PJ Nolan became an official W.P.B.S.A. World Snooker Coach when he was invited by the WPBSA to attend an intensive training course in the England Institute of Sport in Sheffield. Steve Davis, Terry Griffiths and Chris Lovell conducted the two day seminar which covered all aspects of the game and PJ becomes the first ever WSA coach from the Republic Of Ireland. Jason Ferguson Chairman of the WPBSA said ‘’World Snooker are very happy to have an experienced coach like PJ working within world snooker in coaching the future stars in Ireland and all across Europe’’
PJ currently coaches players like Fergal O Brien, David Hogan, Aditya Mehta and Lucky Vatnani on the main professional tour, along with top Irish amateurs Rodney Goggins, Vincent Muldoon, Jason Devaney, Robert Murphy, Josh Boileau and Shachar Ruberg from Israel.
Since returning from Qatar in 2008 PJ has transformed how our RIBSA players train and results have been incredible with Jason Devaney winning Junior Pot Black in the Crucible Theatre, David Hogan won the European Championship, Rodney Goggins won the bronze medal and made a 147 break in the world IBSF championships. Colm Gilcreest reached the World Amateur Final and Vincent Muldoon reached the European Amateur Final and all the players have stated that his coaching and guidance was crucial in helping them achieve this success.
The World Professional Championship Trophy won by John Higgins in the Crucible Theatre last May was on show during the course to inspire the thirteen coaches from all across the UK who attended the course. This included former professional player Jon Birch who won the World under 21 title in 1987 and played Ken Doherty in the world amateur final back in 1989. Each coach had to undergo specific training on demonstrating and explaining playing techniques, roles of a world snooker coach, rules of the game, Good Coach Vs Bad Coach, Child Protection/ Safeguarding, Assessing and developing players, Equality and Diversity.
Jim Leacy Chairman of RIBSA said ‘’ He was delighted to see PJ becoming an official World Snooker Coach. PJ has proved over the years that he is one of the very best coaches and it is great news for RIBSA in helping us in developing the game in Ireland ’’Terry Griffiths, Steve Davis and Jason Ferguson officially presented PJ with his WSA coaching badge and certificate at the end of the course. PJ said ‘’ I am thrilled to become a world snooker coach and It was fantastic to receive training from Terry Griffiths and Steve Davis on how the modern game is played and coached. He thanked Chris Lovell for everything in designing a great course and Jason Ferguson from the WPBSA for inviting him to become part of a great WSA coaching team
