Lax goalie stick. Mastering the Perfect Lacrosse Goalie Stance: 7 Key Elements for Success

What are the essential components of an effective lacrosse goalie stance. How can goalies improve their positioning to maximize save potential. Why is proper stance crucial for consistent performance in lacrosse goalkeeping.

The Importance of a Proper Lacrosse Goalie Stance

A solid foundation is crucial for success in any sport, and lacrosse goaltending is no exception. The goalie’s stance serves as the launching pad for every save, making it a fundamental aspect of effective play. A well-executed stance can mean the difference between a game-winning save and a costly goal.

Why is the goalie’s stance so critical? It directly impacts:

• Reaction time
• Balance and stability
• Coverage of the goal
• Ability to move quickly in any direction
• Mental preparedness for incoming shots

By mastering the perfect lacrosse goalie stance, players set themselves up for consistent performance and increased save percentages. Let’s dive into the seven key elements that comprise an ideal stance.

Element 1: Proper Foot Positioning

Foot positioning forms the base of a goalie’s stance and plays a crucial role in overall stability and mobility. How should a lacrosse goalie position their feet?

The ideal foot placement is slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. This wider base provides several advantages:

• Improved balance and stability
• Enhanced ability to move in any direction quickly
• Better coverage of the goal

Some coaches may recommend a shoulder-width stance, which can work for certain players. However, anything narrower compromises the goalie’s athletic position. Taller goalies might benefit from an even wider base, though this comes with its own set of pros and cons.

Regardless of the exact width, goalies should always be on the balls of their feet. This readiness is often described as being able to slide a credit card under the heels. By staying light on their feet, goalies can react more quickly to incoming shots.

Element 2: Knee Bend and Lower Body Positioning

The second crucial element of a perfect lacrosse goalie stance involves the lower body, particularly the knees. How should a goalie position their knees for optimal performance?

Goalies should maintain a significant bend in their knees. This knee bend offers several benefits:

• Automatically puts the goalie in an athletic position
• Facilitates quicker reactions to both high and low shots
• Shifts weight onto the balls of the feet
• Improves overall balance and stability

The degree of knee bend can vary based on personal preference and comfort. Some goalies prefer a deep squat, while others opt for a slight bend. The key is finding a position that allows for quick movement in all directions while maintaining balance.

Element 3: Back Posture and Upper Body Alignment

Upper body positioning is equally important in creating an effective goalie stance. How should a lacrosse goalie hold their back and upper body?

The ideal posture includes:

• A straight, flat back
• Broad shoulders
• A slight forward lean (about 20 degrees) at the hips

This posture ensures that the goalie takes up maximum space in the goal while remaining comfortable and athletic. The straight back and broad shoulders create a “big” presence in the cage, potentially intimidating shooters and increasing save percentages.

The slight forward lean positions the chest slightly in front of the hips, enhancing balance and readiness. It’s crucial to maintain a square position to the shooter, with both the back and chest facing directly towards the oncoming shot.

Element 4: Hand Positioning and Stick Grip

Hand placement is a critical aspect of the lacrosse goalie stance, affecting both stick control and save ability. Where should a goalie position their hands for optimal performance?

The ideal hand positioning includes:

• Hands placed about chest-width apart (approximately 12 inches or 30 cm)
• Grip that allows for quick stick rotation
• Hands held at a comfortable height, typically around chest level

This hand placement allows for efficient stick movement and provides a good balance between control and flexibility. Hands placed too wide can hinder stick rotation, while hands too close together may reduce overall coverage.

The exact height of the hands may vary slightly based on personal preference and the goalie’s physical attributes. However, keeping the hands around chest height generally provides the best combination of reaction time and coverage.

Element 5: Head Position and Visual Focus

A goalie’s head position and visual focus play a crucial role in shot anticipation and reaction time. How should a lacrosse goalie position their head and focus their eyes?

Key aspects of proper head positioning include:

• Head up and eyes forward
• Chin slightly tucked
• Focused gaze on the shooter’s stick and hands

Maintaining this head position allows the goalie to track the ball from the moment it leaves the shooter’s stick. The slight chin tuck helps protect the neck and keeps the head stable during quick movements.

Goalies should avoid the common mistake of watching the shooter’s eyes or body. Instead, focusing on the stick and hands provides the earliest indication of shot direction and type.

Element 6: Weight Distribution and Balance

Proper weight distribution is essential for maintaining balance and enabling quick reactions. How should a lacrosse goalie distribute their weight in the stance?

The ideal weight distribution includes:

• Weight primarily on the balls of the feet
• Even distribution between both feet
• Slight forward lean to keep weight centered

This weight distribution allows the goalie to move quickly in any direction without losing balance. Avoiding weight on the heels or toes prevents tipping forward or backward during shot fakes or wind-ups.

The slight forward lean at the hips helps maintain this centered weight distribution, keeping the goalie ready to react to any shot.

Element 7: Mental Readiness and Focus

While physical positioning is crucial, the mental aspect of the goalie stance is equally important. How can goalies maintain mental readiness in their stance?

Key elements of mental preparation include:

• Maintaining a calm and focused mindset
• Visualizing successful saves
• Staying alert and anticipating shots
• Avoiding distractions from crowd noise or game situations

Mental readiness allows goalies to react instinctively to shots, rather than overthinking or second-guessing their movements. Developing a pre-shot routine can help goalies consistently achieve this mental state.

Goalies should practice entering their stance with both physical and mental preparation, creating a habitual response that carries over into game situations.

Putting It All Together: The Complete Lacrosse Goalie Stance

When all seven elements come together, they create a formidable lacrosse goalie stance. This stance embodies the “athletic position” often referenced by coaches across various sports. It’s a position of readiness, balance, and focus that maximizes a goalie’s ability to make saves.

Key takeaways for the perfect lacrosse goalie stance include:

1. Feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart
2. Significant knee bend
3. Straight back with a slight forward lean
4. Hands positioned for optimal stick control
5. Head up with eyes focused on the shooter’s stick
6. Weight distributed on the balls of the feet
7. Mental focus and readiness

By consistently practicing and refining these elements, lacrosse goalies can develop a stance that becomes second nature. This automaticity allows them to focus on reading shots and making saves, rather than worrying about their positioning.

Common Mistakes in Lacrosse Goalie Stances

Even experienced goalies can fall into bad habits with their stance. What are some common mistakes to avoid?

• Standing too upright or with locked knees
• Placing feet too close together
• Leaning too far forward or backward
• Holding hands too high or too low on the stick
• Watching the shooter’s body instead of the stick
• Tensing up or appearing rigid in the stance

Regular video analysis and feedback from coaches can help goalies identify and correct these issues. It’s important to remember that small adjustments can lead to significant improvements in save percentage.

Adapting the Stance for Different Situations

While the basic elements of the lacrosse goalie stance remain consistent, slight adjustments may be necessary for different game situations. How can goalies adapt their stance?

Consider these scenarios:

• Fast breaks: A slightly higher stance may be necessary for quicker reactions
• Outside shots: The standard stance works well for most outside shots
• Close-range shots: A lower stance might be beneficial for reacting to quick, low shots
• Left-handed vs. right-handed shooters: Slight adjustments in positioning may be needed

Goalies should practice these variations to become comfortable adapting their stance as needed during games. The ability to make quick, subtle adjustments can give goalies an edge against diverse shooting styles and situations.

Training Exercises to Improve Goalie Stance

Developing and maintaining a perfect lacrosse goalie stance requires consistent practice. What exercises can goalies use to improve their stance?

Consider incorporating these drills into your training regimen:

• Mirror drills: Practice your stance in front of a mirror to check alignment
• Partner feedback: Have a teammate or coach critique your stance
• Video analysis: Record and review your stance from different angles
• Wall ball: Practice quick movements from your stance
• Squat holds: Improve lower body strength and endurance
• Balance exercises: Enhance overall stability and control

Regular repetition of these exercises can help ingrain proper stance mechanics, making them second nature during games.

The Role of Equipment in Goalie Stance

While stance is primarily about body positioning, equipment can play a role in a goalie’s comfort and effectiveness. How does equipment impact the lacrosse goalie stance?

Consider these equipment factors:

• Stick length: Should allow for comfortable hand positioning
• Padding: Should not restrict movement or visibility
• Cleats: Must provide good traction for quick movements
• Helmet: Should allow for clear vision and head movement

Goalies should experiment with different equipment setups to find what works best for their individual stance and style of play. Remember, the best equipment is that which allows you to maintain your ideal stance comfortably and consistently.

The Mental Game: Confidence in Your Stance

Beyond the physical aspects, a goalie’s confidence in their stance plays a crucial role in performance. How can goalies build and maintain this confidence?

Consider these strategies:

• Consistent practice to build muscle memory
• Positive self-talk and visualization
• Celebrating successful saves and learning from goals allowed
• Understanding that stance is a tool, not a guarantee
• Seeking feedback and continually refining technique

By developing a stance that feels natural and effective, goalies can approach each shot with confidence, knowing they’re in the best position to make a save.

Evolving Your Stance: Adapting to Growth and Experience

As goalies progress in their lacrosse careers, their stance may need to evolve. How can goalies adapt their stance as they grow and gain experience?

Consider these factors:

• Physical growth may require adjustments to width and depth of stance
• Increased strength and flexibility can allow for deeper knee bends
• Experience may lead to preference changes in hand positioning
• Advanced techniques might incorporate slight pre-save movements

Goalies should remain open to refining their stance throughout their careers, always seeking the optimal balance of comfort, effectiveness, and personal style.

The Future of Lacrosse Goalie Stances

As the sport of lacrosse continues to evolve, so too may goalie techniques. What might the future hold for lacrosse goalie stances?

Potential developments could include:

• Integration of biomechanical analysis for personalized stance optimization
• Increased focus on dynamic pre-save movements
• Adaptation to potential rule changes or equipment innovations
• Greater emphasis on mental preparation and focus techniques

While the fundamental principles of a good goalie stance are likely to remain constant, goalies and coaches should stay open to new ideas and techniques that could enhance performance.

Conclusion: Mastering Your Lacrosse Goalie Stance

The perfect lacrosse goalie stance is a combination of physical positioning, mental readiness, and personal style. By mastering the seven key elements discussed – foot positioning, knee bend, back posture, hand placement, head position, weight distribution, and mental focus – goalies can significantly improve their performance on the field.

Remember, developing an effective stance takes time, practice, and patience. It’s not just about mimicking a specific pose, but about finding a position that allows you to react quickly, cover the goal effectively, and maintain your balance and focus throughout the game.

As you work on refining your stance, keep these final tips in mind:

• Consistency is key – practice your stance regularly
• Seek feedback from coaches and experienced players
• Use video analysis to identify areas for improvement
• Stay open to making small adjustments as you grow and develop
• Remember that your stance is the foundation for all your saves

With dedication and attention to detail, you can develop a lacrosse goalie stance that not only improves your save percentage but also boosts your confidence and enjoyment of the game. Keep working, stay focused, and watch your goalkeeping skills soar to new heights!

The 7 Elements Of The Perfect Lacrosse Goalie Stance –  

The 7 Elements Of The Perfect Lacrosse Goalie Stance

Getting into a perfect lacrosse goalie stance before every shot is half the battle when it comes to making consistent saves as a lax goalie.

One of the first things a new goalie should learn is how to get setup in the proper stance that will maximize his or her ability to make saves.

When you analyze video or still images you’ll often notice that when a goalie is setup in a bad stance at the time of the shot’s release, the ball goes in.

How much you wanna bet this shot goes in?

The overall governing rule for a perfect lacrosse stance is to get into an athletic position.

If there’s ever a question about your stance, just ask yourself am I in an athletic position?

A proper goalie stance is also one that we can routinely get into and is the same every time.

The stance should be comfortable and also put the goalie into the best possible position to attack the oncoming shot.

As I’ve mentioned before on this blog, there are many styles of lacrosse goaltending. Each goalie may have some differences in his or her stance however these are the 7 elements of the perfect lacrosse goalie stance and every great goalie will have these.

I teach my goalies to setup with their feet a little wider than shoulder width.

This is the way I felt most comfortable in the cage. I could move in any direction out of this stance and I always felt like I was in a good athletic position.

The base stance of a lacrosse goalie is often compared to that of NFL linebacker. Lacrosse goalies obviously setup with their hands up and ready to save a shot.

You never see an NFL linebacker setup with feet only shoulder width apart standing up straight.

Some goalie coaches do recommend feet shoulder-width apart, which is fine. But any narrower then shoulder width and you’re not in an athletic position.

Other goalies use more of a wide base with their setup. This stance can be effective too, especially for the taller goalies but it does come with some pros and cons that I discuss in this post (wide base stance).

When you analyze the play of today’s top MLL and PLL goalies, you’ll notice that the majority use a slightly wider than shoulder width and the rest use the wide base.

We should also be on the balls of our feet so that we’re ready to move. You should be able to slide a credit card underneath your heels.

The second element of a perfect lacrosse goalie stance is to have your knees bent nice and low.

Having bent knees automatically puts us in an athletic position.

If you bend your knees nice and low, it’s very easy to popup for the higher shots and the bent knees means you’re already lower to the ground to simplify the process of saving low shots.

Another benefit of having your knees bent is that the weight automatically goes on the balls of your feet which is want we want.

We don’t want to have our weight on the toes nor on the heels.

Many goalie coaches teach their goalies to have their weight on their toes. The problem with that is the goalies are off-balance and falling forward as to the shooter winds up or makes a fake.

We want a stance that is completely still when the shooter is the winding up.

Here is Trevor Tierney setup in a perfect lacrosse goalie stance.

How much you bend your knees will depend on your personal style and what feels most comfortable for you. Some goalies get into a deeper squat while others choose a slight knee bend.

But the important thing is you must have bent knees in the perfect lacrosse goalie stance.

Having a nice straight, flat back in your stance ensures you take up as much room as possible in the goal.

We’ll also ensure our shoulders are broad for the same reason. However nothing awkward, as we always want to be comfortable in our lacrosse goalie stance.

As we make saves we always want to be “BIG” in the cage. Having a straight back in your stance and during the save process will help ensure we’re staying BIG and thus increase our save percentage.

While keeping my back straight I like to have a slight bend forward at the hips. Always in a comfortable, athletic manner.

45 degrees of bend is too much. I’d recommend something like 20 degrees which puts us in a comfortable, athletic position. This is going to position our chest slightly in front of our hips.

