Help with field goalie

[RedBird1]

Can anyone here (preferably who actually plays field goalie) give me some pointers on field. I've played box goalie for my entire lacrosse career and am quite good at it. But today was my first ever experience with competitive field goalie. I definatly wasnt bad, but it was still quite a challenge. My passing and strategy is fine, but I want to improve my save percentage. I think I have my movements right, but is there anything you can suggest to help my game? How far should I stand out of the net? Do you play angles as I would in box net? How should I play a man who has an open shot from in close? etc etc etc. Field is pretty fun and I had a great time. I would like to keep playing field as well as box.

[Lax101]

Moved to the tactics/training forum...and you should search anyway, but I'll be nice.

[nemesis562]

step to the ball. i can stress that enough. that is what i try to do to every shot it cuts off the angle.

[ragnut]

Buy Bill Pilat's goalie video.

[spenny]

i'll second bill pilats video. also check out this website: http://members.aol.com/westonlax/us.htm

jon's book is really good (hes the goalie coach at towson)

dont get down on yourself, box goalie and field goalie are not the same at all.

[moondog]

Pilat's goalie video is THE SOURCE.
Anyway
1)See the ball--forget about the body mechanics, fakes, etc--you are stopping a white spot.
2)Yell LOUD when calling out checks, slides, ball position, etc.
3)Hands should be about a foot apart on the shaft, amybe 1 1/2 feet.
4)Be on the balls of your feet--ready to pounce!
5)get your butt against the pipe when the ball is on the side. Never give up a near post goal.
6)Make the EASY pass on the clear
7)bust your butt to the endline after a missed shot to win more possessions for your team.
8)Confidence--you need to be so ****y it is almost dangerous--it is a good thing for a goalie.

[ragnut]

If you only had to have one goalie video, Pilat's would probably be the choice. For clearing drills, and superior goalie skills in action, the video "Six Keys to Successful Goaltending," horribly narrated by Dom Starsia, but featuring the absolute stud Tillman Johnson, may also be worth getting.

[Expressgoalie01]

About angles, most goalies play at arcs. There are three diffrent arcs I believe, a three point arc, a seven point arc, and a flat arc. Three point arcs have three different points, left pipe, middle, and right pipe, and is played higher up. Seven point with seven places and is played near the middle. Flat arc is played right on the goal line. This arc is used to get more time to react and save the ball, by being an extra step back. When you choose, play with each of them, and find which one your most comfortble. I play a 7 point because you use up the whole goal and you cut off almost every angle.

[stinisonfire]

*theres also a 5 point arc.* don't step directly to a shot, but at about a 45* angle to cut off the shot. pounce on bouncers, because as we all know, balls can take a really weird bounce at times. attack the ball, don't let the ball attack you

[Dadabhoy_Muzzi]

Fundamentals
Your feet should be shoulder width apart and your hands should be way from your body to prevent being handcuffed on offside shots. Your hands should be 12-18" apart. Most importantly, you need to find a comfort zone where you are ready to attack the ball and make the save. Practice your outlets just as much as you practice making saves. There is nothing worse than making a great save and then giving the ball back to the other team because of a bad pass.

Communication/Leadership
Talk to your defense and let them know where the ball is on the field. As the quarterback of the defense, you must recognize situations such as fast breaks and direct your defensemen to the correct positions. The tone of your voice says a lot; if you are not a vocal person, you better start being one. Stay positive even after a goal is scored. A goalie who has control of his defense will have the respect of the team.

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.

Drills
Your warm-up should be a warm-up, not target practice for the best shooters on your team. Find someone you trust to give you a proper warm-up. Tell the shooter what you want. I recommend:


* 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"

In Conclusion
Watch and listen to the great goaltenders and notice their different styles. Take what works best for them and adapt it to your specific style of play. Good luck this season!

[RedBird1]

^^^ thank you last three responders. Thats exactly what I was trying to ask and wanted to know. I already know the real basic ****, and I know the "mental game" of a goalie extremely well. I wanted more on positioning and how to move cuz Im used to box goalie which although being a lacrosse goalie too is entirely different.