights unattainable by the five as individuals. Each of the five players on the team made sacrifices for the sake of the team. The team goal that we all had in mind became a truly satisfying achievement that became much sweeter because we shared it with teammates who gave and received support.

See all the PoolSynergy crew’s Support Articles here:

http://forumghost516.wordpress.com/2010/08/15/pool-synergy-volume-10-support/

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Qlympics! Part Deux?

Posted on 28. Aug, 2008 by Fieldhammer.

Holly from CueSports International (Mark Griffin’s company) has released this:

U.S. New National Championship Series

National Championship Series Announced by CueSports International, LLC

CueSports International, LLC (CSI), the parent company of the BCA Pool League (www.playbca.com), the United States Bar Table Championships (USBTC) and the Jay Swanson Memorial Tournament, would like to announce the National Championship Series (NCS). The NCS will be a series of five national events in the following cue sport disciplines: 8-Ball, 9-Ball, 10-Ball, 14.1Continuous and One Pocket.

The first NCS event will be the 8-Ball Division. For players to participate in the 8-Ball Division they must be either a U.S. resident or possess a U.S. passport. The winner will receive all paid expenses to the prestigious World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) 2009 World 8-Ball Championship. Last year?s world event was held in Fujairah, UAE. The 2009 event is anticipated to be held in mid-April.

The following information applies to all five NCS events. Qualifier tournaments will be held at billiard rooms throughout the United States. All NCS events will be open to men and women – both amateurs and professionals. Players are not required to be a member of any national league or association. In the initial years of the NCS, everyone must qualify – there will not be any invited players.

Mark Griffin, CEO of CSI expressed the need for a more formalized national championship system, ?The U.S. is one of the few countries that does not conduct national championships. CSI saw the possibility of creating opportunities for pool players while offering national exposure for the billiards industry. This structure will determine for the first time a true national champion in all five disciplines.?

More information will be released in the next few weeks.

Room owners with any questions, interest in hosting a qualifier in your state or region, or in hosting the national event, please contact Holly Ryan at "> or at 702-719-7665.

CueSports International, LLC, goal is to create and improve opportunities for pool players of all abilities through fair governance and equitable policies.