Coaching Schemes Blog

Hopefully everyone has had a good Christmas, I certainly have as my waistline keeps telling me! It's been nice to have a short break from virtually all of my various coaching commitments with just one private one-to-one session taken on and a couple of Cirencester Town games in the last week or so. As much as I enjoy coaching it's nice to have a little break now and then and the same goes for goalkeepers who play and train throughout the year. The break is good both physically and mentally and i'm sure we will all be buzzing to get back into it in the new year.

Through both the Internet and through social media such as Facebook I look at all the various goalkeeping coaching schemes that go on across the whole country and overseas. It's interesting to look at how people run their schemes, how they advertise, how they structure their sessions or courses, what their background is etc. Again through Facebook I have networked and built up a number of friendships across the country and abroad with fellow goalkeeping coaches and its clear to see how we all have a real passion for goalkeeping and how to help goalkeepers develop. Many of us have different ideas and its good to discuss those ideas and our own opinions.

It must be quite tough at times for parents when looking for goalkeeping coaching for their children as to who and where to take them as there are more and more companies or individual coaches setting up. There are coaches that have more coaching badges than an episode of Blue Peter, there are ex-professionals that don't have any coaching qualifications but who work from their own past experiences and there are coaches who maybe advertise qualifications without perhaps actually having completed those qualifications and been signed off as such by the FA. There are also coaches out there who are still fresh out of nappies themselves and have gained just an FA Level One outfield coaching badge which to be quite honest anyone can get as there is no actual coaching as such involved on that course. These types of coaches often don't have the experience or social / life skills required to be able to actually "coach" and help a goalkeeper develop and are merely "childminders" for want of a better word.

It's perhaps not really for me to say what is right and what's wrong and who is good and who is bad as we are all different. I wouldn't criticise ex-professionals who don't have any or perhaps just limited coaching qualifications as obviously they have good experience from their own playing career behind them. They will have worked with top coaches and will have knowledge about goalkeeping through their own experiences in the game so can help goalkeepers develop by passing that on. However the flip side to that is that it is one thing to know how to do something yourself but it is another to be able to get that knowledge across to someone else as everybody learns in different ways. Former England midfielder Chris Waddle was once asked on a coaching course "how he bent the ball so well" and he couldn't actually explain it to someone else he just replied "I don't know I just do it".....

The good thing about the various courses and qualifications you can do these days with the various Football Associations is that they can help you get the information across in different ways to be able to help players / goalkeepers understand and develop so there is also alot to be said for gaining qualifications. Would you employ an electrician to re-wire your house who didn't have the necessary qualifications??? Having said all of that at the same time perhaps there are people out there who are very good at learning and passing courses but don't really have an understanding of the art of goalkeeping so like I said previously perhaps there is not a right and a wrong way but a different way.

I don't see it as my place to try and belittle others out there in the marketplace, I prefer to concentrate on what I and Steve Hale Goalkeeping School offer with our background.

I personally am not an ex-professional with hundreds of league games under my belt but I have played in goal from 6 years of age through to about 20 + years in the non league game so understand what a goalkeeper does and what a goalkeeper goes through mentally. I have also studied hard over the years gaining various coaching qualifications both outfield and goalkeeping qualifications. On top of this I have also worked in a college environment and also for the past 5 years worked part-time in a primary school so I have built up my knowledge of what makes children "tick" and how they learn. Therefore overall I have dealt with and coached 6 year old children right the way through in both grass roots and professional football (Centre of Excellence), to adults in both non league football and through my position at Swindon Town been fortunate enough to have some experience with full time professionals so regard myself as a "well rounded coach" (and i'm not referring back to my waist-line again!). My assistant, James Whitlock (Chippy) has also played in goal for many years and is still playing now in local football. James has also started working his way through coaching qualifications and is also running a boys team. Along with this he has children of his own so again he also has alot of experience and knowledge to give.

Steve Hale Goalkeeping School has been established for five years now so we have coached hundreds of children along the way, all of whom have been different in terms of their technical ability, physical ability and mental ability. I pride myself in that we try and cater for all and our main priority is trying to help goalkeepers develop both in terms of their goalkeeping ability but also we want them to improve and work on their social skills at our sessions which is also very important in life.

