Bristol Coach/Player looking for international contacts.

[sammyts]

Hi guys, I am a long time player and recently qualified level 2 World Snooker Coach. I finish my current job the end of this month and am hoping to make coaching my new career. I am not married (some would say luckily ! ) and not got kids, so looking to make some contacts world wide with a view to moving wherever the opportunity is. This site looks as good as any other way to do that, as well as plenty of other interest. Any ideas or offers welcome !

[Terry Davidson]

My opinion only, but you are already located in a great area for snooker and moving would be counter-productive. It always helps to have your own facility with a good table, cloth and balls and a bunch of training aides along with video analysis and a big screen HDTV to be able to show your students their various flaws (or something they do correctly).

The SouthWest Snooker Academy in Gloucester would be a good place to start making contacts. The owner is a gent by the name of Paul Mount and talking to him might give you a few insights. He is in the process of shutting down the SWSA as far as holding professional tournaments goes but I believe (I could be wrong here) he is keeping the facility open and he holds a lot of tournaments there which are very popular, especially his Pink Ribbon tournament held every year.

Check out his website.

Terry

[mythman69]

There is a snooker coaching tab on the TSF. Maybe talk to Ferret about getting listed as a coach available.

Maybe you need to find a couple of good local players that you can take to the next level.

All the best!!

[Leo]

My opinion only, but you are already located in a great area for snooker and moving would be counter-productive. It always helps to have your own facility with a good table, cloth and balls and a bunch of training aides along with video analysis and a big screen HDTV to be able to show your students their various flaws (or something they do correctly).

The SouthWest Snooker Academy in Gloucester would be a good place to start making contacts. The owner is a gent by the name of Paul Mount and talking to him might give you a few insights. He is in the process of shutting down the SWSA as far as holding professional tournaments goes but I believe (I could be wrong here) he is keeping the facility open and he holds a lot of tournaments there which are very popular, especially his Pink Ribbon tournament held every year.

Check out his website.

Terry

Terry is a video analysis really that necessary and if it is surely that's a bit to far when it comes to coaching snooker.

[Terry Davidson]

Terry is a video analysis really that necessary and if it is surely that's a bit to far when it comes to coaching snooker.

Sport video analysis is the way forward and of that I have no doubt for the simple reason that sometimes a coach will be unable to see in real time what the player is actually doing but when he reviews a video in slow motion the flaws are right there for both the coach and student to see. It is being used in virtually every sport, golf, tennis, cricket, hockey, baseball, basketball, football you name it.

Video analysis is not expensive (unless you want to use Dartfish at 2,500GBP). I have a Sony HD camera which cost me about 300GBP, a tripod, I use the freeware Kinovea and I have a 32inch LCD HDTV which cost me around 200GBP or so. Of course I also have a laptop to use the Kinovea on and I can travel with the camera, tripod and laptop.

I get the impression you have a little 'old school' thing going there, but sometimes new technology can lead to new skills.

Terry

[toppotter1967]

I live in Somerset and there is no coaches around my area I have been looking for some coaching as my game has been suffering lately.

[sammyts]

I am a member at the swsa terry and although I agree it is a great facility there are already 3 or 4 coaches based there and nowhere near enough business to go around. In Bristol there are very few clubs left and none at the standard of the swsa as well as very few players wanting coaching. I am working with 2 currently and 1 of those is a county pool player rather than a snooker player !

[sammyts]

I am available and Willing to travel (within reason) toppotter, pm or email me and I'm sure we can arrange something.

[Terry Davidson]

I am a member at the swsa terry and although I agree it is a great facility there are already 3 or 4 coaches based there and nowhere near enough business to go around. In Bristol there are very few clubs left and none at the standard of the swsa as well as very few players wanting coaching. I am working with 2 currently and 1 of those is a county pool player rather than a snooker player !

Yes, I haven't been there in a few years but I was suggesting it more for the contacts rather than to try and use the facility. Even when I was there they had Terry Griffiths for the resident pros managed by Paul and then there is Paul himself who is certified via Terry Griffiths Matchroom and Paul Williams was also coaching there when he worked there too. I did some coaching there when I came over. It was a good place to make contacts and suss out the amount of coaching needed by the various players, although most of them were accomplished players already.

The other thing a new coach should do is make up business cards and then visit all the various amateur tournaments he can get to, especially in his local area, and ask if he can put his business card up on the notice board if there is one.

Terry

[sammyts]

I have had a couple of pieces in the local press and put my business cards out in most of the clubs and social clubs in the area, as far as I am aware apart from a small junior pool and snooker event at keynsham on a Saturday which gets maybe a dozen entries there are no other tournaments in the Bristol area any more, that's how dead it is here at present.

[Terry Davidson]

I have had a couple of pieces in the local press and put my business cards out in most of the clubs and social clubs in the area, as far as I am aware apart from a small junior pool and snooker event at keynsham on a Saturday which gets maybe a dozen entries there are no other tournaments in the Bristol area any more, that's how dead it is here at present.

You need to either install a table in your house if you can or find some kind of private club where you can get use of one of the tables. Much better at home though as no distractions or time limitations or light meters for that matter and you can have all your training aids and video analysis there instead of packing it up and taking it to a facility somewhere else. I've always found this to be a lot more convenient.

I am in the same boat as you, probably more so as there just isn't much snooker played around my location. The nearest is Toronto but that is 2hrs away with a bit of traffic. Sometimes you have to travel to get the business but you have to build up your reputation somehow. Maybe start your own website. Talk to Ferret as he does one that isn't too expensive (I'm getting him to do one for me now).

Terry

[DG GIBERT]

is the Keynsham snooker centre still open?

[sammyts]

Yeah its still open 5 days a week Tues to Saturday, struggling to stay open tho same as the other clubs in Bristol.

[DG GIBERT]

Yeah its still open 5 days a week Tues to Saturday, struggling to stay open tho same as the other clubs in Bristol.

Thanks very pleased to hear it is still operating
The publicised phone number does not seem to work though

[sammyts]

they have a web site try that.