Nerves

[TrapDoor]

I'm having some nerves troubles. Tomorrow is my first game (5-6 grade age group) and sometimes when I think about it I get this feeling in my stomach. I don't want to not be able to concentrate and do bad because of that. Suggestions?

Also, does anyone have tips or 1-person drills for stopping shots that are right outside the crease? I had some trouble with thme during practice yesterday. Thanks for all replies.

[slinkyspine]

Do some push ups a light jog and crunches


and then take a deep breath and go have some fun.

[imhungry114]

My coach did this drill on me today. He called it around the clock. If you can have a friend or yoru coach shoot on you in a large arc. If you in the gym use the 3 point arc as a line to have people shoot from. Then have them call the corner and shoot. It helps you get used to taking shots from every angle.

[konkomania]

I play better usually when i am nervous.

[TitansGoalie11]

Get an Energy Drink the most powerful one u can buy. Run 1/4 of a mile. Do your warmups with coach, jump in a ball line, do 11 pushups walk half a line using your steps concentrate on breathing shake the other goalies hand go in your goal and be fieirce.

[LAX_Conejo]

Warm up with your team instead of sitting in the cage to get warmed up, you can get in the cage halfway through their warmups

[New Lax Love84]

Get an Energy Drink the most powerful one u can buy. Run 1/4 of a mile. Do your warmups with coach, jump in a ball line, do 11 pushups walk half a line using your steps concentrate on breathing shake the other goalies hand go in your goal and be fieirce.

Energy drink- Badddddd idea. Bad advice.
Sure it give you energy, but the wrong thing to drink to do a sport.
Especially a lax game.
And especially if the kid's nervous.

[HarryPockets]

Nerves are tough to deal with when you first start out. It's something new so it takes time to get comfortable. I've been playing for a very long time now and I played my best early on when I focused on stopping the ball and nothing else.

Since you are in the 5-6 range you probably don't have any responsibilities in managing the defense. Just visualize and attack. Focus on the shooter and explode to the ball. Just keep that in your head and block everything else out. Especially for younger goalies, the toughest thing is to stay focused and attack the ball. You will get scored on. That is a fact. Even in blow outs, teams give up goals. just try to keep your position and explode to the ball.

BTW - The shots from outside the crease are going to go in a lot of the time. The percentages and advantage is in the shooters favor. Stay in position and try to mirror the shooters stick. You'll develop your own style as you mature, but each goalie will tell you different things to do here. I am a very aggressive goalie and like to put pressure on the shooter by stepping out and cutting down the angle. My style is less typical than most goalies and because of it I make a lot of guys miss, but also give up some goals I could have gotten in front of had I stayed at home on the goal line. Others like to stay on the goal line and force the shooter to get around them. It's all about how you play and there is no one size fits all answer. My style suits a goalie that is more athletic and has quick feet. (at least I used to have those abilities) The other is good for someone with good hands and positioning.

[TrapDoor]

Thanks for the tips guys :)
We won 10-2 :agree: I became a lot less nervous afterwe just took the faceoff and scored rigght afterwards.