Goalie - Problem with body saves.

[Dirt Devil]

I've been playing goalie for one season and loving it.

I've found that my old baseball catcher ways are coming back to haunt me, and i'm trying to stop bounce shots, some non-stick side shots, shots from the flats (not sure if its the correct term - i'm standing against the pipe) etc... with my body and other than a collection of lovely bruises proving i'm getting a piece of the ball i'm not stopping as many as i would like (seams to be working well in box tho). Anything in front or from say 50 - 60degree from center i'm good with, hands are quick and i see it well.


Anyone got any tips for me to improve my stepping towards the ball, and moving my hands more to use the stick more?

[ant1216d]

Have a catch with someone and make sure you step to every ball. Getting in the habit is half the batle!

[Dadabhoy_Muzzi]

The best way to get used to making those saves with your stick is repetition. Have a friend shoot to that side until your body keeps making those saves with the stick. Your body is used to making saves with the body. Why? You played baseball and you got used to doing it like that. Good luck. Try some of these drills found in this thread:
http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=10754

[Dirt Devil]

Funky,

had a look over that guide... just need to find someone to help me with those and i'll be all good.

Heath

[PuLsE_SpEeD]

repetition and muscle memory are they key things, I like to break it down into motions and start off doing them slowly, after you have your form right do it over...and over...and over...and over...until you can do it without thinking about it

[NECLAXGRAD4]

I had some of the same problems too when starting out. Here is a drill that still to this day haunts me. When I got to the college level, one of my coaches taught me this drill, now I have my goalies do the same thing improving the GAA and saves per game.

Find a straight line, First you are going to "pretend" to step forward and save an upper on side shot as if you mean it, then you will step up for an upper off side shot, then you will pounce on a bounce shot on strong stick side- make sure you are bending your knees, bending at the hips and your stick is touching the ground with your head at a forty five degree angle allowing you see the ball into your stick but also allowing you to still see the area of play. Then same thing on off stick side bounce shot. For every "shot" you are taking one step closer to the end of the line.

It may look silly, however the more confidence you get in your ablity to make that first step to cut the angle of the ball, will also allow you time to get your stick where it needs to be. New goalies do tend to use there bodies more than they should but time, and bruises will get you to change your ways.

[claxbucky]

Do what NECLAXGRAD4 said, it's called "walking the line" by a lot of keepers. It's really helpful in getting the motions down and working on being explosive, make sure you over exaggerate the steps, make sure you finish a foot or 2 away from the line on the steps. It helps a LOT! And you can do it almost anywhere, anytime.

Another thing is to get someone you trust and have them shoot on you. I know a lot of field players who love to shoot, but they give crappy warm-ups or none @ all, you don't want those guys, you want to get 1 or 2 guys who will warm you up well, hitting each spot a good bit just working on repetition, then building up speed as you go, make sure you're in control of their shooting, like don't let them do stupid stuff and show off, make sure you're getting something out of it. It's good to see that you have the intensity (lack of common pain feelers) to take the body shots. I know a lot of people who move out of the way, or use poor form to save the ball so it won't hit them.

One thing i disagree with that NECLAXGRAD4 says is that kids are using their body more. I seem to see a lot more kids doing aerobatics in the cage to make a good stick save than just step and take it in the body. My coach played & was an All American in 69 @ West Point & played in the North South game, he told me horror stories about taking shots, without a chest protector, all the time in the body and how he could tell how old they were from their color and stuff. You always need your body there, because sometimes the stick won't be able to stop the ball (it could break or a string could snap or something stupid could happen). If you talk to any good goalie, a lot of their saves come off the body. It's a lot bigger than a lacrosse head and takes up more space in the cage.

For moving in the goal, use a 5-step arc (if you didn't know about it already)
1 on one pipe, 2, a step over, 3 centered, 4 a step toards the other pipe, 5 on the other pipe it should look kinda like this except more rounded,
-__________
--\1------5/
---\2_3_4/
eventually, you should be able to do that with your eyes closed. Always open up when you step ex: step left with you left foot, right w/ your right foot. but the number one thing is to always STEP STEP STEP and try to finish in the same body position you started in (good athletic stance).

To work on getting the off-side saves, windmill your head under and to the off-side on almost all of the shots on that side (except for like shoulder high and above). That's a tough motion to get used to but once you get used to it, and are comfortable with it, you'll be golden. A good way to make these saves easier is to keep your hands out from your body, so you don't "handcuff" yourself while doing the motion, and so you can get your body behind the stick.

Another thing to work on is just running through saves in your head during class or when you're bored. It helps to be mentally prepared, think about what you're going to do, how you're going to step, and where you're going to look when you're clearing after the save. Mental quickness is a very important part of being a keeper, because you can be an ill goalie in the cage, but if you can't get it down to the other side, it's not going to help too much.

To go into depth on playing the pipes, hold the pipes until the shooter is about 45 degrees on you, then go to step 2 (on the diagram) then wait until he moves to 45 again, then go to step 3 (center) and so on... You want to be "trailing" the shooter, as to not move, and have them shoot back pipe, which is what they look to do, so take that away and be ready to explode to the side he's moving to.

For the low shots and the off-side shots on the pipes, stay big, step out to the shot, don't wait for it. On the bounces, meet the ball as close to the bounce as you can, but don't get small, stay big, keep your chest out to block a wild bounce, and get your stick down IN FRONT of your body slightly bent this way: goal plane>| / <your stick that will help control the bounce. Only focus on shots that are going in front of the goal, because they can't hurt if they hit the net on the back side.

If there's anything you don't understand, or other questions you have for me PM me

[GHOMAN]

i have the same problem. so i just have some people shoot on me from my problem spots and make the save. It becomes habit after a few days

[CBgoalie64]

i always say a save is a save whether its with the body, stick, or goalie head

[kingwolf]

i had this problem but i went to a camp and i got rid of it what i do to keep thinking about is during warm ups i say step , step every time a shot comes and i do it . Walking the line is also very helpful

[juskellaxin]

walking the line is the best thing you can do as a newer goalie. I was in the same boat as you i played travel baseball in a very competitive area ( Cobb County in GA) so many of the pitchers were bringin heat. U get used to just usin ur body to block it. It's tough but with some concentration and 30 of stick work everyday next season you'll see a great difference. I wish you luck

[W.E.Lax]

i just realized this now, but you can play DDR to help with your stepping

[laxlegend08]

haha my coach hated a kid for playing ddr, he was terrible tho it didnt help him at all. he cried when he got hit with a pass in the hand (he had goalie gloves on) literally it was a pass during warm-ups. and this kid is in high school

[BoiledEggs]

Reaction ball, reaction ball, reaction ball. You can either throw it up against a wall, or drop it in place and step to it. Its the best simulation of how some lacrosse balls can bounce.