A day with Chris Small

[throtts]

Hi throtts

My back doesnt allow me to practice for long periods and the only time I pick up a cue is when I am coaching but its fine for that. If I was still on the tour then I would still be playing 5 hours a day as that was the type of player I was. I gave it my all.

Cheers Chris small

That's a real shame, Chris.. Must have been a sad subject when you first had the problems, I can only imagine.

Cheers...

[alabadi]

I'd love to have a session with chris small it would be great to have someone who has been a top pro now coaching, he will have so much experience to share which can only be beneficial.

It's quite a distance from Sheffield to Edinburgh but nevertheless it's worth a trip.
I'm having some regular coaching at the minute so I'm just following some routines from my coach.

I will however consider Chris some time in the future

Alabbadi

[chrissmall147]

Thanks for thinking that way alabbadi its good to hear comments like that. Throtts that is an understatement mate it took me years to accept it as I had to stop at the top of my game and always thought about what I could have achieved in the game. But I tell you that I have been one lucky guy to experience what I have in the game and think I was very fortunate. I now put all my efforts in to my coaching and I am determined to make someone a world champion. I may have found him. I have had 2 sessions with this 9 year old kid and he is very promising. He has a straight cueing arm already has a good bridge hand and akso good positioning of it aswell. He has a nice bend of the bridge arm and also hits the cb sweet aswell. This kid can also play with a good bit of power aswell and its reasonably controlled so im a bit excited at the moment. His dad has just booked a block of ten lessons for him so the wee boy is delighted. Its now my job to keep him keen and steadily improve him which I know I will so the big thing is no distractions for him.

Cheers guys

Chris small

[throtts]

Thanks for thinking that way alabbadi its good to hear comments like that. Throtts that is an understatement mate it took me years to accept it as I had to stop at the top of my game and always thought about what I could have achieved in the game. But I tell you that I have been one lucky guy to experience what I have in the game and think I was very fortunate. I now put all my efforts in to my coaching and I am determined to make someone a world champion. I may have found him. I have had 2 sessions with this 9 year old kid and he is very promising. He has a straight cueing arm already has a good bridge hand and akso good positioning of it aswell. He has a nice bend of the bridge arm and also hits the cb sweet aswell. This kid can also play with a good bit of power aswell and its reasonably controlled so im a bit excited at the moment. His dad has just booked a block of ten lessons for him so the wee boy is delighted. Its now my job to keep him keen and steadily improve him which I know I will so the big thing is no distractions for him.

Cheers guys

Chris small

I knew it was understatement, you must have felt very empty ( to put it lightly ) when you had to accept it..

Great that you still have a snooker direction though and it would be fantastic to nurture a world champ. All the best with it, Chris..

[itsnoteasy]

Chris does puberty affect kids snooker, when they hit that growing spurt and change shape completely, can it finish
or indeed help some, getting taller must be a plus, but I know they can go through an uncoordinated stage.

[Byrom]

A teacher only opens the door - walking through it is entirely up to the student.

[throtts]

A teacher only opens the door - walking through it is entirely up to the student.

We all know that. Its like a obese person going to weight watchers every week, they only loose weight if they stick to the program in between the visit.

[itsnoteasy]

think i am in the remedial class, just colouring in books and no sharps for me.

[throtts]

think i am in the remedial class, just colouring in books and no sharps for me.

Do you colour in with your dominant eye??..Steve says its a must,, haha. Soz, Steve...

[itsnoteasy]

Do you colour in with your dominant eye??..Steve says its a must,, haha. Soz, Steve...

nearly wet myself there, pure class, i turn my head and body away from the page otherwise i go out the lines lol.
He sure has the courage of his convictions.

[throtts]

nearly wet myself there, pure class, i turn my head and body away from the page otherwise i go out the lines lol.
He sure has the courage of his convictions.

Haha, lmao....night...

[chrissmall147]

Hi everyone

Sorry ive not been posting lately but been very busy.

I had a phone call last week from a young man who I coach. His name is dylan craig. He was in gloucester playing in the European u18s and he said he was struggling badly and had no concentration so could I give him any advice. I thought long and hard about this as I was not at the tournament with him and had no idea what he was doing wrong. I told him to do 3 things that would help his game but had to be very careful as I did not want to give him to much info and make his game even worse. So I chose 3 things that I thought would be most beneficial to him. He phoned me during the group stages with two matches to go and if sucsuccessful this was him into the last 32. I spoke to him before each game and he went on to win the title and he is now European champion.

If anyone can post the 3 things that I told him to do before each game correctly then I will give this person a free 2 hour coaching session. If there is more than one winner then I will put the names into a hat. Good luck everyone.

Cheers Chris small

[DandyA]

Hi everyone

Sorry ive not been posting lately but been very busy.

I had a phone call last week from a young man who I coach. His name is dylan craig. He was in gloucester playing in the European u18s and he said he was struggling badly and had no concentration so could I give him any advice. I thought long and hard about this as I was not at the tournament with him and had no idea what he was doing wrong. I told him to do 3 things that would help his game but had to be very careful as I did not want to give him to much info and make his game even worse. So I chose 3 things that I thought would be most beneficial to him. He phoned me during the group stages with two matches to go and if sucsuccessful this was him into the last 32. I spoke to him before each game and he went on to win the title and he is now European champion.

If anyone can post the 3 things that I told him to do before each game correctly then I will give this person a free 2 hour coaching session. If there is more than one winner then I will put the names into a hat. Good luck everyone.

Cheers Chris small

interesting question Chris - I'll have a pop as a very very amateur player ...

(1) concentrate on the shot in front of you and nothing else ... ie one shot at a time ...

(2) choose what you think is the right shot, whether it's difficult or easy, and play it with confidence ... don't worry if difficult shots don't go in (they're difficult!) ...

(3) believe you can win ...

well done to Dylan for winning the European U18 Championship and to you also for coaching him ...

[Byrom]

1. Remember your pre-shot routine
2. Focus and commit to every shot
3. Remember your trigger word

Something like that perhaps eh Chris? My advice to myself would be different something like.

1. Set off at your normal pace and stick to it.
2. Play your way in.
3. Relax and focus.

Well done on coaching success into someone else. I hope that gives you as much pleasure as it did when you used to play yourself also hope these up and coming players you coach give you the positive feedback and publicity you deserve for helping their game. I personally think its great that a former professional that I watched play at your level is encouraging others into the game by doing this and I wish you every success. Next stop getting your own club no doubt. All the best to you and your family Mr Small. P.s if by some small stoke of fortune I actually win please donate the two hours coaching to the poorest, keenest young junior in your club from me. After all if I ever came for coaching up in sunny Scotland I would need a full weekend at least to put my issues right lol.

[alabadi]

i would have to say

1- do not think just believe in your ability and play with confidence that you can win
2-play one shot at a tine
3- keep calm by taking deep breaths and slow things down

well done to Dylan