LacrosseGoalieTips.com

I still see lacrosse goalies at the D1 level who don't understand what they really need to do to get in front of the ball. This isn't that hard people! In this video, we'll break down this Rutgers goalie and how they make it way more difficult than it needs to be. Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

We've got Andrew Miller with ANOTHER goalie goal. This time, in college. We'll dissect this great goal even though his attack tries to screw it up to the best of their ability. Just goes to show you that even at the collegiate level teams STILL don't know what to do with their goalies when they cross midfield Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

While I don't often blame sticks for rebounds, there is a scenario where a well-placed stick can still give up a juicy rebound. In today's episode, we'll dissect a pocket issue that can turn a great save into an offensive opportunity.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

While It's great to have a save registered in the stat book, we all know that sometimes, the shooter just made it easy for us. But that's ok. It's actually a sign of respect. We'll show an example of a shooter faking themselves out.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

Coaches who bring middies down on clears are basically telling 60% of their team that they don't trust them, they don't believe in them, and they aren't going to develop them either. Those coaches need to find another job. We'll discuss.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

In today's video, we're going to cover what lacrosse goalies need to do when they leave the crease and how it can lead to an awesome goal. This video shows so many great things and this goalie handled it perfectly. You're going to love it. Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

We've talked about why lacrosse goalies should not be trying to pick off passes. BUT, lacrosse goalies can be very effective defensive teammates. This past week Penn State got lit up for three goals that could have been easily defended if they had utilized the goalie. We'll talk about what needs to happen and why the lacrosse goalie of the future will play like an extra defender in key situations.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

The trend of having tall lacrosse goalies cover the upper portion of the bet is often. Negated by their inability to get down on low shots. In this video, we'll talk about what y'all goalies can do to get down on low shots and make more saves.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

Of all the goalies that we see currently, Dillon Ward is the best example of what the lacrosse goalie of the future will be prepared to do. Today we'll talk about one sequence that shows what's possible.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

There are a lot of parents who lament the fact that lacrosse goalies can look like they are targets instead of goalies. Especially when teams run shooting drills from in close. Today, we'll talk about if goalies should be left in the net, or taken out of the net for these types of drills. My answer might surprise you.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

There are always opportunities for lacrosse goalies to play...up. The program might be short goalies. Kids might be on vacation. Or the goalie in question may be so good compared to the older goalies that the coach just wants them in net...right now. But how do you know if playing up is right for your goalie? They could get hurt ya know! Today we'll talk about the parameters every goalie needs to consider when playing...up.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

Many of our coaches this year are dealing with lacrosse goalie turnover. Their goalies have limited experience at their current level of play and these coaches want to know what they can do to help their goalies have success and how to get them up to speed quickly. This topic should be of interest, not just to coaches, but to parents as well who would like to see their goalies thrive even in touch situations.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

Goalies know this but coaches don't demand it in practice...there is a moment in time where the ball is coming from too fast, or too close that you will not be able to get your stick to it. When that happens, you MUST get your foot to the ball.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

This week I uncovered a rather testy topic for some...the use of line drills. Today, we're going to talk about why, if you're coaching, you need to do away with this outdated drill. And if you're a goalie or a parent, why seeing line drills being used may be a sign that the coaches are out of touch with what's beneficial. WARNING: If you're holding on to line drills like you're wishing for using catgut and leather thongs in sticks, this won't sit well with you.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

As I watch lacrosse goalies each and every week, I sometimes wonder...”How the heck are we supposed to stop THAT!?” And as you know I often look to other goalies in other sports for inspiration. With that in mind, we can't discount the approach a soccer goalie takes to a penalty shot since they have the research that shows goalies don't have enough time to rely on their speed and agility to react to a ball shot from that close. This further supports my argument that goalies need to utilize more of what they have to make a save and not just their stick. We'll discuss.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

A video surfaced this week on Instagram of a lacrosse goalie taking shots off the foot. People lost their minds. And for ALL the wrong reasons. In today's video I'm going to talk about why this ONE video represents ALL of the bad thinking around the field lacrosse goalie position and why it needs to change...now.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

You can see when lacrosse goalies are poorly coached...even at the D1 level. In today's video, we'll dissect a blown Syracuse clear in a game that had a lot of them. Coaches tend to ruin lacrosse goalies and not embrace what they really can do on the field. In this clip...you'll see why.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

When it comes to covering the ball when it's at X, I have a very simple system for how lacrosse goalies should pivot and how to be in position. In today's video, we'll see the Army men's lacrosse goalie look like he's doing some weird dance for Tik Tok instead of being ready to make a save. You'll love this one.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

In this video, we'll discuss how to create a powerful transition game off of a goalie save. While today's example is of Team USA vs Boston College Women's Lax, it also applies to the men's game. This often uncoached tactic is what makes goalies dangerous on EVERY clear.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

