Instruction for beginner goalie

[g - g -G-Unit]

Yo, this is my first year coaching and I am starting to train a new goalie tommorrow. I was an attackman and know nothing about goalieng. I need someone to give me a primer on proper goalie form and technique (where to hold hands, step to the ball, etc.). Thanks guys.

[spark_goalie]

search for like posts on new goalies and goalie drills there are tons of them and a lot of stuff u can teach him

[ThePflash]

I could be of some help because last year was my first year every playing lacrosse and Im playing goalie so my coaches had to start from scratch with me.
-cmm343ebh has the right idea about the hand placement
-Stress stepping to the ball all the time
-look around the forum for drills and other info just dont move too fast, the best player in my league last year was shooting on me my first day and it was a real downer
-make sure he/she has a good pocket, that was a real problem for me
-if you have any friends that played goalie try to get them to come in to work with him/her, my coach was friends with a goalie and he really helped me out with position, technique, the mentality of it, and it was a really big help

[thunder_15]

save the ball!

[OutBurst]

Two threads here:

Goalie Drills:
http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=10754

and

The Basics:
http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=11078

[Longest]

The bottom line: Stop the ball, doesn't matter how.
I know for a long time, goalies have been taught to use the arc method, playing out on an arc based on ball position. I read an article by Trevor Tierney in Inside Lacrosse where he talked about playing a flat arc and its pros and cons. With the bottom line in my mind, experiment. He said he was always amazed that Cattrano could play so far out of the goal but attributed that to Cat's unbelievable quickness whereas for him, the flat arc position gave him more time to see the ball. He also said that stepping to in playing the flat arc was unnecessary and in fact a waste of time.

Flat arc positioning summary (Buy IL, read the article, I can't do Trevor justice):
At least one heel is always on the goalline. When the ball is top middle, you are dead center with both heels. If the ball moves to your left, take small steps up with the right foot, always keeping your chest square to the ballcarrier while keeping your left foot on the goalline. Same for the other direction. Take small steps, not big ones. On shots opposite stickside, drive hard off the opposite foot as you move your stick.

I have to admit this is an intriguing goalkeeper theory from one who most admit is one of the tops in the league. He said this style was taught to him by his father so Bill apparently has great faith in this approach. His results as a coach speak for themselves if you wish to ridicule me for presenting this.

Dan

[foo55]

goalies are probably the toughest to coach out of all the positions. like someone else said, try to bring in one of your buddies that plays goalie to come in and help.

but the basic stance is simple, normal athletic stance with the chest forward a little bit whilie on the balls of his feet. his hands on his stick should probably be around shoulder width apart with his dominant hand onto the throat of the stick. the stick itself should be held high enough where hes almost peering over thumb on his dominant hand... i hope you get what im saying.

personally with my goalie last year (it was my first year of coaching too) i just let him set up how he was comfortable and made changes from that. luckily he was knew and had no bad habits YET so i molded him as best as possible.

OH AND DONT FORGET to teach him to call out the ball. top left, side left, etc etc. ive always felt that was one of the mostimportant jobs of a goalie. if you get your defense to work for you you can look like an all star out there making saves from shots taken near the top of the box.

anyways good luck