Stepping at the ball

[goaliedude13]

Well this is my first year playing goalie, i just started and i cant get down stepping towards the ball. Any idea on how i can get that down. The other goalies say that i need to get good habits and they say this is the biggest one. Anyways on traing or anything i can do to get better at stepping towards the ball?

[ThePflash]

When someone is warming you up before practice work on stepping to the ball and you will get into the habit

[whslax1990]

yea i dont know if you guys do star drills but if you do just sprint twordes the ball and dont stop then cut to next guy. ive always noticed this heled catching on the fly. and stepping twordes the ball

[GBaschski]

This is something that there really aren't any secret tricks to help you out with. You just have to get it down.
Get a friend to practice with you, just throwing soft shots at the goal, and focus, in your mind, on stepping to it. Have him gradually increase the speed, and eventually it'll come naturally to you.

[ZeroV]

During Warm-ups, bring a jump-rope and put it right behind where you want to step to and make yourself step over that on every shot, worked for our goalies

[SawyerLaxGirl44]

I think having a slow shot coming at you increases your need to step to it. Thats what I do w/ the goalie that I'm tyring to train right now. And also walking the line makes you get more used to how it feels and how its supposed to be done.

[somekindofsaint]

Also, try practicing without the stick so that way you have to use your body to stop it instead of your stick.

[laxkeepermem]

zerov you dont even need to bring a jump rope....if you're at home, or playing wallball, just put your stick at your feet, throw the ball against the wall, and make yourself step over your stick every time. during a game, do the same thing with shots and use an extra stick. everyones right, it is muscle memory, but you can get there by finding good drills. you also have to reaaally want the ball....so whever it is, you want to get to it as fast as you can, cuz thats how badly you want it. if you're good at getting your body to the ball, then stepping to the ball should be no prob cuz by stepping, you'll cut off the angle w/ your body.
last thing...if you're ever throwing with someone, even if its just for fun or w/e, always step to the ball. before every game i take off my gloves and get a coach to throw balls at me, they have to call what hand i have to catch it with, and i alwayssss have to step to the ball. helps for hand/eye coordination, reaction speed, and stepping. three in one. lol
--mary