I would like to finish by thanking all of the young goalkeepers and parents that have been involved at my goalkeeping school and who are currently involved, for their efforts in 2011 and like to wish everybody a Happy New Year and an enjoyable 2012 ahead!

17 Year Old Goalkeeper Looking For Team

I have a 17 year old goalkeeper looking for an under 18 team or even an adult team. He currently lives in Ramsbury and has previously been at Swindon Town Centre of Excellence. For more details please contact me, Steve Hale on 07711 275526 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Under 14 Team Seek Goalkeeper

Blunsdon Colts U/14 are looking for a full time goalkeeper.

We are a FA Chartered Standard club and all managers and coaching staff are CRB checked.

We train at Isambard school on the flood lit astro turf on Friday evenings 6pm - 7pm ,our home ground is Lydiard Park.

We play most Sundays at 12pm (home games) and between 10am – 2pm (Away games) and are in the North Wilts Youth & Minor League Div 2.

For Under 14's you need to be a Year 9 student (Born on or after 1st September 1997 / Born on or Before 31st August 1998 )

Please call Nigel Sawyer 07763048446 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you are interested.

Under 15 Goalkeeper Available

Steve Hale Goalkeeping School has a current Under 15 goalkeeper available. This goalkeeper I have personally coached for a period at Swindon Town Centre of Excellence and he was previously at Chelsea. If you are looking for a good young goalkeeper then please make your enquiries to me giving me more information about your team such as training nights, venue, coaches etc.

Email : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

General Blog

The cold weather is now upon us and I don't mind admitting I don't like it! Out has come my beanie hat and my under armour top and leggings. Obviously i'm not the one diving, jumping and generally moving around the training pitch in short sharp intensive bursts so I get colder quicker than the goalkeepers themselves. However it is important for any young goalkeeper in particular to dress according to the conditions. Unlike outfield players who generally will be running and on the go alot of the time during a session, goalkeeping work is slightly different. Goalkeeping is more about short sharp intensive bursts of work and as much as you can do as a coach to keep the goalkeepers active there will be times where rest is needed between drills and a bit of standing still. Therefore it is important that goalkeepers wear clothing that allows them to move freely but also keeps them warm and dry if possible.

With my position as Centre of Excellence Goalkeeping Coach at Swindon Town not only do I coach and look after the goalkeepers there but I can also keep my eye on grass roots goalkeepers with my goalkeeping school. If I feel that goalkeepers at my goalkeeping school are showing good potential and we are maybe light at Swindon at that particular age group I am more than happy to then bring them into Swindon for a further look. At times in the past it has actually cost me as I lose a monthly fee from a regular goalkeeper who we may actually take on and can no longer attend my school. However I don't mind that as my role is to help goalkeepers develop and if I can improve a goalkeeper and push him / her onto the next level then great, job done.

When I first setup my goalkeeping school some five years ago one of my first students was Conor Thompson. Conor is now a first year scholar at Swindon and has played for Northern Ireland Under 15's and is now in the Northern Ireland Under 17 squad. His younger brother Jared was also at my goalkeeping school in the early days and he too is also at Swindon in our Under 13 team there and progressing well. Although not at Swindon now, Calli Smith also progressed into the Centre of Excellence and was with us as a contracted goalkeeper for a year. Our present under 15 goalkeeper was actually on the first two day course I put on when setting up my goalkeeping school so its been great to see how he has developed over the years. There have also been others who have been in for us to have a closer look at in a more intense environment. They have been given game time to see how they get on against better opposition than they would face in grass roots football. Young Oli Whiteley is currently a member of my goalkeeping school and is also training and playing games with our under 7/8's at Swindon and is showing good potential and we are keeping a close eye on how he progresses at the moment. Oli has bags of enthusiasm, always has a smile on his face and his goalkeeping techniques for someone his age are showing up well. We tend to have two goalkeepers per age group, though in a couple of our age groups at the moment we only have one. We are always looking but we won't just take someone on for the sake of it, they have to be better, as good as or certainly look like they could develop quickly for us to take them on a contract. Along with our regular Centre of Excellence programme against the likes of Bristol Rovers, Cheltenham Town, Swansea City, Plymouth Argyle, Exeter City, Torquay Utd etc Jeremy Newton the Centre Director does a brilliant job getting us fixtures against all the top premiership sides. We have played Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, Everton to name a few so its fantastic for the players and obviously goalkeepers in particular to test themselves against the best young talent in the country. We also undertake overseas tours and have played professional sides in Holland and South Korea along with our regular trip to the Milk Cup in Ireland which is a fantastic experience.

