i am tired of playing goalie...

[MDlaxin69]

so around this time last year, i was in 8th grade, playing middie/mostly attack. The varsity coach (school only has a varsity team) came up to me and asked if i was interested in playing goalie. I originally said no way. However, later that week, i began to think maybe goalie wouldn't be so bad. I decided to let my future coach know that i was interested in trying the position out. He worked with me over the summer (last summer) and i became pretty good. He said i had a natural talent. I played my freshman year as the backup varsity goalie, played in many games because our team was often found losing by large amounts. I did very well, and now after starting a few summer league games on a hero's team that included many of my HS teammates, many of them are confident that i am going to be a very good goalie.

the problem is, however, now after playing a season, i cant stand playing goalie. No offense to any goalies out there, but i just find it to be not fun at all. I find myself wishing that i could play attack, even though I may be better at goalie. Normally, i would just tell the coach my situation, and try to switch back to attack. The problem with that, is that there is no other goalie to take my place. I feel as if i would be letting my teammates, and coach down if i switched back, but the whole point of everything is to enjoy the game right? I feel like if i dont like playing goalie, im never going to excell at the position. I also feel that i could be a great attackman or middie. I find myself practicing the positions that i dont play because that is what is more fun for me to do. Now what my question is,
is how do i deal with it? do i tell my coach i dont want to play goalie anymore? or do i just keep playing goalie?

sorry for the long post, i wish i could have said that in fewer words.

[RazzMaChazz]

I was the same way, i played attack my freshmen year then played goalie last year as a soph. and started to dislike it. even after winning all division and breaking 2 school records. spent some time over the summer playing, then went to the Umass camp as a keeper. i came home with a new love for the position. and then i'm glad i'm stopping the shots, rather then taking them. i understand what you're going through. and maying switching back would be better for you, if it made you happy. but i'm more than happy that i stayed.

good luck in your decision.

[sirfartsalot295]

maybe your just burnt out...it still happens to me. but all u need to do is just take a small break (like 2 weeks) or go to a fun camp. you dont have to always play to get better (I know some people beg to differ) but just playing to have fun can really help. anyways i hope u dont stop playing in goal, especially if u are good, but nobody can make this decision for you.

[EHSLAX12]

yea, i feel the same way sometimes. as great as the position is i wish sometimes i could go score the goals...aside from me going coast to coast. i love goal, dont get me wrong, but sometimes it does get boring. i love shooting as much as saving. its a hard balance. and coming from attack to goal i miss how i used to play.

its not that you shouldnt stop, its just that you should continue with teh one that gives you the most pleasure: scoring for your team or being the one that stops the other team from scoring. i made my decision to keep playing because goalie is a confidence booster for me. there are other reasons as well, but this is the most pertinent.

[MACDADDY]

im kind of the opposite.im a middie and we have some new players coming in from 8th grade, and i really would love to play goalie for them. mainly because out backup goalie isn't as good and i would love to play goalie. that is why in summer practice, right when the new kids come in and we hold special practice for them, i want to play.

[FitzGoalie]

evryboy burns out now and then. it's natural for goalies. but it's really just a testament to the stresses and abilities implied in the position. if you just chill for a little while, watch some videos of great goalies or play around at another position with your friends, you'l find yourself yearning to be a keeper once more, so you can relish the next big save.

[gfkeeper28]

Play attack this summer, then try goalie again next year.

[THALAX]

I'm in the SAME EXACT position as you are. The high school that I'm going next year doesn't have a goalie, and everybody (including the coach) thinks that I'm going to be taking the position. I'm a pretty good goalie, but I'd just much rather play defense. I'm going to be going to a defensive camp, and pretty much just stick to defense this summer, and maybe I will come back wanting to play in the goal again. Or maybe I will come back wanting to play defense more than ever, I'm not sure.

My advise to you is to play a little attack this summer and in the fall. See if you will come back wanting to play goalie more than ever. If you don't, then don't play goalie.

[zandermeister]

well the same thing happended to me except i was in middle school and we had a high school goalie so when i went up i got put on starting attack and it was so frustrating. my teammates dropped the ball and our other goalie sucked. my advice take a season off from goalie then try and go back. the attack world can get boring.

keep laxn

[Sjrlax69]

Goalie is a hard posistion and it can cause alot of stress on a person compared to other posistions, but goalie also is a fun posistion if u like being in the spot light, Pick the posistion that u see urself performing the best at and also being happy with

[TrapDoor]

I feel the same way occasionally, or to some extent. Every day when I'm just downstairs messin around, I'll pull out my shortie and rip beanie bags on the fridge or like do fakes and behind the backs on my couch. I think everyone has that want to be the guy who scores the game winning goal, and not the goalie who let it by. Sometimes I do wish I could be in the action more, but I don't get burnt out, something just keeps me going. I'm good at goalie. I'm a good attackman too, but I feel like I can excel the most at goalie. For you, it's the opposite. But every time the 2nd string goalie would come in on blowout games or ask to come in for some shots during practice, I'd see our coach go "Good save!" and I wished I was in the net making those saves.

But like I said, it's different for you. Maybe you need some time off from goalie, maybe a week or 2 of offense stuff and laying back, and hop back into the net when you're ready and see if you like it. If you don't, you might wanna talk to your coach. Basically tell him what you told us, that you don't like the position, like attack, and feel like you can on become so good and not reach your highest potential doing something you like, wheras you love being an attackman. I think it's not nessecary to pick what you are really best at, but what you truly enjoy and think you have the most potential and fun doing. But before you decide that, take some time off goalie and see if you want to do it again. Playing goalie can be like an emotional rollercoaster, one day you had a great game and you're super stoked, the next you just don't wanna be the guy standing in front of the goal.
Lacrosse is a game that should be enjoyed, like you said, but is also a team sport, and sometimes you have to make sacrifices for your team. But you should figure out if playing goalie is too big a sacrifice. I know you know this, just remember it when you are trying to decide what to do.