Six Academy Levels

At my 147 Academy, I have developed a training system, yellow to black, to train my players. Essentially, it is a road map to each player’s development as they learn to master the sport. Its purpose is only meant to be an example, but its practicality should be used to guide players, new and old…

The Academy Pathway

Over the years my 147academy has coached players and teams all around the world and I had the honour of working with so many great players. The big lesson I learnt was the smart players are usually the players who develop into the champions. I have written ‘The Academy Player Pathway‘ to give advice on…

Practice Session Structure

One of the most important areas for a player, I believe, is achieving a balance between time spent in solo practice, and time spent in playing practice matches. The right balance must be found for each player individually. As too much to one side or the other, the potential for improvement is lessened. Very few…

Academy Check List

There are a number of key checks done during each lesson in my Academy to monitor a player. Of course this is down to each individual player and level but it is a good starting point. All areas will be videoed and whatever my academy can do to help a player improve will be done:…

Egypt National Team Camp

Last week my 147academy returned to Africa and the city of Cairo in Egypt to hold another National Team Snooker Training Camp organised by the Egyptian Federation of Billiards Sport. This time we held a Men’s Camp with 14 players and a Junior Camp with 17 players. It is a big honour to work with…

Irish Training Camp

RIBSA held an International snooker training Camp in the Ivy Rooms Snooker Club in Carlow with our National Coach PJ Nolan on Saturday the 4th of January from 11am-4pm. All International players who have qualified for the European Championships in Portugal were invited to attend the training day where PJ held sessions on Break-Building, Safety, Long…

Goal Setting

Improving your game and winning snooker tournaments at the highest level is all about working on controlling your mind fitness as much as the control of your cue action. All Snooker Champions set own personal goals which helps them focus during training and in competitions. This program has been used with all my champions down…

Sports Psychology

Sports psychology is now becoming a major part of success in snooker as being able to control your mind under pressure is sometimes the difference in winning or losing.  Remember all players lost at the start, before they learnt what to do in how to win. Practicing your mind fitness is vital if your true…

Happy Christmas & New Year Everyone

I would like to wish all my 147academy students and friends all around the world a Wonderful Christmas and New Year. Last season was another memorable season and it started off with Rodney Goggins reaching the final of the Irish Masters in Goffs, Aaron Hill winning the European U-18 title and Ross Bulman reaching the…

Milan Training Camp

This week my 147academy returned to the beautiful city of Milan in Italy to hold my 7th snooker training camp in the Ambrosian Snooker Academy in Milan.  Davide Coltro who is an EBSA and WPBSA Coach and the main developer of snooker within F.I.B.I.S. organised the camp. This five-day training camp covered all aspects of…