Women Goalies

[SawyerLaxGirl44]

Hey girls!Just wanna know who all is a goalie for their team.I'd love to get some feedback and tips from all of ya.This is my second season playing and first season varsity :nut:

[lilaxgurl23]

Hey, I play varsity for my high school team. This past season was my first at womens lacrosse. I used to play guys but switched to softball and now I'm back and was able to be on varsity with in the first three weeks! I also made all county team which isn't all too impressive but for being a freshman and first year so they called it, I got a lot of recognition in the local papers which I thought was pretty cool. Iv'e worked really hard at being goalie and I've learned so much in the past few months, anything you need to know I'll try to help ya out:)

[SawyerLaxGirl44]

What do you guys do for warm-ups?My coaches don't really know what they're talkin bout so we just usually shoot and do little bits of running along the side-line before hand.

And how do you guys communicate w/ ur defense?

[CTLaxer]

Before every practice I have my goalie doing a number of things. Jumping rope, jumping over her stick with both feet at the same time when laid vertically and then when it's laid horizontally, stopping light shots with no stick, stopping shots with her stick upside down, stopping shots with my men's stick. You can also work in long breakout passes in there that gradually get longer and longer.

A few tips. Make sure your bottom hand is loose on the shaft and you're leading with your top hand to make a save. Always step to the ball when making a save, don't just stand there. Focus in on the ball, players will try to fake you out or shoot around you, so watch the ball not the player. Pay attention to the ball even when it's in the offensive zone at the other end of the field. You should always try to make the save with your stick and not your body. If you try to stop shots with your body you'll get lazy and into the habit of doing so. Stopping shots with your body comes from being in good position and happens because you missed with your stick, it should never be done on purpose. call out where the ball is so your defense knows where the ball is (top right, top left, X, back left, back right, center, etc etc). When clearing the ball, don't be afraid to just chill outside the crease with the ball if no one is playing you and your outlets are all covered. Wait till the other team plays you before you get rid of it, it'll allow you to pass to an open player once they jump you. You should still be doing conditioning like everyone else, just because you're the goalie doesn't mean you don't have to run. Also, working your legs and abs in a workout will help you since you're a goalie.

That should keep you pretty busy for a bit.

[SawyerLaxGirl44]

Yea...I usually run w/ the team, but when they are all doing shuttles, is what I was meaning.

And I don't understand the poing of getting shot at w/ no stick if your not supposed to use your body.It makes no sense to me.Do you use your hands?I enjoy taking shots w/ a guy stick, thats one of my more favorite drills to do.Thanks for all the help! As you guys think of more, please post for me!

[CTLaxer]

You don't really get shot on without a stick. I usually just stand a few feet infront of my goalie and throw balls at her when she doesn't have a stick, same with our guys goalie and yes you're supposed to catch the balls. The point of this is to get hand-eye coordination up, work on footwork and body positioning as well as just loosen up the goalie.

[ques]

I will do the same drill as Ctlaxer does for the keepers with out a stick but I use a Wobble ball instead.

[lilaxgurl23]

I do basically everything CTlaxer said, sometimes do a variatin of walking the line but because I don't save exactly like that I do it a different way. But any whoo, about the shuttles, if you are all warmed up in practice or before a game, go join them, you don't really need to catch left or weak hand because that will rarely happen but moving while passing and using you weak hand (passing) is always a good thing to have when you get in a jam out side of the crease. Also, I do a lot of outlet passes before a game, its part of the teams warm up too. It really helps me get comfertable with my throwing so I don;t have to worry about it in a game.

[SawyerLaxGirl44]

You don't really get shot on without a stick. I usually just stand a few feet infront of my goalie and throw balls at her when she doesn't have a stick, same with our guys goalie and yes you're supposed to catch the balls. The point of this is to get hand-eye coordination up, work on footwork and body positioning as well as just loosen up the goalie.


Ooooh...I did a drill like that at one of my clinics I went to. I had to jump over the stick and the coach threw the balls at me.Thats an awesome drill...


Thanks guys!!Keep postin please!