Your back and chest should always be square to the shooter.

Side angle of a great lacrosse goalie stance.

I love the visualization of thinking of the NFL linebacker stance, a position that the great John Galloway refers to as “Ray Lewis Ready”.

Hand position is extremely important. Both in where your hands are on the stick and their positioning to your body.

I like to have my hands about chest-width apart or about 12 inches (30 cm) apart.

If your hands are too wide, the rotation of the stick becomes too long and will inhibit our ability to make those off-stick hip and off-stick low shots where the stick must fully rotate.

With your top-hand placement, you have a few options:

I prefer to setup with my top hand touching the plastic (#2 above) but I know plenty of goalies who like to grip the plastic to prevent stick rotation when the ball makes contact.

In certain circumstances, such as with a very small youth goalie (< 5 foot) it makes sense to have the top hand be under the plastic throat (#3 above) of the stick an inch in order to help the goalie reach all corners of the goal.

Regardless of where your top hand is, the bottom hand is about 12-18 inches below. With our hands that far apart we can make quick movements and rapid stick rotations when needed.

Place tape on your stick so that you know where your hands should be every time.

The final point regarding your hand position is that the top of your stick should not be above the crossbar when you set up in your stance. If it is, you’re protecting an area that’s not a goal and that’s a waste.

This means, taller goalies (about 6′ and above) either need more knee bend or lower hands so that the top of their stick is at the top of the goal.

Shorter goalies can have their hands as high their eyes if the stick doesn’t go past the top crossbar.

Or they can also set up very low like current MLL goalie Adam Ghitelman.

The next element of the perfect stance is arms out away from your body.

If your arms are too tight, moving the stick around is a difficult task. Also with your stick in tight, it might become caught on your face mask or gear during a save.

Our arms should be out and away from our body while still maintaining a bend at the elbow. Locked elbows are no good as any locked joint is not an athletic position.

One tip to find the right arm position. Fully extend your elbows, then bring them 1/2 way back. This usually results in a nice athletic positioning of the arms.

To practice having your arms out and away from your body, try the Defensive Stick Drill where we use a long stick to make saves. If your hands are not out away from your body in this drill, the long stick will hit the goal.

By having our hands out we can attack the ball quicker and reduce the amount of distance we need to cover to make a save.

Scott Rodgers’ goalie stance is seen above.

I don’t know all the details of a perfect lacrosse defensive stance for long-poles but I’m pretty sure that defender in the pic is NOT doing it ?

When we grab the lacrosse shaft with our hands we want to grip to be loose – ideally with only our thumb, first, and second fingers.

The grip should be loose while still maintaining control of your goalie stick.

The light grip with the thumb and forefinger allows the hands to rotate to cover all corners of the goal.

Your hands should be on the stick so that the wrists are to the back of the stick. Again, this will provide the best rotation of the stick to all areas of the cage.

You should be able to freely and easily rotate the stick 360 degrees with no limitations. If you can do that, you’ve got the right grip.

The goalie’s grip exposes the goalie’s thumb to damage from shots so be sure you’ve got a pair of lacrosse goalie gloves that have a reinforced thumb to protect yourself.

The final element of a perfect lacrosse goalie stance is to be completely relaxed.

We cannot have tension in our body because it limits our ability to react.

One of the main reason we give up rebounds is that we’re stiff. Also one of the main reasons we bite on fakes or have a false step is because our bodies are too tense and we go for that first movement.

We’re gripping the stick nice and light with our hands too. And all other limbs are relaxed and ready to go.

If you’re relaxed in your stance you can stay in it all day. Or at least long enough to endure a long 4-minute possession from the opposing team.

Once you’re able to set up in the perfect lacrosse goalie stance, one great exercise is the mirror training lacrosse drill.

That is, set up in front of a mirror and see how your stance looks.

Your lacrosse goalie coach can provide feedback on your stance but once you understand the basics you can practice it in front of the mirror to ensure consistency and perfection every time.

Another great drill is to walk the line where we practice our stance by visualizing and making imaginary saves. Before making a save in this drill, setup in your stance.

Work on the things you need to correct to make your stance perfect.

With the goalies I coach one thing I constantly harp on is the need to be able to get into the same exact stance over and over, without thinking about it.

The perfect stance should just be 2nd nature for every goalie. And this only comes through repetition.

If you’re uncomfortable in your stance you might need to build the leg and shoulder muscles to increase their endurance.

I often find it helps to study the pros so here are photos of MLL goalies setup in their stances.

Each goalie is going to have a little uniqueness to their goalie stance but notice how every goalie is in an athletic position to make a save.

Do you see the 7 elements of the perfect lacrosse goalie stance demonstrated throughout these photos?

Here is PLL Redwood goalie Tim Troutner discussing how he teaches the perfect lacrosse goalies stance:

The Right Stick

A goalie’s stick will have a lot to do with their ability to control rebounds.

Back when I played in college there were fewer options for goalie mesh. When you strung up a goalie stick, you had to spend hours and hours breaking in the mesh.

A goalie stick with mesh that is not properly broken in will be like a tennis racket giving up rebound after rebound.

These days there is goalie mesh like East Coast Dyes Semi-Soft Wax Mesh or Jimalax 12 Diamond Goalie mesh that is much easier to break in thereby reducing rebounds.

However anytime you get a new stick strung up be sure to spend adequate time breaking it in before that stick sees action in the games.

Another element of the stick that effects rebounds is your pocket depth.

A shallow pocket will give up more rebounds. Thus the reason we specifically train with a shallow pocket stick to develop soft hands.

Before you run of and make your pocket as deep as possible know that its much easier to throw outlets with a shallow pocket.

• Deep Pocket: Less rebounds, harder to clear.
• Shallow Pocket: More rebounds, easier to clear.

Therefore I typically recommend a balance with about 2 to 2.5 balls of depth in the pocket.

Trap and Scoop Rebounds

No matter how soft your hands and how great your stick is, there will still be an occasional shot that pops out around the crease.

In this situation its crucial for the goalie to clamp the ball with the back of their stick.

If you clamp outside of the crease, offensive players are legally allowed to attempt to pry the ball loose by dragging their stick under yours.

If this happens defensive players should be salivating as they can body check these pesky attackman and make them wish they never tried that move.

If the goalie has a foot in the crease, no contact may be made with the keeper. Thus always keep a foot in the crease if possible.

I teach my goalies to drag the ball back into the crease if they’re clamped just outside.

With a foot in the crease nobody can contact them so you can use your body to “box out” attackman and ensure your team gets possession of that ball.

Invert the Mesh Before the Shot

One final tip for helping to eliminate rebounds.

Before the shot – invert your mesh. That is push the back of the mesh through the front of the stick.

This won’t drastically reduce rebounds like the other concepts in this post however it’s my belief that it helps.

When the ball hits the inverted mesh there will be more give and a higher probability that the ball stays caught in your mesh like a fishing net.

Conclusion

Learning to control rebounds is an important element of any goalie’s game.

Keep these tips in mind when you’re out on the field and hopefully the number of rebounds you’re giving up will diminish drastically:

• Develop soft hands
• Don’t be a statue
• Give a slight cradle
• Get the right stick
• Clamp and scoop
• Invert your mesh pre-shot

Remember every rebound you give up is another chance for the opposing team to score.

Until next time! Coach Damon

Any goalies or coaches have any additional tips on eliminating rebounds? Leave me a comment down below. 

Cover photo credit – JCCincy

9 Tips for First Time Goalies

NO MATTER HOW GREAT OF A GOALIE YOU ARE NOW, ALL GOALIES START FROM ZERO. IN THIS POST WE COVER TIPS FOR FIRST TIME LACROSSE GOALIES.

Every lacrosse goalie has to start from zero.

Many goalies start out at attack or middie and then make the conversion later in their career as I did. 

I spent an entire collegiate career playing in goal and I’ve now coached goalies for about 15 years.

With all that experience here are 9 tips for lacrosse goalies just getting started. 

Get the Right Goalie Gear

Any goalie stepping into the cage for the first time should be outfitted in proper lacrosse goalie gear.

Feeling protected will give you more confidence and help eliminate the inherit fear that comes with someone firing a 90mph rubber bullet in your direction.

It’s funny how many times I’ve seen attackman, middies, or first time goalies step into goal using bad equipment, like a chest protector from the 80’s that doesn’t even fit them.

Below is a quick breakdown of the equipment a new lax goalie will need.

For a full in depth description on gear checkout: The Lacrosse Goalie Gear Guide.

• Throat Guard – Goalies use the same helmets as others just attach a throat guard.

• Lacrosse Goalie Gloves – You’ll need to upgrade to goalie gloves. The gloves you use to play attack won’t provide the protection you’ll need when facing shots. In addition to stronger padding to protect your hands the goalies gloves are going to have a reinforced thumb to prevent injury.

• Athletic Supporter – I’d also recommend an upgrade to this piece of equipment as getting hit where the sun doesn’t shine is extremely painful. Warrior’s Nutt Hutt will give you the protection you need.

• Chest Protector – Many great options when it comes to chest protectors. Newer models have reinforced heart protection that I recommend to all goalies. 

• Goalie Stick – Saving the last for the most obvious. You’ll need a goalie stick. You can either buy a complete stick or purchase a head, shaft, and a goalie stringing kit and string the goalie head yourself. Since you’re just starting out, the first option will be easier but learning how to string a goalie head is worth the investment in time.

• Shin Guards – An optional piece of equipment but one that will help you feel protected and help you avoid the horrible pain that is taking a ball to the shins.

• Lacrosse Goalie Pants – Another optional piece of equipment but feeling protected will help your confidence. Goalie pants cover up your hips and thighs that are extremely vulnerable to receiving bruises.

Learn the Proper Lacrosse Goalie Stance

When lacrosse goalies ready themselves to make a save, there’s a basic stance that every goalie should get into that will best prepare you to make saves.

This stance puts you in athletic position and is used by all goalies albeit with some subtle differences in style.

Here are the 7 elements of a great lacrosse goalies stance: 

1. Feet a little wider than shoulder width apart

2. Bent Knees

3. Arms out and away from body

4. Proper grip on the stick

5. Straight, flat back with slight bend at the hips

6. Hands well positioned

7. Body Relaxed

You can learn more about the perfect lacrosse goalie stance in that post.  

Part of getting in the right stance is also understanding the lacrosse goalie arc.

I teach 3 different types of arcs but for the beginner I recommend using a normal arc.

Understand the Basics of Making a Save

Sometimes goalie coaches (including myself) over-complicate the position of goalie.

When a 90mph shot is traveling our way we cannot have hundreds of rules floating around in our head.

So let’s simplify things – Lacrosse goalie is this: See the ball and save it.

While maybe that’s a little too simple. It’s what I reiterate to goalie students over and over.

Here’s a little more detail on the basic technique you want to learn.

To make the save we’ll take our top hand (right hand for righties) and drive it towards the ball.

We’ll take our lead foot (left foot if shot is to your left, right foot if shot is to your right) and step to get our body in front of the shot.

Our trail foot and bottom hand then move.

So after you’ve got the right goalie gear and you have a good lacrosse goalie stance, the next step is to take some time to learn the theory behind making saves.

Read this post for an in depth description of a simple way for lacrosse goalies to make saves.

Drills, Drills, Drills

Playing goalie in lacrosse is about training your muscles to make saves.

We want to development the correct muscle memory that automatically fires once we see a shot coming in our direction.

In addition, we also want to develop our reaction time.

The combination of quick reactions and perfect body movement is the key to becoming an All-American goalie.

Here are 33 drills for lax goalies:

This is more than enough drills for a 1st time goalie, or any lacrosse goalie for that matter.

Pick 3-5 drills from the list above and work them into your practice sessions.

Shots, Shots, Shots

If you’re going to learn to swim, at some point you’ve got to get into the pool. Same for goalies. 

Goalies must face shots. That’s what we do. There’s no substitute for live shots.

As you’re taking shots you can put everything you’ve learned into practice.

For beginner goalies you can follow this warmup plan to ensure you’re getting a great mix of shots.

If you don’t have a goalie coach, you can setup an iPhone to record your warmup. After practice watch the video and see which areas of your game need work.

The final tip for new goalies is get as many shots as you can.

Practice makes perfect. Getting time and experience in the cage will help you perfect your save technique and help you gain the confidence needed to become a great lax goalie.

Goalies Need Stick Skills

One thing that goalies who make the switch from middie or attack have in their favor is stick skills.

I generally recommend that goalies not get in net until they can catch and throw properly.

If you look at today’s top goalies in the MLL most of them have the best stick skills on the field. T

his allows them to make great saves and also clear the ball effectively after the save.

So goalies who come from the position of attack have an advantage with their stick skills.

If a first time goalie didn’t know how to throw and catch, I’d recommend they checkout my post on getting stronger stick skills for goalies.

Don’t Get Discouraged

Lacrosse goalie is definitely not an easy position.

At first most new goalies will flinch when someone rips a shot at them. And while its the exact opposite of what we want, it’s completely natural.

It takes time to develop the confidence not to flinch and the quick reactions and perfect save technique required to stop shots.

If you’re a coach, parent, or teammate of a goalie reading this make sure you absolutely “go wild” on every save. Even if the goalie doesn’t move and the shot hits them square in the helmet. 

That encouragement will help them. 

For the goalies, don’t get discouraged if you’re giving up a lot goals at first. That will happen.

Instead focus on having fun. Making a great save is one of the better feelings in the world so rejoice a little bit every time you make a save.

Hopefully your teammates are supporting you and going crazy each time you make a save.

Be sure to do the same when they make great plays and you’ll definitely get the love back.

Remember to have fun and you’ll be surprised how your goalie game will improve. 

Focus on the Basics

The position of goalie can be quite complex.

But one of the things I recommend to new goalies is to focus on the basics.

This is even great advice for experienced goalies who find themselves in a rut.

In other articles, I’ve written about topics like:  –

But for a new goalie, don’t worry about these things.

For now your job is to focus on the basics.

In the next season, you can start to learn other concepts once you’re more comfortable in the crease and understand the basics.

Be Loud and Communicate to the Defense

Part of being a great lacrosse goalie is being an excellent communicator.

With your unique position on the field, you see things that other defenders cannot, as the goalie is the only player on the field constantly facing the ball.

Most 1st time goalie are too quiet which is understandable since they are timid and don’t understand.

