RIBSA held a very successful training weekend in the Ivy Rooms Snooker Club in Carlow to prepare our International players for next week’s Home Internationals in Leeds which takes place from the 3rd- 8th in the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds.
On Saturday there was an open snooker tournament for match play practice and the star performer was RIBSA under 16 player Charlie Sweeney from Newbridge CYMS when he put in a stunning display to reach the final but he was beaten by the current National Intermediate Champion Benny O Brien from Kilkenny.
Sunday morning the players first had a mind coaching session with Paddy Maher and he put the Players from the Irish Senior, Masters, Billiards, Under 19 and Under 16 teams through their paces along with our National Coach PJ Nolan.
Sports Psychology is now becoming a major part in sport and to win on the International stage these days the players needs to be technically, mentally and psychically in good shape. RIBSA are very thankful to Paddy in coming along to help our players and it is something that we hope to do more of in the future in helping our RIBSA stars to perform at their best.
Paddy taught the players how to relax before and during important matches by focusing on their breathing techniques to achieve total relaxation. This is key for players to play their best and all our players listened to all his advice in the session. Irish Senior team players David Hogan, Michael Judge and John Sutton were impressed with the content from the mind coaching session.
Paddy said : There are three main ways that people learn. 1. Repetition. 2. By listening to authority figures such as parents or people we admire 3. By allowing information into the deep part of our mind, our subconscious mind.
The easiest way to do this is with hypnosis. Courses, training and workshops are great if you have people interested, alert or have the ability to take in the information in order to be able to use it to suit a person’s targets or goals.
What hypnotherapy does is allow the person to access the part of their mind that stores their long term memories, values and beliefs and habits. If a person makes changes or learns while in hypnosis it will become their new reality. We show people how they can access the most powerful part of they’re minds.
When people are in a hypnotic state they can respond positively to suggestions. We have expertise in a lot of areas. We can also include specific learning that you want to improve.
PJ also had the players completing some of his own psychology exercises in goal setting and player profiles. The teams also practiced some of his break building, long potting and match-play routines.
RIBSA would like to thank Paddy Maher and you can follow Paddy on his facebook page MindMatters Hypnotherapy and to the Ivy Rooms for everything in making it such a success. The players now have the mind set of playing their best game in Leeds next week.
Come On Ireland !!!!!!