[liongirlylax]

I have played on my school's Varsity lacrosse team for three seasons as of now, and I will be a captain this season.This is basically my warm-up in goal before games (of course time can be an issue, but the farther I get into my warm-up, the better I play):

* 8-10 shots stickside high
* 8-10 shots off-stick high
* 8-10 shots stickside hip
* 8-10 shots offstick hip
* 8-10 stickside bounce
* 8-10 off-stickside bounce
* 10-15 shots "mix it up"

The key here is "warm-up." This is not target practice for the best shooter on your team, or a chance for the coach to see if she still has it. This is a warm-up. I generally start with little more than passes, increasing in velocity as I move around the goal. I try to start with the easiest saves and progress to the harder ones for this reason.

Clears are another important thing to warm up before game. With the *10-15 shots "mix it up" I generally ask my coach and another player to start out at the restraining line and come in. They alternate, so as soon as I make the save (one on one), I clear to the girl at the top. This kills two birds with one stone, and is a great way to warm up in goal with clears if you are running short on time. This warm-up is seen in various incarnations, but it is a fail-proof way to get ready for a game.

Good luck, if you have any questions, post them. I remember when I was starting out, I read everything I could get my hands on and it helped a ton.

[SawyerLaxGirl44]

I don't know what else I need to know.What are some like, little tricks and stuff? I can't think of any ?'s right now.

[SawyerLaxGirl44]

When the ball is shot, and the shooter misses it in a game, do you guys follow it so you can get posession, or just leave it for ur defenders or the other team?
I usually just leave it, but playing with the guys they make me chase it, which should I do?

And I had another question, but I forgot it and didn't write it down.When I remember, I'll ask...

[liongirlylax]

It depends on your style of play. If you are comfortable handling yourself and your stick out of goal, by all means go for the ball. If you do go for it, you'll help out your defense, plus someone will have to mark you if you get the ball, meaning you'll automatically have someone to clear to. If you aren't comfortable handling the ball under direct pressure yet, or if you aren't one of the faster girls on your team (keep in mind you're running in pads), then I would recommend staying in the goal now (during games) and experimenting for yourself during practice.

Personally, I find smoking some attacker quite satisfying. They generally don't expect the goalie to go after it, and if you can hustle you'll surprise them.


sawyer- Just pm me with your e-mail address and I can send you a whole slew of goalie tips, that might be able to give you something else to go on, plus it may generate some questions for you.

[CTLaxer]

Actually, in women's lacrosse since the rules are a bit different, I tend to advise goalies to not chase down shots that miss and what not unless it's really clear they can get the ball. Since every player has to stop on the whistle if the ball is out of play and the goalie doesn't come up with it, she's screwed cause she can't just casually walk back to the goal like in mens. All it takes is one pass to score now because she's stuck behind the goal and everyone else is stuck where they are too. I find it too dangerous in the women's game to be chasing down shots, atleast at the high school level.

If you want a couple of fun drills to do with your team I find this one is fun. Have 2 lines of girls at the top of the 8, they fire balls at you rapid fire until they score. The girls go head to head, if the girl behind the first one scores, the first one is out. Do this until 1 person is left who is the winner. It's fun for the players cause it's a competition and they get to shoot. It's a GREAT exercise for you having all those shots come at you with not a lot of prep time. Forces you to just go off your reactions and gets those reflexes working hard. Don't worry about stopping every ball cause you won't be able to, just stop as many as possible.

Another important thing to practice is resetting after a feeding pass. I usually start off behind the goal with balls and have the girls cutting across the goal line taking feeds from me. The goalie has to start off by facing me, the ball, and then turn and reset herself once i make the feed to the cutting player. Have the ball and the cutters coming from all over the field so you can get used to different angles and such.

Another big part of playing goalie is your stance. You want your elbows poking out a little bit. You don't want your arms totally outward in a straight line with your shoulders, but you don't want your elbows tucking in to your body, so somewhere about half way in between, say about 45 degree angle compared to your body. You should also have your feet as far apart as possible while still being able to keep on the balls of your feet and not limiting mobility.

