Note: this is the second article in a five part series highlighting the clinicians who are scheduled to present at this June’s NorCal Premier Soccer Summer Coaching Symposium. To sign up for the event, which is free to all NorCal members, click here. 

Veterans of NorCal Premier Soccer’s coaching education circuit will undoubtedly have attended a presentation or two by Frans Hoek, the innovative Dutch coach who has been on the forefront of innovation in world football since joining Johan Cruyff’s staff at Ajax more than three decades ago.

And those who have seen more than one presentation know that no two of Hoek’s lectures are the same, with this summer’s incorporating cutting-edge thinking into multiple different presentations and field sessions.

First off, Hoek will present a video of him working as a coach alongside current Feyenoord coach Robin van Persie during a game moment to look at how he collaborates with head coaches throughout the world.

“My goal is to lift the goalplayer position to the next level,” Hoek said.

A former goalkeeper and longtime goalkeeping coach, Hoek is now leading a movement to change the position’s moniker from its widely-known name to that of a “goalplayer” in order to reflect the worldwide trend of that position being more integrated into the rest of the game.

“I will discuss the transition from goalkeeper to goalplayer and give an up to date example on the pitch, what it means, and how it shows in games and practices,” Hoek said. “I think that head coaches should know more about goalplayer coaching. The goalplayer coach, the specialist, should know more about the total team performance, and the idea is that the two are coming closer together, working together, in a better way so it will definitely benefit the end results.”

Lastly, Hoek will then lead a field session where an attacking player is sent through on goal to face a goalplayer and potentially defenders as well.

“It’s part of a game situation where I will show what the role of the goalplayer and his teammates are,” Hoek said. “But this will also work on what the attacker should be doing as well. It’s about bringing goalplayer coaching to the pitch.”