Austrian Snooker Coach Paul Schopf Launches New Training Book
Snooker Certified Coach Paul Schopf has just released a new training book for players of all abilities which focuses on not just hundreds of routines to practice, but mental training and goal setting as well.
The book is a 158-page action-packed guide with routines to practice on everything from potting and break-building, to safety to even routines to play using the rest!
But, Schopf, a player-coach from Austria, experienced in playing in events around the world, has not just created another routines training book, he’s packed in some great actionable tips on how to cope with the mental pressure of the game in both matches and in practice.
The book also comes with a useful record sheet you can print off and take to your practice sessions and record lots of aspects of your game, which include some like these:
- How well did you play today?
- What went well today in your session?
- What didn’t go so well?
- What do you need to focus more on?
- How do I get myself more in the zone?
- And much more…
ALWAYS RECORD YOUR PRACTICE SESSIONS!
All these questions help you paint a clear picture in your mind and help you to plan your future sessions. For example: If you are doing a routine such as trying to clear the colours off their spots, then, record the mistakes you make in a notebook so you can go back and see if you improved the next time you do the routine.
In SnookerZone’s case, the trouble with clearing the colours has always been leaving the cue ball in difficult spots on particular shots on the 27 break. By recording why is a great way to be able to see if you can improve the next time.
GOAL SETTING: WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE?
Schopf’s Mental Training Guide also requires you to think about what you want to achieve in your sessions by goal setting. You need to think clearly about what you want to achieve in each session as well as what you are going to practice. For example:
- Do you want to clear the colours off their spots?
- Do you want to make a 30 break on the line-up?
- Do you want to be able to screw the ball back further than last time?
By creating clear goals for yourself, you have a clearer mindset and will be able to achieve more than if you go to a practice session with no goals or no clear understanding of what it is you want to get out of the session. Write it down and record it! This sounds very basic, but too many players do not have a clear vision of what they want to get out of their practice. It doesn’t matter how small or big the goal is, you need to define it – so you can then record improvement!
Schopf’ focuses your mind on goals and it’s up to you to define them and then achieve them through your practice.
You can print out the sheet and take it with you to the club whenever you practice. Keep it as a record and keep referring to it as and when you start lacking in motivation!
There are a whole lot more valuable tips in Schopf’s book other than the goal setting, but, if you really want to get better, you need a clear plan of what you’re wanting to get out of your sessions.
THE SIX STRANDS
There are six strands in Schopf’s Mental Training, including:
- Goal setting
- What does it mean to be mentally strong?
- Mindsets/practice
- Mindsets/tournaments
- Match analysis
- Match report
Each strand sets out clearly what you need to do in order to define clearly what’s going right or wrong in your game whether it be in a match scenario or just in practice.
Read SnookerZone’s exclusive interview with Paul Schopf, here in the Coaching Zone…