News

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) and the European Billiards & Snooker Association (EBSA) have just completed the first European Coaching Course to accredit EBSA coaches with WPBSA World Snooker Level 1 coaching accreditation at the Crowne Plaza in Belgrade, Serbia.

Chris Lovell (WPBSA Coaching Consultant) held a special one-day course to educate 21 of our qualified EBSA Coaches on roles of coaches plus the importance of Child Protection to coaches from 11 countries which included France, Ireland, Malta, Slovenia, Serbia, Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Iceland and Hungary.

Success

The course was hailed as a huge success by Maxime Cassis (EBSA Chairman) who said he was delighted to see EBSA Coaches becoming part of the WPBSA Coaching team which will help them to grow the game all across Europe.

In attendance were Péter Varga, Géza Zakariás, László Bekk, Balazs Kiss, Richard Balo, Gergő Almási, Palmi Einarsson, Tryggvi Erlingsson, Jean – Marie Hustin, Tomas Kejla, Bratislav Krastev, Kazimierz Olejniczak, Manon Melief, Dušan Knežević, Milan Rasljic, Sasa Stojanovic, Marko Stoilkovic, Marc Chouillier, Matej Dakol Korosin and Kevin J Vella.

Course Content

An overview of snooker in today’s world and its increasing growth around the world as the fastest growing sport globally.

• The development of World Disability Billiards and Snooker & World Women’s Snooker
• WPBSA – Integrity & Social Media
• Drugs in Sport
• Mental Health in Snooker
• The WPBSA Code of Conduct for Snooker Coaches
• How to set up your own successful part/full time snooker coaching business
• Safeguarding and Protecting Children – A Guide for Snooker Coaches

Ground breaking steps to safeguard junior snooker

Coaches will receive certification from UK Coaching with regards to this aspect of Level 1 Certification process. This aspect of the course is the first time that UK Coaching has sanctioned the delivery of this part of the course out side the UK.

UK Coaching working together in partnership with the WPBSA is pioneering the education of snooker coaching with regards to safeguarding and protecting children within the sport.

Coaches were also presented with a seminar attendance certificate WPBSA World Snooker Coaching badge to add to their official EBSA coaching polo shirt.

Jason Ferguson, WPBSA Chairman said: “I am delighted to see our relationship with the EBSA getting stronger and delivering greater new initiatives such as this across European nations. The unification of our coaching qualifications is sure to provide more opportunities for aspiring coaches in our drive to provide new players to the World Snooker Tour.

“I would like to thank the EBSA for their efforts in continuing to grow as our partner in Europe.”

Professional Coaching Pathway

Chris Lovell, WPBSA Coaching Consultant said: ‘’Working together with PJ Nolan we have created a pathway to support the professional development of coaching within Europe. With the support of their NGB and the EBSA coaches can attend the well-established and successful European coaching programme and achieve WPBSA world snooker level 1 status, opening the door to the Level 2  1st4sport Certificate in Snooker Coaching delivered by the WPBSA coaching team led by six-time world snooker champion Steve Davis ’’.

Future EBSA Courses

Any current EBSA qualified coach who wishes to achieve this WPBSA accreditation can attend the next one-day course at the European Championship in 2020 in Portugal after Maxime Cassis (EBSA Chairman), Jason Ferguson (WPBSA Chairman), PJ Nolan (EBSA Head of Coaching) and Chris Lovell (WPBSA Coaching Consultant) confirmed more courses will be held.

Only NGB approved EBSA coaches can attend an EBSA Championship for free of charge. Alternatively, any coach can attend a WPBSA World Snooker Level 1 course in England for the price of £199.99 by contacting the WPBSA direct.

Would you like to attend the next Course?

If you would like to attend the next three-day EBSA coaching course, please ask your NGB to nominate you in writing to the secretary of the EBSA and complete the application form on www.ebsa.tv

Course Costs

The Course fee is €250.00 and once approval is received from the EBSA you must then arrange payment of €250.00 to the EBSA to secure your place on this three-day course.  

This payment includes two-year EBSA Membership, Polo Shirt, Coaching Card plus a place on the one-day WPBSA Course. The Course fees must be paid in advance and Application form sent to the EBSA.