Frank's
love of the game was originally expressed in a love of
playing, becoming a very good amateur player in the days
when there was little recognition to be had from this
- and certainly no gold at the end of the rainbow.
In contrast with today's prodigies, Frank Callan was thirty-two
when he made his first century break. At nineteen he was
the best player in Fleetwood just down the coast from
Blackpool, but went into the army in 1940 and did not
play again until he was twenty-seven years of age.
He
then won the North West of England Championships and a
few other substantial amateur events, but many a week
he would not practise from one week to the next due to
increasing work commitments.
When
nothing much was happening in snooker in the 1960's Frank
turned his attentions to golf, another game which lends
itself to the minute dissection of technique which so
fascinates him.
A
back injury in the late 1960's ended his participation
in golf and he returned to snooker again, securing the
Fylde Amatuer Snooker Championship in 1972 and winning
a couple of other local events.
It
was clear however that at the age of fifty-two his best
playing days were behind him, due in part to the back
injury that forced him to re-modify his playing style
and technique.
In
later life he found that he could make a major contribution
to the game of snooker through analysing the mechanics
of technique in an entirely fresh way and by challenging
traditional methods of coaching as expressed in books
or as standard policy in World Snooker Association coaching
courses.
Frank's
outstanding success as a coach suggests that many official
coaching principles should now be re-considered.
This
firmed his opinion that the ideal way is to find a technique
that suits an individual's body, as opposed to moulding
the body unnaturally to a preconceived technique.
Frank's
philosophy is that all coaching must be flexible to suit
the requirements of an individual.
Now
as the most successful coach in the history of snooker
Frank continues to work with many of the top players in
the world, but also assists seasoned amateurs, up and
coming youngsters and new beginners to the game.
Share
his fascinating views, insights and thoughts into snooker.
Let him help you through the pages of this web site.