Specialist striker coach

[Sarisbury Seagull]

As much as it would be good to sign a quality striker who is the finished article to take the chances we are creating, in my opinion we have three quality out and out strikers in CMS, Barnes and Hoskins who could do the business but for whatever reason aren't at the moment.

Some clubs have specialist coaches who work with the strikers alone similar to goalies and I feel if we had one of these on maybe a part time basis and hopefully an ex striker at the top level, they could work with our current strikers to improve their finishing and more importantly confidence.

This would surely be a cheaper option than new signings and if it worked then Gus wouldn't have to worry about a new signing having to settle into our system straight away. Do we think Gus would ever consider this?

I do find it odd that clubs employ these coaches for goalies but not many do for strikers when scoring goals is the most important aspect of football.

 

[Ali_rrr]

The trouble is, it's like penalties. You can practice them all the time in training but nothing compares to the real thing. In training, the pressure is minimal compared to what it is in front of your own fans, you tend to panic a lot more.

 

[sydney]

you nailed it yourself there.......being a striker is all about confidence and choice.......you need to have the confidence to place your attempt rather than attempt to burst the ball on contact , all the time we are struggling to win games by the odd goal our current forwards (jury out on hoskins) appear to lack the mental fortitude and basic intelligence and guile that can only come from experience........don't think it can be taught or coached into a player. best way is for them to play matches alongside experienced campaigners such as jason roberts ......once the goals start going in the confidence will come and we will be a different team.......we seem flat at the moment.

 

[RowleyBirkinQ.C(deceased)]

Good point well made. Not sure how many, or even if there are many striker coaches out there, but the forwards we have are quite clearly no mugs in front of goal with other clubs and maybe a specialist coach would turn around the apparent lack of confidence in front of goal. I was even thinking as far out as a hypnotist or a sports physiologist to mentally turn around (I believe) a very capeable forward line. it's worked out before with other clubs

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

The trouble is, it's like penalties. You can practice them all the time in training but nothing compares to the real thing. In training, the pressure is minimal compared to what it is in front of your own fans, you tend to panic a lot more.

Surely there is training available that makes a difference to sports people's ability to perform under pressure?

 

[ali jenkins]

If they work on and improve their technique then they would have more confidence when it comes to the game winning chance. I don't think it would be a bad thing.

 

[Ali_rrr]

Surely there is training available that makes a difference to sports people's ability to perform under pressure?

Sports Psychology, something I want to do when I finish uni. If you believe in that stuff anyway.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

Sports Psychology, something I want to do when I finish uni. If you believe in that stuff anyway.

Doesn't the fact that training is available for practising a skill under pressure rather negates your view that 'You can practice them all the time in training but nothing compares to the real thing'?

 

[brakespear]

If Terry Dolan is available he did a fantastic job for me in Champ Man 4

 

[Ali_rrr]

Doesn't the fact that training is available for practising a skill under pressure rather negates your view that 'You can practice them all the time in training but nothing compares to the real thing'?

Well no, as the psychology isn't training is it? The training ground is nothing compared to the match. You may be able to score every penalty in training but you might still bottle the penalties. So I don't get how you mean I'm negating my view.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

Well no, as the psychology isn't training is it? The training ground is nothing compared to the match. You may be able to score every penalty in training but you might still bottle the penalties. So I don't get how you mean I'm negating my view.

Of course the psychology is training. It is training the mind (and body). And work can be done outside of an actual match.
See Winning Edge Sports Psychology - Understanding Pressure: Stop the Choking

It's the 'nothing compares to the real thing' approach that is causing people to not sufficiently prepare themselves mentally and physically for performing under pressure.

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

This is something [as a cricket coach] I spend a lot of time working on with my players. It is impossible to replicate the real match pressure, but you can create drills and situation that mimic the match situation. The players then practice technique to achieve success so that they have created mental confidence that they can achieve the required outcome. If this is practiced enough, when the same / similar situation arises in a match, the player should have both the technique and confidence to deliver the desired outcome. If the pressure of the live match situation causes them to regularly fail, they are destined never to fully succeed as elite performers.

Everyone thinks that "practice makes perfect", this is a myth. Elite coaching works to the principle of "practice makes permanent" - meaning that if you are practicing something using poor technique, this won't make perfect, only permanent.

Didn't Forster help with striker training while he was with us?

 

[Northstandite]

You can't make a silk purse out of ...... .

CMS, Hoskins, and Dobbie are not young players, and so a coach isn't the answer.

A new QUALITY striker used to he pressure of top divisions, is.