simon smith

simonsmithgoalkeeping.com new website now live ! A goalkeeping site for goalkeepers !!

Pickford, Henderson, Trafford and Steele…..something worked ? F.A Goalkeeping Development Camps.

I am delighted to see Jason Steele being in the England squad. During my time as a National Goalkeeping Coach at the FA, I had the pleasure of working with Jason on several occasions through the age groups. His attitude, application and ability have led him to have the career he has had and this opportunity ! Delighted 👏

Goalkeeping is a position based on confidence ! People would ask me if I was an amateur psychologist ? My answer is....no, I am a psychologist ! I'm dealing with people who are at the top of their profession; under massive scrutiny and pressure !

A 'negative step' when diving is poor technique! It reduces the power of your dive and shortens the length of it! There are 3 types of Diving Saves: Collapsing - no footwork, getting to ground as quick as possible. Step and Dive - stepping off the foot nearest the ball, leading foot 45 degrees. Shuffle, Step and Dive - side skip, then stepping off the foot nearest the ball, leading foot 45 degrees. Teach technique: repetition leading to habit.

I am sometimes 'driven' to write! I am open to change and innovation and have always looked to bring the best out of the goalkeeper's I have worked with through teaching and coaching! Combining this with my experience in the Premier League and International Football, I still believe that there are: 'Defining Technical Principles of Goalkeeping!'

Excellent Podcast from EVOGK. Thanks to Paul Banks. YouTube: @evogk1?si=UH3NdjqwRJDl6KXc" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">youtube.com/@evogk1?si=UH3… • Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/6uR1cQXdp… • Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/.../catching-u…

Spent a love afternoon in Abu Dhabi watching Al Jezera’s U14’s win 2v0…a goalkeeper inspired clean sheet !

Brilliant Basics - Catching.

Brilliant Basics....catching the ball early! Above waist....'W' thumb tips touching, fingers and hands making a basket behind the ball. Below waist.... 'V' little finger tips touching, fingers and hands making a basket shape behind the ball.

Keeping the left foot going !! I kick it, you catch it ⚽️🧤

Spent last Tuesday at @EvoGK_ half term Goalkeeping Camp in Sunderland. I spent the day teaching and encouraging young goalies to ‘catch the ball’ in all different goalkeeping scenarios ! Encouraging the ‘catch’ leads to so much confidence! The smile of success is great to see. Brilliant Basics - technique-skill-repetition.

@TimKrul is a goalkeeper that I have nothing but admiration for! After knowing Tim for several years as a young man growing up on Tyneside, I finally got to work with him during my second spell at the club when Steve McClaren was manager…..Tim got in ‘the groove’ and was playing really well, then disaster struck and he was injured! Never have I seen a player work so hard to get fit and I wondered several times whether he would be able to get back to the levels of fitness and goalkeeping required. On top of that we had a change of manager and Tim’s time at the club came to an end! A disappointment for myself! But after a couple of loan spells he got fully fit and had a great end to his career. True dedication and hard work, my only regret is I didn’t get to work longer with him! Good luck in retirement.

Goalkeeping Development….having a ‘proud’ moment ! I’ve never claimed to ‘produce a goalie’, but I‘ve worked with a few who have gone on to have a career at the top level ! Rangers…..Jack Butland Brighton….Jason Steele Everton…..Jordan Pickford Man Utd….Tom Heaton Notts Forest…..Matz Sell, Angus Gunn Crystal Palace….Dean Henderson Not bad out of 4 games this afternoon !

Peter Schmeichel had the ‘star fish’ , Steve Harper had his own version of the ‘star fish’, a very successful…one v one technique…Allison has his version but the key is getting close enough to the striker so that when the strikers head comes up to look at the target….you’re right in front of them….giving the striker no target ! Using the modern technique of bending one knee and spreading one leg is fine when close but from 6 yards away….wrong technique ! The ‘old’ principles still stand ! Whilst the ball is out of the strikers feet or head is down…..advance ! Strikers head comes up ‘stand still’…. wait!….if close enough use your spreading technique if not wait and then use the appropriate technique! Use the appropriate technique for the circumstance!!! One technique doesn’t fit all….

To play in goal successfully, you need to ‘master’ the ‘Core Technical Principles’ ! Handling….’W’ technique, ‘V’ technique, body shape - balance. Footwork….forwards, backwards, sideways. Shot Stopping….being set, body shape, balance. Reaction Saves….standing still, body shape, balance. Crossing….jumping, catching. One v One….blocking, spreading, sliding. Passing….support, receiving, delivering, throwing. Teach the ‘Core Technical Principles’ until they become ‘second nature!’

I’m currently doing a job where I am a ‘Technical Goalkeeping Coach!’ I have the goalkeepers every morning for from between 30 minutes to 90 minutes and I am purely concentrating on ‘technical goalkeeping!’ Sessions: Handling Footwork Diving Jumping and catching Blocking, spreading and sliding Receiving, passing, throwing. Loving it ! 🧤⚽️

When I started working for the FA and delivering Goalkeeping Qualifications in 2007/8 it was a pre requisite that before doing A Licence Goalkeeping you had to do A Licence Outfield ! This caused much ‘outrage’ amongst Goalkeeping Coaches some already working as Goalkeeping Coaches in Professional Football but now needing to ‘get qualified’ with the introduction of the Premier League and Academies. “why do I need to outfield courses?” My ‘stock’ answer was even as a Goalkeeping Coaches you need to ‘know’ outfield play and principles to be able to help your Goalkeeper! As times have changed Goalkeeping Coaches have moved into Goalkeeping/Outfield Coaches turning goalkeeping practices into goalkeeping practices using goalkeepers as outfield players as opposed to goalkeeping coaches get outfield players to use in their practice which is real!! What’s your role ? My worry is that Goalkeeping Coaches are neglecting the ‘basics’, the ‘fundamentals’, the ‘ building blocks’ ! It’s repetitive, it’s development, it’s long term, it’s a process, it’s a journey, it can be ‘boring’(your job to make it interesting, stimulating, enjoyable) but it is key !!! Interesting?

Sitting in Tynemouth Front Street having a coffee and the number of people wearing Newcastle United shirts is fantastic ! I known it was a fantastic and successful season but I hope adidas are looking after Sam Fender as I’m sure he is responsible for many people wearing their shirts today !

The question was, “do you have a philosophy about goalkeeping or a method?” I had never really thought about it! But having had 1) time to think about it and 2) working with ‘new’ people in goalkeeping. My answer is most definitely ‘yes’!