Chris Henry Neuroscience-Based
Level 1 Snooker and Cue-Sports Coaching Course
A new standard in snooker coaching
A neuroscience-based coach education programme that teaches you how players perceive, move, automate skills and perform under pressure.
Developed by Chris Henry and Luk Simoens for coaches who want to look beyond visible technique and guide players towards stable, repeatable skills.
Why this course?
Good coaching starts with understanding
Snooker coaching is about more than recognising and correcting visible faults. What a player does at the table is shaped by perception, beliefs and movements that have become largely automated through repetition.
To facilitate lasting change, a coach must understand how skills are developed, why ineffective habits keep returning, and how feedback can support—or disrupt—the learning process.
This course provides coaches with a clear framework to observe more purposefully, make informed decisions and help players develop stable, repeatable skills.
What makes this course different?
A framework for understanding the whole player
This course teaches coaches to look at the player as a whole—not only at the visible execution, but also at the processes that precede it and the factors that determine whether a skill remains reliably available.
Insights from neuroscience help you understand how perception, beliefs, emotions and movement patterns influence one another. You learn how habits are formed in the brain, why automatic responses can regain control under pressure, and how coaching can support lasting change.
Rather than starting from one ideal technique or a standard solution for every player, you learn to observe without judging too quickly, recognise individual differences, and determine which intervention is truly relevant—and when it is better not to intervene.
An international edition in Mechelen
On 22 and 23 August 2026, ten participants from Belgium, the Netherlands and England attended the Level 1 Snooker and Cue-Sports Coaching Course in Mechelen.
Over two intensive days, theoretical insights were combined with practical demonstrations, interaction and coaching at the table. Participants explored how perception, habits, communication, cue-sports physics and mental processes influence a player’s development.
This sold-out edition marked the third consecutive international Level 1 course to reach full capacity.
Interested in a future course?
New course dates will be announced soon. Join the waiting list to receive priority access and be among the first to hear when registration opens.
Discover the vision behind the course
In this short video, Chris Henry and Luk Simoens explain what sets this course apart from traditional coach education and how insights from neuroscience form the foundation of its approach.
Who this course is for
For coaches who want to deepen their practice
This course is designed for snooker coaches, aspiring coaches, support staff and federation officials who view coaching as a process of learning and development—not as a collection of technical instructions.
The Chris Henry Neuroscience-Based Level 1 Snooker and Cue-Sports Coaching Course is suitable for those who:
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want to help players develop stable, repeatable skills;
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are willing to look beyond visible technique alone;
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want to understand how perception, learning and automation influence performance;
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want to structure and deepen their coaching approach, both in terms of content and teaching methodology.
The course requires active participation, critical reflection and a willingness to question your own assumptions as a coach.
Course content
What you will learn during Level 1
During the course, you will develop both a conceptual framework and practical coaching skills. You will learn:
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how striking and aiming are developed as automatic processes;
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how visuals, alignment and perception influence execution;
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how to recognise and analyse ineffective habits;
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how to investigate the relevant causes behind a visible outcome;
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how to provide targeted feedback without unnecessarily disrupting the learning process;
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how to understand and apply relevant principles of cue-sports physics;
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how to structure coaching sessions and learning pathways purposefully.
Objective observation with The Balls
An important part of the course is learning to work with The Balls: a visual and diagnostic tool that makes striking, aiming and deviations immediately visible.
It helps coaches to:
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distinguish observations from interpretations;
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provide players with clear, concrete feedback;
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develop effective automatic processes without overcoaching.
Structure and approach
Small-scale, interactive and practice-oriented
The course is deliberately kept small, creating space to explore questions in depth, examine insights together and translate them into real coaching situations.
Throughout the two-day course, theoretical explanation, observation, interaction and practical work at the table are continuously integrated. You will receive direct guidance from Chris Henry and Luk Simoens.
The focus is not on delivering as much information as possible, but on understanding, applying and developing a more critical eye. This is not simply a course for acquiring knowledge; it is a programme designed to refine the way you observe, analyse and coach.
Behind the course
Complementary expertise, one integrated framework
Chris Henry is an internationally renowned coach in cue sports, technique, neuroscience and performance. He has coached multiple professional world champions, ranking-event winners and top-16 players. His cue-sports expertise is combined with neuroscience, psychology and advanced learning methodologies.
Luk Simoens is a professional snooker coach and mental performance coach with a background in neuroscience, psychology and structured performance development. After achieving 95.5% at Level 1 and 99% at Level 2, he restructured both courses into a clearer, more in-depth and professional framework. He delivers the official Level 1 coach education courses across Europe, working closely with Chris Henry.
Together, Chris and Luk combine technical, psychological and neuroscientific expertise within an integrated coaching framework for modern cue sports.
Participant experiences
What coaches take away from the course
“The Coaching Course weekend in Bruges might well have been one of the most inspiring snooker events I have ever attended. Not just for my own game, but more importantly for learning how to transfer this knowledge to others.
A well-structured course, great tools like The Balls, fascinating insights and high-level testing made me feel well prepared for the role of a coach. Chris and his team always find the right balance between concentrated work and a very good atmosphere.
No wonder so many professionals like to have him in their corner. Thanks to everybody involved for a great snooker weekend!”
Sven Pfitzner
“Every coach should do this. It’s unbelievable.”
Lee Walker
“A superbly run course. I gained so much from it.”
Dan Buskin
“Brilliant. I really enjoyed the course and its content.”
Alan Cronshaw
“A fantastic experience! I can’t wait for Level 2.”
Paul Eaglen
Practical information
Everything you need to know before attending
Course
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Level: Snooker Coach – Level 1
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Duration: two-day course
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Language: English, with support available in Dutch and French
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Location: Bruges, Mechelen or upon request
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Included: comprehensive course syllabus and a set of The Balls
Assessment and certification
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The course concludes with a practical assessment and an online theoretical exam. A minimum score of 75% is required to pass.
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Upon successful completion, you will receive the official Level 1 Coach Certificate, signed by Chris Henry, Luk Simoens and Peter De Ryck.
Validity
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The certificate is valid for two years. You can then update your knowledge and renew your certification through a refresher course or recertification.
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Certified coaches may also be listed on Chris Henry’s official coaching platform.