I devised a specific goalkeeper pack for the young goalkeepers at Swindon over a year ago. The pack contains a host of pages with information and tips on goalkeeping, quotes from goalkeepers who have been in the system and from the first team goalkeepers at Swindon. Also they have sheets they have to regularly complete stating the sessions they have done, goalkeepers they have watched and most importantly their self analysis sheets from matches. On these particular forms after a game they have to write down aspects of their game they have done well in and specific incidents and also aspects they found hard that day and again specific incidents if there were any. It's not only a way that gets them thinking about their game but it also helps me build up a picture of areas they are doing well in and areas they need work on as I cannot see them play every game. An awful lot of young goalkeepers at any level will say that they find kicking and dealing with crosses the hardest part of their game and goalkeepers at a professional club are no different. I had their packs in this week and have been through them and looking at their match forms, most have made comments about finding kicking and crosses hard so it's something we try to do a fair bit of work on.

In 2012 I am being booked on the Goalkeeping A Licence course and I am looking forward to this immensely. I am unable to get actually assessed at the end of it unfortunately as I need to complete the outfield A licence course first (which is ridiculous in my opinion). That course takes at least two years and costs about three and a half thousand pound and is not easy to get in on but I still want to gain the knowledge from doing the Goalkeeping A Licence course which is the highest qualification a goalkeeping coach can achieve.

Next week I start on the second phase of the pathway to become a Coach Educator for the FA as I would like to be able to do some work for the FA delivering the FA Level One Goalkeeping Award certificate. So for three full Sundays in December I will be alongside the Tutor for the Level One course being running by the Wilts FA at Stanley Park, Chippenham. Mike Byrne who I have alot of respect for is the Tutor and I will observe the course over the three Sundays and then the next stage will be to assist on a course in the future. After this I will have to put the course on while the Tutor observes me to see that I am delievring the course to the correct standards. I have already completed my Generic Tutors Course which was the first stage so it is quite a long process. I have a big passion for goalkeeping and we need more goalkeeping coaches or coaches with goalkeeping knowledge to help all of our young goalkeepers throughout the country develop and improve as currently not enough support is given to players in what is a specialised position.

Finally as you will see from my latest news item, my own branded glove which has sold well will be coming into stock again shortly. I have made some slight changes to it but didn't want to change it too drastically as I was very happy with how they have performed. Ideal for christmas presents too, so keep your eye on my website and Steve Hale Goalkeeping School Facebook page for more news on them.

New Glove Stock

The new look "Ultimate Grip" gloves are now in stock! Maintaining the popular Roll Finger style there have been some changes to the back of the glove with a grooved design to help gain more grip when punching the ball. There has also been a colour change to the glove and a slight change to the wristband to make the glove fit more snuggly.

The gloves are once again available in sizes 6, 7, 8 & 9. I once again decided against supplying sizes 5 or 10 due to the limited amount of enquiries I get for gloves of that size. When I order my gloves I have to order a minimum of 20 in a size bracket. However if you are interested in these particular sizes and I get enough interest an order will be placed with my supplier.

There has been a slight cosmetic error made by my supplier on the left thumb with the words "Ultimate Grip" printed upside down but this obviously has no affect on the performance of the glove.

These were to be priced at £24.00 per pair or two pairs for £40.00, however they are now priced at £20.00 per pair or two pairs for £35.00.

A picture will shortly go on this website, however they can be seen on the Steve Hale Goalkeeping School Facebook Page already.

For more informatiion or to order contact 07711 275526

A Successful Two Day Goalkeeping Course

Steve Hale Goalkeeping School ran a successful two day goalkeeping course on Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th May at Cirencester Town FC. 28 young goalkeepers aged between 7 & 15 took part working on many aspects of goalkeeping including handling, footwork, shot-stopping, one v ones, communication & organisation and dealing with crosses.

