When one thinks of snooker players, the stereotype is an able bodied person. However this is not now the case as World Snooker and the WPBSA have been working tirelessly in recent years to give people with disabilities, the same access to snooker and other cue sports. With various open days held across the country, potential players are able to attend open days and worked with trained coaches to improve their game. Disability does of course occur in various forms and so these organisations try to adapt and work with the various challenges that a player has when playing snooker.
The main change from able bodied snooker is that the tables are lowered to wheelchair height so that players can freely cue without the inability due to height. With this table adaption, tournaments have been able to be arraigned and played just as they would in a club. The added advantage is that people with disabilities feel inclusive rather than excluded due their physical or psychological restrictions. Having watched some of them play on social media sites, they put me as a player to shame. They are determined and just want to play the sport they love. Moreover they are good and could beat a number of able bodied players.
Another innovation of the sport is the introduction of SIM Specs to simulate the various types of sight loss that exists. Professional snooker players were recently invited to an event in Sheffield during the World Championship to try out these glasses with interesting results. Players such as Nigel Bond and Shaun Murphy had a go and valued the participation. First manufactured in 1984, these glasses show anyone using them, how to train visually impaired people and most importantly how to guide them. They are made to last being highly durable and sold at a reasonable price.
The most exciting news is the recent announcement that World Disability Billiards and Snooker has struck a deal with 360Fizz to host the WBDS tour for the next two seasons. “This will include tournaments for people with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities, alongside fun days at which people with all disabilities are encouraged to come and try snooker”.These events are designed to make participants welcome from day one and are totally inclusive
Linked to this, is the goal to make snooker and other cue sports part of the Paralympic Games. As Jason Ferguson, Chairman of World Snooker, has been attempting a bid to being snooker to the Olympic Games, so this push within the Paralympic sport is vital too. Snooker is a sport and has proved its worthiness over many years. The required structure is there and just needs to be given the chance to flourish.
We should all be very proud of our sports persons with disabilities. Whatever their disability, whether evident or hidden, this sport is attempting to include them and make them top class competitors. Snooker clearly is a very difficult sport for an able bodied person to play but for someone with disabilities, this is just one of many hurdles that they have to jump in life and the powers to be, have definitely made a step in the right direction to address these challenging issues. #Cue4All
