With a mix of intelligent psychology, ironclad focus and a great dose of preparation, goalkeeper Olivier Smeets led Orange Boys Beneath 16 to 3rd place on the 8 Nations event in Houten on Saturday. In a nerve-wracking shoot-out collection towards Belgium, the Pinoké goalkeeper stored his cool. Behind that heroic position is a younger goalkeeper who has nearly made shoot-outs a science.
‘Crucial factor in shoot-outs is that you just get contained in the participant’s head,’ Smeets says with a giant smile because the medal dangles round his neck.
The place different goalies use their water bottle as a cheat sheet with details about the shoot-out gamers, Smeets selected a unique technique: disinformation. ‘On my water bottle it mentioned nothing particular, slightly bla bla,’ he laughs. ‘However they thought: oh shit, he is aware of one thing about me. After which they begin doubting. In order that works.’
The psychological recreation was not a trick, however a part of a aware technique throughout Smeets’ shoot-outs. ‘You possibly can play with the best way you come out. Aggressive one time, then calm after which fierce once more, for instance. It’s a must to throw them off stability, that they suppose: what’s he going to do?
Goalkeeper Olivier Smeets in motion throughout the shoot-outs collection towards Belgium throughout the 8 Nations in Houten. Picture: Willem Vernes
Technique completely expressed
Within the battle for bronze towards Belgium, all the things got here collectively. The stress was palpable all the best way to the stands, however Smeets remained stoic. On the first Belgian try, he got here out aggressively. He induced a penalty ball that he then stopped. He additionally stood his floor on the fifth Belgian try, which may have killed the Orange. Within the sudden-death that adopted, Smeets defused two Belgian match factors. Main 6-7 for the Dutch, he once more emerged victorious from the one-on-one duel, securing the bronze medal for the Orange boys.
In response to nationwide coach Sjoerd Wolters, Smeets is an outspoken perfectionist. ‘He desires to get all the things proper right down to the final element,’ he says. What additionally makes Smeets particular is his psychological power and aptitude. ‘He’s severe, but in addition a little bit of a showman,’ Wolters says, referring to the water bottle Smeets used to play the psychological recreation.
That blend of sharpness and bravura matches completely with the character of the Amsterdam area, the place Smeets comes from, in line with the nationwide coach: assertive, assured and never afraid to face out. And you may see that in his play throughout the shoot-outs. He isn’t a wait-and-see goalkeeper, however one who takes initiative and dares to take dangers. Precisely when it issues. You win with guts,” Wolters had instructed him beforehand. And he did.
Olivier Smeets cheers after profitable bronze throughout the 8 Nations on the expense of Belgium. Picture: Willem Vernes
Making hours
Smeets pays loads of consideration to the half that’s changing into more and more vital in discipline hockey. The ‘huge’ Orange performed a complete of sixteen video games final season within the Professional League, seven of which had been determined by shoot-outs.
‘Within the weeks earlier than the event, I spent at the least 5 to 6 hours on it,’ he says. ‘Watching again footage of myself, of different goalkeepers, of Professional League video games. Then I ask my goalkeeper trainers: what do you consider this? That’s the way you study essentially the most.’
He additionally works intensively on shoot-outs at coaching periods. ‘First we do loads of principle: if a participant does this, what do you do? Then we apply endlessly. Generally even towards the Beneath 18 gamers, simply to expertise as many conditions as potential.’
That have pays off was evident throughout this event. For Smeets, the bronze match of the 8 Nations event was already the fifth shoot-out collection in his younger profession. ‘Mentally I’m in fine condition. I do know of myself that I can do it. When the second comes, I’m prepared.’
Enhance
And now, with a medal round his neck and a popularity as a “shoot-out king” within the making, he routinely raises the bar for himself. ‘I wish to hold enhancing myself,’ he says. ‘I don’t have a look at one particular goalkeeper, however relatively loads of totally different ones.’ That manner, he tries to take one thing away from every goalkeeper, additional perfecting his personal fashion.
Olivier Smeets and his Orange JU16 teammates rejoice the bronze medal throughout the 8 Nations in Houten. Picture: Willem Vernes
