A Vision for the Future of RIBSA: Next Season and Beyond.
I believe that many changes need to be made to secure the future of Snooker and Billiards in Ireland over the next year and beyond. We are all aware of the decline in the numbers playing in Senior and Masters events. However, this year saw an increase in numbers participating in Junior events and let’s be honest, this is the future. We must promote Junior Snooker above all else if there are going to be top class players in Ireland in the years ahead.
JUNIORS
The future of Irish snooker is through the juniors and clubs must be encouraged to allow junior players to participate in their club. Some clubs do not encourage young players for whatever reason, but if the future of snooker is to be secured we must encourage all clubs to have junior coaching and tournaments. If you look at the current crop of aspiring junior players they are all from clubs that are actively encouraging juniors. I would continue to have all categories of junior tournaments in several clubs all over Ireland and keep the Championships in a central location. I have asked PJ Nolan not to take so many foreign camps next season so that we can have him visit registered clubs all over Ireland more often. In doing so, he can hold coaching camps and encourage the local coaches, of which there are many, to take a more active part in training junior players.
SENIORS
Senior Tournaments should be moved all around the country. The stagnation of having all the major tournaments in one venue is proving very unpopular with many players and contributing to the decline in numbers entering. Having travelled the length and breadth of Ireland this year, I believe clubs are crying out for the opportunity to host Senior and Masters events. This year for the Senior and Masters I would intend to move the tournaments to several different venues around Ireland which I have visited. They have the facilities and desire to host these tournaments.
Last year’s proposal to put half the prize fund from competitions toward the players’ International fund should be scrapped. For the Seniors I would propose, for one year, that “ALL” the entry money be paid out in prize money and that the expenses for the tournaments be paid by RIBSA in an effort to boost the entries for Senior events. These expenses would include: 2 referees €50 each, 1 TD @ €80 and the club to receive €50 towards the cost of lights. RIBSA should purchase 10 sets of new snooker balls to bring to the tournaments around the country, these could be sold off at the end of the season at a small loss and new ones purchased the following season again.
MASTERS
In terms of the Masters, I would propose that each Masters event take place the day after each Senior event and in the same club as the Senior event. This would encourage any eligible Senior players to also play in the Masters events and vice versa. RIBSA will provide a TD and a referee for the final for all Masters events. The club would receive €40 towards the lights.
REGIONS
Each region could run 2 regional tournaments in Seniors and Masters throughout the season with 50% of normal ranking points being awarded towards the main ranking system. The running of these tournaments would be the responsibility of the regional associations. These tournaments would be open to non RIBSA members to accommodate those players in the regions who do not travel but would like to play in a major tournament. At least 1 month’s notice of these events must be given to RIBSA so they can be advertised on the website.
INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
All International selections should be from the rankings only, this will mean that the players that have supported RIBSA all year will be the players selected.
I believe that RIBSA should pay the full cost of flights for two players and any additional players will pay for themselves. In the case of team events RIBSA should pay at least half of the flights as there will be double the number of players going.
RIBSA will pay half the flights for referees going on international duties as at the moment the EBSA and IBSF give referees monetary assistance towards their flight costs on arrival.
RIBSA will continue to pay PJ Nolan’s flights and accommodation on International duties as coach. PJ’s presence at International events helps our players to achieve their potential.
INTERMEDIATES
I believe that there should be 5 Intermediate tournaments this season, one in each region and the national championships in a central location.
LADIES
It is proving very difficult to encourage more Ladies to play snooker. I think RIBSA should put more effort into working hand in hand with the ladies to help them to promote the Ladies game. If the Ladies can come up with any ideas to encourage more participation RIBSA will give as much help as possible.
BILLIARDS
Billiards is player in Ireland by a very select number of players and although RIBSA have been supportive of the Billiards over the years, I would like to see the Billiards fraternity making a bigger effort to encourage more players, especially young players to the game
FINALLY
I firmly believe that all these improvements and changes to our calendar can be achieved with minimal extra cost to the association. If implemented, these changes will also enable us to fulfil our most fundamental responsibility i.e. the promotion of our sport throughout the 26 counties of Ireland.
John Doherty
Chairman RIBSA
