Master Crease Positioning – Defend the Net Effectively
As a lacrosse goalie, mastering proper crease positioning is essential for defending the net effectively. The crease area directly in front of the goal is your domain to protect. Focus on controlling the middle by staying square to the ball handler and reacting quickly on shots. When the ball is behind the net or on the sidelines, resist the urge to stray too far from the crease area. Staying central allows you to move laterally and cut off attempted feeds or drives to the goal. Work on quick lateral shuffling within the crease to match cutters’ movements while maintain optimal saving range. Keep your stick protectively covering five-hole and force shooters to beat you high. Letting attackers get inside position leaves the goal vulnerable. With proper footwork and preparedness, you can shutdown shots from in tight. Maintaining strong crease positioning should be any lacrosse goalie’s top priority for limiting high percentage shots and keeping the ball out of the net. Proper positioning, an active stick, and quick reactions are the keys to defending the crease effectively.
Know When to Pop Out vs Stay Home in the Crease
As a lacrosse goalie, an important skill is knowing when to challenge shooters and cutters versus when to stay back in the crease area. There is a delicate balance between being too aggressive and coming out of the cage versus playing it too safe and allowing easy shots. It takes practice and game experience to find the right moments to explode out of the crease.
In general, popping out is advisable when the ball is behind the cage or on the sidelines outside of good shooting range. Extending out slightly can allow you to intercept passes or prevent quick time-and-room shots. However, straying too far can open up the net. Only challenge when you have the proper angle for a check or block. Otherwise, stay home and be prepared for a quick shot.
When the ball is topside within shooting range, the best strategy is usually to hold your ground within the crease. Don’t overcommit or get faked out on head fakes. Maintain good balance and stick positioning to take away their angles. Being too jumpy can make it easier for dodgers to beat you. Let attackers come to you and make their move first before reacting.
On skip passes to the crease and quick sticks, exploding out a step or two can allow you to intercept the feed or block the shot. Just don’t overextend and risk getting beat back to the goal. Keep your feet active and get back into position quickly after each foray out of the crease.
Through constant repetition in practice and analyzing game film, goalies develop better instincts on when to attack versus when to stand their ground. Finding that optimal balance of aggression versus patience is key for dominating the crease area.
Time Goalie Sticks and Clear Balls Quickly
As a lacrosse goalie, having quick sticks and clears is critical for starting the transition game and limiting opponents’ time of possession.
When making a save, the ability to corral the rebound and control the ball cleanly is huge. Don’t allow the ball to bounce around or sit loose in your stick. Grip it tightly, pull it into your body, and clamp down with a vice-like hold. Solid fundamentals like cradling hard, keeping two hands on the stick, and shielding with your body help secure possession and prevent dislodges.
Once you’ve secured the ball after a save, look quickly upfield for the open man and be ready to make an accurate outlet pass. Don’t just blindly throw or dump the ball carelessly. Make crisp, on-target passes to get it out of the defensive zone cleanly. If you see a chance for a long clear through broken coverage, take advantage and jumpstart the fast break.
Rushing clearance passes often leads to turnovers and transition chances the other way. Be patient for your defense to make an opening, but don’t hold the ball too long either. Quick ball movement is key for relieving pressure.
On shots that miss the net, be prepared to scoop any errant balls and take advantage of the broken clear to go the other way. Use your stick skills and athleticism to chase down and pick up sideline and wide shots before the ride can get set.
Goalies who master quick outlet passes, strong clears, and ground ball recovery make it much harder for opponents to sustain offensive possessions. Developing fast hands and precise passing takes repetition, but is so valuable for starting the transition game.
Communicate with Defenders to Shut Down Cutters
As a lacrosse goalie, communication with your defenders is crucial for working together to shut down cutters and help defend the crease area.
Be vocal in pointing out picks, backdoor cuts, and skip passes to alert your defense. Call out potential crease dives or backside leaks so your defenders can pickup cutters in their zone. Seeing the whole field gives you great perspective, so don’t hesitate to direct the defense like a quarterback.
On screens and picks, make sure to call out “Pick left/right!” to avoid confusion. Coordinate proper switching responsibilities on picks to prevent open cutters from getting free. Mix in reminders to “Watch inside!” or “Check sticks!” to keep defenders focused.
