News

EBSA Head of Coaching PJ Nolan travelled this week to the city of Douglas in the Isle of Man to train four coaches on behalf of the European Billiards & Snooker Association to become Official EBSA Snooker Coaches. 

The EBSA Coaching Course is only open to recognised snooker coaches who are approved by their own National Governing Body. The Isle of Man Billiards & Snooker Association had nominated Ken Kinrade, Paddy Delaney, Tom Miller and Paul Smyth to receive coaching from PJ.

Coaching Syllabus

The EBSA Snooker Coaching syllabus includes practical exams as well as verbal and written exams covering all the techniques and skills of coaching the game of snooker. 

This 4 day Coaching course was held in the Finch Hill Snooker Club in Douglas and covered all aspects of the game from Planning Sessions, Designing Routines, Role of a Coach, Sports Psychology, Rules of the Game, Practice Exercises, Getting out of and laying Snookers, Written Records, Safety Play, Shot Selection, Oral Assessment, Preparation for Match-Play, Physical and Mental Etiquette. On the final day the coaches completed the EBSA coaching written exam.

PJ said ” he was very impressed with the four coaches during the course. The Isle of Man has already won the European U-21 title with Darryl Hill last year and he feels the new Coaching Academy will help develop new players on the island. The coaches have already some coaching experience but becoming qualified EBSA Coaches will help them develop the game more in the future.

PJ also said it was a great coming to the Isle of Man and he thanked Ken for all his help in organising everything and he wished the Association all the best of luck with their new coaching program”. 

New Training Programs

A new official Isle of Man training program and coaching manual has been designed to help the new coaches train and guide the players. The four coaches will now begin their probation period where they will complete all the necessary assignments on the Isle of Man to graduate in becoming a fully accredited EBSA Coaches later on in the season. 

Ken Kinrade Chairman of the Isle of Man Billiards & Snooker Association said he was delighted with the course content and he hopes this will help the players on the Island to improve more. He thanked Isle of Man Sport for the funding in holding this EBSA training course and he thanked PJ for doing a great job.

Current Isle of Man professional snooker player Darryl Hill was in attendance to wish the coaches good luck and he is delighted to see the Isle of Man setting up this academy in the Isle of man and hopefully more players will follow in his footsteps in the years to come. The EBSA will soon have a team of forty one coaches from fourteen countries with full EBSA accreditation promoting the game all around Europe which goes well for the future of the game.  

If you would like to become a EBSA Coach you need to contact your own National Governing Body in writing and request them to officially contact Maxime Cassis in the EBSA nominating you to do hold a course.