Goalkeeping: Goalkeeper Coach Education

There is a lot of online discussion about Coach Education for Goalkeepers, with most of the gripes coming from the English FA segment – this is largely because of the long winded and expensive pathway that Goalkeeper Coaches have to follow to achieve their qualifications via the outfield badges.

Without wanting to boast, when I was actively coaching I possessed a large range of coaching badges from the English, Scottish and Welsh FA’s; potentially the most qualifications of any Goalkeeper Coaches whom I knew personally and certainly within a 60 mile radius of me!

 I feel that this puts me in a strong position to be able to pass judgement on a couple of questions. 

Why should I have to do my outfield badges before my goalkeeping ones? 

When I first began accumulating my qualifications, I was of the same opinion however I soon learned that this was a naïve way of thinking, as any education that I could get would only be good for my goalkeepers. Having to take the outfield badges too certainly developed me as a coach, and allowed me a greater insight into the beautiful game of football – plus I enjoyed the new experience, and seeing the game through different eyes. 

However, I do feel that once you have passed your UEFA B Outfield then you should be allowed to jump straight on the Goalkeeping A Licence (bypassing the outfield A) as you have already demonstrated your competence as a coach – which is largely the C and B requirements. 

Personally I think that every coach should continue to learn, and if that means taking obscure and outfield courses then what is the harm? I qualified as a Child Welfare Office even though I knew that I would never be needed in that role at any club but:

“Who dares to teach must never cease to learn” 

Why can’t I do a higher level goalkeeper course with a different Countries FA? 

I am led to believe that the national FA’s are clamping down on cross border Coach Education, as some coaches were completing licences from one FA and jumping straight to the next level with another National FA. 

I personally think that this is a good thing, as each National FA will (or should) have their own Coaching Philosophy. 

Just because you can no longer take your Goalkeeping A Licence in Scotland off the back of your B from Wales should be applauded, in my opinion. 

You can still take the A in Scotland, but you just have to take the two Courses previous. This a) gives you more qualifications and b) gives you more experience and knowledge as a coach. How can that be a bad thing? 

I acknowledge the cost and time involved, however it is all in investment. Scotland wouldn’t nor couldn’t stop you from taking the A Licence providing you had taken their C and B before them. Wales can’t stop you from taking the Goalkeeping B licence providing you’ve taken the C and Award with them……do you see a pattern emerging? 

There are too many badge snobs in football, the “I’m level two, what level are you?” mob that don’t actually care about player development, they care about personal development. They care about how they look and the competition with other coaches. Do things right, respect the National FA pathway for qualifications and never stop learning – even if that means going right back to basics on an entry level course. 

Who knows – you may just enjoy it!

Goalkeeping: Getting on with the Gaffer

A rather apt topic for me to write about, considering that I once said to our new manager during pre-season “I don’t have to like you to play for you”……and strangely enough I didn’t. He pied me off to the Reserves and transferred me a week in to the season. Doh! I really must learn not to be so honest sometimes!

I have seen both sides of the fence, as I have turned my hand to managing since I can no longer actively coach. I’ve worked for a grassroots side during my recovery from surgery and latterly the reserve side for a Step 5 club. 

I have to say that for every 20 players that like you, there is 1 that thinks you’re a total knob! The old saying that you can’t please everybody all the time certainly rings true for football managers! 

I can’t speak for every Manager in the game, but I certainly never did anything out of personal reasons – if you were dropped from my team then you were dropped for football reasons only. Sadly, players do not see it that way and they all think that you don’t like them – even after you’ve sat down and had a chat with them!

All players want to play. I haven’t ever met one that was happy to sit on the bench and pick up their wages, so you must try to understand that if you are dropped then, I would hope, that it is purely for football/tactical reasons. 

The best advice I can give is to always be honest with the manager – if you have any questions then seek him out and ask! Do not let things simmer and fester away, as I can promise you that will only make the resentment far worse! 

I had one lad who couldn’t train because of working shifts. He knew that those who attended training would take priority for the games, but made no effort to attend – instead choosing to moan at being on the bench every week! He posted on Facebook that he was on 2 weeks holiday from work (big mistake) and when I told him Training details he replied with “I’m working, sorry”. 

