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Jan Verhaas is one on the worlds leading snooker referees with a number of competitions under his belt including The British Open, The European Open and The Embassy World Championship, he has even refereed matches right here in Swindon at Jesters Snooker Hall.
Jan Verhaas Q1. Have you a favourite player(s) you like to ref?
A1. I think it's unfair to say that the referees don't have any favourite player or players, but I also think it is inappropriate to give you any names. In general it is a always a pleasure to ref the top players on form, fast players and crowd pullers. Although we all love our job, no matter who or where we referee but nothing gives us more satisfaction then refereeing on the big stage in front of a capacity crowd and tv cameras.
Q2. What do you do in your spare time when you are not refereeing?
A2. During tournaments I just like to relax on the laptop or play a game of golf or rally on the PlayStation with my friend and colleague Johan Oomen. 'Off season' I just like to travel far away and soak up the sun. I normally also spend quite some time diving tropical reefs.
Q3. What did you think of Sky Sports premier league snooker? Was it a good thing or not?
A3. I think it is fantastic to see so much snooker on television nowadays, it boosts the popularity of the game. I am not very familiar with the 25 seconds rule, but it seems to work well in these tournaments and I haven't heard many bad things about it.
Q4. What was the best match you have ever refereed and why?
A4. The most prestigious must be the 2003 World Final between Williams and Doherty. I also reffed 4 Wembley finals, including the 3 where Hunter lifted the trophy.
Q5. Do you think (like in Rugby/Cricket) that a "2 nd eye" could be used when replacing balls after a failed snooker attempt would be good/useful?
A5. It\'s a discussion we have had many times and the referees think it\'s better without the use of a \'4 th official\'. It would only be fair if we then had that facility at every professional match and that is impossible. If table 1 is televised and table 2 is not, then it is not fair towards the tournament to have different rules for different matches.
Jan refereeing a match with
Ken Doherty and Mark Williams Q6. Have you ever had to have someone ejected from the audience for their behaviour?
A6. Many times. For various reasons. There are always people that find it hard to behave. Snooker has certain house rules for the audience and if they cannot adhere to them then they have to go.
Q7. What is the strangest question you have been asked in regards to snooker?
A7. I have been asked many strange questions about the game. It is better to leave them unmentioned.
Q8. What would you like to see being done in the way of snooker sponsorship over the next 10 years?
A8. I am not in a position to answer that question. All I hope is that the people who are employed by WorldSnooker to find sponsors come up with the goods. We have a good product to sell and therefore we should have a good future.
Q9. With so many great young players out there on the pro-am circuit do you think that some of the smaller competitions should be televised to get more interest in the sport?
A9. The interest is generated by the top players. Characters within the game. I don\'t think that unknown players, no matter how good they are, can generate the interest for the game. If they are outstanding then they will eventually break through and create their own story in the sport (like Shaun Murphy for instance).
Q10. Do you think that the game on the dawn of a breakthrough or breakdown with the loss of large advertising funds?
A10. Snooker has been going through a bad few years but I think we have survived the worst and are now building it back up. The future looks pretty good but we can only get there with hard work.
Jan at the markers desk
(Image courtesy of Eirian Williams)
Q11. Is there anything like a referees Union that all the concerns and ideas of the referees can be channelled through?
A11. In the amateur game the referees can refer to the EBSRA (European Referees Ass.) or their national association. The main referees on the professional circuit discuss their ideas with the rules committee of WorldSnooker. That is the reason why certain rules are interpreted differently for professional snooker only.
Q12. What do you think about carrying the difference in points of a frame that ends in a re-rack? (Any advantage a player earns will not be lost and the Referee will feel more confident in a happy consensus from the players if he feels a re-rack is unavoidable)
A12. I don\'t think that a good idea. There are good rules about the re-rack and every player understands them. If a player doesn\'t want a re-rack then it is up to him to change the situation. Should that not happen that it is his own fault and we start again. Simple, don\'t you think?
Q13. Do you have any tips for our young players and budding referees at Jesters?
A13. Absolutely! For referees it is very important to gain experience. That means refereeing when ever it is possible. The more you get involved, the more you start to understand the game of snooker. Things like positioning will become a natural thing and you then have more time to enjoy the game. Keep concentrated at all times and, of course, make sure you know every rule in the book. Find out where your nearest Referee tutor and/or examiner is based and talk to him about anything you are not sure about.
Jan Verhass checking ball position
Q14. If you had the chance to referee any match from the past which one would it be and why?
A14. There have been many great encounters in the past but I couldn\'t think of one in particular. I have been refereeing at the top level for 12 years now and have already so many great memories.
Q15. What are your views on the new Hookrest?
A15. Quite a handy little tool.
Q16. Going back a while now you used to referee at Jesters, what do you think of our club and would you like to come back and referee here again in the future?
A16. I have always had a good time at Jesters. It is a great club and the table set-up is brilliant for tournament play. The staff and members always make you feel at home and that is so wonderful considering that we occupy the whole venue and they cannot play in their own club! It would be great to see you all again in the near future.
Q17. How big is the snooker scene in Holland ?
A17. Early 90\'s there were snookerclubs opening everywhere in Holland . Nowadays only the good clubs have survived. With the help of Eurosport, who now broadcasts every professional event, it has become very popular again and many new hopefuls have picked up a cue. The future will tell if one or two will succeed.
Q18. Due to the constraints of management companies most of the snooker players do not have their own website but yourself Eirian and Michaela all have websites. Do you get a huge number of visitors? And do you know how many nationalities use your site?