But when in goal you should be communicating loudly to defensive teammates. Here the lacrosse goalie terms you should use.

Commit those terms to memory and use them when in practice or game situations.

Being loud and knowledgable about the game will help earn your team’s respect and turn you into the leader of the defense that the goalie should be.

Conclusion

Lacrosse goalies are a strange breed and I’m honored that anyone would consider joining our club.

Even years after I stopped playing lacrosse when I would mention that I was a lax goalie in conversation with another lacrosse player, there was instant respect.

My basic tips for 1st time goalies are:

1. Get the right gear

2. Get the right stance

3. Study the basics of save technique

4. Drills

5. Shots

6. Learn stick skills

7. Don’t get discouraged

8. Focus on the Basics

9. Be Loud and Communicate

Good luck to all beginner goalies!

How to Hold a Lacrosse Stick When Right Handed | Live Healthy

Lacrosse players use their dominant hand to control stick movements, generate shot power and protect the ball as it cradles in the head netting. A right-handed lacrosse players holds the bottom of the stick with his left hand for stability and slides his dominant hand along the stick shaft depending on the current game situation. Learning to hold the lacrosse stick properly is your first step on the path to master the fundamentals of the game.

Ready Position

Place your left hand on the handle directly above the butt end of the stick with your thumb pointing toward the stick head.

Position your right hand one-third of the way up the stick handle, about shoulder-width distance from your left hand. Again, point your thumb toward the stick head.

Grasp the stick with both hands, curling your hand around the handle so it rests on the pads of your fingers.

Press your thumbs against the stick shaft.

Bend your right arm at the elbow.

Hold the stick at eye level with the head facing forward. This pose is known as the ready position and is the proper way to hold the stick when moving without the ball, passing or shooting.

Scoop Position

Slide your right hand up the stick shaft to the throat of the stick when you get close to a ball that is rolling along the ground. The throat of the stick is the portion located a few inches below the head.

Run to the ball, positioning yourself so the ball is next to your right foot.

Bend down, lean forward and rotate your right wrist to invert the stick head like a spoon.

Scoop the ball off of the ground and into the head of your stick.

Switch to the cradling position to protect the ball from defenders, or switch to the ready position to prepare to pass or shoot.

Cradling Positon

Slide your right hand up the shaft to the throat of the stick to protect a ball cradled in the net.

Grasp the stick throat firmly between with your right thumb and right forefinger.

Slide your left hand down the shaft until your hand is loosely grasping the butt end with your palm facing the ground.

Rotate your wrist gently back and forth while keeping your left arm close to your body. The cradling motion keeps the ball in the head while protecting against prodding defenders.

Catching Position

Slide your right hand up the shaft to the throat of the stick. Leave your left hand grasping the handle near the stick butt.

Grasp the stick firmly with both hands, similar to the grip used in the ready position.

Keep your left arm close to your body as the ball approaches.

Guide the stick head into the path of the ball with your right hand.

Pull back slightly with your right wrist to cushion the impact as the ball strikes the netting.

References

Writer Bio

Dan Howard is a sports and fitness aficionado who holds a master’s degree in psychology. Howard’s postgraduate research on the brain and learning has appeared in several academic books and peer-reviewed psychology journals.

Goalie Stick Tips and Tricks For Clearing And Passing

While there isn’t any research for lacrosse goalies specifically, there is a fantastic study that debunked one of the longest held traditions in sport…swinging a weighted bat in the on-deck circle at a baseball game.

The study that was done back in 2009 at Cal State Fullerton proved that swinging a weighted bat made a baseball player’s actual swing with a normal bat slower.

What made a batter improve their swing speed was actually swinging a lighter bat and not a heavier one.

In a similar vein, years ago I read about how Communist East German athletes used weighted and unweighted discus, shot put, and javelin to improve throwing distance without ruining technique.  (They also used a healthy amount of performance-enhancing drugs but I doubt your young goalie will be doping any time soon.)

The idea of loading up a lacrosse goalie stick with BB’s, or sand, or marbles, or adding string weights to the head is just incorrect thinking.

Why?

When coaches or parents (or goalies) miss a save people think, naturally, “If only they could move their stick faster they would make more saves.”

This is akin to the, “I want faster hands” argument.

And while wanting faster hands is a good idea, it’s not actually what we really need.

When we move a goalie stick to the ball we are applying force from the ground through our body up into our shoulders and arms which move the stick.  Making the save then isn’t just about having fast hands it’s about generating force through every joint in the body.  

I’m sure if I asked your goalie to clap their hands quickly they could do it.  That would be “fast hands” technically.

Words matter and that’s why I absolutely cringe when a parent or coach tells me their number one concern for their goalie is developing “faster hands.”

When we think about making a save we need to 1) see the ball, 2) know where it’s going, and then 3) move, efficiently, in front of that ball.

For the purpose of this discussion, we’re just talking about getting the head of the stick in front of the ball.  I am not talking about making a save with another part of the body.

With that in mind, how then do we make a lacrosse goalie move their stick faster?  Well, consider the following:

For a lot of young goalies, a lacrosse goalie stick is really heavy.

It’s big and hard to cradle with.  If it’s a team stick it may have a cheap but heavy aluminum shaft in it which makes it even more cumbersome.  Small hands in thick gloves also make managing that stick a bit of an issue.

Couple that with the fact that a lacrosse goalie is still learning how to see the ball and then know where it’s going and you have the recipe for a very sluggish move in front of the ball..  (Very long sentence, sorry.)

There is a level of patience we need for young/new lacrosse goalies.  It is totally normal to want to kick Mother Nature in the butt and expedite the process but weighting the stick and then making it lighter is NOT the answer.

Getting your goalie into the gym is.

If your goalie is serious about playing the game at a high level they need to have some sort of Strength and Conditioning program they are following.  Getting to the gym two to six days a week is perfectly normal for an athlete who is serious about their sport and that can start as young as twelve years old.

This last year I turned three goalies away from my Lacrosse Goalie University program because what they needed was not more lacrosse, it was focusing on getting themselves stronger physically.

The third “key” to making any save is moving in front of the ball and that “moving” is all about a goalie’s physical ability.

I like to say that your goalie is an athlete who plays the lacrosse goalie position.  You don’t become athletic by playing goalie but you can become a better goalie by becoming a better athlete and that usually happens off-the-field and out of the crease. 

A common mistake that is made by many coaches and parents of lacrosse goalies is to try and do too much at the same time.  Here are a couple of examples.

Using a weighted stick while making saves:

There is some benefit to “loading” a goalie’s movement so they can feel where their weaknesses are but it is NOT correct to try to add weight to something that requires technique.  For example, if you attach a bungee cord or a cable to the head of a goalie’s stick and you have that cable pulling from the correct angle, a goalie may feel that they are weak in their ankle or their hip.  Or through their chest.  Or even their wrist.  This extra load can be a cue similar to overexaggerating a technique but it’s not to be used as a way to strengthen.  Baseball pitchers will “load” the end range of motion when throwing but they will do that in the gym, and not with a weighted ball.

Doing Agility Drills (i.e. Ladder Drills) while in their goalie stance:

I see this a lot.  Let’s take a goalie, put them in their stance, and THEN have them do a ladder drill.  Where their head is down and, overall, the whole thing looks like crap.  When you cook a steak and mashed potatoes, you don’t throw the steak and the potatoes in the pot of boiling water?  Or throw everything on the grill.  All at the same time.  No.  The steak goes on the grill for the appropriate amount of time and the potatoes go in the water early.  Each in the proper place.  If you’re going to work agility with your goalie…work agility.  If you are going to work on movement…work on movement. If you try to do it all you’re going to have a crappy outcome for all of it.

Many parents are just happy that their goalie is hot and sweaty after a session. That is actually their benchmark.  I’ve asked parents in the past, “How did you like the goalie clinic your goalie went to?” and I will get an answer like, “Oh it was great! He slept the whole way home!” or, “She was sore for days after that camp it was so great.”  To these answers, I say…up your standards.  But you can only up your standards if you know better.  You must know what you’re looking to improve in your goalie.  If you don’t, people will be happy to keep taking your money.

Now, I’m the first coach to tell you that your goalie does NOT need more/expensive/better equipment to play better.  I say that because I don’t want young goalies using it as an excuse.  Many athletes will cause a subconscious “waiting” by thinking, “Well, I’d be better if I had better equipment.”  That’s typically not true.

That being said, IF your goalie is using a club stick that is old and heavy and has a crappy pocket in it, they will probably benefit by having a lighter stick with a better pocket.  Just saying.

There are any number of heads that can be used.  Personally, I recommend the STX Eclipse or the Nemesis.  I’m also a fan of the String King Mark 2 as of this writing.

There are a lot of great mesh options out there as well and we have a rather robust thread in our private Facebook Group that is evolving every season that keeps this updated.

Finally, I have always recommended Titanium shafts or something similar.  I used to say that they cost a lot but they will probably last your goalie for as long as they are playing.  There are always new shafts coming on the market but remember these concepts:

1. The shaft is probably the most mundane piece of equipment and it in NO way will improve your goalie’s ability to move in front of the ball.  Anyone who makes a claim that the shaft they are selling you will improve your goalies save percentage is lying.  Buy strong.  Buy cheap.  End of story.
2. Avoid carbon which can break very easily.  All it takes is one slash and the shaft is compromised.  As I said before, going with a Titanium or an alloy that is similar will last you forever.  I like Savage X shafts. (Not an affiliate link)

As for titanium…Savage X makes a titanium alloy and not pure titanium.  The cost is ridiculously cheap with Savage so I would recommend you start there for $40 USD.  But if you can find a Titanium shaft, and you’re not allergic to the price…buy that.

I tell my goalies, a lot, you don’t need more wall ball, you need to learn how to cradle and dodge.  

The reason is that we need to improve our goalie’s strength in their fingers and their hands, into the forearms, and up through the shoulder.

If your goalie is making passes with their top hand locked to their shoulder and their bottom hand pointed out like a big lever…they need strength in their shoulders.

I have seen kids work hours and hours and hours on Wall Ball only to see that they cradle like they have an egg in a teaspoon and they have no strength in their upper body.  This is NOT good.

A goalie who spends 5-10 minutes a day cradling and faking.  Dodging and picking up ground balls with authority, will be more confident on the field.  They will be comfortable out of the cage and on the clear.  They will make more stops.

Why?  Because they will be using less mental bandwidth because they aren’t worried about dropping a ball or having to run around someone.

Work on this at the END of practice, or in a separate practice altogether.  No need to fatigue them before they get in the cage for practice.

Male or female, it doesn’t matter.  If your goalie has small hands then they should be using a junior shaft.  Go to your local lacrosse store and order a junior shaft with a sleeve that fits into the head.

If you are working with a young goalie there is no reason you can’t use a mini-stick.  Just get a decent pocket in it so it throws well.  I warn you, this can be a challenge, but the use of the small stick makes a lot of sense for a new goalie who is young and small and all that.

Your lacrosse goalie needs to get stronger from the ground up and this doesn’t happen by weighting their stick.  Weighting the stick can actually slow a goalie down not to mention that the loading of the stick causes a fundamental change in the movement for the goalie.  It’s just not necessary.

Encourage your goalie to be patient.  To adopt a strength and conditioning program.  If it’s needed, investing in better equipment can help so keep that in mind.  Finally, encourage your goalie to spend 5-10 minutes per day just working on cradling and dodging.  Their confidence with the ball in their stick will help them in, and out of the cage.  Let me know how it goes.

90,000 Goalkeeper sticks 2020 best TOP9

1. Bauer Vapor 2X Pro goalkeeper stick

Overview

The new Bauer Vapor 2X Pro introduces a composite golf club that delivers exceptional shock absorption. The stick has an asymmetrical design with a foam hook that contains lightweight fibrous material on both sides to withstand the most challenging throws. The fold is quite strong with carbon weave reinforcement, yet lightweight with a flat blocking surface.This provides better rebound control and superior balance in your hand.

The stick has a comfortable, smooth finish that is designed to stop and control the puck. The stick is fitted with sticky grips for better grip. It is also designed so that you can easily slide your hand up and down as you play.

The

Bauer Vapor 2X Pro Goalkeeper Stick is ideal for intermediate to advanced players and is available in multiple colors and sizes. The stick is in the mid to high price range as it is one of the best goalkeeper sticks in the world.

2. CCM Extreme Flex E4.9 Goalkeeper Stick

Overview

This new CCM goalkeeper stick is manufactured with an all-polyurethane graphite hook for superior puck control and possession. It is great for channeling bounces into corners as well as passing to teammates. The blade has a polyurethane core that is reinforced with fiberglass for added strength and durability. The blade is designed to minimize vibration from heavy throws by helping control rebounds and cornering.

The handle is made of lightweight aspen wood with a core with graphite and fiberglass for durability and is manufactured with straight walls and rounded corners. This model is available in several different colors and a range of sizes with a 26 ” golf club weighing 854 grams. The handle is reinforced with graphite laminate for secure and reliable play.

The CCM Extreme Flex E4.9 Goalkeeper Stick is designed for the mid-level player and ranges from low to mid-range prices, although it is a well-designed stick.

3. Sherwood Rekker M70 – goalkeeper stick

Overview

This 2019 Sherwood Goalkeeper Stick offers hockey players a unique balance and is engineered for maximum performance and durability. The stick and curl are made of carbon fiber composite for optimal responsiveness and comfort when stopping pucks or playing with defenders. The handle is made with anti-vibration technology with added foam to withstand the most severe shots and impacts.The handle is also made from a lightweight composite material that allows you to stop quickly and easily grip the

washer

The hook has a rounded heel for better puck control, and the handle has a glossy finish for quick, precise puck grip. The club comes in 26-inch sizes and weighs 845 grams. The stick is made to handle all the action during the game without slackening.

This is the ideal goalkeeper stick for beginners and outdoor enthusiasts, as it is strong and flexible enough to take powerful shots without vibration.The Sherwood Rekker M70 Senior Goalie Stick is a great durable composite model that comes in a lower price range.

4. Warrior Ritual V1 Pro goalkeeper stick

Overview

This 2019 goalkeeper model is from Warrior and is set to quickly become one of the brand’s most popular sticks. This is a lightweight model with a slip and grip zone. The woven design and premium carbon material of the Minimus make it one of the strongest and most durable goalkeeper sticks on the market, while providing optimal balance and comfort.The handle is designed to take gears and absorb shock vibrations and provide superior rebound control. The blade comes with a fiber backing for extra strength and is designed for high speed and tough throws.