A mistake that I see many lacrosse goalie coaches make is the use of ladder drills prior to shooting on goalies in the same drill. This is a wasted effort, AND it can actually detract from learning how to stop the ball altogether. Today we'll talk about why using ladder drills is a bad idea for lacrosse goalies. How to use them correctly. When not to use them. And why YOUR goalie may already be more advanced than the l.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

Every couple of years we need to revisit ways to reinstil the confidence in a lacrosse goalie who has lost it. For many of our goalies, the season has started or is about to. Confidence is a fleeting thing and we need to always protect it as parents, coaches, and the athletes themselves.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

A forgotten path to D1, D2, or D3 is the Community College route. We have a number of community college coaches who follow our coaching methodologies and they are putting out some fantastic goalies. Check out this video as we talk about Chris Peterson of Howard Community College   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

After last week's video and a number of private conversations with college lacrosse goalies this week, it is being confirmed what I've been saying for years...the shots are coming from such high velocity that goalies have little time to react. They just need to brace for impact. We'll talk about what that means for the lacrosse goalie of the future and what parents need to think about as their young athletes develop.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

Many of you have sent me clips of the Duke Men's Lacrosse Goalie doing some rather weird things with his legs prior to the shot being taken. We'll break down why this is a bad idea, and why it leads to unnecessary goals.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

In another example of why your stick choice is not just about how the ball feels in the pocket, we'll dissect UVM Goalie Ryan Cornell giving up a goal because of a poor equipment choice.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

During my days as an Olympic athlete, I learned about how to conserve energy at every possible corner. Your job was to train and recover. Compete and recover. And then repeat the whole process. With that in mind, there are times when you can take simple steps to minimize or outright eliminate the strain, allowing your body to be able to focus on repair or to focus on the task at hand with more confidence. In today's video, we're going to show the Arizona State Women's goalie who takes a shot off the inside of the leg. (The ball went in.) But it wasn't the goal that bothered me...it was the reaction to getting stung and why it's not necessary. These are little things that make a MASSIVE difference. Little hinges swing BIG doors.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

Here's something a little different...let's talk about what we can learn from a handball goalie making saves. This should be interesting.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

As the game of lacrosse gets more and more complicated, it's important for lacrosse goalies to spend some practice time saving creative shots. We'll go over one of those shots today and talk about some horrible defense that lets up shots like these.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

Lacrosse goalies end up making this game way harder than it needs to be. Coaches don't coach enough which leads to goalies winging it. In this video, we're going to talk about what a goalie should do when the ball is coming from a tight angle and how to modify your stance.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

I have been critical of coaches who teach lacrosse goalies to read shoulders as a way to anticipate where a shot is going to go. In today's video, we'll show you an example of why you can't read a shooter's shoulders but you should be reading their hands and the angle of the stick.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

Lacrosse goalies have an advantage when shots are taken from tight angles, however, they can often mess things up because they are distracted by the body of the shooter and not the stick. In today's video, we'll dissect a goalie who takes themselves out of position on a shot that they probably had a great chance to make a save on.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

When UVM goalie Ryan Cornell went coast to coast and got the ASSIST, I was happier than if he had scored. In today's video, we'll talk about why I was so happy and what up-and-coming lacrosse goalies can learn from it.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

Let's be honest, as a lacrosse goalie, there are times when the ball looks/feels/sounds like it's going to hurt. But the attitude a lacrosse goalie must have is that he or she HAS TO BELIEVE that they can stop every shot. And will make the best attempt at doing so. In today's clip, we'll dissect a fast break with some horrible defense, and one of my favorite goalies, Tim Troutner, who honestly looked like he gave up on the ball.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

I'm not a fan of the crease dive. However, what I'm really not a fan of is a lacrosse goalie's lack of ability to and absolutely WRECK the player executing the dive. I feel the crease dive will go the way of the dodo bird once someone gets hurt (probably a goalie). Today we'll dissect Rob Pannell crease diving on Kyle Bernlohr and what I really wish had happened.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

In today's video, we're going to talk about goalies making an ‘over-move'. Not sure what else to call it really. It's when a goalie pretty much misreads the shot and moves past where the ball is actually going. Lacrosse at the highest levels has gotten incredibly difficult to read the shot. We'll take a look at the shot, the over-move, the defense (or lack thereof), and what you can do about it. Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

I have NEVER understood we women's coaches feel that it's a good idea for women's lax goalies to play defense in certain situations.  This tactic has also trickled into the boy's game more and more and it's resulting in a couple of really bad situations in the game of lacrosse, 1) defenders who can't play defense, and 2) lacrosse goalies who are out of position.    Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

The goal here at Lacrosse Goalie University is to create the lacrosse goalie of the future. One who plays better than the goalies of today. For years, I have done my best to encourage goalies to use more of their bodies to make saves. Legs are one of the primary tools that are underutilized mostly because of a lack of protection. In this video, we'll dissect a great leg save by a lacrosse goalie. Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

