The lacrosse goalie is the team’s last line of defense, responsible for making split-second saves, reading offensive plays, and directing defenders. With unique demands that require quick reflexes, mental toughness, and strong communication skills, goalie training in lacrosse is a specialized discipline. Whether you’re an aspiring goalie or looking to refine your skills, Athletes Untapped offers personalized training to help goalies excel in their role.
Why Lacrosse Goalie Training is Different
Goalies are vital to their team’s defense, often facing high-speed shots and relentless offensive plays. They need to react quickly, anticipate shot angles, and stay mentally resilient after tough plays. Unlike field players, goalies don’t just focus on endurance and shooting—they must develop reaction speed, hand-eye coordination, and precise body positioning. Athletes Untapped goalie training focuses on these core areas, equipping goalies with the skills they need to succeed.
Key Areas of Goalie Training
- Reflex and Reaction Speed One of the most important skills for a lacrosse goalie is the ability to react quickly to incoming shots. Goalies don’t have the luxury of time; they must see, process, and respond to shots within a fraction of a second. Athletes Untapped includes specific reflex drills in its goalie training, helping players build reaction time through repetitive, high-intensity exercises.
Example Drill: Tennis ball reaction drill—coaches throw tennis balls at various angles, forcing the goalie to react quickly with their hands or body to catch or deflect the ball.
Athletes Untapped’s Approach: Our coaches focus on form, providing tips to position hands and feet for maximum response time. By improving reaction speed, goalies can anticipate shots better, even under high pressure.
- Hand-Eye Coordination Accurate hand-eye coordination is critical for lacrosse goalies. With shots coming from every direction and at high speeds, goalies need to stay sharp and ready. Athletes Untapped incorporates hand-eye coordination drills into its goalie training, making sure each player builds precision and control.
Example Drill: Wall ball drill—goalies practice catching and throwing against a wall, aiming to catch rebounds from varying angles and heights.
Athletes Untapped’s Approach: Coaches work with goalies to enhance their focus and accuracy, using progression-based drills that adjust difficulty as the player improves. By mastering these exercises, goalies improve their ability to track the ball in real game scenarios.
- Footwork and Positioning Effective footwork and positioning are essential for goalies to move quickly across the goal and cover the net. Proper positioning allows goalies to set up efficiently, reducing their reaction distance and giving them a better chance of stopping shots. Athletes Untapped’s footwork drills are designed to build speed and stability, helping goalies move fluidly from side to side.
Example Drill: Arc drill—goalies move across an arc in front of the goal, practicing positioning for different shot angles.
Athletes Untapped’s Approach: Our coaches provide feedback on body posture and movement, teaching players to stay low and balanced for quick lateral motion. This focus on correct positioning enables goalies to react faster and get in front of the ball more effectively.
- Anticipation and Shot Reading Goalie training also involves learning to anticipate shots based on shooter positioning, body language, and previous play patterns. By training to “read” the shooter, goalies can often anticipate the type of shot or its likely direction, giving them a crucial edge. Athletes Untapped’s coaches guide players through techniques to interpret offensive movement and improve reaction decisions.
Example Drill: Shooter-goalie drills—goalies practice defending against live shooters, focusing on recognizing shot angles and body cues.
Athletes Untapped’s Approach: Our coaches emphasize the mental aspects of goaltending, helping players analyze shooter tendencies and build instincts for making smart saves. By learning to anticipate plays, goalies can improve save accuracy and gain confidence in high-pressure situations.
- Communication and Leadership Goalies play a pivotal role in directing their defense, often seeing plays develop before anyone else on the field. Strong communication skills are essential for goalies, as they help coordinate defenders, call out screens, and signal slides. Athletes Untapped emphasizes the importance of communication in its goalie training, building leadership skills alongside physical ability.
Example Drill: Defense coordination drill—goalies practice giving defensive cues while handling shots, helping them get comfortable with both commanding and responding to play.
Athletes Untapped’s Approach: Coaches encourage goalies to develop clear, confident communication, teaching them how to direct defenders and assert their role as a field leader. This skill not only benefits the goalie but also strengthens the team’s overall defense.
Unique Benefits of Athletes Untapped’s Goalie Training
At Athletes Untapped, we recognize that each goalie is unique. Our personalized approach to goalie training allows players to develop their strengths, overcome challenges, and build confidence. Here’s what makes Athletes Untapped’s goalie training stand out:
Tailored Training Plans: Athletes Untapped coaches design each training plan based on the player’s skill level, goals, and style. Whether you’re a beginner learning the basics or an advanced goalie refining technique, our coaches provide targeted training that grows with you.
Expert Coaching and Mentorship: Our coaches are not only skilled in lacrosse but also in the specific demands of goaltending. Athletes Untapped provides expert guidance, offering drills and exercises rooted in real-game scenarios, so players can feel prepared for any situation.
Focus on Physical and Mental Toughness: Goalie training with Athletes Untapped includes both physical conditioning and mental toughness exercises, teaching players to stay resilient and focused. Our coaches help players develop strategies for handling pressure, staying positive, and recovering quickly from mistakes.
Comprehensive Skill Development: Goalie training at Athletes Untapped isn’t just about saves—it’s about developing a well-rounded skill set. Our training includes ball handling, shot anticipation, and footwork, so goalies can confidently handle a variety of challenges on the field.
Common Mistakes Goalies Make and How to Overcome Them
Goalies often make common mistakes due to lack of experience or training, but Athletes Untapped coaches are here to help you correct and avoid them:
Overcommitting on Fakes: New goalies can sometimes be tricked by fakes, moving out of position too early. At Athletes Untapped, coaches teach goalies to wait until the shooter releases the ball, helping them stay patient and avoid being drawn out.
Improper Stance: An incorrect stance can affect balance and reaction time. Athletes Untapped coaches work with goalies on positioning, teaching them to keep their knees bent, hands up, and eyes focused on the ball for quicker saves.
Relying Solely on Reflexes: While reflexes are essential, anticipating shots is equally important. Athletes Untapped incorporates exercises that build game sense, so goalies can combine reaction time with situational awareness.
Ready to Become a Stronger Lacrosse Goalie?
Whether you’re just starting as a lacrosse goalie or looking to take your skills to the next level, Athletes Untapped private training can help. We’re dedicated to helping goalies master their position by focusing on tailored drills, expert coaching, and the mental aspects of the game.
Contact Athletes Untapped today to learn more about our goalie training programs. Let’s work together to build the skills, confidence, and resilience you need to make game-changing saves and lead your team to success!