Stick stiff but flexible where needed, the shaft is impregnated with anti-vibration materials to prevent your hands from hurting when the hook stops the puck. The flexible part of the club is located above the blade, in the handle for easy throwing of the puck out of the zone through the glass.The handle technology is a matte finish, which, in combination with the ribbed texture on the shaft, provides maximum grip and glide in the hand

Warrior Ritual V1 Pro is aimed at elite level players and is sold at a higher price. It is available in a variety of styles and sizes and is one of the most advanced composite golf clubs you can find.

5. True A4.5 HT goalkeeper stick

Overview

This True goalkeeper stick is one of the most popular models on the market due to its light weight as the 26-inch model weighs only 770 grams.However, it is one of the strongest golf clubs despite its weight, as both the blade and the hook are designed to withstand the strongest throws. True uses its efficient BRT + technology along the full length of the club, scream and heel, resulting in a lightweight yet very durable golf club.

The stick and hook have a viscoelastic layer to absorb impacts and provide excellent control of puck rebound and acceptance. The bottom of the stick is lighter with balance towards the handle for comfort and superior control for goalkeepers who love puck possession.The hook has a foam core for even more durability and is very reliable in tough conditions.

The True A4.5 HT stick is the perfect choice for mid-level goalkeepers looking for a durable, lightweight stick at an affordable price. The club can be purchased at a low to mid price range.

6. Stick Sherwood Rekker M90 for goalkeepers

Overview

This Sherwood Rekker stick is designed for higher level goalkeepers, so this model can be found in a higher price range.It is a durable, lightweight 26-inch composite stick weighing only 694 grams. The stick is made from Blackline carbon fiber, which is made with a special weaving method that keeps it lightweight and durable. Key breakage points have a reinforced graphite material that can withstand the toughest impacts without fear of club breakage.

The stick is also designed for superior puck bounce control, as well as full puck control when passing a pass to a teammate or clearing a dime.The vibration dampening design is also very effective for control and comfort, which is achieved by injecting foam into the grip, nib and handle. The stick has straight sides, rounded corners and an attractive glossy finish.

The

Sherwood Rekker M90 is another 2019 model, one of the lightest you can find. It is made using high-tech composite materials with added foam and offers a good value for money.

7.CCM Premier 2.5 Goalkeeper Stick

Overview

This inexpensive CCM goalkeeper stick is designed for beginners and hockey enthusiasts. The stick is designed for goalkeepers who want a stick with high levels of durability, puck possession and control, and is made of tough composites and fiberglass in the shaft and hook while maintaining a light weight. The shaft is also reinforced so that there are no weak points when repelling the most difficult throws.

The stick has an effective sticky grip surface that ensures it won’t fly out if you don’t want it to, for example when deflecting a powerful throw.The finish is an attractive blend of gloss and matte gloss, and the hook features a polycarbonate insert that helps control bounce and throw the puck into corners. The stick is available in several sizes, a 26-inch model weighing 825 grams.

The CCM Premier 2.5 stick is popular with mid-range players for its low cost and high reliability. This is a durable model that provides fantastic control and puck feel and is a bargain.

8. Bauer Vapor X2.9 goalkeeper stick

Overview

The

Bauer Vapor X2.9 Goalie Stick is a 2019 model that delivers great balance and durability no matter how many shots you hit in the game. The hook is equipped with a foam core that provides durability and a superior puck feel when deflecting or wielding. The stick is designed to reduce vibration at high throwing forces so your hands feel comfortable and not hurt.

This model has an arched part, which means that the blocking surface of the putter is flat and the back part is rounded. This helps you have better control over your rebound and maintain the greatest possible club balance. The stick is made with a durable carbon composite outer wrap, without adding any weight to the handle. The handle above the lug provides optimal control and work with the Griptac, has a smooth surface.

The Bauer Vapor X2.9 Goalie Stick is in the mid-range for goalkeepers of all skill levels.It is available in a variety of sizes and is a 26-inch model with a weight of only 773 grams. This stick offers a ton of possibilities and should quickly become one of Bauer’s bestsellers.

9. Warrior Ritual V1 Pro SE goalkeeper stick

Overview

The Warrior Ritual V1 Pro SE goalkeeper stick is one of the most durable on the market, as the stick, shaft and handle are made from lightweight Minimus carbon 1000 material. The shaft also features Warrior VibexLite technology to help dampen vibration during the toughest shots, and HiFused construction provides excellent balance.

The stick has a TwinSpar construction for a better feel for the puck when shooting, while the hook has the necessary stiffness. Because the stick is made of the same material, it provides goalkeepers with the strength they are looking for by eliminating any possible weak points.

This is the ideal goalkeeper stick for those who like to control the puck thanks to the sliding grip and matte finish on the blades. This model has a ribbed surface and is very easy to move in your hand, while the upper part of the putter has a sticky part to guarantee maximum control of the putter at all times.In addition, the impact fiber layer is designed to strongly deflect the washers at the bend of the club.

This luxury composite stick from Warrior comes in three colors with different shaft patterns and lengths. It is the ideal stick for serious and elite goalkeepers, and offers great performance and quality in a price range.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I trim the goalkeeper’s stick?

We do not recommend sawing your golf club if you think it is too long for you because it will degrade balance.

Do goalkeeper sticks need to be bent?

Curved sticks are not popular with goalkeepers. Goalkeepers generally use regular sticks, which have a straighter hook that allows them to stop high-strength throws.

What is a right-handed goalkeeper stick?

Right-handed goalkeeper sticks are used by goalkeepers who catch with their right hand and hold it with their left hand, while goalkeepers using regular hockey sticks catch with their left hand and hold it with their right hand.

How to make a goalkeeper stick knob

Today we will talk about how to make a head for a goalkeeper’s stick.
There are many different ways to do this, everyone has their own preferences, so it’s not better to figure it out on your own and find out which method is best for you.
So, the wrapping of the goalkeeper’s stick begins with the knob.
Most goalkeepers prefer it to be quite large.
There are several good reasons for this: first, and most importantly, the stick will not get stuck in the net.Secondly, goalkeepers usually poke the puck during play. That is, they have to slide their hands up the handle, and the large knob makes it easier to grip the stick, because the goalkeeper’s pancake is quite massive, it complicates everything, and the large knob helps to cope in such a situation. And thirdly, if the goalkeeper dropped the stick, then because of the size of the pancake it will not be easy to lift it – here the large knob will come in handy again, thanks to it it will be much easier to raise the stick.
The second thing about wrapping a goalkeeper’s stick is to wrap around the handle to provide a firm grip.
How long the handle winding will be is up to you.
Some players prefer longer wrapping, others prefer to wrap strictly under the grip.
In general, this is really a matter of taste.
Personally, it seems to me that this is enough.
Some people say that cloth ribbons are enough, they are already satisfied with everything.
But personally, I prefer the grip to be more powerful, so I also use our professional grip tape.
Thin sticky grip tape provides increased grip on the grip.
One coat is sufficient.
Our professional grip tape belongs to the class of self-adhesive tapes, so, in fact, there is no sticky layer on it.
So, first, a little cloth tape is wound so that the grip tape does not slip, bunch up and break.
This is how the head of a goalkeeper’s stick is made.

90,000 How to lose the semifinals of the World Hockey Championship for Russia :: Hockey :: RBC Sport

Bad advice on how the Russian national team should not play with the Finns in the semifinals of the home world ice hockey championship

Read us at

news
news

Photo: Al Charest / Zumapress / Global Look Press

Play them as usual at home

In the history of games between Russians and Finns, a lot depends on the preferences of the researcher – what years and periods he will remember.For the new match, Suomi fans can easily collect material on a rather offensive poster “Fear Us”, which will indicate the results of the semi-finals of the 2006 Olympics (4: 0, Finns), the 2007 World Cup (2: 1, OT) and the 2011 World Cup (3: 0), and decorate it with a postcard from Sochi-2014 (3: 1). Ours fend off with a banner “What else?” and will remind you of the 1996 World Cup (5: 0 in our favor), the Nagano Olympics (7: 4 and five Bure goals), the 2012 World Cup (6: 2) and the 2014 World Cup (5: 2).

By and large, there is, of course, approximately a combat draw, but here’s the thing.In two tournaments held in Russia, it was the Finns who knocked out the home team (these are the 2007 World Cup and 2014 Olympic Games). They would have been knocked out with the 2000 World Cup, but there the team of Alexander Yakushev effectively withdrew. Moreover, all three times the winners were in medals.

Leave Mikael Granlund outside the gate

Mikael Granlund came to the 2011 World Cup in Slovakia in about the same status as Patrick Laine is now – only Granlund was a year older and no longer thought about the draft.But, like any rising big star, miracles were expected from him. And they waited in the semifinals with Russia. For this episode, you can scold the defenders Kalinin and Kulikov, from whom Granlund left somehow suspiciously easily, but the speed with which he performed his lacrosse move is still impressive. Usually such tricks are performed longer, after two or three seconds of reflection. Immediately you will not say that he was left right outside the gate. He burst in there – and flew behind Barulin’s back like a meteor.

Make a hero out of a Finnish goalkeeper

The main feature of the most resounding defeats from the Finns is that we can have a goalkeeper team of any strength (even the best in the world), but the opponent’s goalkeeper becomes the hero.In 2014 in Sochi hot Finnish guy Tuuka Rask saved 37 shots on his goal. In 2007, in Moscow, Kari Lehtonen – 29 out of 30. And a year earlier, the classic story happened.

In the semi-finals of Turin-2006, a hero whose name is easier to copy-paste than to print from his head, Antero Niittyumaki coped with only 21 throws: Ovechkin and Kovalev threw three times, Kovalchuk four times. The Finns won 4: 0 and this breadwinner Niittyumaki was enough to climb to his career peak, become the best goalkeeper of the tournament (with Lundqvist alive) and get into the symbolic team.

In general, instead of a hero, you need to make a laughing stock out of him – we can do that too.

Bring the matter to overtime

Case from the series “How to lose if you have an advantage and are firmly convinced of victory.” It’s quite simple – you need to bring the match to a state where everything will be decided by one mistake. In 2007, the Russian national team was more talented (Ovechkin, Malkin, and Radulov played, all 20-21), angrier and brighter than the Finns – a couple of goals scored in regulation time were not enough.The country’s sports bars have survived to overtime with the confidence that now we will definitely squeeze them out. But alas. A dangerous lumbago went on a penny, Mikko Koivu wiped out the defender’s body, knocked out the stick of Alexander Eremenko and rolled the puck into the empty ones.

Give free ice to Patrick Laine

Now it’s hard enough to underestimate the threat posed by Laine, because people don’t sing about him at the championship except from irons. The race with Matthews for the first pick in the draft, Patrick generally turns out what he needs: Auston lagged behind in the group stage, but almost single-handedly pulled the team to the semifinals, which was not expected of him.That is, the Finn still needs to improve.

Another thing is that in winter, at MFM , the coaching staff of the Russian national team also heard a lot about his troika with Aho and Pulyujarvi – they still did not really work to neutralize them. In general, this is a big task for all teams in the tournament, and the Russians are no exception. True, he is like Ovechkin: you just have to let him aim, like – boom! – and take it out.

Continue not to implement most

Now the Russians are in an interesting seventh place for the majority in the tournament (even the Germans are higher).And we scored the last time against the Danes – not a single realization in the last four games. Moreover, there are chances (there are several draws in each game) and, more importantly, hands. It is definitely impossible to complain about the number and level of the performers of the Russian national team.

The coaching staff rejects everything, they say, only throws are missing. But if you think about it, throws are the most important thing. It’s just that while all our throwing masters endlessly improve for each other the position to throw on the most empty goal (as if Mozyakin cannot hit the others).”Keep up the good work guys!” – perhaps the most harmful advice for our team.

Photo: Global Look Press / Al Charest / ZUMAPRESS .com; Gettyimages.ru/Brian Bahr; Global Look Press / Alexander Kulebyakin

Author

Nikita Petukhov

.

Continue Reading

Lacrosse Goalie Gear Guide: Everything You Need To Play Goalie

This post is a guide which will explain all the lacrosse goalie gear, both mandatory and optional, that is needed to play this amazing position.

I’ll also provide my recommendation for specific pieces of gear that I like.

As goalies we want to be as protected as possible without limiting our movement. So the gear that I prefer typically offers a high level of protection and functionality while still permitting freedom of movement.

Luckily for us, lacrosse goalie gear (and lax gear in general) has made tremendous strides in just the last 10 years. I mean consider this is what lacrosse helmets looked like not too long ago –

With the explosion in popularity of the sport, many lacrosse companies have invested heavily in research and development to create new lacrosse gear that’s lighter while also safer than its predecessors.

There are lots of great options for every single piece of equipment. Just because I recommend and like a specific helmet, doesn’t mean that there are not others that work great. Same with chest protectors, sticks, gloves, etc.

If you’re a brand new lacrosse goalie or a parent wondering what gear your child will need to play goalie, this post will help you understand all of the lacrosse goalie equipment that is needed to play in the cage.

Without further ado, here’s my recommended lacrosse goalie gear:

MANDATORY LACROSSE GOALIE GEAR

Today’s helmets are extremely light and yet offer more protection and style then helmets of the past. Goalies are going to get hit in the head with the ball so it’s extremely important to use a newer style helmet to avoid concussions.

There is no difference between a goalie helmet and the helmets used by attackman, defenseman, and middies. The only slight difference is we add a throat guard to the goalie helmet.

There is also no difference between the helmets used by male and female goalies. Just ensure you always get the right size.

If you play for a school team, they may provide the helmet. However if you’re playing for a club or traveling team you’re often on your own.

The helmet I recommend: Cascade R. It’s a pretty sweet looking helmet to boot. I love the matte version.

For more info on this helmet, checkout the full Cascade R helmet review that I wrote.

Cascade offers a newer version called the Cascade S. It’s also a great option but will cost you about a $100 more new. But if you want the best in style and performance, here it is:

The throat guard attaches to your helmet via screws and protects your throat from shots.

When you have this device on always be sure to check that it fully covers your throat area as getting it in this region could cause serious injury.

I think the clear version looks the coolest but Cascade also makes it in black and silver.

