Watford Workshop Drives New Opportunities for Players with Down’s Syndrome

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) and DSActive joined forces last month to deliver their second workshop aimed at developing knowledge and skills among snooker clubs, coaches and officials keen to deliver activities to people with Down’s syndrome.

DSActive is a programme run by the Down’s Syndrome Association to provide opportunities for people with Down’s syndrome to lead healthy and active lives.

The workshop provided a depth of information on how Down’s syndrome might affect participation in sport, learning profiles, behaviour and adaptations that can be applied to snooker and billiards activities within a club environment. An array of clubs and WPBSA World Snooker coaches were represented at the workshop, which took place at West Herts College in Watford, alongside the World Snooker Tour’s BetVictor Shoot Out.

The session will help to create more inclusive opportunities across the country, alongside a pathway into events provided by World Disability Billiards and Snooker (WDBS).  Club-based snooker and billiards activities aimed at players with Down’s syndrome will appear on DSActive’s club map, alongside other sports including football, tennis, cricket and running. The partnership with DSActive will also support players with Down’s syndrome to step into coaching qualifications.

WPBSA Club and Facilities Manager Bob Hill said: “We’re very keen to widen participation in our sport, and strategic partnerships such as this initiative with DSActive are paramount to achieving that aim.”

“We’re working with many clubs that are keen to learn more and want to provide the best possible environment for every individual to enjoy snooker and billiards.  This workshop will improve will their ability to do that.”

DSActive Project Manager Alex Rawle said: “It’s been brilliant to work with WPBSA to run our second workshop.  All the coaches were really engaged and it was a pleasure to speak to them all.

“It’s been great to work with a proactive organisation such as WPBSA to help ensure more people with Down’s syndrome can get in to snooker and billiards.”