New Level 3 Advanced Level Coaching Certificate Announced
The World Professional Snooker and Billiards Association (WPBSA) has announced the launch of a new coaching certificate aimed at elite coaches to support the continued growth of snooker in modern-day sport.
In partnership with 1st4sport Qualifications, the UK’s leading sports qualifications awarding body, the WPBSA will offer experienced professional snooker players and coaches the opportunity to attain the 1st4sport Level 3 Certificate in Snooker Coaching. Successful coaches will achieve WPBSA World Snooker Advanced Coach status.
‘Advanced award’
The new advanced award is aimed at current or former recognised WPBSA members who have played on the professional World Snooker Tour or coaches who have achieved the 1st4sport Level 2 in Snooker Coaching and are actively delivering coaching in the field.
Non-professional players will be invited to an initial assessment and enrolment day at which they will undertake technical playing tests in order to ensure their playing skills support this level of coaching, together with an informal interview regarding their previous coaching experience.
Course programme
The course will include technical delivery to be provided by an expert team of WPBSA World Snooker coaches. This will be supplemented by a wide-variety of additional aspects of the game including table recovering and cue production/re-tipping.
Each coach will also be required to undertake the new Mental Health Awareness for Sport and Physical Activity Qualification, developed by MIND and 1st4sport Qualifications UK Coaching, with additional guidance to be provided on nutrition and fitness, sports therapy and biomechanics and sports psychology.
The course will be held periodically at the English Institute of Sport (EIS) and Star Snooker Academy, both located in Sheffield, England. Each course will see between 8-12 coaches participate over a 10-day total period.
Chris Lovell, WPBSA Coaching Consultant said: “By adding the Level 3 qualification to our existing Level 1 and 2 certificates it gives snooker the opportunity to sit alongside other sports such as football, cricket, rugby and over 30 other sports. This will in turn give us the confidence that we can offer a nationally recognised qualification for every specific level of the sport for the first time in snooker’s history.
To express your interest in enrolling on the new Level 3 course please contact us.