The weather wasn't great but that didn't stop the young goalkeepers from shining with all goalkeepers showing a great attitude as they worked under coaches Steve Hale, James Whitlock (Chippy) and Jason Grubb (Grubber).

On the Sunday, Swindon Town Goalkeeper Phil Smith kindly attended to present each child with their trophy and certificate, answer questions and sign autographs. Further prizes were also given out to Sam Austin and Harry Walthew who received signed Phil Smith footballs for their excellent behaviour and Andrew Lincoln and Joshua Pickett received Steve Hale Goalkeeping School clothing items for being great characters over the two days. Jack Lane and Alexander Wood also received Steve Hale Goalkeeping School clothing items for best attitude in their respective groups with Rhys Austin receiving the trophy for best overall attitude of the entire group. The overall goalkeeper of the weekend award went to Jacob Smith.

Steve commented "I was really pleased with how the whole weekend went from the numbers of goalkeepers in attendance to the attitude and endeavour they all showed. Both my coaches Chippy and Grubber did a great job with their respective groups and we all had alot of fun over the weekend and it was great to see all the goalkeepers show progress. I'd also like to say thanks to Swindon Town Goalkeeper Phil Smith who gave up his time on a Sunday for me to come and answer a number of questions from the children and parents and present the prizes for me."

Comments from parents:

"Cheers Steve Jacob had a great time and he is well pleased with his keeper of the weekend trophy" (Gary Smith)

"Josh had a very enjoyable weekend!" Helen Strange

"Can't wait to see the pics! Josh loved it. Thanks Guys" Michelle Davis-Jones

Dear Steve

I just wanted to say thank you very much for the weekend of goalkeeper training. Harry thoroughly enjoyed it and has learnt so much. He was thrilled to have won a prize, which has given him much more confidence (shame its the end of the football season!). Please pass on our thanks to Grubber. Thank you once again.

Kind regards

Helen

Crossing & Kicking Blog

There are many aspects to goalkeeping but in my opinion the hardest aspect of goalkeeping is dealing with crosses.

I often hear people talk about goalkeepers and say "He's a great shot-stopper" and of course keeping the ball out of the goal is the main objective of the goalkeeper and therefore constant work on their shot-stopping techniques is important. However and this is in no way being derogatory to goalkeepers they should be able to save shots or they shouldn't play in goal in the first place! I have seen many an outfield player go in goal in training and even occasionally have to don the gloves in a match if their goalkeeper has got injured or sent off and seen them make saves. It goes without saying these techniques need regular work but its how a goalkeeper deals with crosses, distribution and organisation that defines a bad goalkeeper, an average goalkeeper, a good goalkeeper and an outstanding goalkeeper.

Today I look primarily at dealing with crosses and a little bit on kicking:

The reason why I feel that  dealing with crosses is the hardest aspect of goalkeeping is because there are so many factors which have an effect on the goalkeeper dealing with a cross into his/her box.

Weather

Wind - The ball holds up / The ball comes onto you quicker / The ball swirls around and moves in the air

Rain - The ball is slippery

Sun - You lose sight of the ball with a low sun in your eyes

Pitch/Stadium Conditions

Muddy pitch - Hard to keep footing and move quickly through the mud

Icy Pitch - Slippery under foot

Slope - The ball may come onto you quicker or hold up similar to windy conditions

Floodlights - Poor floodlights may make seeing and judging flight difficult

Own Physical Attributes

Short - Do you find it hard to compete with bigger players, do you have good timing of your jump

Tall - Are you slow to move your feet and not jump as high as you possibly should

Opposition

Physical size - May have to deal with physical pressure from tall aggressive forwards

Delivery - Quality of the cross itself from the opposition players

Actual Cross

Ball swinging in

Ball swinging away

Flat delivery

Pacy delivery

Hung up in the air

Near post delivery

Far post delivery

Position the ball is actually crossed from on the pitch

Every cross can be different and needs to be dealt with on its merits

So straight away there are so many factors involved in actually dealing with a cross and a goalkeeper has a split second as the ball leaves the players feet to make his/her decision on whether to actually come for it and then how he/she is going to deal with it (catch/punch/tip/parry).

