Goalie Tips

[johnnyicesae]

Well i made my debut appearance in goal yesterday. It was in an indoor league in my area more of a youth league then anything lacrosse really isn't big where i'm from. Now i let up just about 19 goals or was it 18.

I didn't feel very comfortable between the pipes and i understand that comes with time but is there any tips You vets have? I was thinking of picking up the Goalie book at weston lacrosse. Anyone read it? Good? Bad?

[laxattack]

practice. you need to do drills with shot placement. it reall helps if you go through the arc in the crease (that can be found at coach westons site). mainly its just knowing where your at in the crease and becoming comfertable with your abilities which takes practice. another thing is talk to your defense, tell em everything you see, if you can tell them whats going on, then you yourself now have an understanding and the d can better help you.

[laxplayer39]

i like the weston lacrosse book - the thing about weston lacrosse theorey is that you have to follow his instructions very carefully.

everything he says makes sense though - like pointing your toes inwards and bending your knees and having your stick at hte crossbar - i really like the way he coaches goalies.

i dunno about his pocket though

[laxduck]

I dunno about Weston's NRB Pocket either--I told him that if we meet in person for a personal session, I want to test out one of his NRB pockets on an Eclipse (mine was on a Web), if I still can't throw with that, I'll declare that pocket unworthy...

ANYWAY, Johny, how big are the goals in your indoor league? In other words, do you play standing up like an outdoor goalie or do you play with the stick between your legs like a hockey goalie? The advice is slightly different, depending . . .

[johnnyicesae]

we played with outdoor nets. but thats over now so i am moving outdoors for a bit of work until the spring. I ended up getting one of the eclipses on special at bacharach. 35 bucks stars and stripes complete with a wide mesh doc pocket. Thing throws great

[laxduck]

Heh heh, I bought two, I kinda wish I had bought one more, but the wife would have killed me. :concerned

So you're not playing goalie no more?

[btkid08]

westons book is great for any goalie but dont go for the pocket, its TERRIBLE

[laxduck]

Originally posted by btkid08
westons book is great for any goalie but dont go for the pocket, its TERRIBLE

We 'might-should' start a topic on this, but what was your experience with the NRB Pocket? I hate to rain on Coach Weston's parade, but I had the WORST time with it throwing...If I was trying to throw a deep clear, it would bounce two feet in front of me...No matter what I did.

But it did handle well, almost like an attack stick, and it did gobble hard shots...

[johnnyicesae]

No i am still set to play goalie come season. Unless someone with experiance comes along, fat chance of that happening. I'm starting to get the hang of it and hopefully that comebined with the defense we could have i think i should be ok...always looking for tips anyway...I hated the box league i was in because no one ever played any form of defense and shots are alittle hard to stop if they taking crankshots while standing with their toe on the creaseline.

[laxduck]

My advice: Get someone to practice on you while you are in goal, and make it a systematic practice...ie, have them shoot on you from ten yards out, ten shots strong-side high, then ten strong side low, then ten weak side high, then ten weak side low...Keep doing this with variations on this theme. Watch the ball, react to the ball. You need to learn to follow that ball everywhere.

There's a Lax Goalie video on eBay occasionally, pick it up. You'll laugh at how out of style these guys are, but the advice is solid.

[TheKeeper]

To johnnyicesae...
Let me start by saying...props to you from detroit...anyways, i've been playing goalie for two years, the first time i stepped between the pipes was indoor, so i know what you had to deal with. So let me first tell you this, outdoor is a lot different from indoor, A LOT. you won't face half as many shots on a regular basis, so you don't have to worry abou that. It's more of an open space, so there isn't a ton going on at once... Alrighty, when you work on shots, do variations, top right, top left, left mid, right mid, bottom right, bottom left, then all over and bounce shots. REMEMBER THIS: THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO DO WHEN FACING SHOTS...watch the threat while he cradling the ball, WATCH THE BALL, don't look at his eyes, don't look at his body movement, just the ball. Watch it at the point of release all the way into your stick, your save percentage will go up a lot more, and you'll become a lot more comfortable. keep practicing, always practice, when you're bored, stick handle, i have every single day, and after a year and half of play, i've been recruited by 6 different colleges, so just practice!

[laxduck]

Very good advice, thanks Keeper.

[Petem0ss]

Especially as a new goalie, make sure you have a coach or a player that knows how to warm you up properly, not just someone winging shots at you willy-nilly. Quite a few h.s. coaches are in the dark on this.

There has to be a pattern, like laxduck & TheKeeper have pointed out. You will make the most progress at the start not from volume of shots you see, but the repetition of the right mechanics & technique.

Slightly OT, I really like the advice on Coach Weston's page, but I have also had some odd results using the NRB. Somewhat relieved that it's not just me.

[WestSideLa X eR]

Johnnyicesae, im in the exact same position you are in. I loved playing mid, but i felt a calling from the crease:agree
Anyway, first off im about to start a weeklong goalie clinic to get
the hang of it.

Im having my friends shoot at me like everyday for experiance.
I have an eclipse, im soon to order pads and a goalie aluminum shaft.
My indoor league starts in january so im trying to get as much practice as possible before it starts.

Any other tips from the more experianced would help alot. Plus can anyone post a link to westons site?

Thanks

[johnnyicesae]

Just to let everyone know i got an eclipse with mid monster Doc pocket. One of the stars and stripes specials that were on Bacharach this summer. I've had my roomate working with me and am making progress. I ended up "borrowing" a pair of Goalie Iggies and got a chance to review the Brine Spartan line of chest protectors and got to hang on to one.

[LeKKeR]

keeper's advice about the ball is key. just know that the white thing flying is at all times

talk to your defense, even if nothing is going on...just tell them something. where his guy is, etc. this is done basically to keep you on point at all times

ALWAYS STEP FOWARD! remember this, for it is crucial to begin a good goalie. STEP FOWARD STEP FOWARD STEP FOWARD! by doing this you're making yourself bigger and cutting off the angles. on bounce shots you want to meet the ball at the bounce

weston = my old high school coach. he's a great guy and knows his goalie stuff

oh yeah...stay away from all that fancy goalie spinning lots of people do. i do it cause i've been playing for a while, but right now just stick to the basics