tips for a beginner

[x-raylax1025]

I am seriously considering taking up lacrosse for next season, but I have absolutley no experience whatsoever. I'm 15, and I have a disability which affects my balance and causes me to walk with a limp (as you can imagine I am not very fast), so a position like mid or attack just wouldn't be logical.... goalie seems like the best position for me, so I figure why not give it a shot.

As I said before I have no experience in lacrosse, in fact I don't think I've ever even held a lacrosse stick (however I enjoy the sport and have a respectable understanding of the rules). I understand that I can't become a solid goalie overnight, but I'm willing to put in the time and effort to get me to the point where I can at least try out without making a complete embarassment of myself..... and perhaps more importantly, I believe that I can eventually reach that point. This summer, I will be working with my friend- who is a goalie - just getting down the basics and trying to get comfortable with the position. I know that this is not going to be easy, but like I said I am willing to give it everything I've got.

Right now I am just looking for some advice to help me out as a beginning goalie. Any tips to help me out are GREATLY appriciated.

[goalie4JESUS]

dont get overly confident after any save just be happy you made it. i think one of the biggest down-falls for goalies is getting overly confident, but that doesnt mean put your self down.....if that helps........

[goalieskcickay]

Good luck in your training and learning of the position, and I believe that with perseverance anyone can achieve great things. However, there is a Goalie Drills Megathread and How to Play and Arc Threads located at the top of the page.

I'm going to leave this open because I believe that some interesting topics could be discussed, if you are willing to talk more about you condition.

To start things off, I read an article on a deaf goalie in Lacrosse Magazine. I can't remember the details, but it was an interesting read.

Also, the Maryland goalie from a few year back, Tim McGinnis, spent three years in a wheelchair as a young child because of a fairly uncommon hip disease. (Legg-Calve-Perthes) He ended up playing three years at Gettysburg, was a Tewaaraton Nominee, a three time all-american, and went to Maryland to begin grad work.

[x-raylax1025]

Thanks for the info.

The condition I have is called Cerebral Palsy...... I am actually very lucky to have the variation of CP that is mild; the only truly negative effects are tighter leg muscles and a minor limp. Three surgeries on my legs have helped improve these aspects.

Most kids with my disability are affected on a far greater scale, such as mentally or long-term physical effects (paralysis is a common one)...... a good precentage of people with CP are cooped up in wheelchairs for their entire lives, so I consider myself to be very lucky!

Anyone here have some sort of physical "disadvantage" (I hesitate to call it that)?

[RvRhsgoalie]

yea like everyone tells you just got to stay calm and dont get excited about a save because you might not save the next one and i do have problem i have major knee problem but i keep on going because you have one life to live and i love lacrosse and i very deciated so yea just go to camps and trian in the off season to get good at cradiling

[laxlosergirl]

on one of the teams that our team played, the goalie had a leg disability also....i'm not sure what it was but she was limping. anyhoo, she whupped butt that day and before the game, my coach said she was good. so i'm just saying that you can become really good if you just practice.

[budman_30]

i would practice walking the line and just a lot of reps the correct way will help you build muscle memory. if you not sure if your doing something right just ask someone.