Drills can be put on to help with this area but its hard to really re-create the intensity and realism that you get in a game. Practise should be undertaken, firstly without any pressure, just dealing with some crosses coming in un-opposed to start getting used to judging the flight. Then a player can be introduced who doesn't challenge for the ball but does make runs and movements in and around the goalkeeper to try and put them off. Taking it further they may then make a challenge for the ball and then defenders and other attackers maybe introduced before taking it into a full scale practise match or phase of play. The real test and best experience comes from an actual match however I feel.

Otfen young goalkeepers in particular though even senior goalkeepers are guilty of this will shy away from coming for a cross and stay on their line and let defenders deal with crosses. I like goalkeepers to be more positive than that and try and take command of their area. I would much rather see a goalkeeper come for crosses and make the odd mistake and learn from that mistake and situation than just stay rooted to their line. If a goalkeeper can come and take crosses it takes so much pressure off your team and your defence in particular.

A positive starting position off your line, edging slightly forward and looking like you want to come, allied when you do come with a huge bellowing aggressive voice to call for the ball will help give you an aura or presence in your area and will actually lead to the opposition start to deliver crosses further away from your goal. If you are timid and look afraid, opposition players and coaches will pick up on this and likely put more crosses close to you to put you and your team under pressure to induce errors so that they may score.

Being short does not mean that you cannot deal with crosses, what it means is that you just have to work harder on the timing of your jump and the height at which you can jump (spring). Fabien Bartez the former Manchester United and France goalkeeper was a prime example of a goalkeeper not blessed with height but who came for a lot of crosses successfully. At the same time I have seen many a tall goalkeeper who has relied on their height but then not moved their feet quickly enough or timed their jump well and has struggled on crosses so don't let height be an excuse.

Because its a difficult aspect of the game much practise is needed on it and also patience. If you make a mistake try not to worry and don't let it put you off coming for the next cross and at the same time don't think you must come for the next cross to make up for your error as the next cross may not be the right one to come for, remember "every cross can be different and treat each one accordingly".

Kicking

I get asked all the time by parents and goalkeepers about kicking and how the goalkeeper can get better at it. The simple fact is certainly when it comes to young goalkeepers most struggle to get a good amount of distance simply because they don't have the physical power in their legs to get that distance. Yes technique is important and that can be worked upon but often physical strength plays a big part in it.

There is also no rocket science to it or that many fancy drills to practise it, the best thing to do is get a bag of balls (or only one if thats all you have) find a field and with a friend / parent / brother / sister / coach simply practise your kicking. I always say warm up your muscles first, start striking the ball over a short distance and then gradually make that distance further with the person you are working with. Accuracy is just as important as distance as there is no point being able to kick it the length of the field if it goes in different directions all the time and out of play as your team will have no idea where to setup when you go to strike the ball.

Again having patience and not getting frustrated or upset is vitally important, especially at a young age and this goes for parents and team managers / coaches as well! I have spoken before about how annoyed I get when I see young goalkeepers not being allowed to take goal kicks and the big centre back coming back to take them because he can kick it further as how is the goalkeeper going to get better technically and develop his/her kicking muscles if they are not allowed to take them.

Everybody develops at a different rate of time and I have seen many goalkeepers who have struggled then all of a sudden it clicks for them and they can get great distance so patience and hard work really are key virtues for goalkeepers / parents and managers / coaches!

Under 12 Team Seek Goalkeeper

CALLING ALL GOALKEEPERS - Purton Youth Under 12 are looking for an established goalkeeper to join our team. We play football in Division 1 of the North Wilts League. Having had a hugely successful season last year we are looking to build on that success and bring a goalkeeper to the club that wants to improve their technical and general footballing skills. We have the added benefit of specialised 1 on 1 goalkeeper coaching on a Saturday morning. We train at Bradon Forest School every Saturday morning and at Peatmoor School on a Tuesday evening. The coaching is geared around long term development and not short term gain and it is our goal to provide a platform for our players to express themselves on the pitch, become better players, and retain their enthusiasm and dedication to the game. Please contact Gary Burgess on 07730 529888