Stuart Smith

I have a beautiful daughter called Lauren and son called Joshua. Half Ironman x3, Level 3 Football Referee, GLFC football coach, love sport! Also a twin...!

[Keir Starmer @Keir_Starmer]

Today I paid tribute to the infected blood community for their extraordinary courage in their long fight for truth and justice.

Thank you to the Infected Blood Memorial Committee for the care, compassion and dedication behind this service at St Paul’s Cathedral.

As a nation, we must ensure the lessons of this scandal are never forgotten.

[Keepitonthedeck @Keepitonthedeck]

Arne Slot has openly questioned the idea that coach development is only validated through formal courses. He finds it ridiculous that Continuous Professional Development is measured by certificates and classroom hours, while the countless hours spent actually coaching, learning on the pitch, solving real problems, and developing players often go unrecognized.

For Slot, real learning happens in the day to day coaching, not just in a course environment.

[Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano]

⚠️💸 Ferran Torres: “Hansi Flick has just changed the rules on arriving late”.

“If it's matchday and you're late, you have to pay €40,000 fine”, told @El_Hormiguero.

[Jacqui Oatley @JacquiOatley]

Reading @GarethSouthgate’s book about leadership on flight to Miami. Sage advice right here, especially given the current news headlines…

[Stuart Smith @stuart5smith]

@CCD_Essex That’s great, thanks for letting me know! It’s looks great, looking forward to using it on my coaching journey 👍🏼

[Stuart Smith @stuart5smith]

@RJPcoach Congratulations 🙌🏼

[Stuart Smith @stuart5smith]

@JPR_25 @The_CoachingLab I have attended one of your sessions and can’t believe any coaches wouldn’t benefit from some support from you!

[Stuart Smith @stuart5smith]

@JPR_25 I wouldn’t say it’s an unpopular opinion for those that can see the benefits of it! I think it’s a brilliant idea 🤩

[Jack Rolfe @JPR_25]

Unpopular opinion, but grassroots clubs should invest in a coach developer to co-coach and support coaches every week, rather than pay the crazy money for coaches' qualifications, and yes granted, some qualifications are mandatory, and I appreciate that.

#TickBox

[Stan Collymore @StanCollymore]

Suicide.

I'm choosing to be deliberately blunt and provocative in this post because it's necessary. Government, charities, football clubs are all pushing water up a hill in highlighting what is undoubtedly a major health crisis.

You take a rope.
You put it up in a garage or a tree nearby or far away.
You're thinking about every loved one you'll leave behind as you put that rope around your neck.
Then you drop.

Some are decapitated.
Some aren't.
All are found by someone who has a lifetime of trauma that will never leave them.
A son.
A daughter.
A brother.
A sister.
A mother.
A father.

I know 2 men who hung themselves.

One was found by his Mom.
One was found by his brother.
Neither have recovered fully. 20 and 30 years on.

A life sentence for people who were already worrying, terrified their loved one may do something.

So just visualise the above and ask, "is there another way"?

A segway for a moment.

I do a few Q&A's every year. Tales of yesterday with a 99% male audience of my age group.

After the stories and fun, my last question back to the audience is..

"Hands up if you struggle with a mental health issue".

Nobody ever puts a hand up. Despite 1 in every 3 of 500 attendees statistically struggling.

"Ah, nobody, that's fucking brilliant! Well I do! ". I then graphically tell people, stunned into silence about how a rope around my neck in the middle of nowhere jolted me to go home and cry like a baby to my Mom.

After the Q&A has finished, something always happens. I'll be chatting to a few guys, saying bye and one by one, men will come over and whisper " I struggle".

Or my mailbox the next day will have 30 emails from guys, their partners or kids saying " Dad/Uncle /Brother was there last night and what you said hit them hard".

And that's how some people realise that it's time to speak to a pal or family member or even rant to me in an email. It works, I often get a follow up email a year or 6 later saying that they took responsibility for their suicidal feelings and are now flying.

Humans are programmed to want to live, to have families and to keep the species growing and thriving. So for a human to want to short circuit that desire isn't normal, and it should never be spoken of as normal. It's the ultimate red flag.

If you suspect your mate, Dad, Brother, Uncle is struggling mentally, they deserve your intervention.

They deserve a " are you OK, please tell me what's up".

They deserve an opportunity to get past wanting to hang a rope over a tree or in a garage and slowly struggle until they die and you find them.

If you've been there and trust me I have plenty, then you'll know that text out of the blue, or a footie mate or one of your kids asking jow you are can open the curtains to some sunshine.

Because when suicide is your only answer, the room is already dark, and you can't see a way out.

So please, fucking pretty please, ask that husband, Dad, Uncle, Cousin, footie pal TODAY how they are.

You may be shocked what comes back but extremely glad that you asked.

For those who struggle, you're not alone.

[BBC Wiltshire Sport @BBCWiltsSport]

What a great idea ☀️
Ian Holloway's skin cancer diagnosis and Hannah Penn's experience with melanoma helped inspire the addition of a colour-changing UV logo on Swindon Town’s training kit – warning players when the sun's rays are strong.

#STFC #BBCFootball #BBCEFL

[Coach David Baird @CoachDavidBaird]

Never seen anything like it! Penalty re-taken twice, Berke Ozer saves all 3 attempts!! 🧤 ⚽️

👏👏👏👏👏

[Stuart Smith @stuart5smith]

@The_CoachingLab Yes

[Coach Jonny @CoachJonnyFFF]

🧠 IMAGINE your child’s maths teacher shouting at them for getting a question wrong!

It would never happen, so why should football be any different?

Mistakes are part of learning, be there to support and guide them.

[FA Refereeing @FARefereeing]

This week's #FeaturedAppointments focusses on Steps 2, 3 & 4 which kick off this weekend! ⚽

Best of luck to everyone starting their season! 🤞

[Liverpool FC @LFC]

Florian Wirtz is a Red.

[Stuart Smith @stuart5smith]

@AandHReferees C