I have been pretty vocal about why jumping rope, and ANY vertical jumping education, are BAD for lacrosse goalies. In today's video, I'll give you an example as to just why that is. (Plus we'll talk about how most goalies have no clue just how far they most actually move to make a save.)   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

When it comes to mental skills for ANY athlete (not just lacrosse goalies), taking what you do in practice to what you do on game day can be a major hurdle. That is why watching these Georgetown lacrosse goalies made me cringe. Where is their coach on the ground reminding them of simple strategies in the cage? We'll discuss.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

While there are a lot of lacrosse shots that are considered difficult to stop, there is one in particular that is pretty difficult. We'll show Adam Ghittleman (who I love) having some trouble with a tough little bouncer.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

Lacrosse goalies spend way too much time working on stance and not enough time working on a strategy in and around the crease. Today, we'll show a Syracuse lacrosse goalie making a pretty common error when it comes to stance in the crease. (We'll also talk about his horrible man-down defense too!) Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

In this clip from the Harvard Men's lacrosse program, I'll show you why even D1 goalies don't understand, what I call, "The point of no return" when making saves.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

There may be a time when you feel you are better than an older goalie who is playing above you. Today, we'll talk about why playing on the JV could be the best thing for you this season, and maybe next season.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

There is a myth among the casual, and even the experienced viewer of lacrosse goalies and that is the assumption that lacrosse goalies are fearless. They are not. We will discuss why they are not fearless and why you can't train for no fear, you must train to mitigate fear.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

Of all the goalies I work with, the girls are the best.  (sorry boys) They are smart.  Hard-working.  They seem to have a higher ‘give-a-shit' factor than the boys do. But in the end…this ONE thing always gets them in the end.  Today we'll discuss what that is.  Who affects the most?  Why is it important?  And what to do about it?   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

Most lacrosse goalies (and lacrosse coaches) think that the play is dead just after the save is made.   Not me.  I look at it as though the play is just beginning. Make the opposing team pay for bad shots that you save with deadly outlet passes to start your team's offense. Today we'll talk about how to do just that.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

New year new goalie, right?  Well, not necessarily.  Right about now, if you're thinking about lacrosse, you're probably thinking that you're a bit behind the eight ball.  Today we're going to talk about what you need to focus on between now and your spring season.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

As a coach, I believe that everything is possible with…progression. I”m sure your goalie can look at a lacrosse ball. I'm sure they can hold a lacrosse ball. They probably can throw a lacrosse ball. And they can probably catch a lacrosse ball. But at some point…and it doesn't matter if they are a middle school goalie or a pro goalie…they will develop a fear of the ball. It may be temporary.  It may last a little while.  Or… It may force them out of the game. Today we're going to talk about fear and the lacrosse goalie and what you can do to avoid tremendous disappointment. Enjoy.  And be dangerous. Jonathan -   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

An often overlooked technique for lacrosse goalies is, what I call, the hop-step. It's a way for goalies to move across the front of the net while keeping a rather stable base.  It has its benefits and its drawbacks. In this episode, I dissect some videos from MLL goalie (at the time) Sean Sconone.   Sean is a big dude.  And his footwork is excellent. And his technique, while rarely used by other goalies, is quite sound and something you should consider as you move in front of the goal. Enjoy.  Stay dangerous. Coach   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

A common mistake made by most lacrosse coaches who work with goalies is that they look at the goalie in the cage and think (wrongly) that the goalie should be centered in the cage based on the coach's eyes. This is NOT true.  The lacrosse goalie should first be centered on where the shot should be leaving the stick (Which can be difficult to do at times.) AND, they should then be what I call “offset” to their off-stick side. This is what I call Offset Goaltending and I have been taught this idea for years.  It is based on the fact that if a lacrosse goalie is going to, primarily, try and stop the ball with the stick, then that stick should be more centrally located in the cage. This is quite a simple concept if you think about it, yet lacrosse goalies have been plagued by bad coaching that effectively puts them in a very difficult position to make saves, especially to the off-stick side. In today's episode, we're going to talk about why Offset Goaltending is so important for lacrosse goalies and how you can introduce it to your goalie. Enjoy! And be the lacrosse goalie of the future. Coach   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!  

When a lacrosse goalie is stopping shots, they aren't just stopping shots.  They are developing an understanding of shooters and their responses.  I call this the Shooters Library and a lacrosse goalies Save Library.  Just like when you went into the library (back in the day) and asked for a book, the librarian gave you a response.  It was the book you asked for. As a lacrosse goalie, you are responding to the shot.  You are learning how shooters shoot.  How they do what they do and when they can do it.  And you're developing your response to all of those shots.  That's your job. In today's episode, we're going to talk about how to develop your shooters' library and what to expect from shooters in practice based on your level of development.  It's gonna be a good one! Enjoy.   And be sure to leave a comment, like, some love.  Share this with someone who needs to hear it.   Download My Lacrosse Goalie Cheat Sheets and Goalie Scorecards Because You MUST Remember, the Lacrosse Goalie ‘Grade' is NOT the Scoreboard!