If you notice a cutter sneaking in behind as you track the ball, give an early warning like “Check back!” to disrupt the play. Defenders can’t always see behind them, so your heads up helps prevent uncontested shots.
Be specific in your calls and concise in your communication. Shouting “Cutters!” doesn’t really help without direction. Loud, clear commands like “Pick left!” and “Crease dive!” will register better. Time your talk so defenders can react.
Good communication takes practice, so coordinate with your defenders in practice. Build trust and familiarity so your game calls translate seamlessly. United communication between goalies and defenders creates cohesion that helps deny good looks.
Execute Proper Footwork and Body Positioning
As a lacrosse goalie, having proper footwork and body positioning is essential for moving efficiently in the crease and taking away shooting angles.
Focus on short, choppy shuffle steps to maneuver laterally while staying square to the ball. Avoid crossing your feet or overstepping, which can throw off your balance. Keep your stance athletic and your center of gravity low for optimal agility.
When tracking the ball carrier, use turn-out steps to angle your body while keeping your chest facing the ball. This allows you to cut off passing and shooting lanes while maintaining good vision on the ball. Don’t open up too much or over-rotate.
On shot attempts, stagger your feet slightly for stability but avoid locking your knees. Keeping feet active and your weight centered makes it easier to react to fakes and absorb shots without going to ground.
When the ball is behind the cage, resist the urge to turn and face it directly. Instead, stay square to the front and use head turns and your peripheral vision to track the ball. This keeps you in better position for quick time-and-room shots.
Drill proper footwork techniques like lateral shuffle, turn-out and crossover steps regularly so they become second nature. Sharpening your reflexes through repetitious crease movement drills helps you gain an edge in reaction time when under fire in games.
Develop Lightning Fast Reaction Time
For lacrosse goalies, having lightning fast reaction time and reflexes is a huge advantage for making difficult saves. Here are some tips for developing split-second reaction skills:
Use visualization training to sharpen your ability to read and react to different shot scenarios. Picture game situations in your mind and visualize your positioning and response. This mental imagery primes your reflexes for game action.
Do ball-reaction drills where you stand in the crease and face random rapid-fire shots without knowing shot location, type or velocity in advance. The unpredictability forces you to react instinctively and trains reflexes.
Focus on hand-eye coordination drills to refine your ability to track the ball into your stick. Work on snapping hands together to grab shots and locking down holds. Quick sticks make saves easier.
Drill crease positioning fundamentals like lateral slides, turn-out steps, and shuffle recoveries to ingrain muscle memory. Repetition builds reflexive movements so you react without thinking.
Analyze your game footage to identify shot types or situations where you were a split-second slow reacting. Visual cues can help cue your reflexes as shots develop.
Improve general conditioning and agility to be lighter on your feet. Plyometric exercises help develop explosive burst reaction time out of your stance.
Trust your instincts and don’t second-guess. Overthinking can cause hesitation. React first and analyze later to develop sharper reflexes.
Confident goalies with super-quick reaction time have a big edge in the crease. Dedicated training to sharpen reflexes both physically and mentally is key.
Study Opponents’ Shooting Tendencies for Better Saves
As a lacrosse goalie, thoroughly scouting and studying opponents’ shooting tendencies can give you a big advantage in making saves. Here are some tips:
Watch plenty of game film to analyze shooters’ go-to moves and shot preferences. Note whether they tend to shoot high, low, bounce, or sidearm. Detect patterns.
Focus your film study on stars and top scorers first. Their shooting habits will be critical to stop in crucial situations.
Log shooters’ strike zones, accuracy percentages, and shooting velocity. Understanding their capabilities helps predict shot selection.
Pay attention to footwork cues like shuffling or dodging angles that might indicate high to low shot tendency.
Learn each shooter’s release point preferences on the run or from a standstill. This helps read shot trajectory.
Watch body language for possible shot tells. Some shooters drop their hands, angle hips, or look at corners before shooting there.
Note if players have limited range or avoid their weak hand, allowing you to cheat tendencies.
Trust your scouting once shooters step into range. Don’t second-guess your reads during games.
Studying opponents’ detailed shooting profiles allows you to gain an edge in preparation. Analyze shooters’ every tendency to be a step ahead.
