Four Things You Can Do This Summer To Be A Better Lacrosse Goalie

Here's the qeustion, "Coach I want to be a better goalie. What should I do this summer to be better."

Answer:

1) Get stronger physically. Everything we do to stop a ball involves quick reactions and fast movement. And fast movement comes from a base of strength. If you can increase your strength you can increase your ability to move to the ball.

2) Get shot on by someone other than your current teammates. If you grow up in Maryland or Long Island chances are you're getting shot on by some pretty good shooters. But if you're not, it's super-important that you get out of your environment and face better shooters. This will do one big thing for you: It will raise your level of awareness to better shooters.

If you're getting shot on by poor quality shooters you will be a poor quality goalie. But if you get shot on by high quality shooters, and you learn how to stop their shots, you will become a high quality goalie.

3) Get working on a mental visualization and imagery program: If you're not playing in the summer your skills can really take a tumble. But even if you are playing a visualization program can really help you. Here's a couple things to do.

a) Before you fall asleep at night visualize yourself making great saves of balls shot to all positions. My suggestion is pick six shots for the week and visualize stopping them ten times. That's sixty shots a night.

b) Visualize in slow motion. If you can't do something at slow speeds you certainly can't do it at high speeds. So visualize everything in slow motion. See the shooter winding up and letting it rip as hard as he can. See the ball leaving the head of the stick. See the mesh in his stick ripple as the balls comes out. Recognize where the ball is going. See yourself moving properly to the ball and making the save.

c) Important! Finish the save! The save is not done until you have the ball in your possession and can pass it. For some extra credit visualization see yourself making a great outlet pass.

4) Last thing to do? Get to a camp if you can. The majoriy of my learning was from camps across the country. It's great to get around new coaches who are excited about lacrosse. Your coach can help you during the season but it is invaluable to get around other coaches and other players. You'll get new ideas. You'll see goalies who are better than you which will give you inspiration and you'll be around goalies who are not as good as you which will give you confidence.

Keep these in mind this off-season and you are sure to improve.

What is your favorite goalie camp? Give me an email at jone94@shaw.ca and tell me who your best coach was and what camp you went to.

Jonathan -