You should be gripping the stick a little below the bottom of the head of your stick with your top hand, the bottom hand can be where ever you feel comfortable usually. Keep that top hand grip tight and lead with it when making saves, don't get into the habit of leading with your bottom hand or gripping it too tightly with the bottom. When in your ready stance, you want your top hand to be at about eye level, maybe a smidge lower. You also want the stick angled a bit so that the bottom of the shaft is a little more forward and the top of your head is angled backwards a bit towards the goal.

When making high stick saves always push your stick out and angled back a bit, this will reduce rebounds. It's kind of hard to explain the motion and position in writing, so hopefully this makes sense. On low shots or bounce shots it's CRUCIAL to get your body there behind the stick. Make sure you're stepping to the ball on low or bounce shots and not just flinging your stick around and not moving much.

Phew, ok that's enough for right now. More later perhaps.

[SawyerLaxGirl44]

[QUOTE=liongirlylax]

Personally, I find smoking some attacker quite satisfying. They generally don't expect the goalie to go after it, and if you can hustle you'll surprise them.

QUOTE]


I'd have to say thats THE most satisfying thing, specially the guys, specially your older brother :clap:


Thanks CT for all the advice, but I have one ?...

I do rapid fire for warmups sometimes, and one coach said its bad because your ruining your stance because you have no time to get back into positon, is that tru?

[lilaxgurl23]

I do rapid fire but they way my team does it, we set up like 3-4 girls on each hash of the 8 meter, and go down it so I'm just sliding to the next position anyways (Not exactly like CTlaxer but same concept, just working different angles). As for the whole running after the ball, in indoor I try to do it everytime, do to the fact that there is less to run, making it easier to get back into the goal if I don't get it. As for normal, if I think I have a shot, I go for it, if your close (like side by side), most times the ref will give it to you.If not, you shuold have an extra defender behind you somewhere, so just run, run, run back to the goal and get ready for a shot. Also, if I relieze that I have no oppertunity to get it I immeadiately run back to get as close to the goal as possible before the whistle blows.

[liongirlylax]

One thing about going out of the goal. If you are going to go, the decision has to be made immediately. You can't stop to think, but lilaxgurl is right, you do need to weigh the situation. Part of your job as a goalie to make sure you know where attacking threats to the goal are. You can use this subconcious information to help decided if you will go for an errant shot or pass. If you know that there is no one closer to the backfield than you, you've got a good chance. If there is an attacker hanging out on the end line (near the goal, or where the ball heads), going is probably not a good idea unless she has a torn ACL.

Booking it back to the goal is another good idea. I find that if I make it to the crease before the whist is blown, most refs do not consider that moving once I am in the crease. This does not apply if I have one foot in and one foot out, but even if they wont let you move, that way it's only a step to the goal.

Rapid Fire is a drill I absolutely love. My coaches like to do it with our entire Varsity, so I have all 17 girls standing between the 12 and the 8. They are allowed to "step" into their shots (cradle, one or two steps) and then they shoot. It goes one right after another, so my recovery time is almost none. We do four stages of it. Rapid High, Rapid Mid, Rapid Low, and Rapid Choice, in that order. This gives them a chance to warm up their arms and me a chance to get a good work out all over the goal.

Sawyer- I too have occasionally heard that this drill can be harmful to a goalie's stance technique. I have found this to be untrue. Assuming you have a fine base technique, I think that Rapid Fire can actually help improve your stance to an extent. It forces you to get a real feel for your positioning in the goal because you have no time to check and recover. Done the way my team does it, I have found that my ability to tell exactly where I am in goal has improved a ton, and coupled with work on my stance, has greatly improved my reaction to quick shot situations.

Hope that helps!

[SawyerLaxGirl44]

Yes, it did lion, thanks!

I remember my question now... Should I get a backup stick?I have my eclicpse rite now and its my baby, and I don't know if I should get another one or not, do you guys have a back-up?

[CTLaxer]

If you have the means, I would say definately have a backup stick, especially as a goalie. If a regular field player breaks a stick, there's 20 other girls on the team that she can swap with during a game. If yours breaks and you don't have a back up stick, or if you're the only goalie on the team....well you're screwed. I had that happen to my team last year. My goalie broke her stick in practice, didn't have a backup, and we don't have a backup goalie. Luckily we didn't have a game for 2 days so I was able to get a head shipped to me overnight just in the nick of time. It wasn't fun though, as a coach, it quite nearly gave me a heart attack.