In fact with certain helmet colors, the black Cascade throat protector can look pretty saucy too.

The throat guard I recommend: Cascade Goalie Throat Guard.

For more info check out the post on all the lacrosse goalie throat guard options.

Lacrosse Goalie Stick

Your lacrosse goalie stick, aka your wand, aka your save maker, aka the most important piece of equipment when it comes to you ability to make saves.

I’ll split the stick up into 3 different areas – the head, the mesh, and the shaft. Complete goalie sticks will come all 3 together as a package or you can pick and choose different ones to create a perfect goalie stick.

There are literally thousands of different head, mesh, and shaft combinations that you can use to create your goalie stick. Just look at the all variations used by today’s MLL goalies, NCAA Men’s Goalies, and NCAA Women’s Goalies.

What I’ve listed below happens to be my favorite.

 

“A post shared by Coach Damon (@laxgoalierat) on Feb 24, 2018 at 1:26pm PST”

Goalie Head – STX Eclipse II

It took STX 18 years to release a second version of the STX Eclipse but it was worth the wait.

The sequel provides all the things you loved about the original – light weight, great face shape, awesome ball scooping ability – and combined it with great new features.

The STX Eclipse II is stiffer than the original while maintaining basically the same weight. They added tons of sidehole stringing options so the stick ninjas can put in amazing pockets.

And finally they enhanced the plastic grip on the bottom for those goalie who like to setup with their top hand gripping the plastic.

Checkout my full review of the STX Eclipse II head.

Goalie Mesh – 12 Diamond

Of all the mesh sizes I recommend 12 diamond. The larger diamonds ‘grip’ the ball better and provide less rebounds while making outlets easier.

When you check NCAA and MLL stick setups the majority use 12 diamond and I think this setup works very well for beginners too.

There are a few companies producing amazing mesh these days so you can’t go wrong. Here are two great options from East Coast Dyes.

HeroMesh 12 Diamond Semi Hard or HeroMesh 12 Diamond Semi Soft

The Semi Soft is harder to string but will break in faster and ultimately give you fewer rebounds.

Goalie Shaft – StringKing Metal 2 Goalie Shaft

I prefer a shaft that is as light as possible. This makes the overall stick setup extremely light and gives the goalie faster hands when it comes to attacking a shot.

At 142 grams, the StringKing Metal 2 is one of the lightest and strongest shafts out there. It’s also durable so it won’t be damaged as you hit the pipes checking your position. I wish I had this one back in my early playing days.

There’s a goalie length but I just prefer to use an attack length shaft. If you’re trying to decide, I wrote a full post on the ideal length for a goalie’s shaft.

Check out my full review of the StringKing Metal 2 goalie shaft here.

Goalie stick setup I recommend for beginners:

The chest protector is going to protect our chest, heart, stomach and shoulder area. Like the helmet, we’re going to be taking shots off of the chest protector so it’s important you buy the best protector you can afford.

Modern chest protectors come with reinforced chest plates to protect your heart in the event you take a shot to that region.

I find that these chest protectors offer max protection while still giving us mobility. The STX Sultra is the 1st piece of lacrosse equipment specifically designed for the women’s body. While I have not used it myself, several female coaches, players, and parents have given me positive reviews of that chest protector.

This is an excellent piece of equipment and we’ve gone through plenty in my house with two goalies. My daughter specifically asked for this model after trying a half dozen different types loaned to her by friends, teammates and coaches. It fits true and stays in place. It’s well padded and provides excellent protection while allowing for full range of movement and doesn’t interfere with her stick handling at all. I’d definitely recommend it to a friend or family member and only withheld the fifth star b/c nothing is perfect. – Neil Flynn from Amazon.com.

Both of these chest protectors offer additional shoulder protection where getting hit can cause painful bruises. If you can deal with the pain and prefer more mobility, shoulder protection is optional.

I wrote a full review of the Warrior Nemesis Pro here.

My recommended chest protector: Warrior Nemesis Pro (Men) / STX Sultra (Women).

It’s important that you purchase lacrosse goalie gloves as opposed to just a normal pair of lacrosse gloves.

The goalie gloves have additional padding as well as a reinforced thumb to help protect our hands and avoid any injuries.

I broke my thumb while in college after a close-range shot hit it directly. This was before I had lacrosse goalie gloves. It’s painful and something you want to avoid at all cost.

For an even deeper explanation of what to look for in goalie gloves be sure to check out my lacrosse goalie glove guide.

My current recommendation for beginner goalie gloves are the STX Shield 500 goalie gloves.

You can read my full review of these STX Shield 500’s here.

I used to wear just a simple athletic cup. Then I got hit square in the package.

If I would have had a mobile phone on me, I would have ordered a reinforced goalie jock right from the field. This jock provides the most protection and is well worth the investment. Given what’s at stake, this is my favorite piece of lacrosse goalie equipment that I own.

As you can see in the picture above, this type of athletic cup offers some additional hip padding in addition to protecting your entire groinal zone.

Obviously this piece of equipment is more valuable for us male goalies. Female goalies might feel sufficiently protected in this area with the lacrosse goalie pants.

My athletic supporter of choice: Warrior Tool Box Goalie Nut Hutt.

I recommend using cleats on grass fields. Unlike the other equipment they’re not going to have a tremendous impact on your game so really any pair of cleats will do.

Getting a pair of high tops will give you additional ankle and foot protection in the event a ball strikes this area. This recommended pair is by Warrior however a similar type of football cleat will totally suffice.

I would stay away soccer cleats since they don’t offer as much protection as lacrosse and football cleats do.

Cleats I use: Warrior Second Degree 3.0.

If you play your home games on turf, I recommend buying a pair of turf shoes. Some players simply wear their grass cleats on the turf field and that works fine.

For me however, I felt like I had better traction and responsiveness using the turf shoes while on turf. Even on some grass fields where the crease was extremely hard, I’d opt to use the turf shoes.

Same with the cleats, I prefer high tops to provide more protection to my foot and ankles.

Here’s the pair I like: Nike Huarache Lax Turf Shoes.

The mouthpiece is a mandatory piece of equipment in lacrosse. Everyone, including the goalies, must wear one.

Since goalies are constantly talking to communicate to the defense, many (including myself) don’t like to use mouth guards. But they are extremely important to reduce concussions from a laser shot to the head or from getting hit while outside the crease. They’re also mandatory according to the rulebook.

My recommendation is to get a custom fit one from the dentist. I grind my teeth at night anyways so this actually killed two birds with one mouthpiece for me.

If you go the dentist route, make sure the dentist creates it with colored plastic because clear mouth guards are illegal according to the rulebook.

In the event you don’t want a custom guard, Shock Doctor makes good mouth guards that you can fit to match your bite: Shock Doctor Gel Nano Mouthguard.

A couple of Lax Goalie Rat readers have strongly recommended the mouth guards by SISU.

They appear to be really configurable and come in a ton of different colors.

OPTIONAL LACROSSE GOALIE GEAR

The next few pieces of equipment are not required by rule but are definitely legal to use and recommended by me so that you can feel safe and protected while in the goal.

Back in the days, ice hockey goalies used to wear barely any equipment. In the late 50’s they didn’t even wear helmets or masks! After Jacques Plante, a goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens was hit in the face, injuring his cheek and nose, he returned wearing a self-made fiberglass mask. He was ridiculed by his team with most everyone questioning his toughness. All for wearing a mask on HIS FACE.

Today many goalies view this extra goalie gear as akin to Plante’s face mask in the 50’s. But I see lacrosse heading in this direction with goalies, especially youth, opting for these optional pieces of equipment and eventually facing less ridicule and questioning of mental toughness.

If anyone teases for using extra protection, tell them to step into the cage and see what its like.

There’s no reason why you can’t wear this equipment to feel confident and protected in the cage. Some of this pieces of lacrosse goalie gear are even mandatory, as noted.

Even if you don’t use this optional equipment during games, you might want to use it during practice when you receive more shots then you would in a game situation.

Additional Head Protection – LexiShield

Unfortunately with as fast as players can shoot nowadays, shots taken to a goalie’s forehead or facemask can still result in a concussion.

I recently interviewed an MLL goalie who had suffered over 4 concussions throughout his career and that story is not uncommon for us goalies.

Thus it makes sense to add some aftermarket concussion protection in the form of a LexiShield.

This device attaches to your helmet and helps reduce the chance of concussions. You don’t even feel it when it’s attached so it’s really a no-brainer for use in practice.

Checkout my full review of the LexiShield or pick up on on Amazon.

Another options for additional head protection is a piece of gear called the Guardian Cap.

Like the LexiShield, this is an aftermarket device that attaches to the goalie’s lacrosse helmet and provides some additional protection against concussions.

At the youth level (Under 15 and below), arms pads are a required piece of equipment for all goalies.

The idea there is that youth player’s bones are still developing and thus we want to take all precaution to prevent injury.

At all other levels, they are permitted but not required.

Arms pads are the one piece of equipment I actually discourage goalies (other than youth) from wearing. I think they limit our movement of the arms so much that they hinder our ability to make saves.

For youth, be sure to get Youth arm pads like these: Brine Youth Uprising II.

Shin Guards – Super Light Shin Guards (required for women high school level and below)

There’s no way to sugar coat this – Getting hit in the shins with a lacrosse ball sucks! It can knock the wind out of a young goalie’s sails and ruin the rest of the entire practice.

Some goalies claim shin guards slow them down but that’s why I recommend a super light pair that doesn’t restrict the ankle or knee movement.

There’s no reason not to wear shin guards except for pride then. So put pride aside and strap on shin guards.

I used to recommend STX goalie specific shin guards but I don’t think they’ve perfected the product yet. So the best bet is just getting a pair of lightweight soccer shinguards that will protect the shins and still allow great mobility.

For women goalies at the high school level and below, shin protection is required.

Do NOT use ice hockey or baseball catcher shin guards as these are going to restrict movement too much. Also, by rule padding that excessively increases the size of body parts is illegal.

Here’s what I recommend: Franklin Sports Superlight Shinguards.

If these shin guards slide around too much you can always fix them in place with long socks or a few revolutions of white athletic tape.

Goalie pants are another piece of optional equipment that I recommend especially during practice.

I remember a specific drill one practice where I took a crank shot to the thigh. It hurt but so it goes with being a goalie. I shook it off. Then in the next play of the same drill I took another crank shot literally to the exact same spot. I thought my leg was going to fall enough as the muscle started spasming.

All that to say – I wish I was wearing goalie or football pants. I ended up taping an extra goalie glove to my thigh and continuing the practice haha.

These pants are going to protect your thighs and hips. Most importantly they’re going to reinforce the feeling of being protected which will help instill confidence into our goal keepers.

Like shin protection, for women goalies at the high school level and below, thigh protection is also required. Just ensure it doesn’t excessively increase the size of your legs (i.e. no field hockey pads) to remain legal.

If you decide to use goalie pants, be sure to get a pair that doesn’t restrict your range of motion.

I like these goalie pants which are extremely light and offer a great range of motion: Brine Ventilator Lacrosse Goalie Pants.

The other option is to use football pants. If your young goalie is hesitant to pad up for macho reasons, let him know even top goalies at Syracuse have used the football pants to add some additional protection.

The football pants are going to give you additional thigh, hip, and knee protection. And in my opinion, I think they look damn good while they do it.

There are a lot of versions of football pants out there but this pair comes with integrated pads:

Check them out on Amazon here.

As a goalie, I was hit in the knees many times with shots and never received anything more than a bruise.

But for youth players wanting to feel extra protected, I often recommend a lightweight knee pads to help shield the knee cap from injury while still allowing the knee to bend and move with limited restriction.

If you’re using football pants that protect the knees then you obviously do without the kneepads.

I recommend a light weight pad like those used in volleyball: Mizuno Volleyball Kneepad.

If you want a little more protection, many brands offer padded under shirts or protective arm sleeves that can help serve this purpose.

I find this pieces of gear to be light enough that do not limit our movement while they do add to the feeling of being protected which boosts confidence in the cage.

Especially during practice I recommend the EliteTek Padded Compression Shirt and a pair of McDavid Hexpad Arm Sleeves.

The Lacrosse Bag

Finally you’re going to need a bag to carry all your lacrosse gear.

Some schools have team bags so you won’t have a choice in which bag to go with. However if you’re looking for you own bag, here are my two favorite options.

Maverick Lacrosse Monster Bag 

At 40 x 15 x 15 inches this bag is large enough to fit all the standard lacrosse goalie equipment plus your extra gear. Also comes in a bunch of colors so you can pick your school or club team’s colors.

Adrenaline Lacrosse TacPack Backpack

It’s a little bit of a squeeze but if you’re looking for a backpack option try the Adrenaline TacPack. The exterior stick holder and helmet pocket give you just enough room to fit your other equipment into the backpack’s main pouch.

You’ll have more room with the Maverick Monster bag but if you’re looking for portability and easy transport, the backpack may be the way to go.

Looking for other non-essential items for goalie bag – check that post.

A Note About Sizing

For every single piece of goalie gear recommended above, be sure you get the right size.

All pieces of equipment should fit snugly so that it doesn’t move on our bodies as we’re making saves. But not too tight that it hurts or limits our range of mobility.

Loose fitting equipment can be extremely dangerous as a chest protector may slide and leave an area unprotected. Or loose fitting helmet could hit against our head causing a concussion.

Make sure you review size recommendations for each product and then adjust them to fit snugly. If they’re too big or too small return them for a different size.

Conclusion

The number one piece of advice I offer new goalies is: Get Protected!

While you may think its macho and cool to wear very little padding, wearing the right amount of pads will make you more confident in the cage

Unfortunately, playing goalie in lacrosse is not cheap. I wrote a full post on how much all this goalie gear will cost.

The various pieces of lax goalie gear required to outfit a new keeper can add up fast. Thus always look to buy used gear at a local sports store if possible.

The pieces I recommend in this post are certainly not the only pieces of lacrosse goalie equipment that are functional and awesome, however it’s what I like and what I encourage others to get when they ask me.

Until next time! Coach Damon

Ask A Ref: Goalie Stick Switching And Equipment

Editor’s Note: In our last edition of Ask A Ref, Gordon Corsetti filled us in on how players can, and can not, exchange sticks on the field of play. This week, he’s covering goalie sticks, how they can be used on offense, and we can draw the line. If you’re interested in reffing, check out Gordon’s book, “Advancement Rules: Improving Your Lacrosse Officiating“, on Amazon!

