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View Full Version : Goalie Disconnect!


NJOldGuy
06-01-2005, 11:49 AM
My daughter is a freshman HS goalie. She has been playing the position for 4 years. Here's the problem. When I practice with her (goalie specific drills) she performs very well. Good stance and positioning, on her toes, good quick feet, steps to the ball, drives top hand, stick looks real quick. Generally, after she is warmed up I'm bringing shots 60 to 65 percent of what I got (ie no girls her age are shooting as hard). I'd say she saves 6 or 7 of 10.

Yesterday, we are doing these drills and she looks sharp. Some of her teammates show up at the field and I suggest combing some drills and 3 v 3. Within seconds, she loses all her practiced skills, stick is down and slow, on here heals, waving at shots! I spoke to her about it and she acknowledges the differrence in play, but can't explain why it happens. In her games, half of her performances are very good and half the time bizarro goalie shows up!?

I've been playing lax for 25 years and as a goalie I am very aware of the mental aspect of the game.

Clearly there is no subsitute for getting out there and practicing, but I'm just wondering if anyone seen this type of disconnect what they have done about it?

wncjzpa
06-01-2005, 11:58 AM
I see the same problem in my goalie. I coach an 8th grade girls team. My goalie does the same exact thing just about every other game. She looks great in warm ups and practice but during the game: stick low, not sighting the ball, slow, delayed reaction, trying to stop the ball with her foot.... It is so frustrating. I tried taling with her, changing the warm ups, having full goalie focused practices, nothing worked. Any advice would help.

NJOldGuy
06-01-2005, 04:30 PM
thanks lilaxgurl. You are definetly right on the money about the shooting distance. And I never thougth about the stick difference. Two very good points.

ThePflash
06-01-2005, 06:16 PM
The girls varsity goalies for my school were both out sick and I was hanging around before my practice when the coach approached me to practice with them. So I did because I try to play as often as I can.
It was completely different. The way the ball was coming out of the stick was much harder to track IMO. So definitely warm her up with a girls stick.