Q-Masters Billiards, Virginia Beach, VA
“Alley cat” Gill circles the pool table like a lion eyeing a wounded wildebeest. Her gaze is focused, her intent unquestionable. Her opponent stands by nervously, sensing he has put “Alley cat” in a prime position to sink the next shot. She chalks her pool cue, lines up the shot, sighs briefly, and drops the seven-ball in the corner pocket like a seasoned pro.
Alexandra “Alley cat” Gill is relatively new to playing pool; she’d have to be considering she’s only seven years old. She has the poise and stature of a young gymnast and looks a bit out of place among the rows of dimly lit pool tables. She stands close to her mother Kim as she contemplates her next shot. Her delicate fingers are wrapped around a pool cue that rivals her height. Ask her why she likes to play pool, and her answer is quick and direct, kind of like her pool shots: “Because its fun.”
Alexandra or “Alley cat” — a nickname given to her by her mother — is member of the Crazy Eights, one of twelve youth pool teams that meet Sunday afternoons at Q-Master Billiards in Virginia Beach. Since January, Q-Masters has been home of the American Poolplayers Association (APA) Youth Division.
Mike and Michelle Arrigo are the local APA League Operators who organize the youth league and to the best of their knowledge, it’s the only one of its kind in Virginia. “The youth league here is great experience for the kids and entire family. Many of the parents play on a league, and it’s nice that parents and children can enjoy the sport together in a smoke-free, family atmosphere.”
Each APA Youth Pool League consists of three to four youth players 20 years and younger who compete year round in weekly league play. On a recent Sunday, there were at least 50 kids wielding pool cues in the name of fun. The league uses a round robin format over multiple short sessions, normally lasting about 11 weeks. The APA’s copyrighted handicap system, “The Equilizer”® gives amateur players the opportunity to compete equally with players of different skill levels. At the end of each session, each child gets a trophy and “APA” bucks which can be redeemed for goodies like pool cues, t-shirts, pens, and so on.
Craig “Pineapple” Morris, a billiards instructor at Q-Masters is perhaps one of the leagues greatest proponents and is unmistakably passionate about kids playing pool. “I want my legacy to be getting as many kids involved in the sport as possible — and get them started at an early age. We’ve had toddlers with their parents having a great ol’ time just rolling balls into the pockets. To me, pool is a great sport and I want kids to enjoy it”.
And enjoy it they do. It shows in the lighthearted team names the kids have chosen. There’s the Lucky Charms, The Sharks, The Rack Runners, and not to mention the Whittle Rabbits. Kerisa Tengowski, age 11 from Suffolk, plays for the Whittle Rabbits and enjoys everything about the youth pool league. “It’s just fun to play, even if you mess up. We learn from our mistakes.” Her six-year old sister Leanne is an up and coming player and recently beat Kerisa, surely marking the beginning of a healthy sibling rivalry.
The flurry of activity here is no different from kids dribbling a soccer ball toward a goal or taking a few practice swings before stepping in a batters box. The love of the sport and the desire to succeed are clearly apparent . It’s just taking place in a setting that traditionally isn’t associated with youth sports. “Just the mere fact that parents are getting the kids involved says a lot about the sport, says Barry Behrman, owner of Q-Masters. “The parents know that this place is not like how pool halls used to be or what people think they were. It’s a safe, clean place; a family environment where kids can learn a new sport – one that they can play with their parents.”
This was a freelance article for the Virginia Beach Beacon in 2005.