Neil Moss Interview Blog
Over the next few weeks I intend interviewing a number of goalkeeping coaches and goalkeepers and get their views and experiences on goalkeeping coaching and goalkeeping.
Today we start with Neil Moss. Neil has played over 200 professional games, the majority with AFC Bournemouth also having short spells with Gillingham and Southampton.
What is your coaching background and who do you currently coach?
AFC Bournemouth 1st team goalkeeping coach for 4 years.
AFC Bournemouth Academy goalkeeping coach 6 years, whilst still playing.
Owner of Between the Sticks goalkeeper school based in the Bournemouth area. We have 80-90 goalkeepers per week, all ages and abilities and i've been doing this for 7 years. www.betweenthesticks.co.uk
What goalkeepers have impressed you over the years and why?
Any goalkeeper that has been consistent in their approach and game-play. Brad Friedel, Shay Given, Petr Cech, Van der sar. For me a goalkeeper must have played in the premier league to have fully tested themselves.
What is your coaching philosophy or what is important to you when coaching goalkeepers?
Technique. A goalkeeper must deal with the same shot in the same way every time he/she trains or plays.
Observe a goalkeepers strengths/weaknesses before you start to coach. Just because a goalkeeper does something different to your ideals doesn’t make it wrong.
Repetition, a goalkeeper coach’s job is to repeat as many times as possible every scenario a goalkeeper may face in a match.
How would you prioritise the various different aspects of goalkeeping coaching?
Playing out from the back is now more important than ever. Over a third of my time is taken up with “outfield sessions” so the goalkeepers improve their passing and ball control.
I will cover crossing at least twice a week in different ways. The goalkeepers do plyometrics twice a week with the fitness coach and also do gym work twice (game permitting)
The rest of my time is taken up by simulating saves and positions in relation to ball exercises.
How would your coaching differ across the younger age ranges up to senior goalkeepers?
Younger goalkeepers should be told all the basics of goalkeeping and taught technique in how to handle the primary saves.
Basic ball control skills should be taught as part of every session.
Older goalkeepers should be given more scope to adapt techniques to their own style; different goalkeepers will take up different positions depending on their size, speed and confidence.
Nowadays there are many different pieces of equipment that can be used when coaching goalkeepers such as ladders, poles, rebound nets, response balls (balls with lumps on that bounce differently to create reaction saves), what do you think about using this type of equipment?
I use all the above equipment except the response ball. I think it’s a good idea but feel the bumps make it difficult to handle.
I’m a big fan of goalkeepers training with the exact ball they play with. There’s enough different ways to provide erratic ball flight and bounce with a standard ball.
The other equipment I use on a regular basis.
What gives you the most satisfaction as a coach?
At between the sticks being able to see very easily the kids we have coached compared to the newcomers.
I would just like to personally thank Neil for taking the time out to answer my questions.
Watch this space for the next in the series of interviews coming up shortly................................