Tips for a New Lacrosse Goalie

Goalies might be the most important player on the lacrosse field.  It's important for coaches, especially youth lacrosse coaches, to cultivate goalies.  It has been said that good goaltending is worth more than a 6 goals per game attackman.

 

Goalie is also perhaps the most intense lacrosse position.  Goalies take both a mental and physical beating to ensure that your team wins.

Here are some goalie tips from Lacrosse-Information: 

TIP #1)  Get the most protection you can afford.  If you feel safe, you can focus better on the ball and not worry about getting hurt.  Don't try to copy what your favorite college lacrosse goalie wears.  A young goalie will be getting shot on by players who don't have the accuracy Division I and professional lacrosse players have.  There will be a lot of balls coming directly at your body, not at the corners or the holes.  If you're protected adequately and feel safer, you'll play better.

TIP #2)  Know your "ready position". A proper ready position means that your top hand thumb is at eye level, and the top of the stick is level with the cross bar.  Your knees should be bent, and your feet should be shoulder width apart. Finally, in order to have extra give when you stop a shot, your hands should be about 1 1/2 feet out in front of you.

TIP #3)  Always know where the ball is at on the playing field. When the ball is in the other end of the field practice focusing on the ball at all times. Watch it go from player to player. Don't take your eyes off it at all. If you catch yourself seeing more than just the ball just try an refocus until you can stay on the ball for a length of time. At first you will notice all sorts of other things and that's o.k. Just work on trying to see only the ball moving from stick to stick. When the ball comes in your end of the field this drill will help you a ton. Also, use your good vision to look into the shooter's eyes. Nine times out of ten, the person shooting the ball is looking directly where he is going to shoot it. Use this to your advantage, and become a better goalie. 

TIP #4)  Become a good passer. If you make a good save, make a good pass to your teammate.  Don't throw the ball right back to the opposition.  You can save every single shot, but if you can't pass the ball, then you won't be a good goalie. 

TIP #5)  ALWAYS step to the ball.  Stepping to the ball allows you to cut off the angle a little bit more, which gives you a slight edge.  It also allows the goalie to go out and attack the bounce shots.  Rather than just waiting for a hard-to-get bounce shot to come to you, you should go to it. By attacking the shot, you are putting yourself in a better position to save a goal.

TIP #6)  BE LOUD! Let your defenders know who is cutting, where the ball is, who is passing.  Let them know everything.  During a game, talking will help out your defense.  As the goalie, you are the captain of the defense. So let them know what you see, every second of that game. Talking not only helps out your defense, but it allows you to be better prepared for the shot. Goalies who don't talk get lazy (not seeing the cutters, or even the shot!).

Here is a list of things that a goalie can say to help communicate with the defense. It is important that the defense know this list as well.

1. "Ball Side Right, Top Right, X" - Tells defense-men where the ball is on the field.
2. "Cutter" - Offensive player is cutting to the net looking for a pass.
3. "Ball down" - Any time the ball is on the ground. (Everyone should say this)
4. "Slide" - Bring an extra man to the person with the ball.
5. "Clear" - The goalie has the ball, so break out and look for a pass.
6. "Mark up" or "Number up" - Find the player you are guarding.
7. "Check" - Check sticks because there is a dangerous pass coming.

TIP #7)  Be on the lookout for cocky, loud mouthed players. These guys almost always shoot high.  When you spot a player who looks and acts better than everyone else, then odds are he is shooting up high. (take this one with a grain of salt...)

 

TIP #8)  Know how to handle the lacrosse ball. Whether you like it or not, sooner or later, you are going to have to come out of the net. So, when that happens, be prepared.  Make sure your cradle is good enough to resist a few stick checks.

TIP #9)  Do not be afraid of the ball!  Newer goalies often have a tendency to be afraid of the ball hitting them.  As a goalie, you want the ball to hit you, because that means that you made the save!  To get over this fear, just tell all of the players at practice to aim at the goalie and not the goal.  Eventually, and many bruises later, he will be so accustomed to lacrosse balls hitting him, that he won't be afraid any longer.  This also goes back to Tip #1 - Wear enough protection!

TIP #10)  Always keep a good, positive attitude!  If you give up a goal do not get down on yourself or your defense.  You can't take the goal off the scoreboard but you can recognize what you did wrong, practice that step or specific movement, and get the next one!  Have confidence in your abilities to stop the ball.  If you lose your confidence, your defense will soon follow.  Always believe you can save every shot.