World Snooker Tour Players Look to the Future with WPBSA Coaching Programme
Current and former World Snooker Tour professional players are taking part in the WPBSA Coaching Programme as they look to the future for both their own careers and the next generation of cueists.
The WPBSA Coaching Programme offers three levels of qualification aligned with UK Coaching standards which provide the opportunity for all to join our accredited team and to help people of any standard to enjoy snooker.
Two current professionals at different stages of their careers who are actively coaching after earning their Level 1 Coach qualification are Mark Davis and Sanderson Lam, who join a number of current and former players who are passing on their vast knowledge to the next generation including Anthony Hamilton, Ben Woollaston, Ian Burns and many more.
Lam, who is in his second spell among the professional ranks, explained: “I initially got into coaching because I like to share my knowledge of the game and help everyone improve, no matter what their level is, whether it is with technical issues or the mental side of the sport.
“Coaching has also helped me massively because it helps to take my mind off the pressure of competing on the World Snooker Tour. As a professional, it is really hard to just focus on improving and so it is good to spend time helping others which helps me take my mind off my own game” Lam added.
Former ranking event runner-up Mark Davis, who has been a professional for over three decades, agrees that the coaching of others can benefit his own game.
“I’ve learnt a lot so far! Coaching is not the same as playing and you never stop learning in this game – even when I’m not playing the shots myself, there are still certain things I notice that I can then take into my own game.”
Davis takes inspiration from notable coaches he has worked with during his own career including Del Hill, Chris Henry and former world champion Terry Griffiths – who was honoured at the recent WPBSA Coaching Seminar prior to the UK Championship in York.
As his own playing career heads towards a conclusion, Davis hopes to nurture the dreams of the next generation of cueists both at home and abroad – potentially following in the footsteps of the likes of Nigel Bond, a WPBSA Level 3 coach, who is the current Head Coach of the Ronnie O’Sullivan Snooker Academy in Saudi Arabia.
“I’m getting close to the end of my professional playing career and so coaching is definitely something I want to expand on and maybe do some coaching in other countries. It’s a good feeling to see an improvement in a player after they have implemented the advice you have given and I just want to try and improve as a coach as much as I can” Davis explained.
The three levels of the WPBSA Coaching Programme range from the entry-level, one-day course at Level 1 through to advanced Level 3 Certificate in Snooker Coaching, which is aimed primarily at current and former World Snooker Tour professionals.
At the age of 31, Lam is still focused on fulfilling his own goals on the table, but is looking to the future and speaks highly of his experience with the Programme so far.
“In the future, when I’m no longer playing professionally, I would like to coach others to help them fulfill their potential. The WPBSA courses are really helpful and I didn’t think I would enjoy them as much as I did.” said Lam, adding: “You learn a lot about everything from how to give your first one-on-one lessons, to group coaching, and I definitely would be the coach I am now without it.”
Click to learn more about the WPBSA Coaching Programme and how you can get involved.