As liongirlylax said, the rapid fire drill won't mess up your stance or positioning if done properly. The purpose of the drill is to work on your reflexes and getting into position quickly, so if done right it will improve your stance, positioning, and quickness in goal. Aside from my drill listed above, I do a similar drill to liongirlylax's rapid fire drill too. It's fun to spice it up for the players and goalies so I try to do different drills instead of the same thing over and over again.

If you want to work on your positioning in the crease, take 2 long strings and tie one to each post. Have your coach stand by the 8m holding the 2 strings and move around the 8. It'll give you a good idea of where you should be standing in the goal. Then when you're working on warmups and stuff all he has to do if you're out of position is pick up the strings and you'll know exactly where you are and where you should be.

Another drill you can do, which is supposed to work on focusing on the ball is either get a bunch of different colored balls, or take permanent markers and color in white balls. Have your coach use the colored balls when warming you up and when he does, shout out what color they are before you make the save. This will force you to focus on the ball and not the shooter. I've heard it works pretty well, I have yet to try it myself with my goalies though.

[lilaxgurl23]

Yeah I do that colored ball thing too. Also, sometimes I have a tennis ball with a number on it (in more than one spot, same number),try to call it before it gets to you, pretty challenging. Also, I have a back up stick exactly like my normal one and switch them everyother game/ practice. This way, if my stick ever does break, I will not need to adjust to another stick, I will already be comfertable with it because it was just like my primary. The only difference is color in mesh and color in shaft, works out pretty nice, especially because I am the only goalie.

[SawyerLaxGirl44]

Yea, I'm starting to think I need another stick too. I have my eclipse and I love it, and not to mention rite now I'm the only goalie, so I guess I'll get a new one.

Do you guys suggest one EXACTLY like the one I have now, or try another one? And if I should go for a different stick, which one?

[lilaxgurl23]

I have the same stick for the reasons mentioned before, but if you should decide to get it different, try to have the same stringing atleast, to be able to make it throw the same ext. Also, if you want a different head, see if you can play around with them, it's all preference, but if you love your eclipse, stay with it.

[SawyerLaxGirl44]

Only 3 1/2 more months until pre-season!Wat are you guys doing to keep in shape besides playing, cuz that isn't really an option for me rite now...

[Damn D man]

I saw the number of lengthy posts, so I just skipped....a lot. :) Hope you won't mind if the tips have been repeated.
In terms of stepping to the ball, it's not really a step...I think of it more like uh...tango slide. Quick, aggressive, and almost like a slide. You want to get to point A to point B (the area with the most advantage of angle over the ball) ASAP, so the step thing my have thrown you off in terms of those milliseconds. haha, if you knew that already, I laud you. Most goalies around here seem to forget that quite often.
Baiting is also great because in w's lax, you can't richochet the ball around your stick like in men's lax, so chances are, after a 101 type of fake, it's going to be a shot. Baiting usually works, but the key is not to make it obvious. Like you're at most six inches off the center, and chances are, the attack will take it. Baiting obviously isn't a technique you want to use 24/7 since most lax players aren't stupid. :)

[celtlax]

Only 3 1/2 more months until pre-season!Wat are you guys doing to keep in shape besides playing, cuz that isn't really an option for me rite now...

trying to keep in shape is pain in the winter...it's harder now that it's so cold...my parents have treadmill and a treadclimber....I try to alternate between the two and do some weight training with the cable machine.....in January I am going sign up for agility training at the local rec center..they do plyos...etc. and I guess team fitness training starts in February....that's going to be brutal....I just wish I could play every day instead of once a week...and I am looking forward to a 3 v 3 tourney in first week of february....