A18. My website www.JanVerhaas.co.uk does really well. From the start in December up till now I had over half a million hits from all corners of the world, even the USA , Japan and South Africa . It has also generated a few new referees in the Netherlands and the UK . It is holiday period for me now but within the next few weeks I will update it again with some new features like videostreaming and live chat sessions during the major tournaments.
Jan Verhaas
A1. I think it's unfair to say that the referees don't have any favourite player or players, but I also think it is inappropriate to give you any names. In general it is a always a pleasure to ref the top players on form, fast players and crowd pullers. Although we all love our job, no matter who or where we referee but nothing gives us more satisfaction then refereeing on the big stage in front of a capacity crowd and tv cameras.
Q2. What do you do in your spare time when you are not refereeing?
A2. During tournaments I just like to relax on the laptop or play a game of golf or rally on the PlayStation with my friend and colleague Johan Oomen. 'Off season' I just like to travel far away and soak up the sun. I normally also spend quite some time diving tropical reefs.
Q3. What did you think of Sky Sports premier league snooker? Was it a good thing or not?
A3. I think it is fantastic to see so much snooker on television nowadays, it boosts the popularity of the game. I am not very familiar with the 25 seconds rule, but it seems to work well in these tournaments and I haven't heard many bad things about it.
Q4. What was the best match you have ever refereed and why?
A4. The most prestigious must be the 2003 World Final between Williams and Doherty. I also reffed 4 Wembley finals, including the 3 where Hunter lifted the trophy.
Q5. Do you think (like in Rugby/Cricket) that a "2 nd eye" could be used when replacing balls after a failed snooker attempt would be good/useful?
A5. It\'s a discussion we have had many times and the referees think it\'s better without the use of a \'4 th official\'. It would only be fair if we then had that facility at every professional match and that is impossible. If table 1 is televised and table 2 is not, then it is not fair towards the tournament to have different rules for different matches.
Jan refereeing a match with
Ken Doherty and Mark Williams
A6. Many times. For various reasons. There are always people that find it hard to behave. Snooker has certain house rules for the audience and if they cannot adhere to them then they have to go.
Q7. What is the strangest question you have been asked in regards to snooker?
A7. I have been asked many strange questions about the game. It is better to leave them unmentioned.
Q8. What would you like to see being done in the way of snooker sponsorship over the next 10 years?
A8. I am not in a position to answer that question. All I hope is that the people who are employed by WorldSnooker to find sponsors come up with the goods. We have a good product to sell and therefore we should have a good future.
Q9. With so many great young players out there on the pro-am circuit do you think that some of the smaller competitions should be televised to get more interest in the sport?
A9. The interest is generated by the top players. Characters within the game. I don\'t think that unknown players, no matter how good they are, can generate the interest for the game. If they are outstanding then they will eventually break through and create their own story in the sport (like Shaun Murphy for instance).
Q10. Do you think that the game on the dawn of a breakthrough or breakdown with the loss of large advertising funds?
A10. Snooker has been going through a bad few years but I think we have survived the worst and are now building it back up. The future looks pretty good but we can only get there with hard work.
Jan at the markers desk
(Image courtesy of Eirian Williams)
Q11. Is there anything like a referees Union that all the concerns and ideas of the referees can be channelled through?
A11. In the amateur game the referees can refer to the EBSRA (European Referees Ass.) or their national association. The main referees on the professional circuit discuss their ideas with the rules committee of WorldSnooker. That is the reason why certain rules are interpreted differently for professional snooker only.
Q12. What do you think about carrying the difference in points of a frame that ends in a re-rack? (Any advantage a player earns will not be lost and the Referee will feel more confident in a happy consensus from the players if he feels a re-rack is unavoidable)
A12. I don\'t think that a good idea. There are good rules about the re-rack and every player understands them. If a player doesn\'t want a re-rack then it is up to him to change the situation. Should that not happen that it is his own fault and we start again. Simple, don\'t you think?
Q13. Do you have any tips for our young players and budding referees at Jesters?
A13. Absolutely! For referees it is very important to gain experience. That means refereeing when ever it is possible. The more you get involved, the more you start to understand the game of snooker. Things like positioning will become a natural thing and you then have more time to enjoy the game. Keep concentrated at all times and, of course, make sure you know every rule in the book. Find out where your nearest Referee tutor and/or examiner is based and talk to him about anything you are not sure about.
Jan Verhass checking ball position
Q14. If you had the chance to referee any match from the past which one would it be and why?
A14. There have been many great encounters in the past but I couldn\'t think of one in particular. I have been refereeing at the top level for 12 years now and have already so many great memories.
Q15. What are your views on the new Hookrest?
A15. Quite a handy little tool.
Q16. Going back a while now you used to referee at Jesters, what do you think of our club and would you like to come back and referee here again in the future?
A16. I have always had a good time at Jesters. It is a great club and the table set-up is brilliant for tournament play. The staff and members always make you feel at home and that is so wonderful considering that we occupy the whole venue and they cannot play in their own club! It would be great to see you all again in the near future.
Q17. How big is the snooker scene in Holland ?
A17. Early 90\'s there were snookerclubs opening everywhere in Holland . Nowadays only the good clubs have survived. With the help of Eurosport, who now broadcasts every professional event, it has become very popular again and many new hopefuls have picked up a cue. The future will tell if one or two will succeed.
Q18. Due to the constraints of management companies most of the snooker players do not have their own website but yourself Eirian and Michaela all have websites. Do you get a huge number of visitors? And do you know how many nationalities use your site?
A18. My website www.JanVerhaas.co.uk does really well. From the start in December up till now I had over half a million hits from all corners of the world, even the USA , Japan and South Africa . It has also generated a few new referees in the Netherlands and the UK . It is holiday period for me now but within the next few weeks I will update it again with some new features like videostreaming and live chat sessions during the major tournaments.