No matter how successful or experienced, all snooker players rely on coaches from time to time. Even the likes of Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan have coaches whom they regularly turn to for advice.

Steve Prest of the Manhattan Snooker Club in Harrogate, one of World Snooker’s official coaches, said: "It’s vital for anyone starting out in the game to find a good coach with the right qualifications who can give them the right advise. Coaches can explain the basics of the game in the clearest way possible, then it’s up to the player to go away and practise.

"Even the top players occasionally develop flaws in their technique, and the right advise from a coach can make a massive difference."

Only coaches whose details appear below are officially recognised coaches of the WPBSA and have undergone satisfactory Criminal Record Bureau checks in the UK in line with World Snooker’s Child Protection Policy.

Coaching courses are to be staged at the World Snooker Academy. There will be standard courses, costing £1000, and intensive courses, costing £1200. On successfully passing the course and Criminal Record Bureau checks, applicants will have earned Official World Snooker Coaching status and will have their details included on the World Snooker website. For application form and further details please contact Jessica Coles on 0117 3178207 or e-mail jessica.coles@worldsnooker.com

Testimonial from Tim Dunkley:

"Thank you for allowing me to attend the World Snooker coaching course at the Academy on 6th and 7th March, 2007. It was a fascinating two days which has opened my eyes to a whole new world of coaching. Del Hill was a revelation. I hung off his every word and could easily have stayed longer. The man is a legend. I have now fulfilled a two-year dream of becoming a qualified coach. When I was talking to some of the juniors at my club last night I held their attention like never before."