[SawyerLaxGirl44]

...In terms of stepping to the ball, it's not really a step...I think of it more like uh...tango slide. Quick, aggressive, and almost like a slide. You want to get to point A to point B (the area with the most advantage of angle over the ball) ASAP, so the step thing my have thrown you off in terms of those milliseconds. haha, if you knew that already, I laud you. Most goalies around here seem to forget that quite often...

Ok, i'm kinda confused as what you are trying to tell me...can you put it into simpler terms please? :WTF:

[lilaxgurl23]

Don't focus on stepping, but more on getting there fast which will usually lead to more of a slide rather than picking up your feet and moving them.

For winter.. I am curently in this "camp" It's not like a one week deal. Its every monday and wednesday at this athletic place where they have indoor fields and such and we do drill's then play little games. Also, see if you can get into a winter league, mine is every sunday at the same place the camp is. Try to go to your local Y or Gym and run, jump rope and lift weights every other day or as often as possible. If it's not too freezing (it's a solid 0° out now, so I know it's not always and option) try to get some friend out and play, or get into you school gym and throw around. If you have a big basement, see if you can get some one to shoot lightly on you just to keep your steps intact and just to move with a stick... Just keep your stick around, see if you can go to near by clinics and be ready play at a moments notice.

[UKLaxFan]

Hey girls!Just wanna know who all is a goalie for their team.I'd love to get some feedback and tips from all of ya.This is my second season playing and first season varsity :nut:

I've read through all the replies and there is some good advice from CTLaxer. The main thing for a goalie is to find out what works best for you.

The Goalieman Website has a lot of information on it along with his Book and CD-Rom both are worth a look.

http://members.aol.com/westonlax/

Bill Pilat's Video "The Ball Stops Here" has some excellent tips and drills in it.

After only two seasons I would say get out and practice with a friend or teamate as often as possible, and find out what works for you. Footwork, Speed agility, technique and stickwork can all be improved, but the main challenge is mental. You must want to be a goalie and always attack the ball.

Good Luck

UKLaxfan

[GoalieGirl]

Hey, I'm an up and coming goalie too, second year on varsity. Out West, clinics and camps are a few and far between, but I would love some advice on how to improve my skills off the field. What kinds of excercises can help when there are no pads, shooters or cages?

[lilaxgurl23]

Hey! Welcome to the forums. Well for some good goalie drills, I believe there is a ton in the "lacrosse intruction, tactics" forums, right below the "Equiptment" forum. There should be a few stickies about goalies and frills techniques and what not. Too bad the goalie forum no longer exists, it would be mych easier to find this stuff. Oh well I am over it. If you have any more questions, ask away!

[shellrae007]

I've been a goalie for 8 years, played hs and college and now I coach hs and play club. Goalies are so neglected:) ok, here's a typical warmup without your team (ie, if they're off doing shuttles or whatnot) jog 2 laps around the field then get out a tennis ball and find a wall. play wall ball, no stick, and focus on angles, stepping to the ball, and watching the ball. give yourself 10 shots in each position: high dom, high non dom, hip dom, hip non dom, bounce. if you still have time do an agility warmup. use your goal line and do quick steps up and down the line, grapevine and quickfeet. i find this warmup helps me a lot more than just gettin arc shots right off the bat. good luck.

[CTLaxer]

www.intruder5.com/lax/goalie.pdf

[b3lx]

i suggest you buy the bill pilat film : the ball stops here
its byfar the best goalie video out there... ive been vsquad goalie for 2 years and im on the minnesota NSLA Allstar team... this video has helped me and my coaches quite a bit.. though its pricey its definately worth it.

[NC_Goalie_Girl]

I'm pretty lucky, i'm a freshman and this is the first year our hish school is having a girls team, I'm on good terms with the coach and have a really good reputation from middle school. We were county champs and I was the only goalie. And I haven't heard of any other goalies in the school ( lax isnt very big in NC) so I have a really good chance of being a starting goalie for my HS years once the season starts

[lilaxgurl23]

haha, wow, just read through this. I'm now entering my last year as a senior, I've been recruited to play at a great school, and life at the varsity level has been great! Amazing how much one's style can change over the years. I've definitely moved into more of a leadership role on my team through out the past three years as well which has been rewarding in its own ways. I defintiely never thought I would be where I am today, but it's been a great trip. Still many more year of lacrosse to come as well!

