1st Time Goalie this Coming-Up Season

[Fakie]

Hey, I'm gonna be goalie this year (I'm a junior) and this is my school's 2nd year having a team...so...I need some beginners advice. I've been watching clips and stuff of games and watching how the goalies all play....got myself a goalmaster and my cu31 warrior shaft, I've had some people take shots on me, but I haven't had any coacing yet...Is there anything I should know from the start and stuff? Any drills or techniques I should starting practicing now. It's our school's 2nd year playing and we're entering into the hardest division this year. Thanks :agree

[MontclairLax]

practice, practice, practice and practice some more

[LaxGoalieLZ]

play wall ball, work on stepping and getting your body in front of the ball.

[AVLAX31]

stepping to the ball is crucial, proabably the most important thing cause if you are stepping then your stick will follow through to the ball. One way to make sure you are working on this is to spray paint a line in the crease and have someone shoot on you and every time make sure that you step over the line to make the save. Along with stepping you should attack the ball with your stick and hands, but you can't punch at it. These two things will instantly improve your goaltending.

[a_nik_02]

remember communication with players is the key...always call out the ball location when u start practicing in a real game (top right bottom left) so that ur team knows where the ball is. another tip is to wear a cup. lol good luck

[NeMeSiS]

wall ball, hand eye quardanation teqnuiquies, theres not much we can say to help over the forum when u have no training at all

[laxinfz9]

Hey i'm from chicago too :)

[Jjaylax09]

http://lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=179
http://lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2265
http://lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=299

try these... there should be enough information in these to get you started until you can get some personal coaching

[deeegoalie]

i definitely agree with everyone else about communication, stepping up to the ball, and body behind your stick.

Last year was my first year and I was always reminded of those things. Don't be afraid to yell at your teammates - not in a mean way, but if one of your opponents is open in the middle, yell at someone to mark them. dont just say "#12 is open!" but give a name to the action to make sure it's done!

Stepping up to the ball is important. It takes practice to get yourself to do it without thinking, but it can be done. Keeping your body behind your stick (in front of the ball) is also important. If you step up and stay behind your stick when making a save then the ball will hit you if you just miss it with your stick.

Ooh and one of the captains on my team gave me really good advice last year on free shots (penalty shots? i'm still pretty new so i dont know the real name for them... the ones on the arc!) Watch the ball go from the shooter's stick into your stick. Keep your eye on the ball.

Good luck!