Use Angles, Patience and Range to Your Advantage
As a lacrosse goalie, mastering angles, patience, and optimal saving range are key skills for controlling the crease area. Here are some tips:
Use proper angles to cut down shooting lanes as you track dodgers. Turn your body to occupy maximum net space without opening gaps.
When the ball is behind the net, resist chasing and staying square. This allows you to protect against quick feeds.
On skip passes, identify shooters early and step out at an angle to intercept the feed. Don’t overcommit too soon.
Let dodgers make the first move rather than lunging or guessing. Patience allows you to react to their committed motion.
Know your maximum saving range so you can adjust depth accordingly. Don’t get caught too close or too far.
On hesitation moves, hold your ground and keep vision on the ball. Don’t take the bait on head fakes and dekes.
Use your hand positioning to take away corners proactively based on scouting reports of shooter tendencies.
Trust your instincts on shot trajectory and don’t second guess. Overthinking can cause indecisiveness.
Mastering proper angles, patience, and saving range allows goalies to control the crease better. Stick to fundamentals.
Stop Quick Stick Shots with Alertness
As a lacrosse goalie, defending against quick stick shots around the crease requires alertness, fast reactions, and strong fundamentals. Here are some tips for stopping these quick-release scoring attempts:
Keep active feet and stay on your toes when the ball is being dodged behind the net. Sudden wrap-arounds can come from either side.
Maintain vision on cutters’ stick positioning to anticipate potential quick sticks. Watch for cocked wrists or shooting motions.
When the ball is passed laterally across the crease, be ready to explode into shots from the weak-side. Prepare for one-timers.
On inverted sets, expect quick-stick attempts from the player cutting across the middle. Their stick will be cocked and ready.
As the ball carrier nears the crease, be vocal in directing your defenders to be alert and check sticks. Call out “Watch sticks!”
Keep your hands active and stick protective of five-hole and wrap-around threats when the ball is behind the net.
Don’t overcommit too early on jab steps or fakes. Stay balanced to react quickly to actual shots.
Quick sticks happen fast, so trust your instincts and just react. Don’t hesitate or second-guess.
By staying alert and primed for quick stick attempts, goalies can get a split-second jump on defending these quick-release shots around the crease.
Defend the Crease Against Dodges and Drives
As a lacrosse goalie, defending against dodges and drives requires fast footwork, patience, and strong fundamentals to protect the crease. Here are some tips:
When a dodger makes his move, don’t overcommit early or lunge. Maintain good balance and vision, let him make the first move, then react.
Use quick lateral shuffle steps to mirror the dodger’s motion and cut off his driving angle to goal. Don’t cross your feet.
Keep active lead-hand positioning to discourage dodgers from rolling back underneath looking for a quick shot near the crease.
Time poke checks properly when dodgers expose the ball. Don’t miss and open your defense. Swing for sticks only.
On split dodges, maintain vision on the shooter’s stomach/chest rather than just their stick. This prevents losing them behind a screen.
When dodgers wrap around, use your stick positioning to take away theirangles. Don’t open up too much trying to chase them.
Communicate with your defenders on potential screens or picks so you can switches assignments seamlessly.
Dodgers will try to wait until you’re unsettled, so stay balanced. Don’t bite on fakes and let them dictate the play.
With solid footwork, vision, communication and fundamentals, goalies can effectively defend the crease against dangerous dodges and drives.
Perfect Side-to-Side Movement and Lateral Speed
For lacrosse goalies, having excellent lateral movement and fast side-to-side speed is critical for defending the crease effectively. Here are some tips for improving agility:
Drill lateral shuffle steps continuously to build muscle memory. Focus on short, choppy movements without crossing feet.
Work crease-specific drills like lateral baseline-to-baseline sprints while facing forward to develop hockey stops.
Incorporate agility ladder and cone drills to sharpen change of direction speed. Vary foot patterns.
Do plyometric exercises like lateral hops over cones or lines to build explosive push-off strength from either leg.
Practice drop-step and crossover lateral movements to both sides and angles. These translate directly.
Focus on keeping your center of gravity low with knees bent for optimal lateral quickness and start-stop ability.
