Billiard Congress of America (BCA)
Billiard Education Foundation (BEF)
The future of junior and collegiate pool looks bright!
The Association of College Unions International (ACUI) and the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) merged in 2005 for their collegiate and junior programs for the annual 9-Ball championships. These championships are often referred to as "Nationals," but with over 10 different countries represented in the tournaments, it is truly an international event. The inaugural endeavor of this joint program was held at the University of Michigan - Michigan Union Billiards & Games Room in June, 2005. Officially titled the "Junior & Collegiate 9-Ball Championships," this momentous event attracted over 220 of the best 18 & Under and collegiate players from the USA, Canada, and single collegiate contenders from Taiwan, Kuwait, Hong Kong, and Vietnam (representing U.S. colleges and universities).
Each year, the Michigan Union Billiards & Games Room hosts a qualifier for the BEF Junior Nationals.
Amane, 2008 14 & Under Boys Pod and Kurtis, 2008 19 & Under Boys
BCA turned over the national junior program to the Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) in 2007, and BEF-ACUI continue to hold their National Championships concurrently. Host sites for the Junior & Collegiate 9-ball Championships have been:
2005 University of Michigan
2006 University of Arizona
2007 Minnesota State University Mankato
2008 University of Arizona
2008 Illinois State University
2010 TBA - email mjsmith1@acui.org if your school would like to consider hosting.
For more information about getting involved in the collegiate competition, contact ACUI Director of Educational Programs & Services Michelle Smith at 812-245-8055 or mjsmith1@acui.org or visit the ACUI Recreation website at www.acui.org/programs/student.
To learn more about the BEF junior pool program,
visit the BEF website at www.billiardeducation.org.
