11 Questions with Paul Smith

The pursuit of wisdom in any walk of life quickly reveals that what you think you know is not nearly enough to get you to where you want to go. As I'm starting out in my football scouting journey I challenged myself to reach out to those already working in various roles in football to answer a short list of questions. My goal wasn't to get answers but relevant perspectives on the game within the game.

Here is Paul Smith, Associate Head Coach Women's Soccer University of Toledo

How did your first opportunity in football come about?

I was working full time at a college in the Information Technology department when the men’s team coach approached me about being his assistant on a part-time basis. I ended up working part-time as an assistant for 8 years before quitting IT and moving into coaching full-time.

What attracted you to coaching? What’s more intriguing now winning or developing players?

Prior to coaching football, I was coaching basketball. I enjoyed the relational aspect of coaching, but with basketball, the control is with the coach. I love that football is a more player-centric sport. Because it is about the player, the importance of relationships is magnified.

Who is the first coach/teacher that resonated with you? What stood out?

My high school basketball coach, Pat Kraning, had a massive impact on my life. I clearly remember a conversation he had with me after a practice 25 years ago. He took me aside and said, “if you improve your 3 point shooting then you will have the opportunity to play 28-30 minutes a game next year.” I was currently playing 10 minutes a game. That simple conversation drove me to work all offseason because I had a clear path to achieve. A simple conversation from 25 years ago still stays with me. This helps me understand the impact of my words as a coach.

What is the biggest misconception in football? Why?

Players are not robots. They are people who will have good days and bad which is primarily impacted by life away from the pitch.

If you could start over what skill would you build on first?

I would focus more on the psychology of learning and performance. Additionally, I would focus more on public speaking and presenting information.

Do you see player development as more of an art or a science? Which would you start with?

Player development is more of an art. The art is getting the player to fall in love with the game and stay in love with the game.

What is your favorite sports moment? Why?

The first time my team qualified for the national tournament. We were outshot and out possessed by a wide margin, but our guys found a way to win. If xG was a thing at that time, the disparity would be shockingly enormous.

What coach/player/team inspires you? Why?

Currently, I’m looking into several of the German teams. I just read Mensch: Beyond the Cones by Jonathan Harding. Harding goes into detail about the German coaching structure and why so many young coaches are getting opportunities in Germany.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to get into coaching/scouting/analytics?

Watch as many games as you can and watch them with purpose. If you see a trend then go to the stats afterward to verify what you saw. Often when I watch a team attacking down a certain side, I will check with whoscored.com and see what percentage of attacks went down that side. Another game watching tip is to watch it on 1.5x or 2x speed. This will help you realise patterns and prevent you from always watching the ball.

What is your favorite app/tool to use (for fun only!)?

I enjoy looking at tables at understat.com. Sorting through the data provides me with many ideas to implement in my coaching or analysis.

What other sport/hobby/discipline do you feel improves your work?Why?

I enjoy watching other coaches coach regardless of sport. I am lucky to work at a University where I can observe American football, basketball, baseball, volleyball practices. There is always something I can take away and apply.