The Republic of Ireland Billiards & Snooker Referees Association

How to become a referee?

A candidate must attend 6 hours’ tuition with a Tutor or Examiner. These 6 hours may be broken down to 3 X 2-hour seminars on Rules of Snooker, Positioning and Match Preparation.

When 6 hours are completed The Candidate is given an oral exam and asked to referee a match minimum of 5 Frames. If the Candidate is successful they are awarded a class 3 Snooker Referee and is also registered with EBSA (European Billiards and Snooker Association)

All Referees must be Garda vetted and have completed Safeguarding 1 Child Protection course.

Class 4 referee is awarded to referees who want to referee at local tournaments only and be examined for class 3 at a later date if they want to become fully qualified SBI referees

All referees will be Contacted by SBI Garda Vetting officer and by SBI Child Protection Officer.

Anyone wishing to become a snooker referee, please contact any of the Committee below who will arrange the Seminar.

Please find the profiles of the Current RIBSA Billiards & Snooker Referees for the 2022-2023 Season

If anyone needs information on any or the referees, they should contact the Referees Association Secretary Neil Shanahan on 086 3578481 or nshanahan0@gmail.com

Billiards & Snooker Official Rules

WPBSA

The WPBSA have produced a updated booklet on the official rules that govern how to play Snooker and Billiards

A Referee’s Guide to Positioning

EBSA

It is often said that the best referees are not noticed by the players until they are needed to make a vital decision.

25 Tips For Top Refereeing

EBSA

Arrive before the time you have given the players. Should a player not turn up inform the tournament director.

European Referee Scheme

EBSA

The object of this document is to standardise the training of referees in Europe by continually monitoring their progress