The Importance of a Warm-Up

[laxlosergirl]

Ok. I'm a new goalie and only played about three games but only half of the games since we had another goalie (who is kinda bad). I always take the second half so i never get a warm-up and i end up sucking in goal. The fist game i did fine (i saved everything but two shots), but the other two i really sucked. Any tips for a quick warm-up?

[lax21goalie2008]

Ask your coach if someone can shoot on you at half time?

[spenny]

make sure you get a real warm up, not some clown shooting on you.

warmups consist of someone shooting a set number of shots at a the same place.

i usually do 8-10 to the top left and move around the cage clockwise with 8-10 in each spot. i tell the keeper when i am moving to the next spot. after that if theres time i move out further and repeat but shoot faster. lastly i'll start doing random shots and try to challenge the keeper, but warmups are to get your blood going and build your confidence. to to see if i can get the ball past you.

there are few of my players that i will allow to warm up a keeper, maybe a 3-4 in the last 5 years

[EricL]

At halftime allow your Coach or a friend who can shoot really ACCURATE, and make sure you teammates are not going like "Hey get in net and Ill shoot on you" because they will have no clue how you want/correctly to be shot on.

Warmups are very important, they get you pumped up and its is like putting some grease on a metal joint because it will help you get very loose.

For my warmups I allow my coach to shoot 75% of his hardest shot on my handside while he walks around in an arc.Then he repeats the arc coming back but this time offhand side. He swings around the arc again at the other side to do handside bounce and same thing with the off hand bounce. He lastly shoots around 95%, 5 random shots anywhere, and if I feel I need to be more loose, I just ask him to do more bounces.

[bplaxg33]

hmmm any one else do a turn drill in warm ups where you are facing the goal ready and the shooter/coach yells turn and you turn as he/she shoots it. It is a great warm up for me because it helps me get set in terms of picking up (seeing) the ball

[goalie4JESUS]

i either get my coach OR this one other guy on my team to warm me up before a game and at half time but only those two people dont let anyone warm you up that isnt gonna bring some heat! and make sure you cover all the shots several times then do some sparatic shots if you have time

[HarryPockets]

If you are only getting a half and it tends to be the second, get started with your warm up as soon as possible. If you have an assistant coach that can shoot, grab them and get started as soon as possible. If you don't have an assistant, find a friend or someone you trust to work with you before the game and let them know what you need. You will likely find that someone is likely willing to skip sitting on the sidelines at half time to get you warmed up. Do the progressive drills mentioned above. 5-10 shots at each location adn then mix it up. That should be all you need.

Also remember that you can start getting your head in the game before the 1st half ends. Find a line or create an imaginary one and do some line drills (visualize saves to every location as you walk down the line). This helps you get your feet moving and your fundamentals in place before you step on the field. I feel it is something you should always do as a keeper regardless of level and experience. It keeps you honest.

[G10TSM]

I agree with every thing said in this so far. The only other thing I could say would be to get out to the game a little earlier and get a pre-warm up in before your starter warms up to start the 1st quarter. Warm up and get loose for about 15 minutes, then let your starter warm up closer to game time. This should loosen you up and then be able to make your halftime serious warm up a little bit smoother. As a coach, I always warm up my goalies in descending order depending on how much time before the game we have. I will start with the third string guy, then move to the second string and then warm up my starter at the closest possible time to game time, then I let my starter jump in some 4 on 3's or fast breaks until he wants to get out. Works really well.

[laxlosergirl]

thanks for the help but our girl's team only has one set of equipment for goal, and only two parts of them are for lacrosse, not including the stick. i guess i coud find a way to squeeze in some warm-up time in between halves.

[BOMBERd-pole]

my coach in warm ups on every goalie shoots a set number top off hand, top strong hand, hip off hand, hip strong hand, low off hand, low strong hand, bounce, and then he "mixes it up" and will shoot anywhere running around and in different styles (side arm, low to high, no wind up, and a goalie favorite- tomahawk)

i find that this works well in covering all the different shots and beacause he is an attackman for a summer legue team he can shoot hard and acurately

[Laxman3221]

make sure you get a real warm up, not some clown shooting on you.

warmups consist of someone shooting a set number of shots at a the same place.

i usually do 8-10 to the top left and move around the cage clockwise with 8-10 in each spot. i tell the keeper when i am moving to the next spot. after that if theres time i move out further and repeat but shoot faster. lastly i'll start doing random shots and try to challenge the keeper, but warmups are to get your blood going and build your confidence. to to see if i can get the ball past you.

there are few of my players that i will allow to warm up a keeper, maybe a 3-4 in the last 5 years

Exactly. The worst coach I ever had would try to see how many times he could score on you in warm ups. Crank shots from 10 yards. And then yell at you for not saving them.