EPSB Class 3 Snooker Referee Course – Announcement

Following discussions and work over recent months, the English Partnership for Snooker and Billiards is today delighted to announce the first date for its revamped Class 3 Snooker Referee Course. 

The two-day entry level course will take place on the 16th and 17th May 2020 and will be jointly held at the Northern Snooker Centre and Holiday Inn Express (near to each other) in Leeds. The course will be run by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association’s (WPBSA) Head of Coaching and Training Development Chris Lovell and a lead refereeing examiner. The cost of the course will be £129. 

All pupils will be provided with an official rule book ahead of the course, and a referee shirt plus blazer badge upon successful qualification.  

All pupils must provide on day one of the course a personal ‘Basic DBS Check’ certificate dated within the last six months. More information regards this can be found here https://www.gov.uk/request-copy-criminal-record 

EPSB board member and chairman of the WPBSA Jason Ferguson said “I am excited today by this announcement as we prepare to take the training of our referees in England to the next level. Developed with the expertise of leading WST official Brendan Moore and Chris Lovell, our new Class 3 course has undergone a significant restructure to reflect the requirements and attributes needed by the modern-day referee. 

 Following the publication of the revised WPBSA Rules of the Game last August, this also represents an important opportunity to review and update the process which will introduce the next generation of referees to our sport. With this new structure, I am confident that this model will become the gold standard for referee training across the world.” 

The itinerary of the course is as follows: 

Day One | 10am to 6pm at the Holiday Inn Express Leeds – City Centre (Off Cavendish St, Kirkstall Rd, Leeds LS3 1LY) 

• Introduction and welcome 
• The history of the snooker referee and the EPSB referee structure 
• Communication and presentation skills 
• Match preparation 
• Referee dress code 
• Child protection, safe-guarding and the EPSB referee code of conduct 

Day Two | 9am to 6pm at the Northern Snooker Centre (92 Kirkstall Road, Leeds LS3 1LT) 

• Around the table discussion discussing scenarios 
• Masterclass demonstration by a qualified referee / examiner 
• Examination 
• Your next steps 

 (The exact details of each day may alter where deemed necessary) 

How to apply 

Please email referees@epsb.co.uk with your name, address and date of birth.  We will then email you back an application form with details of how to pay.   

Upon receipt of payment each applicant will receive confirmation with details of how to obtain a DBS check via the government web site which costs £23 and further details of the course location and anything else relevant.   

The applicant is expected to bring the DBS certificate with them and have it to present on day one of the course at the beginning of the day.  If any applicant attends the course and does not bring a DBS certificate the applicant will not be allowed to attend the course.  Please ensure you comply with this requirement.