Increase lateral resistance by using bands around ankles or sled pulls to build push strength.
Analyze game film and drill corrections for any false steps, poor footwork or balance issues.
Elite side-to-side movement and lateral speed gives goalies a huge advantage in denying drives or cutters. Dedicated agility work pays off.
Prevent Behind-the-Back and Wrap-Around Goals
Defending behind-the-back and wrap-around shot attempts is a key responsibility for lacrosse goalies. Here are some tips for preventing these goals:
When the ball is behind the net, resist the urge to chase too far out of the crease. Stay centered to defend quick feeds.
Keep your stick active with lead hand out to take away drop step shots near the crease on either side.
Position your body to cut down the shooter’s angle and force them to expose the ball before shooting.
Talk to your defenders about preventing topside feeds and communicating cutters behind the net.
Drop step laterally to take away the shooter’s room to wind up for BTB shots. Don’t open up gaps.
On potential wraparounds, lead with your stick to intercept passes or block shots when at optimal range.
Stay alert for players quickly switching sides behind the net. Move your feet to track behind ball movement.
Don’t overcommit too soon or go down early on fakes. Stay patient and balanced.
Solid positioning, communication, footwork, and vision are key for goalies to shutdown tricky behind-the-back or wrap-around attempts.
Control Rebounds and Limit Second Chance Attempts
As a lacrosse goalie, controlling rebounds and limiting opponents’ second chance attempts is critical for shutting down sustained offense in the crease area. Here are some tips:
Use proper hand positioning and cradling technique to corral shots directly into your stick upon first contact. Don’t allow loose balls.
On high shots, snap your hands together quickly like a vice to clamp down possession. Don’t let it sit in your stick unrestrained.
Pull all saves tightly into your body after the save and shield the ball with your body and stick. Protect it from checks.
Box out crashing attackers by establishing inside position. Use your size and strength advantage.
When clearing long, look for open teammates immediately to move the ball out of danger. Don’t hold it loosely near the crease.
On shots headed wide, make an effort to intercept the ball quickly before it can bounce around the crease area. Scoop it fast.
After saves, don’t just deflect the ball out of play. Try to maintain possession for your team whenever possible.
Communicate with defenders to be alert for rebounds and box out cutters crashing the crease looking for garbage goals.
Controlling rebounds limits opponents’ second chance opportunities. Mastering strong fundamental skills is key for goalies after the save.
Maintain Composure After Goals to Stay Confident
For lacrosse goalies, maintaining composure and confidence after giving up goals is critical for bouncing back mentally. Here are some tips:
Don’t dwell on goals against – stay focused on the next shot. Refocus on your technique and positioning.
Remember that all goalies get scored on sometimes. Don’t let past goals shake your confidence making next saves.
Quickly identify what went wrong technically on a goal – footwork, hands, angles? Making adjustments can prevent repeats.
Communicate encouragement to your defenders after goals against. “Flush it and reset!” Redirects their focus too.
Use calming and centering techniques like deep breaths after goals if needed. Regain poise.
Focus only on controllables – your preparation, effort and fundamentals. Don’t worry about stats.
Mistakes happen – keep positive body language and avoid visibly sulking or swearing after goals.
Trust your skills and preparation. Have confidence in your quick bounce-back ability.
Goalies who can quickly reset mentally and stay poised after goals give their team calm confidence and stability in the crease.
Consistently Make Key Saves to Inspire Your Defense
For lacrosse goalies, the ability to make big saves in key moments can uplift and inspire your entire defense. Here are some tips for coming through when it counts:
Prepare fully – mentally and physically – to be at your best in crunch time. Visualize making critical stops.
Trust your technique and fundamentals when the pressure is high. Rely on your training.
Exude calm confidence and poise in tense situations to influence your defense. Your body language sets the tone.
When a crucial save is needed, focus only on the next shot. Don’t get overwhelmed by the moment.
Make tough saves early to build belief and momentum. Set the tone with confidence.
Celebrate big saves visibly to energize your defense and the crowd. Share the moment.
Stay vocal with positive communication after saves to spur on your defense. “Great clear!”
Come through in clutch situations and your defenders will gain trust and respond with inspired play.
Goalies who make timely saves in pressure moments give their team unwavering confidence when it matters most.