2010 Qualifier Info & App

 2010 Junior Nationals Poster

The Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) is pleased to offer you the opportunity to host a BEF Junior National 9-Ball Championships qualifier. Qualifiers will allow the top finisher(s) to compete with other billiard athletes from the United States in the 2010 BEF Junior National 9-Ball Championships.

Celebrating its 22nd year, the BEF Junior National 9-Ball Championships has become the most prestigious junior event in North America. Many professional players such as Charlie Williams, Tiffany Nelson, Sarah Rousey and Anna Kostanian began competing in the BCA Junior National 9-Ball Championships and are now playing on the Professional Tour. The event will be held at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb on July 7th- 11th. Top young cueists will compete for academic scholarships, prizes and an opportunity to represent North America at the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) World Junior 9-Ball Championships.

There will be over 30 locations throughout the country that will host qualifiers and we encourage you to participate as a host site or register your junior tour to reserve qualifier spots. Entries are limited, apply early. Please submit your applications to host a qualifier by March 26th. Applications received afterward will be accepted based on the number of entries available.

First Steps:

1. Determine dates and location where your event will be held. Qualifiers are to be held on a Saturday and/or Sunday prior to June 1st, 2010.
2. There are 4 divisions: 19 & Under Boys, 14 & Under Boys, 19 & Under Girls and 14 & Under Girls. Determine which division(s) you will host. In regard to the girls’ divisions, we are accepting nominations and offering invites. Fees are still applicable, but no qualifier is required.
3. Complete the BEF Junior National 9-Ball Championships Qualifier Application and submit with your $25 registration fee (per venue) plus $25 per reserved entry (if you would like the top 2 finishers in each division to receive an entry, enclose $50 per division) to the BEF at the address below, before March 26th. Applications received afterward will be accepted based on the number of entries available. Registration for Junior Tours is a maximum of $100 per season plus $25 per reserved entry for each qualifying spot. Entries into the Junior Nationals are limited, submit your application early. BEF will provide each host room with a full promotional package to include flow charts, junior membership forms, certificates and advertising on www.billiardeducation.org and other media outlets to ensure the success of your event.
4. Promote the event to ensure its success.
5. One winner per reserved entry received will advance to the BEF Junior National 9-Ball Championships. BEF will supply one plaque per entry, to be given at the Junior Nationals.

1. BEF rules for competition are those set by the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA), www.wpa-pool.com
2. A 14 & under participant is allowed to play in a 19 & under division. However, if they qualify for the Junior Nationals, they will be placed in their respective division at Junior Nationals.
3. Players participating in the 14 & under division at Junior Nationals must be 14 or younger on or before the last day of the upcoming BEF Junior Nationals (July 11th, 2010).
4. Players participating in the 19 & under division must be 18 or younger on or before December 31st of the year prior to the upcoming BEF Junior National 9-Ball Championships. In other words, if a player is 19 years old, their 19th birthday must be in 2010 to be eligible to participate.
5. If a player turns 15 on or before the last day of Junior Nationals (July 11th) that player must participate in qualifiers for the 19 & under division.
6. A player can only win one (1) berth in the BEF Junior Nationals 9-Ball Championships. That player is allowed to compete in other qualifiers, but once a player has won a qualifier for the upcoming year, the next qualifier he/she wins reverts to the 2nd place finisher. The entry, prizes and plaque are given to the 2nd place finisher. The intent is to allow junior players to gain tournament competition experience. Any misuse of this privilege or poor sportsmanship may be cause for disqualification into Junior Nationals.
7. Participants must be BEF Junior Billiards members. Sign up at the tournament requires players to pay $15 for their BEF membership dues and will allow them to compete in any BEF qualifier this season. Host room may collect no more than $5 per player for green fees.
8. Post-event forms (tournament results, junior memberships and dues) must be mailed to the BEF address below within one week of your event to ensure that winners’ name will get posted to the BEF website and to ensure that they receive their Junior National registration packet in a timely manner.
9. All fees are non-refundable.
10. Qualifiers may be played on any size pool table. However, the Junior Nationals will be played on nine-foot pool tables, please inform your players.

Age eligibility to participate in the 2010 WPA World Junior 9-Ball Championships may be restricted to a maximum age of 18 years old. Age eligibility to participate in the 2010 Junior Nationals will remain as stated above, but changes made by the WPA may affect any top finishers of Junior Nationals that turn 19 years old in 2010.