Simon Smith Interview
Introducing Simon Smith, goalkeeping coach
| 1: When you finished playing did you find coaching the natural progression? |
| Yes, during my last couple of seasons at Gateshead FC, I ‘went back to school’ and embarked on a Sports Studies Degree at the University of Northumbria. This gave me the under pinning knowledge to the game I had played all my life....match analysis, team strategy, coaching philosophy, working with young players and as part of the course I under took my first coaching award and also had the time to get involved in practical coaching at the Academy at Newcastle United. In my final year at University, I wrote my first goalkeeping book, ‘Goalkeeping for Soccer’. On finishing my degree I set up ‘Simon Smith Goalkeeping’ and continued with my coaching career, working at Carlisle United with the clubs senior goalkeepers, working at Newcastle United Academy and also working for the F.A. with the Women’s Senior team and boys U18’s. |
| 2:From reading your books and watching your DVDs you seem to really love goal keeping and coaching, how many hours a week do you spend coaching at all levels? |
| Not as many as I would like at the moment! I probably coach for about six hours a week at the moment, but spend the rest of the time either talking about it or thinking about it! I am a true ‘goalkeeping anorak’, anything to do with the position....kit, gloves, drills, practices, books, goalkeeping clips on TV, goalkeeping web sites, looking at other sports to see if there is anything to transfer....I am a ‘goalkeeping enthusiast’. |
| 3:When you were at Newcastle United, what was your training schedule? Do you train and coach most days? |
| I was extremely luck at Newcastle United as I hit on a time which has probably been one of their most successful periods in the clubs recent history, it was just disappointing that we didn’t win a trophy and the journey ended in such sad circumstances! Due to that success our training and match schedule was extremely busy. I often say, I worked with the same two people for forty weeks a year, nearly every day, for six years and that is true! We started half an hour before outfield training began to make sure we got an hour’s specialist goalkeeping work done before the goalkeepers were needed for shooting, crossing, phase of play work, small sided games or 11 v 11. I now realise how lucky I was working for a manager like Sir Bobby Robson, he actively encouraged me to come and coach the goalkeepers during his sessions, giving me the experience of working with goalkeepers ‘in the game’ on positioning, communication, support and decision making. I acted as another pair of eyes, a sounding board for the goalkeepers. Having worked for other managers since, I now know that this is not always the case and many managers only see their goalkeeping coaches as ‘specialist technicians’ working in isolation with goalkeepers. |
| 4:As a ‘goalkeeping coach’ it is your role to give the goalkeeper ‘all the tools in the box’ they require, to play the position successfully....technique, games play, fitness, handling the game mentally. What most do you work with on your keepers and why? |
| We based our work on match play, what do they need to know and practice to play the game....footwork, handling, diving, shot stopping, 1 v 1, reaction saves, crossing, distribution....these topics were carried out at match tempo and intensity! If we knew a team had a particular strength or style of play, towards the end of the week we would set practices to deal with these specific threats. |
| 5:Do you talk with other goal keeping coaches in the Premier League? |
| Yes, having been in the Premiership for six years and also having been on many coaching courses either as a participant or tutor, I have got to know most of the goalkeeping coaches in the Premier League. |
| 6:Do you talk about training drills etc? |
| No, to be honest, the chat is mostly about dealing with the goalkeeper who isn’t in the team or trying to get competitive games for a young up and coming goalkeeper on loan. |
| 7:How do you prepare your keepers for a game? |
| Two goalkeepers....take the goalkeeper who isn’t playing out first and work through handling, diving, shot stopping and crossing. When the ‘playing’ goalkeeper comes out, start with passing then take the ‘playing’ goalkeeper through the same routine. Finish with kicking, dealing with the back pass, goal kicks and kicking from hand. A quick ‘good luck’ and back into the dressing room. |
| 8:Since being involved at Newcastle what would you say is the best performance one of your keepers have had? |
| Shay Given v Chelsea in a pre season game in Malaysia, not only did he play Chelsea ‘single handedly’ but loss nearly a stone in weight whilst doing so! His magnificent performance set him up and set his standard for the season. Shay is remarkably consistent and has produced ‘match winning’ saves throughout his career, a truly ‘world class’ performer. |
| 9:What advice do you give young goal keepers trying to get into the game? |
| Work constantly at the technical side of your game....handling, footwork, diving, 1v1, crossing, reaction saves, distribution, transfer this into the game and play as much as possible. |
| 10:Do you do a lot of scouting? |
| At the moment I scout for the F.A. watching England goalkeepers from U16 level to senior level. When at Newcastle United, I ran Simon Smith Goalkeeping as a scouting tool. Fraser Foster, a young professional at Newcastle United came through this route. |
| 11:What are the highlights of your coaching career? |
| Working with Shay Given and Steve Harper, during my time, the best ‘pair’ of goalkeepers in the Premiership, the standard of their work on a daily basis was outstanding! Helping Kieren Westwood, now of Coventry City, realise his potential in becoming a ‘world class’ performer. Working for Sir Bobby Robson, for his experience, guidance, trust and help that continue to this day. |
| 12:What influences you and your coaching techniques? |
| As I said before I try to look everywhere for ideas; I have just spent a year in Canada with experts in the field of biomechanics researching the ‘biomechanics of goalkeeping’. I have looked at ice hockey net minding, which is all about posture, composure, angles and distances. I love the mentality for ice hockey towards its net minders they are the stars of the game, not the goal scorers. I like that! |
| 13:hat gloves and boots do you regularly wear? |
| Nike support Simon Smith Goalkeeping so kit, gloves and balls are supplied by them. I do like their gloves. In the early days, I was involved with adidas and developing their ‘fingersave’ glove, the first company to develop the idea, great days of glove testing. Puma boots have always been a favourite; they ’fit’ my feet! This got me into trouble at Newcastle United as they are sponsored by adidas and expected everyone to wear adidas boots! |
| 14:As a young lad who were your heroes? |
| Peter Shilton....superb technician, dedicated, super fit, produced ‘world class’ saves. Pat Jennings....made the game look so easy! Bruce Grobelaar....took the position to a new level, the expectation of the role of the goalkeeper changed, dominating your 18 yard box and coming for crosses 10-12 yards out, fantastic distribution. Neville Southall....a goalkeeping character, a great influence on his team’s success. |
| 15:What would be a typical coaching day for you when you were at Newcastle United? |
| In for 9.00am for a staff meeting, goalkeeping coaching 10.30am, outfield coaching 11.00am, finish 12.30pm, 1.00pm lunch, 2.00pm optional goalkeeping session(depending on match schedule) 6.00pm Academy session 8.00pm finish. |
| 16:Do you have any goalkeeping coaches that you would look up to? |
| Mike Kelly, his technical information, teaching manner, service and enthusiasm was a great insight into what it took to be a ‘professional’ goalkeeping coach. Frans Hoek, first set of goalkeeping DVD’s, what an inspiration, I still refer to them now! |
| 17:What do you think about goalkeeping coaching? Do you think there is enough being done by the football associations to address the growing demand for specialised goalkeeping coaching???? |
| I think the English F.A. is doing an excellent job in raising the standard of goalkeeping coach education and goalkeeping coaching in England, hopefully this will lead to an improvement in the standard of the English goalkeeper. I used to believe that you could teach/coach goalkeeping on isolation but know believe you need to know how goalkeeping fits into the game to be able to give your goalkeeper the best education. The outfield courses also give you the structure to be able to organise your sessions and give you the experience of dealing with groups and eventually the team. |
| 18:Excluding Shay Given who is your top premiership goal keeper? |
Steve Harper....could have, should have, and could still be an England goalkeeper.
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