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Connor sent me two unusual questions regarding goalkeepers:

1. Lets say a team was crushing another team 16-0. If the goalie wanted to come out and play offense for the fourth quarter is he allowed to keep the goalie protector on his helmet, use his stick, etc, and play offense?

2. Could a player play with a goalie stick on offense the whole game, if the team’s goalie used a midfielder’s stick?

There are two rules that deal with both of these questions, but as with most rules, there is some interpretation involved.

Rule 2-1-1 states that, “A team shall begin the game with at least 10 players, and must have a legally equipped goalkeeper on the field at all times, or it forfeits the game.”

This rule establishes that a legally equipped goalkeeper must always be on the field. That means one player must have a helmet, throat guard, chest protector, mouthpiece, protective cup, and a goalie stick while on the field. There is a situation that goes along with this rule:

Goalkeeper B1 must leave the game due to an injury, expulsion or penalty.

Team B refuses to send in another player to play that position.

RULING: Team B must put a legally equipped goalkeeper on the field or it
forfeits the game.

The rules require a legally equipped goalkeeper to be on the field at every moment of the game, however they do not state where that player has to be. That is where the interpreting comes in.

In response to the first question of “can a goalie come out and play offense and keep the protector on his head?”, the answer is an absolute yes. As long as he keeps his goalie gear on and goalie stick in his hands there is still a legally equipped goalkeeper on the field, so you are well within the rules to do just that.

The answer to the second question about switching sticks with a goalkeeper is a resounding no. As soon as the sticks are exchanged you now have a goalkeeper playing without a goalie stick, which means he is an illegally equipped goalkeeper and play must be stopped.

There are two possible outcomes that I can see if you try something unusual with exchanging goalie equipment or sticks during a game. One, the officials will stop play get the goalkeeper geared back up properly and give the ball to the opposing team. Two, the ill-equipped goalkeeper is more likely to get injured before the officials have a chance to kill the play because they are not wearing the extra gear that field players wear (elbow pads, shoulder pads, etc). My recommendation to goalkeepers around the country is to stay in the cage and only come out when necessary.

Mark 2G · Mark 2G Goalie Lacrosse Head

Our highest performing heads.

The Mark 2G goalie lacrosse head features an ultra-stiff construction, light-weight design and optimized face shape for faster hands and more saves.

More saves.

With a design that maximizes surface area and materials that optimize stiffness, the Mark 2G helps you make more saves every time you get in front of a shot.

Better control.

The Mark 2G goalie lacrosse head features an unparalleled 42 stringing holes for unlimited stringing options and a shortened throat to give you more control.

Faster hands.

By eliminating unnecessary weight and optimizing the design of the Mark 2G, you get a lighter, more aerodynamic head to help you make more saves and quicker outlets.

Durability guaranteed.

If your lacrosse head breaks within its warranty period, we will replace it for free.

• Major cracks, bends, or breaks.
• Manufacturing defects.
• Anything that would deem the head unplayable or significantly affect performance.

• Intentional alterations (pinching, baking, bending, cutting) or deliberate misuse.
• Minor nicks or scratches.
• Normal wear and tear.
• Purchases from unauthorized dealers.

Photo documentation and valid proof of purchase are required for a full warranty credit.

Warranty replacements have a limited warranty that covers 50% of their retail value.

Right Shaft Length For Male / Female Goalie in Lacrosse

Home » Sport » Right Shaft Length For Male / Female Goalie in Lacrosse

Right shaft length for goalies varies according to the weight of the stick and your playing style, height and experience level. Shorter sticks are lighter, being better for new goalies and those who run during matches. Longer sticks are preferred by goalies who make long passes to clear the ball.

Shaft length is one of the many considerations that go into buying a stick.

It varies not just according to your position on the field but also with individual considerations.

These include your preferred style of playing as well as your height, which is perhaps even more crucial for goalies since their shaft lengths can vary widely.

As far as rules governing shaft lengths go, male goalies’ sticks must be between 52 and 72 inches long. For female goalies, the length of goalie stick varies between 35.5 and 48 inches.

Both these lengths are longer than those allowed for other positions, which has traditionally meant that goalies have had longer sticks.

But, as with many other aspects of your stick, it is hard to prescribe a one-size-fits-all ideal shaft length which will do the trick for every goalie.

However, there are some general guidelines which you can follow as well as some factors that should influence your decision, along with advice from actual coaches who train goalies.

The Importance of Shaft Length

Shaft length is important as it affects the weight of your stick. Lower weight means faster reflexes and less fatigue.

On the other hand, longer shafts help generate more torque and let you make long passes.

This is especially useful for shorter goalies or those with less arm strength.

As a goalie, you will have to do two things: block incoming shots as well as clear the ball around and outside the crease.

As far as blocking shots go, your shaft length will probably not make too much of a difference. Even if you need to block low shots, a long shaft is not particularly helpful and you’ll rely more on your reflexes and footwork.

However, shaft length becomes important when you need to make passes.

In a game when milliseconds can make a difference, a shorter shaft means less weight on your hands which can lead to quicker reflexes and a successful pass.

More importantly, shaft length helps determine how far you can shoot the ball as well.

If you’re the kind of goalie who prefers make short passes to clear the ball, then a short shaft which gives you the advantage of speed will suffice.

But if you need to make a long pass, a short shaft will put you at a definitive disadvantage.

A longer shaft can help generate more torque while making a pass, which is useful for players who don’t have the arm strength to make such a pass without the added length.

Even for more experienced players with more arm strength, making long passes can boost their performance considerably and a long shaft is indispensable in shooting the ball to more distant teammates.

Other minor benefits of long shafts include the ability to provide a counterweight, letting you balance yourself better while running or going toe-to-toe with the other team in a match.

Long shafts can also help you determine your position between the pipes as you can quickly compare where the ends of the stick are to approximate your position.

Factors Determining Shaft Length of Goalie Stick

Shaft length is determined (1) your experience level as a goalie (2) your playing style, such as whether you prefer playing outside the crease or stay near it to block and clear (3) your height and (4) the weight of the shaft.

A number of factors, both personal and individual as well as more general considerations, can help you settle on the best shaft length for you. These factors are:

1. Experience level

Newer players to the game should consider beginning with a shorter shaft to start to get a general sense and feel of the game.

A shorter shaft means that it will weigh less and let you get used to the weight of a stick while playing.

Newer players might also not be experienced enough to make the long passes that longer shafts are meant for.

Experienced goalies, on the other hand, can easily opt for longer shafts both because they are used to maneuvering a lacrosse stick but also because they have better ball control and accuracy and are more capable of making long shots to clear the ball.

2. Shaft weight

The weight of the shaft is extremely important, especially in fast-paced matches where even a small amount of excess weight can slow you down and result in either missing a pass or not being able to block on time.

Shorter shafts have the advantage of being lighter, allowing your hands to react faster.

Lighter weight also increases the maneuverability of the stick overall.

3. Playing style

Your personal playing style also comes into play while making decisions about shaft length.

Earlier, coaches regarded goalies as part of the defensemen and emphasized shaft length because of how it would help in making passes to clear the ball.

If you follow this style of goalkeeping and cannot make do with only short passes then a long shaft should be your shaft of choice.

Newer coaches, however, regard the position of the goalie as a unique one and emphasize the need for a goalie to be able to block shots. If you subscribe to this outlook, then a short shaft will do the job well enough.

Apart from this, if you are a goalie who prefers to run a lot during the match then a shorter shaft will also suit you because the lower weight will result in less fatigue while playing.

4. Height

Player height is perhaps the most important individual factor.

No matter how great your arm strength is, you cannot choose a shaft which is so long that you have trouble maneuvering it.

A common method of deciding shaft length is by sticking out your hand and putting the shaft next to your armpit and against your outstretched hand.

You should cut your shaft 6 inches from where your fingertips end. However, this is only a rule of thumb and even this varies with height.

Shorter players might want to cut it at a lower distance, such as 3 inches, while a taller player may be comfortable with longer shafts.

You should probably err on the side of caution and get a longer shaft and then cut it down to size in small increments after testing it out.

Summary

Shaft length determines the weight of your stick, your ability to move it around comfortably, and even the force and torque your shaft is capable of generating.

Because of this, it affects your balance, hand reflexes, and the distance up to which you can make a pass.

There is no single ideal shaft length for goalies but there are some important factors that should influence your decision.

On the personal side of things, your own height as well as your preferred playing style, such as whether you make long passes or run a lot in a match, are the factors to consider.

More generally, the weight of the shaft, as well as your experience level, determine your shaft length.

Keep these broad guidelines and pointers in mind and with a bit of experimentation, you’ll be able to find the ideal shaft length for you.

The Goalie School Tip: Stay Still To Make More Saves

Lacrosse Tip

Presented by Bill Pilat, Camp Director
Bill Pilat’s The Goalie School in Virginia Winter Clinic For Boys

Quite simply, “the best goalie camp in all of lacrosse.”

Many times players hear coaches and fans say “that goalie is seeing the ball really well”. What does this mean? Don’t all goalies see the ball when it is shot? Not necessarily. One of the most fundamental aspects of being a top flight lacrosse goalie is seeing the ball once it is shot. This requires intense concentration, practice and the ability to stay still when the shot is being released. The third aspect of this formula, staying still, is often overlooked but it is a critical component of successful goalies.

What does staying still mean for a lacrosse goalie? It means being perfectly motionless prior to a shot being released and then springing to the ball once the goalie sees where it is going. If a goalie moves too early, he may be moving the wrong way or moving too far and actually getting out of the way of the ball! If he waits and then reacts to the flight of the ball he has a much better chance of seeing the ball the entire way into his stick and making the save.

Seeing the ball into your stick requires goalies to possess keen visual acuity or tracking ability. Dynamic visual acuity refers to the skill of tracking an object while the object (the ball) and the person tracking the object (the goalie) are moving. Add into this equation a shooter sweeping with the ball, cutters in front of the goal screening the goalie and it is easy to see why staying still is so important for the goalie. There is already enough movement in front of the goalie to distract him from “seeing” the ball! Goalies must stay still and not add more motion to the constantly moving game in front of him.

How does a goalie work on staying still? This is one of the most difficult skills for any goalie to acquire and one we work on daily with my goalies at Roanoke College. A drill that I particularly like is to have another coach (or goalie) feed the shooter while warming up the goalie. The shooter stands about 10-12 yards away from the crease. As the feed is made from the side of the goal to the shooter out front, the goalie calls “check” turns and gets into position to make the save. The coach watches the goalie movements and makes sure the goalie is set and absolutely still just prior to the shot being released. The shooter is looking to place the ball to certain parts of the goal, not for power. This way, the coach can make sure that the goalie is still just before the shot and not “guessing” before the shot is released. Goalies must be still and then explode to the ball when it is released.

At first this drill will seem difficult and goalies will feel themselves moving when the shooter catches the ball. Stay Still!! Even if you let in the first 10 shots, keep working at it and soon you will be still and make more saves and even feel like you have more time to “see the ball” right into your pocket!

Have a great season!

Bill Pilat’s The Goalie School
Coach Pilat has put together the most innovative curriculum for goalies wishing to improve their skills. Individual analysis, extensive videotaping of each goalie and new methods of teaching techniques and footwork are all elements of Bill Pilat’s The Goalie School.

Can Lacrosse Goalies Use Their Hands? The Lacrosse Goalie Rules

Lacrosse can be a challenging sport to get your grip around, but once you get the hang of it, it’s one of the most exciting sports in the world. Arguably, the most pressure position on the pitch is the goalkeeper, as the goalkeepers are directly responsible for the score on the pitch. Luckily, lacrosse goalies can use their hands, which makes the job a bit easier!

The behavior of goalkeepers is governed by many different rules. Here are specific rules that apply to goalkeepers. While most of the rules apply to all game formats, there are slight differences in the rules. 

What is the goaltending rules in lacrosse?

In lacrosse, goalies get certain benefits in the area known as the crease. These benefits include the rule that opposition players cannot touch the goalie in any way when they’re in the crease area, regardless of whether they have the ball or not. 

If a player is attacking, they can reach the crease area. However, they must not make any contact with the goalkeeper or the keeper’s crosse. In the case the keeper does receive contact, the referee will call a foul. If the goalkeeper’s team collects the ball, they’ll call an advantage and will yell the words “play on.” These rules give the goalkeeper protection. 

For a goalkeeper to be out of the crease area, the stick as well as the body must be out. This means the keeper’s body or crosse cannot physically be touching the ground on the crease.

However, if the goalie’s stick is outside the restricted area, outfield players can use their sticks to check the goalie’s pass. This is why keeper’s must be careful of where their sticks are.

When it comes to making saves, keepers in lacrosse have to abide by a bunch of different rules. They may stop or block the ball in any manner with their crosse or body. Keepers also have the option to block or bat away the ball with their hands.

However, if the ball is on the ground within the crease, the keeper cannot bat or direct the ball with their hand. The keeper isn’t allowed to catch the ball or even pick it up from the ground. If the keeper makes a violation along those lines, it can have massive consequences for their team.

The opposing team will be awarded a penalty and a free chance to score against the team that commits the violation. It’s absolutely crucial that goalies are familiar with the rules of the game.

While other outfield players making errors can have consequences, a goalkeeper committing an error will almost always result in the other team scoring a free goal. That’s why it’s arguably the most pressure position on the field. 

Additionally, in the women’s game, keepers can pick up the ball inside the crease. They can’t hold the ball in their hand for an extended period and must switch to the crosse. 

Can other players use their hands in lacrosse?

While playing lacrosse, a common misconception is that the other players can also use their hands on the ball. However, only the goalkeeper has permission to touch the ball with their hands, and even they can’t hold the ball in their grasp.

Goalkeepers have the permission to only swat the ball away when it’s in the air. Any mishandling by the goalkeeper will also result in a penalty. 

What is goalie interference in lacrosse?

While a goalie is in the restricted area, any form of contact will result in interference and called a foul. However, if the goalie has a clamped ball and isn’t inside the restricted area, other players can check the goalkeeper legally. Any form of contact with the goalkeeper inside the restricted area will result in a foul.

Outfield players can challenge other defenders while there’s a loose ball in the area but, it doesn’t apply to goalkeepers. They’re afforded this extra protection to help avoid any significant injuries. 

Can you hit the goalie in lacrosse?