EDIT- I think Sawyer is now playing in college, right?

[SawyerLaxGirl44]

Lilaxgurl-

I was thinkin the same thing. Crazy how much has changed from 2 years ago when I started this thread. And yes, I am playin in college now!! :-)
Thanks to everyone that ever responded, you guys defenitly helped me out!!

Lilax-where you going next year??

[laxgoalie4life]

make sure u tell ur team where the ball is at all times. call "low right" "high middle" stuff like that especial "ball down" and "ball behind"

[CelticLaxer]

Keep that top hand grip tight and lead with it when making saves, don't get into the habit of leading with your bottom hand or gripping it too tightly with the bottom. When in your ready stance, you want your top hand to be at about eye level, maybe a smidge lower. You also want the stick angled a bit so that the bottom of the shaft is a little more forward and the top of your head is angled backwards a bit towards the goal.

When making high stick saves always push your stick out and angled back a bit, this will reduce rebounds. It's kind of hard to explain the motion and position in writing, so hopefully this makes sense.

While I agree wholeheartedly(!) with starting- and keeping- your bottom hand slightly out in front of your top hand, I have to take issue with the grip suggestions.

12 years of goaltending have taught me to actually keep the top hand grip more loose & the bottom hand tighter. And when you move into the shot, lead with BOTH hands, to ensure that the bottom hand stays slightly in front of the top hand throughout the save.

1 last addition, to avoid problems with the firmer bottom hand grip, make sure that bottom wrist is behind the shaft. You should be able to point directly at the shooter, not off to the side, with your index finger.

[Garor]

Just wondering, but I thought the angled stick was an older method that seems to be fading away...CelticLaxer, what's your reasoning behind keeping the stick angled as opposed to parallel to you body?

And as for the grip...why have your bottom hand tighter? Speaking from my experience, a tighter top hand controls rattle and gives more control. The only problem I can see is possible rebounds, but that has to do with giving, not grip.

[CelticLaxer]

More importantly than starting with the stick angled is finishing with it angled. On high shots, it will pop the shots UP, rather than back OUT of the goal circle where the other team could get it. On hip (off-stick side) and low shots, it blocks/smothers the shot DOWN, rather than letting the ball deflect into the goal or (again) back out of the goal circle.

I've found that starting with the stick angled helps achieve that ideal position at the end of the save, especially when teaching less-experienced goalies.

As for the grip, I've found 2 benefits in keeping the top looser relative to the bottom hand. The main benefit is allowing the stick to move/rotate slightly side-to-side for minute adjustments while making the save. This makes low & off-stick hip shots more comfortable & a bit easier. It also helps in keeping the full face of the stick square to the shot throughout the save.

The second benefit is the subtle benefit of staying relaxed while waiting for the save. A tight grip can quickly get too tight, tensing the muscles all the way up the arm, tensing the mind, and using a surprising amount of then wasted energy.

And, yes, the risk is a shot rotating the head of the stick. It is a matter of finding that fine line between relaxed & ready.


On an outside note, thank you, Garor, for the polite way of questioning my post! It is certainly too easy- and too common- to pose questions in confrontational or dismissive tones on forums. It makes me happy to offer further explanations (e.g. this post) and even content if you still disagree after hearing out my reasoning. I wish everyone would post like that!

[Garor]

On an outside note, thank you, Garor, for the polite way of questioning my post! It is certainly too easy- and too common- to pose questions in confrontational or dismissive tones on forums. It makes me happy to offer further explanations (e.g. this post) and even content if you still disagree after hearing out my reasoning. I wish everyone would post like that!

You're welcome. It was something I always wanted to know, as when I teach goalies I like to know as many school's of thought so I can address everyone's individualized playing style. I always think goalies should know why they are doing something, so they can learn from their mistakes faster.

Overall it sounds like a totally different school of thought. To each his or her own I guess.

[THE_1protector]

i think girls that step in the cage are awesome. not to stereotype, because i do not mean to, but most girls are like scared of the ball just sitting there. lol but hats off to every one of them.