Snooker Refeering

[johnwilliamson007]

Hi There, i was wondering how you become a professional snooker referee?

[DawRef]

Like most sports you will need to start off as an amateur. Contact the EASB, or speak to your local referee.
There are 3 grades in the amateur game. Grade 3 is relatively easy, as long as you have a basic grasp of the rules, you shouldn't have much difficulty. Grade 2 requires an examiner watching you refereeing a match, minimum of 5 frames, and then asking you questions on the rules afterwards. Grade 1 is a bit tough. 3 examiners (one of which should be your instructor) watch you referee a match comprising of 9 frames. You are then questioned on the rules for about half an hour after by the senior examiner.

Once you have acquired Grade 1 (and possibly Examiner grade), it's a question of getting invited to the top amateur matches and being watched by the top pro referees. They will assess you to see if you are good enough to join the pro ranks.

Log on to World Snooker and mail any of the top refs for advice.

Any pro refs reading this post may offer some advice as well.

Good luck.

[Sutcliffe]

Does anyone know where you can do a test of your knowledge of the rules, because i think i'd be able to score very highly.

[DawRef]

I suspect any Grade 1 referee or Examiner would gladly test you. Not sure if there are any 'on-line' tests though. Why do you want to be tested?

[Sutcliffe]

I suspect any Grade 1 referee or Examiner would gladly test you. Not sure if there are any 'on-line' tests though. Why do you want to be tested?

Just to see how i would do - i'm pretty certain that i'd score close to 100% in my knowledge of the rules.

[DawRef]

It's not just knowing the rules. It's how to apply them. My grade 1 exam was all about different situations that could arise during a frame/match.
Examples:
1)How would you decide if a player was continually taking a long time over shot selection?:
2)A member of the audience calls out a shot advice during a frame, what would you do?;
3) You turn up at a venue to find that the cloth has recently been stretched and there are 2 baulk lines. How would you decide which is the correct one?(This actually happened to me).
4) All spots are occupied and all the space between the blue spot and the top cushion is occupied. The blue gets pocketed. Where would you place the blue? (This situation is possible, but highly unlikely).

Oh. And Merry Christmas.

[Sutcliffe]

It's not just knowing the rules. It's how to apply them. My grade 1 exam was all about different situations that could arise during a frame/match.
Examples:
1)How would you decide if a player was continually taking a long time over shot selection?:
2)A member of the audience calls out a shot advice during a frame, what would you do?;
3) You turn up at a venue to find that the cloth has recently been stretched and there are 2 baulk lines. How would you decide which is the correct one?(This actually happened to me).
4) All spots are occupied and all the space between the blue spot and the top cushion is occupied. The blue gets pocketed. Where would you place the blue? (This situation is possible, but highly unlikely).

Oh. And Merry Christmas.

Ok, good questions - i'll have a crack at answering them:-

1 - I'd assess the situation of the match at that time. For instance, if it was the final frame decider of a World Final, they'd be allowed more leeway than the first round of a qualifier at Pontins. If they were just taking ages over basic shots at a time that didn't require it, then i'd warn them.

2 - I'd have them removed from the audience. I wouldn't tell the player he couldn't play that shot, it's not his fault that happened.

3 - I'd measure the distance from the baulk cushion to the 2 baulk lines - whichever was closest to the usual correct measurement (or was spot on), i'd use that one.

4 - Well, if all the space between the Blue Spot & the top cushion was occupied, i'd spot it as close as i could to the other side of it's spot between there and the Baulk Cushion.

How'd i do?

And Merry Christmas right back at ya!

[goshow]

Appologies for advertising another site here but if you follow this link there a few questions and answers.

http://www.snookergames.co.uk/qanda.html

[DawRef]

Not bad John. However, in your answer below, which rule did you apply to come to that decision?

4 - Well, if all the space between the Blue Spot & the top cushion was occupied, i'd spot it as close as i could to the other side of it's spot between there and the Baulk Cushion.

[Sutcliffe]

Not bad John. However, in your answer below, which rule did you apply to come to that decision?

I applied the rule that the Blue must be spotted as close to it's own spot without touching another ball, in a direct line with the top cushion.

That's right, isn't it?

Got any more? I enjoyed that, i'm glad i did well.

[DawRef]

I applied the rule that the Blue must be spotted as close to it's own spot without touching another ball, in a direct line with the top cushion.

That's right, isn't it?

Yes. However, in your earlier reply, you stated that you placed the blue between it's own spot and the baulk cushion. Section 3, rule 7(g) applies to the pink and black (unless it's been changed in the recent re-write). There is a rule which covers spotting the blue.
I know this situation is highly unlikely (it takes about 10 minutes to set it up), but there is a rule that will cover this situation.

I'll try and think of another 'oddity'. If you get cuesport magazine, John Street usually poses a question in his article.

Actually, what about this (not a rule question, admittedly, but fun all the same):

Snooker is played on an English Billiards Table. Apart from the balls, what is not used in snooker, but is used in Billiards?; or,

Compile a break of 8 points, which includes potting the yellow 4 times. How?

[DandyA]

Compile a break of 8 points, which includes potting the yellow 4 times. How?

you have a free ball to start the break ...

pot yellow as free ball (1pt)
pot yellow as colour (3pts)
pot red (4pts)
pot yellow as colour (6pts)
pot two reds (8pts)
pot yellow as colour but follow in with white (foul)

so you potted the yellow 4 times and scored 8 pts ... anyone got a more elegant solution?

[Sutcliffe]

Yes. However, in your earlier reply, you stated that you placed the blue between it's own spot and the baulk cushion. Section 3, rule 7(g) applies to the pink and black (unless it's been changed in the recent re-write). There is a rule which covers spotting the blue.
I know this situation is highly unlikely (it takes about 10 minutes to set it up), but there is a rule that will cover this situation.

I'll try and think of another 'oddity'. If you get cuesport magazine, John Street usually poses a question in his article.

Actually, what about this (not a rule question, admittedly, but fun all the same):

Snooker is played on an English Billiards Table. Apart from the balls, what is not used in snooker, but is used in Billiards?; or,

Compile a break of 8 points, which includes potting the yellow 4 times. How?

What i meant with the Blue is i have spotted it as near to the top cushion as i can get it, but it's still nearer to the baulk cushion as that is the best i can do.

Is that right?

As for the other questions - i don't really know anything about Billiards so i wouldn't know the answer to that.

And i concur with the other guys answer about the 8 break - i can't see any other way?

[double_kiss]

....
pot yellow as colour but follow in with white (foul)

so you potted the yellow 4 times and scored 8 pts ... anyone got a more elegant solution?

In a foul stroke, yellow cannot be potted (rule 2.7). Therefore yellow has just been potted three times in this case.

[Alex0paul]

Would it be;

Yellow (Free ball) 1pt
Yellow 3pts
Red 4pts
Yellow 6pts
Yellow (when only the colours left) 8pts