There are certain circumstances and conditions that protect the goalkeeper from contact during lacrosse. While they’re in the restricted area, you can’t check goalkeepers, regardless of whether they have the ball or not.

However, if they’re outside the restricted area, you can check goalkeepers like you would any other player. Excessive contact will lead to a foul, but all the other rules will still apply. Once the goalkeeper leaves the restricted area, which rarely happens during a game, they’re the same as an outfield player, and all checks are legal unless they use excessive force. 

How long can a lacrosse goalie stay in the crease?

Once the goalie keeps possession in the restricted area, there are certain different rules that apply to the men’s game and women’s game. In the men’s game, the goalie has four seconds to either leave the crease or throw a pass. In the women’s game, the goalie has the option to stay within the crease for 10 seconds.

Once the goalie leaves the restricted area in lacrosse, they might not re-enter the area without passing the ball. If they pass the ball to someone else, they can enter the restricted area. Upon entry to the restricted area, the countdown will begin again, indicating the amount of time the new player can spend in the crease. 

Can you kick the ball into the goal in lacrosse?

While lacrosse is a combination of multiple sports, it still has to follow certain rules. Keepers have permission to use any part of their body to save a goal in lacrosse. However, the other players don’t have the same luxury.

To score a goal fairly, outfield players must use the crosse stick. If there’s a deflection on the way to the goal, then the goal will still count.

However, if an opposition player uses any other part of their body to deliberately score a goal, it will not count. In these cases, the team that concedes the illegal goal is awarded possession of the ball, and the goal does not stand. 

Can a goalie lacrosse stick be illegal?

Like most sports, lacrosse has very strict requirements for their equipment. There are regular equipment checks before games begin and opposing teams can even ask to conduct a stick check during the match.

According to the rules of the game, a goalie’s stick must measure between 40-72 inches. The measurement is conducted from the bottom of the stick to the top of the stick. A typical lacrosse goalie head measures in at 15″ inches tall, and you have to keep that in mind when selecting the size of your stick. 

In the women’s game, the length requirements for the goalie stick lies between 35.5 to 52 inches. A goalie stick is going to be deemed illegal if it fails to meet these requirements. 

Conclusion 

Like many other sports, being a goalkeeper is arguably the most pressure position on the court. There are certain rules in the game that provide goalkeepers with an advantage but, to take full advantage, the goalie themselves need to be completely clear about the rules. Hopefully, this article will aid all Lacrosse goalies in improving their understanding of the sport. 

90,000 Goalkeeper sticks 2020 best TOP9

1. Bauer Vapor 2X Pro goalkeeper stick

Overview

The new Bauer Vapor 2X Pro introduces a composite stick that offers exceptional shock absorption. The stick has an asymmetrical design with a foam hook that contains lightweight fibrous material on both sides to withstand the most challenging throws. The fold is quite strong with carbon weave reinforcement, yet lightweight with a flat blocking surface.This provides better rebound control and superior balance in your hand.

The stick has a comfortable, smooth finish that is designed to stop and control the puck. The stick is fitted with sticky grips for better grip. It is also designed so that you can easily slide your hand up and down as you play.

The

Bauer Vapor 2X Pro Goalkeeper Stick is ideal for intermediate to advanced players and is available in multiple colors and sizes. The stick is in the mid to high price range as it is one of the best goalkeeper sticks in the world.

2. CCM Extreme Flex E4.9 Goalkeeper Stick

Overview

This new CCM goalkeeper stick is manufactured with an all-polyurethane graphite hook for superior puck control and possession. It is great for channeling bounces into corners as well as passing to teammates. The blade has a polyurethane core that is reinforced with fiberglass for added strength and durability. The blade is designed to minimize vibrations from heavy throws by helping control rebounds and cornering.

The handle is made of lightweight aspen wood with a core with graphite and fiberglass for durability and is manufactured with straight walls and rounded corners. This model is available in several different colors and a range of sizes with a 26 ” golf club weighing 854 grams. The handle is reinforced with graphite laminate for secure and reliable play.

The CCM Extreme Flex E4.9 Goalkeeper Stick is designed for the mid-level player and ranges from low to mid-range prices, although it is a well-designed stick.

3. Sherwood Rekker M70 – goalkeeper stick

Overview

This 2019 Sherwood Goalkeeper Stick offers hockey players a unique balance and is engineered for maximum performance and durability. The stick and curl are made of carbon fiber composite for optimal response and comfort when stopping puck or playing with defenders. The handle is made with anti-vibration technology with added foam to withstand the most severe shots and impacts.The handle is also made from a lightweight composite material that allows you to stop quickly and easily grip the

washer

The hook has a rounded heel for better puck control, and the handle has a glossy finish for quick, precise puck grip. The club comes in 26-inch sizes and weighs 845 grams. The stick is made to handle all the action during the game without slackening.

This is the ideal goalkeeper stick for beginners and outdoor enthusiasts, as it is strong and flexible enough to take powerful shots without vibration.The Sherwood Rekker M70 Senior Goalie Stick is a great durable composite model that comes in a lower price range.

4. Warrior Ritual V1 Pro goalkeeper stick

Overview

This 2019 goalkeeper model is from Warrior and is set to quickly become one of the brand’s most popular sticks. It is a lightweight model with a slip and grip zone. The woven design and high quality carbon material of the Minimus make it one of the strongest and most durable goalkeeper sticks on the market, while providing optimal balance and comfort.The handle is designed to take gears and absorb shock vibrations and provide superior rebound control. The blade comes with a fiber backing for extra strength and is designed for high speed and tough throws.

Stick stiff but flexible where needed, the shaft is impregnated with anti-vibration materials to prevent your hands from hurting when the hook stops the puck. The flexible part of the club is located above the blade, in the handle for easy throwing of the puck out of the zone through the glass.The handle technology is a matte finish, which, combined with the ribbed texture on the shaft, provides maximum grip and glide in the hand

Warrior Ritual V1 Pro is aimed at the elite level players and is sold at a higher price. It is available in a variety of styles and sizes and is one of the most advanced composite golf clubs you can find.

5. True A4.5 HT goalkeeper stick

Overview

This True goalkeeper stick is one of the most popular models on the market due to its light weight as the 26-inch model weighs only 770 grams.However, it is one of the strongest golf clubs despite its weight, as both the blade and the hook are designed to withstand the strongest throws. True uses its efficient BRT + technology along the full length of the club, scream and heel, resulting in a lightweight yet very durable golf club.

The stick and hook have a viscoelastic layer to absorb impacts and provide excellent control of puck rebound and acceptance. The bottom of the stick is lighter with balance towards the handle for comfort and superior control for goalkeepers who love puck possession.The hook has a foam core for even more durability and is very reliable in tough conditions.

The True A4.5 HT stick is the perfect choice for mid-level goalkeepers looking for a durable, lightweight stick at an affordable price. The hockey stick can be purchased at a low to mid price range.

6. Stick Sherwood Rekker M90 for goalkeepers

Overview

This Sherwood Rekker stick is designed for higher level goalkeepers, so this model can be found in a higher price range.It is a durable, lightweight 26-inch composite stick weighing only 694 grams. The stick is made from Blackline carbon fiber, which is made with a special weaving method that keeps it lightweight and durable. Key breakage points have a reinforced graphite material that can withstand the toughest impacts without fear of club breakage.

The stick is also designed for superior puck bounce control, as well as a complete puck possession feel when passing a pass to a teammate or clearing a dime.The vibration dampening design is also very effective for control and comfort, which is achieved by injecting foam into the grip, nib and handle. The stick has straight sides, rounded corners and an attractive glossy finish.

The

Sherwood Rekker M90 is another 2019 model, one of the lightest you can find. It is made using high-tech composite materials with added foam and gives a good value for money.

7.CCM Premier 2.5 Goalkeeper Stick

Overview

This inexpensive CCM goalkeeper stick is designed for beginners and hockey enthusiasts. The stick is designed for goalkeepers who want a stick with high levels of durability, puck possession and control, and is made of tough composites and fiberglass in the shaft and hook while maintaining a light weight. The shaft is also reinforced so that there are no weak points when repelling the most difficult throws.

The stick has an effective sticky grip surface that ensures it won’t fly out if you don’t want it to, for example when deflecting a powerful throw.The finish is an attractive blend of gloss and matte gloss, and the hook features a polycarbonate insert that helps control bounce and throw the puck into corners. The stick is available in several sizes, a 26-inch model weighing 825 grams.

The CCM Premier 2.5 stick is popular among mid-range players for its low cost and high reliability. This is a durable model that provides fantastic control and puck feel and is a bargain.

8. Bauer Vapor X2.9 goalkeeper stick

Overview

The

Bauer Vapor X2.9 Goalie Stick is the 2019 model that delivers great balance and durability no matter how many shots you hit in the game. The hook is equipped with a foam core that provides strength and a superior puck feel when deflecting or wielding. The stick is designed to reduce vibration at high throwing forces so your hands feel comfortable and not hurt.

This model has an arched part, which means that the blocking surface of the putter is flat and the back part is rounded. This helps you have better control over your rebound and maintain the greatest possible club balance. The stick is made with a durable carbon composite outer wrap without adding any weight to the handle. The handle above the lug provides optimal control and work with the Griptac, has a smooth surface.

The Bauer Vapor X2.9 Goalie Stick is in the mid-range for goalkeepers of all skill levels.It is available in a variety of sizes and is a 26-inch model with a weight of only 773 grams. This stick offers a ton of possibilities and should quickly become one of Bauer’s bestsellers.

9. Warrior Ritual V1 Pro SE goalkeeper stick

Overview

The Warrior Ritual V1 Pro SE goalkeeper stick is one of the most durable on the market, as the stick, shaft and handle are made from lightweight Minimus carbon 1000 material. The shaft also features Warrior VibexLite technology to help dampen vibration during the toughest shots, and HiFused construction provides excellent balance.

The stick has a TwinSpar construction for a better feel for the puck when shooting, while the hook has the necessary stiffness. Because the stick is made of the same material, it provides goalkeepers with the strength they are looking for by eliminating any possible weak points.

This is the ideal goalkeeper stick for those who like to control the puck thanks to the sliding grip and matte finish on the blades. This model has a ribbed surface and is very easy to move in your hand, while the upper part of the putter has a sticky part to guarantee maximum control of the putter at all times.In addition, the impact fiber layer is designed to strongly deflect the washers at the bend of the club.

This premium composite stick from Warrior comes in three colors with different shaft patterns and lengths. It is the ideal stick for serious and elite goalkeepers, and offers great performance and quality in a price range.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I trim the goalkeeper’s stick?

We do not recommend sawing your golf club if you think it is too long for you because it will degrade balance.

Do goalkeeper sticks need to be bent?

Curved sticks are not popular with goalkeepers. Goalkeepers generally use regular sticks, which have a straighter hook that allows them to stop high power throws.

What is a right-handed goalkeeper stick?

Right-handed goalkeeper sticks are used by goalkeepers who catch with their right hand and hold it with their left hand, while goalkeepers using regular hockey sticks catch with their left hand and hold it with their right hand.

90,000 NHL goalkeepers switch to composite sticks

VANCOUVER – NHL goalkeepers are still playing with wooden sticks, but apparently their age will soon be over.

Field players have long since switched to composite tools. They are lighter and stronger, the throws are stronger. Goalkeepers have resisted the spread of this trend in their ranks for a long time, but now they are actively changing wooden sticks with foam inside for hydrocarbon ones.

In 2016, about half of the entire NHL goalkeeper corps played with wooden sticks.Now in the league only five people use them.

“After switching to composite sticks, it feels weird when you pick up wood again. Wondering how you can play it,” says Buffalo Sabers goalkeeper Carter Hatton. I understood that sooner or later I would have to do it. The difference is very big. ”

Weight is the main difference between composite clubs and traditional ones made of different types of wood, fiberglass and foam.Modern composite golf clubs weigh less than 700 grams, and the average weight of wooden ones was about 900. The difference does not seem very significant, but even a well-trained professional will notice it.

“The sticks are very light now,” says Sergei Bobrovsky of Florida Panthers. He started playing with CCM composite products this season after having had problems supplying wooden clubs in the past.

Video: EDM-FLO: Bobrovsky outplayed Dreiseitl

Over the past two seasons, many goalkeepers have decided to change sticks.

New York Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist started using composite products last season. He became the last goalkeeper in the NHL to play with Bauer wooden models. Their disappearance came as no surprise, given that it was Bauer who pioneered the introduction of composite sticks in the league back in 2007. Now 24 goalkeepers in the NHL play with composite sticks of this company.

Marc-André Fleury of the Vegas Golden Knights is the latest in the NHL to play with CCM wooden sticks.This company started making plastic models in 2014. Then 20% of their clients in the NHL decided to take them in hand. By 2016, this number had increased to 50%, and in the 2018-19 championship – up to 80%.

Warrior introduced their first composite stick to goalkeepers ahead of the 2017-18 season. 11 people started playing with the new model, 17 preferred a tree. Last season, 32 goalkeepers played with this manufacturer’s clubs in the NHL: 21 – composite, 11 – wooden. In the current championship, the number of supporters of composite materials among them has increased to 24 people, and only four continue to use wooden ones with foam filling (Warrior Swagger model).

Jonathan Quick, Jack Campbell of Los Angeles Kings, Alex Stalock of Minnesota Wild and Brian Elliott of Philadelphia Flyers are all conservative.

“Since the introduction of composite golf clubs I have tried several models. Every year they get lighter and lighter,” says Elliott. the difference for me in terms of comfort is like day and night.I like the feel of it in my hand, I can more easily control the bounce of the puck with a classic stick.It absorbs impacts better, so it’s easier to direct the puck in the direction I want. And I think, why would I change anything? “

Some of the goalkeepers say they had no choice.

Last season Bobrovsky played with Warrior wooden sticks. However, this company stopped working with a factory in Canada. who produced the model he needed, and Bobrovsky had no choice but to try something new this summer.

“I had a lot of options, and I had to decide.Technology has gone far ahead, – said Bobrovsky. – When the puck is thrown from the bottom, a lot depends on the angle of the club. Place it incorrectly and the puck will ricochet into the goal. Besides, I like to play with a club. But the most important thing is weight. ”

Video: CAR-MON: Price managed to rescue the team

Carey Price from the Montreal Canadiens and recently retired Roberto Luongo played with wooden sticks for a very long time. there was a chance to test new technologies.