Long story short, he moaned at me for being sub again after the 2^nd week of his holiday (again his Facebook status was updated on training evenings with “Watching Shrek” or “Playing COD”). I explained I knew about his holiday and updates etc, to which he the apologised and left the Club – suitably embarrassed I assume. 

I wouldn’t mind, but he then told people I’d asked him to leave the Club as he was no longer welcome! (I said no such thing, he was a good lad to have around on a match day!) People tend to find it’s easier to blame me than accept responsibility themselves, as I will always give a straight answer to a question – and sometimes people just don’t like the answer they hear! 

Being a manager is pretty much a full-time gig, even at grass roots levels! Often they simply do not have the time to address every single member of their squad and explain their reasoning’s, as they are extremely busy running around performing the million and one other tasks that need to be performed so that you can have a game on Saturday! 

You have to trust your manager, whether you agree with him or not, it is not your decision ultimately. Certainly as Manager, I encouraged challenges and also asked the Players to find answers to the problems that I was setting but I would still expect the full support of the Players to whatever system we were working. If you do question the tactics, then have a reason for the questioning as following up with “Because it’s rubbish” will not get you, nor the team anywhere! 

Remember the Manager is human, and is highly unlikely that he wants to lose the game, so he will be doing what he sees best for the circumstances. By all means, question things in private, but lend him your full support in public and be the Player that your Manager needs – whether on the pitch or sitting next to him in the dug-out!

Goalkeeping: Working with the full backs

Arguably, a team’s full backs have the ability to be the most pivotal players on the team sheet – they are often as responsible for begging an attack as they are shielding the threat from the opposition wingers. 

As goalkeepers, it is our duty to understand both our team mates and the Managers tactical requirements. There is little point in playing football at senior level without an understanding of the game. It is all well and good knowing your game, your ability but think of that extra percentage advantage you can gain by immersing yourself in the tactical role of the match. 

In the modern game, it is exceptionally rare to find full backs that just defend. Most have a specific role to play within the Managers requirements, although I do remember when I first began senior football at 15 years old I had a Manager who would scream blue murder if one of our full backs ever dared venture away from the security of the back four – and that’s when we were attacking! 

It has to be argued that my impression of that particular Manager wasn’t great; I felt that he was tactically inept however he was the gaffer, and if that’s how he wanted his team to play then that’s how I would support (plus at 15/16 years of age then who was I to argue!) 

The saying that “Goalkeepers can see all of the pitch” is largely true; however it is also pointless if you don’t actually understand what needs to happen on the pitch! Understanding the needs of your full backs is key to building a strong defensive foundation. 

I have always been a fan of clear lines of communication, by talking to my team mates I would gain an understanding of how they worked, what their key-words were (do I need detail in the communication or is e.g “Left shoulder” a good enough call?) and what was expected of them from both the Manager but, more importantly, themselves. 

I would insist on working with ‘my’ defence in all the SSG’s and Phases of Play during training, as this would speed up our understanding of working as a unit and iron out any potential problems before Saturday afternoon.

The full backs are an integral part of that unit, and the more that you understand about them as players, the more that you can benefit your team. As the play is developing down the left wing, a quick glance across the pitch may well expose the space that your right back has in front of him to exploit. One quick shout, and a brief defensive ‘shuffle’ later and your team have managed to stretch the game and create space. 

Defensively you want your full backs to know when to show the opposition inside and into the crowded area of the pitch, or whether to show them down the line. Apart from the players own knowledge, it should be you that makes this decision as ultimately it is your goal that’s being protected. My preference on this was to always encourage the players inside before the 18 yard box, once they were level with the 18 then I wanted them out wide. This was because I was confident in dealing with a shot from 18+ yards (but there should be enough bodies to prevent this), and also that often a cross from deep is a lot harder to deal with effectively. 

I am a huge fan of communication, not shouting and screaming, but effective communication. Your full backs thrive on information, it makes their jobs easier if you are their ‘look out’ so ensure that you know what to say and when to say it and your back four will swiftly become the defensive unit that you deserve!

Goalkeeping: Playing Against a Bully

I’m pretty sure that we’ve all been there at some point in our careers – looking across at the opposition and seeing him standing there; that one lad you didn’t want to play against, that one lad you know is a complete bully. 

