According to the Oxford Dictionaries, a 'paradigm shift' is a "fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions" (OUP,2015). This snooker training book may be different from anything you have read before and, in my view, represents a 'paradigm shift' in how snooker players may approach their training and practice. However, this is not a book for all snooker players because the exercises in this book are demanding and challenging and aimed at improving ambitious amateur players with aspirations to play at the highest level. Simulation training is based upon Thorndike and Woodworth's (1901) 'theory of identical elements', which suggests that the most effective form of practice is closely approximating the conditions of competition. Making training conditions like competition may prepare individuals to cope with the pressures involved in performing (Cummings and Williams, 2014), which is the aim of this book. I have always used forms of simulation training in my coaching sessions. It is a recognised technique used in many different domains, including the arts, the military, medicine, and many sports. Simulation training will "instil a sense of performance accomplishment in athletes" (Cummings and Williams,2014); however, it will also, at times, be highly challenging, even for the best players. The best moments in life usually occur when a person's "body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile" (Csikszentmihalyi 2002, p.3). The training you will undertake is complex and not necessarily pleasant while attempting it. Still, it will hopefully be some of the best moments you will experience in your snooker training.
This book involves exercises that simulate the pressures of competitive play and which, in my experience, may help to challenge and improve players. There are 20 separate competitions, each of which comprises five rounds. To win a competition, you must complete the challenge in Round One to progress to Round Two and so on, until you complete the challenge in the final (Round Five) and win the competition. I have divided the competitions into four levels of difficulty.'Club Champion' (these are pretty easy challenges and a gentle introduction to simulation training). Secondly, 'County Champion' (these are pretty tough challenges). Thirdly 'Regional Champion (this is a step up in difficulty). Finally, 'National Champion' (as you would expect, these are difficult). Also, there is one final competition to win, the 'World Championship', which involves tough challenges and seven rounds to battle your way through. Do not worry if this sounds complicated; it is not, and I will provide an incredibly easy-to-follow example on the following page. This book provides a vast resource of training material that players or coaches can use to structure their training sessions and may help players to remain challenged and motivated to improve their game to an even higher level. This is a new way of training, and in my view, it is a much better way of practice, and I believe it may give the players that embrace this method a distinct advantage.