Edmonton Oilers goalkeeper Mike Smith switched to composite sticks due to certain supply problems with wood products, including the fact that in this case it is necessary to deal with natural materials.

“I don’t want to worry about standing out,” Smith said.

Elliott prefers wooden golf clubs because of their flexibility. However, manufacturers have made significant progress in this regard with composite materials.They have learned to use different types of carbon fiber, supplementing them with compounds that absorb vibration and impact force, which now allows you to compare the characteristics of plastic clubs with wooden ones. And the use in their production of materials from which the front fenders of Formula 1 cars are made, has significantly increased the reliability of the clubs.

The popularity of new products is growing, as is their range. Companies offer clubs of varying stiffness, with flexible shafts to make it easier to throw the puck, which opens up new possibilities.Now we are talking about special orders for goalkeepers, by analogy with special orders for field players, when clubs are produced for them, taking into account the individual characteristics of a hockey player’s throw.

Despite all these advantages, Elliott is not going to switch to plastic in the foreseeable future. After learning in the offseason that Warrior was planning to close the factory in Finland where his favorite model was made, the goalkeeper asked the club to stock up on golf clubs for the current season.

What’s next?

“I’ll try to look elsewhere.Maybe there is something left somewhere, “he said.

Learning to hold a hockey stick correctly

The ability to hold the stick correctly is essential for hockey technique. Correctly hold accessory with two hands , placing a stronger and dexterous hand at the end of the club, with an upper grip offset from the tip 1.5-2 cm . In this case, the second hand should be located closer to the middle, and hold the accessory with it with the lower grip.

The correct posture assumes a few bent at the knee joints legs and a slightly bent torso . The stronger upper arm should be bent at the elbow at an angle of about 100-120 degrees, and the other should be practically extended. The weight of the whole body should be evenly distributed over both legs.

This method of holding is basic and is used when the puck is located in front or on the side of the hockey player.

The hook must be in full contact with the ice surface. For a strong and reliable hold, a strong hand is used, the second, weaker one, can freely move along the handle, which allows the player to perform various techniques during the game. A firm grip with both hands is necessary only when stopping, fighting for the puck, or at the moment of completing a shot. In these situations, maximum rigidity is required.

When the puck is far away, the trunk and the club are tilted forward, while the stronger arm is extended at the elbow and the weaker arm is brought closer to the handle.When the puck is at the hockey player’s feet, the hand closest to the hook is lowered as low as possible, with the entire body tilted forward. And the shoulder of a strong hand, on the contrary, is taken up and to the side, bending the elbow more strongly. For maximum stability on ice, legs are spread wider. This position will allow you to quickly and effectively stop the puck or hit it in close proximity. It is not advisable to intercept the club during the execution of techniques.

Share link:

Back to the list of articles

Choosing a hockey goalkeeper’s outfit

For many parents, whose children were put in the gate, the question arises of how to choose the right shape.And many parents make a mistake when they take the form to grow! It is better to take the form in size, it is not scary if it is end-to-end. In this form, it will be easier for him to master specialized goalkeeper elements. On the contrary, in a larger uniform it will be more difficult for the goalkeeper to move and mastering the art of goalkeeper will be delayed or, even worse, the child will lose interest in classes.

Helmet. At first, it is better for the goalkeeper to train in a gaming helmet, as he has better visibility, and the players’ throws are not yet strong.This will make it easier for him to move and look for the puck after the rebound.

Neck protection. It is better to get a high-quality neck protection right away, since it protects not only the throat, but also the collarbone. On many models, the collar is low and can cause injury. So neck protection is a necessary addition to a bib.

Bib. Must be strictly sized. If it is small, it will be poorly protected from shots, especially in the area of ​​the wrist and abdomen. The big one, on the contrary, will defend well, but will create a lot of interference and discomfort when moving in the goalkeeper’s stance.

Trap and pancake. Or whatever they call them “hands”. Many people immediately buy the Jr size, since his pocket is wider and deeper, naively believing that with such a trap it will be easier to catch the pucks, and the pancake will cover more space. Firstly, such hands will be heavy for goalkeepers 6-8 years old, and secondly, they will not be able to close the trap pocket for fixing the puck. So it is better to take the Yth size. Personally, I had a case when parents bought my ward (a child of 7 years old) a larger trap, as a result of which the guy began to catch the puck worse.So do not rush to make a choice.

Shorts. Shorts are best left in the field. They are smaller in volume than goalkeepers and it will be easier for the goalkeeper to move in them. The throws, as I wrote above, are not so strong and will not break through the defense of the playing shorts. There are, of course, shorts with very weak player defense. And here you still need to consult with the goalkeeping coach.

Groin guard. This bandage can also be left from the player, as the goalkeeper will restrict movement.

Shields. Shin guards are best used soft rather than straight and stiff. As in softer pads, it is easier for the goalkeeper to master the elements of riding in a standing position! And this is a very important point. At the initial stage of training, it is important to master the correct goalkeeper stance! When trying on the shields, the kneecap should be located in the middle of the specially designated knee space, but not below the middle! It is possible and end-to-end, but not higher.

Knee pads. Not necessary at first. But closer to the age of 10, it is already necessary to dress.And you also need to choose the size. So that they do not fall and at the same time protect the joint well.

Skates. Better to start in gaming. So it will be easier for him to master the basic elements of skiing. As the goalkeeper masters the basic elements of skating, buy goalkeepers, in which he will already learn more complex elements of technique, since they have a longer blade and it is already easier for the goalkeeper to control the center of gravity.

Hockey stick. I always advise you to start with a wooden club.Since it is better to feel the puck with a “piece of wood”. The widest part of the club usually starts at 21 ”. The height must be chosen such that the goalkeeper holds the stick comfortably in the stand and the pancake is not at the bottom at the knee level, and the arm is slightly bent at the elbow. And in any case, do not cut the club, this is how the imbalance is disturbed. I hope this article will help you choose the right kit for a beginner goalkeeper. And your child will be happy to be engaged in the goalkeeper’s craft, and not be tormented by the fact that the uniform hangs on the body or too presses and hinders movement!

In the next article I will tell you about the difference in the goalkeeper’s playing styles.

Author: goalkeeping coach Sergei Dyagterev

90,000 Types of clubs and hook bends in table

The main characteristics of a hockey stick’s hook shape are the angle, position and depth of the bend, the curvature of the plane, and the shape of the toe. When choosing the shape of the hook, they are repelled, first of all, from the preferences of the athlete himself.

Types of clubs

According to the age

Hockey sticks are designed for four age groups:

• Children (youth, yth), 4-7 years old. The length of children’s products is 106-114 cm (42-45 inches).
• Juniors (junior, jr), 7-14 years old. The length of the junior garments is 119-132 cm (47-52 inches).
• Teens (intermediate, int), 14-17 years old. Length for teenage garments – 137-145cm (54-57 inches).
• Adults (senior, sr). Adult length 142-157 cm (56-62 inches). Adult hockey players of small stature and weight often acquire teenage hockey sticks.

Left or right

The choice of stick (left or right) depends on the optimal stick grip. It is easy to define it: take a golf club in your hands and listen to your feelings. If you’re comfortable with your left hand higher than your right, get a right stick. If vice versa, when the right is higher than the left – the left.

Wood or composite

Wooden clubs are heavy, not very durable and not very expensive.For their manufacture, aspen, birch, etc. are used. The composite stick is lighter and more durable. But it costs more than wood. Composite products are made from fiberglass, graphite, kevlar, titanium. When choosing between a wooden club and a composite club, start with your budget first.

One piece or from a certain number of elements

Wooden hockey stick – one-piece product. If it breaks, it will have to be thrown away. Composite sticks come in one piece or multi-piece.A broken composite stick can be repaired by gluing the parts together. In addition, if you wish, you can make another bend of its feathers, the length of the stick, etc.

According to the degree of hardness

The stiffness of a hockey stick is determined by the weight of the athlete. Each manufacturer has its own stiffness range, but EASTON is considered the benchmark. According to this system, this value ranges from 40 to 115 – corresponding to the weight of the hockey player in kilograms.

• soft (whip) – 65-75;
• regular – 75-85;
• rigid (stiff) – 85-100;
• extra stiff (x-stiff) – 100-110;
• extra hard (xx-stiff) – 110-120.

In addition, the stiffness of the club must be appropriate for a specific age group:

• Adult putter (SR) – 75, 85, 100, 110 or 115;
• Teenagers’ Sticks (INT) – 60 or 65;
• junior and children (JR, YTH) – 50 and 40, respectively.

Hook bend shape options

The main parameters that characterize the shape of the club hook are the angle, place and depth of the bend, the curvature of the plane and the shape of the nose.If you are new to hockey, choose a hook that has a round toe, a 5-6 angle, and a shallow bend.

Before purchasing a hockey stick, you should familiarize yourself with these parameters in more detail.

The angle between the plane of the hook and the shaft of the club ranges from 4.5 to 6: the higher the number, the sharper the angle. Usually, the athlete himself determines the angle that is optimal for him: if he is selected correctly, the club will lie on the ice surface with the entire shape of the hook, and the insulating tape on it will wear off evenly.

• During the game, lead the puck in front of you, leaning low on the ice? Purchase a low angle club.
• Hold the puck close to your body and try not to lose sight of it? Your best bet is a high angle stick.

The shape of the toe of the hook is also different: round, square, which is something in between.

• The round toe will allow you to choose the puck “for yourself” and will be the best choice for a striker who is skilled in dribbling;

The

• square toe adds extra comfort to defenders who are more likely to play at the boards.

The hook bend is the heel, mid, or toe. Hooks with a curl at the heel allow you to easily lift the puck, a curl at the toe to keep it under control. The center hook is a compromise.

The player’s dribbling and passing accuracy depend on the depth of the hook. A stick with a strong hook bend is difficult to play. Having decided to purchase just such, realistically assess your capabilities and think how much you need it.
The curvature of the hook plane determines how quickly the puck is lifted, which is especially important when making one-touch shots. Experts recommend purchasing sticks with hooks of large curvature only for players with sufficient experience.

Hook types

Speaking of this parameter, we mean hockey sticks, which consist of two elements: sticks and interchangeable hooks (for example, Fischer sticks).Each of these parts can be regular or narrowed. A regular hook will only fit a regular stick, a narrowed one – to a narrowed one.

• A tapered hook has a narrow and short stalk. With its help, the deflection point shifts downward and enhances the hockey shot. Tapered hooks are more expensive than conventional hooks, and the choice is limited.
• Some regular hooks are as playable as tapered hooks. Which one you play depends only on your preferences.

The top coat of the golf clubs can be of three types:

• Grip is an anti-slip coating that allows the hockey player to securely grip his hand on the shaft.This coating prevents the handle in the athlete’s lower hand from turning during the throw, so he loses a minimum amount of energy. However, this coverage also has a significant disadvantage – it makes it difficult for the player’s hand to move along the shaft during dribbling.
• Clear – a glossy and smooth coating, thanks to which the lower hand easily glides on the shaft and, depending on the playing situation, changes its position. A hard throw can cause the handle to rotate partially in the lower hand.
• Matte is a matte, rough textured coating that combines the advantages of the first two. Thanks to this coating, the hockey player’s hand glides perfectly on the shaft, but it is securely fixed during the throw. However, there are some nuances: matte provides better glide than clear, but weaker hold than grip.

The hook is wrapped from heel to toe. Preventing its rapid wear is simple: you need to stick a strip of electrical tape on the edge in contact with the ice coating, and then wrap the entire hook.There will be no interference from the additional strip during the game, but the life of the club hook will last several times. The handle of the club is wrapped with a special grip tape: it does not allow the player’s hand to slide.

Named club folds

The most famous hockey product (in accordance with the reviews of both professionals and amateurs) of Russian manufacturers are the Zaryad sticks. Denis Zaripov and Metallurg Magnitogorsk players took part in their creation.These products have one feature that attracts hockey fans: each version of the shape of the hook of such a stick has its own designation. For example:

• Zagib Mozyakin is one of the most popular R-92 forwards. Its angle is 5.5, depth is 12 mm, median type. Allows you to control the puck, perform strokes, feints and wrist shots.
• Zagib Medvedev is one of the most popular among defenders of R-02. Its angle is 5.5, depth is 12 mm, calcaneal type.Allows you to take the puck, play near the boards, perform powerful clicks.

When choosing a hockey stick – the most difficult moment in the selection of sports equipment – it is necessary to take into account many nuances. One of them is the hook bend. Be careful, in no case can you make a mistake!

Stick Bauer Vapor X600 Griptac Jr.

Composite hockey stick BAUER VAPOR X600 GRIP JR junior amateur model with Fused Two-Piece construction.An advanced manufacturing process eliminates duplication of materials in the manufacture of this model, eliminating weaknesses and making the club more balanced, flexible and responsive. The constant wall thickness of the tube gives the club excellent playability. An additional epoxy resin coating for the R1 Resin System increases the strength and durability of the stick. The tube has rounded corners and biconcave sidewalls, its Micro Feel II cross-section makes the club more grip, easy to control.The knee point is at the bottom of the Low Kick Point pipe.

An anti-slip coating is applied to the tube, which fixes the hand during the throw and prevents the club from turning. The hook has a Pure Shot Blade profile with an extra reinforced hook-to-tube connection point, which prevents the hook from twisting and increases the accuracy of the throw. The inner core of the hook is made of polyurethane foam, which provides good balance, hook durability and great washer feel. Layers of unidirectional Basketweave Carbon Fiber, which are used as the braid of the hook, provide high strength, good balance.

Club Selection Guide: Instructions.

Product images including color may differ from actual appearance. Components can also be changed without notice. The description is not a public offer. When choosing a model, we kindly ask you to check the availability of the desired functions and characteristics.

You can buy these goods: By placing an order on the website, visiting our store at Krasnoyarsk, st. Aviators, d.39 “OVERTIME” | Magnitogorsk, st. Gagarin 18/1 “OVERTIME” or by contacting us by phone 8 (800) 550-2454 (The call is free).

gaz.wiki – gaz.wiki

Navigation

• Main page

Languages

• Deutsch
• Français
• Nederlands
• Russian
• Italiano
• Español
• Polski
• Português
• Norsk
• Suomen kieli
• Magyar
• Čeština
• Türkçe
• Dansk
• Română
• Svenska

.