I had one memorable incident, when during the warm up this lad was making his way back into his changing room before kick off. He purposely went out of his way to approach me (I was on the edge of my box, working on my distribution), he did not offer to shake hands but jutted his head into my personal space and growled “I’m going to do you Keeper!” 

I stared down at him, and did not react. I had been in the game for far too long to know that was exactly what he was after, so I refused him that pleasure. Actions always speak louder than words, and kick off was just 15 minutes away…. 

There was a through ball knocked through after about five minutes, and predictably it was a dual between myself and this bully (you could have laid money on this being an early incident!). As I sprinted out to gather the ball, I knew full well that I was in for a clattering but in for a penny, in for a pound… 

I gathered the ball on the slide, just as he decided to dive in with his studs up. BOOM! We came together and I can recall the snapping sound as though it had just happened. The collision between his studs and my head was sufficient enough to bend his straightened leg back on itself, and whilst I suffered a little bit of a cut just above my eye (just the five stitches this time – nice “Terry Butcher” bandage for the rest of the game!), he had actually fractured his leg. 

He was screaming like you wouldn’t believe and after I threw the ball out of play for treatment I bent over him, stared directly into his panicking eyes and said “Maybe next time Pal....” 

I knew what was going to happen when I went for the ball, but I wanted it more…I was more focussed and determined with what was about to happen, and regardless of the impact, there would be absolutely no way that I would have shown him that he’d hurt me. I was always going to win that challenge regardless, I wanted it more. It was simply a freak accident that caused the break as the majority of times that this would happen would just result in a sore head for the goalkeeper, however on this occassion, the bully got his come uppance!

Banter and intimidation is part and parcel of football, and it has to be like water off a ducks back for a goalkeeper. The key to dealing with this is self belief and confidence. Even if you don’t feel confident, or you are a naturally shy person then just by simply acting like you are full of confidence tricks the mind into believing it! These comments are made simply to get into your head and to upset your natural game, and if you allow them in then they will affect your performance. 

I can take a clattering if it means that I win, for as long as I am breathing then I will be up for another challenge. I would allow no body to ruin my enjoyment of the game; no body will spoil how I feel just because they think they can. I will not show pain, regardless of what my body is telling me. I will not allow others to think they have beaten me.

 Bullies want reactions, and if you fuel that by giving them what they want then you have lost. Have confidence in what you say, what you do and how you act - you will emerge from every personal challenge as a victor.

Goalkeeping: Superstition or Routine?

I’m going to put a few things down first:

Left sock on first

Left boot on first

Shinpads left off until after warm up

Touch the posts before kick off

Etc etc

I’m fairly certain that I could be here all day writing down ever goalkeeper’s superstition before a game; but is it superstition or routine? Well, I hope for your sake that it is routine…

As you may already be aware from reading my Blog, I acknowledge that a players mentality is a huge component of a players performance, and that can mean that any imperfections mentally can have a devastating affect.

As a player, I was guilty of having a routine but I would not allow it to be called my superstitions as I do not like to be a slave to anything. If, for whatever reason, I could not complete part of my routine then it genuinely did not matter but I know that some of my team mates were not of the same opinion.

Some of the lads would panic if they could not fulfil their superstition, for whatever reason. I would sit next to them and listen to them saying “I’m not going to play well today as I’ve forgotten x, y or z” – and that is the danger of match day superstitions.

‘Lucky’ Pants, ‘Lucky’ Shin Pads or ‘Lucky’ anything should be taken out of your kit bag and set alight! They are all dangerous to your performance, as you’ve allowed this item into your psyche and are allowing it to dictate your performance.

Routine is good, as it allows you to focus on your preparation. Routine can help to release the positive emotion pre-match as each step of your routine is completed so the fact that you have to put your left boot on first is good; relying on the fact that you have to dress in this way is bad!

Analyse what you do pre-match, and if anything plays a part in how you mentally picture your performance then it is time to get rid I’m afraid. Do not be afraid to change things around, and with each change generate a new positive image in your mind, this will help to affirm your confidence. Don’t be afraid of change, embrace it and be positive – the only thing that has the ability to affect your game is………..YOU!