On Sunday the 28th of December, Snooker & Billiards Ireland (SBI) held another National Junior Snooker & Billiards Developmental Day in the SBI HQ Academy of Excellence in Carlow. SBI hold Developmental days to introduce and encourage more juniors to play our beautiful sports and this day is held annually after Christmas every year.
There was a mixture of current Irish Junior International players, National Junior Champions, National Junior Number 1’s, plus new and up and coming juniors attending today with bodes well for the future of the game in Ireland.
The day began with a Education Session on Ant-Doping, Jim Leacy SBI President and WCBS Clean Sport Educator delivered a seminar to the juniors and parents on the anti doping process of being tested and what happens before, during and after a test at a International event.
Talented Young Players
Payers from all across Ireland from Wexford, Mayo, Meath, Dublin, Cork, Kilkenny attended this Junior day with National Snooker Coach PJ Nolan and fellow SBI Coaches Ed Donnelly, Nigel Cooke plus the National Billiards Coach Aidan Murray in learning the skills of the game.
SBI used 8 full size snooker tables for the more experienced player plus our mini star tables in the Academy were used to help introduce new younger people to the game. The players were shown how to have some fun, and learn some of the skills of the game.
Billiards
Aidan Murray showed the art of Billiards to the players in making in-offs and cannons and scoring. PJ coached players on developing good fundamentals in their techniques. All the coaches were very impressed with all the players on the day.
Event Winners
On the day we held mini tournaments with medals and trophies awarded to the winners. Max Kennedy won the Re-Spot Game. James Stewart O Reilly won the Mini Game challenge with superb match-play snooker. Cathal Horgan won the long potting challenge with fantastic potting skills. Liam Dunne won the scoring Challenge with a superb 122 clearance on the Thailand Break which is the highest ever break at a SBI development day.
All players practiced specific routines with Aiming, Break Building, Potting and Safety. A mini tournament plus potting and control drills were also held and the players performed excellent during the day. We really hope all the players had a great time with the coaches.
We also held mini events for new players on aiming and potting and it was 12year Daniele Galli from Wexford who won both events and is a real star of the future.
A Sport for Everyone
SBI would like to thank all the clubs who are currently holding junior coaching to promote the game in their regions. This is the only way to help us grow our game around the clubs. SBI will be holding more free development days with our National Coach PJ Nolan and his team in 2026.
Training Aids
The latest training aids were used to enhance the day like the Mini Domin Eye, QLine, Blade Mat, Master Doctor, Str8aim G-5 & SA-2, Chris Henry Balls and the EBSA Coaching Balls to help players to get on the line of aim and develop a smoother stroke in their delivery.
SBI Coaches
All current SBI Qualified Coaches who are Garda vetted were invited to attend the day. The players then learned about the Stance, Grip, Cue Action, Cue Ball Control and Basic Potting Skills. The game of Billiards was also introduced to the players.
Developing Fundamentals
PJ and the coaches gave some tips and advice to all the players. Next the players were coached in developing a good Approach, Stance and striking the middle of the cue ball. All the players received a training booklet with practice drills and coaching advice plus we had medals for the winner in each event.
All SBI Members
SBI would like to thank our members who encouraged their children/ friends/ members to attend this promotion day and help grow the game in Ireland. SBI would like to thank all the SBI Coaches for attending and helping out on the day.
Thank you to all the boys who attended and a big well done to all the winners on the day. Remember to practice the drills in your training booklet and learn how to improve with quality practice. We look forward to seeing you all play more in SBI events next season.
President Jim Leacy was on hand to thank all the young players for attending and thanked the coaches for holding a great day for the Juniors. We look forward to seeing all the players in action on the table in the new season.
Full Address / Post Code of the SBI HQ
Snooker & Billiards Ireland, Sport HQ, Academy of Excellence, Graiguecullen, Co Laois, Carlow Town, R93 C5Y6
For more information on Coaching contact info@sbireland.ie or PJ Nolan on pjcoach147@hotmail.com
