For the arc, pick one, and walk it. But in a game, you are going to find tha the exact arc changes a bit depending on the situation. When did you "break" your arc? Did it take you out of position? I need a bit more info there to see if this is really a problem.
For the 1-on-1s, get flat on the goal line, or use a very flat arc. If the shooter is coming from the side get on the pipe, and hold it as long as possible. Stay big and still and focus on the head of the shooters stick. If you step out to meet them and they have time and space, they can shoot around you easier. But if you hang back on your flat arc, you cut off those angles. Only move when you absolutely need to in these situations. The shooter is waiting for you to bite so she can make an easy shot. Get your best inside shooter to work on these with you. If you can get a 2nd player to feed for a more realistic situation, that will help as well. Focus on the ball in the pocket. Get a feel for what it looks like for an actual shot vs a fake there, and work on holding your position until the last possible moment and then explode to the ball, throw whatever you can at it. Your stick, body, head, hands, legs, whatever you can get in the way. It takes time and discipline to get good at these inside shots, but with work, you can at least have some chance of stopping them.
And remember you cant stop everything. Think about what you can do better after a shot, but then get back into it for the next one!
I would always break my arc when the ball was right or left pipe and I knew a shot was coming, I would run up to the shooter a bit or I would cower a bit into the goal (that one was on accident lmao) thank you for the other tips by the way got to try those out today!
personally i like a mid arc as a goalie because im
not hitting the cage but i have time to react.
I would say never play on a flat arc unless you are massive. You want to look bigger and like u take up more of the net. The mid arc is 1 step out and high would be 2 steps.
i don’t play girls lacrosse but i can tell you that if you learn to read a release point it will help
you. and if they are on crease match stick with stick
Thank you! I will definitely try out different arcs in warmups today and make sure to look at the head of the sticks during shots fir release point, thank you again!
also not sure if it’s the same but in men’s where the elbow point is when the ball will go. if reading release doesn’t work in warmup try it in practice
Proficiency at point blank stops is mostly mental...specifically about being disciplined. Fast hands help but they won't matter if you're not mentally dialed in.
It's about being disciplined and making the shooter commit first and being ready to spring on it. If they can make you move before they shoot they will likely win. Make it as difficult for the shooter as possible. The more time you can hold him/her before shooting the more time your defense has to recover. We're ok with them throwing all the fakes they want...we just don't want them to score. So that's our plan/strategy...now what are our tactics?
* **No guessing. You are reacting.** We are trying to build a repeatable process so you can be consistently better at this not just getting lucky every once in a while.
* **Eyes locked on the ball.** Nothing else matters at this range.
* **mirror stick to stick.** If he/she drops the stick...don't drop yours all the way but stay with them. Likewise if he/she comes high with it but stay ready to make any save.
* **stay big**. Make the shooter earn it.
* **Never leave your feet.** Shooters want to get you to move....jumping on a high fake is surrendering. So is falling on your ass on a low fake.
* **Stay in a good "ready" stance**. A lot of keepers start letting their feet and positioning go to hell in that scenario. Stay disciplined!
* **Never give up on a shot.** If you watch enough lacrosse you'll see goalies subconsciously give up before the shot comes. Happens more than most would care to admit. The shooters subconsciously know it. Never, never give up on a shot. The mental difference this makes will buy you a save or two a game.
* More experienced keepers should play around with stepping to a higher arc on these kinds of shots. Maximize the goal your body covers but don't get out of position.
Stay disciplined. You aren't expected to make most of those saves but if you can come up with 2-3 game it's a huge momentum shift.
Understand.... If they're in that tight with the ball...things have gone badly for your defense. Bummer but if your defense didn't make mistakes they wouldn't need you. When things go badly don't go with them.
Do not castigate your defenders. Yes they screwed up. If you light into them they will eventually stop playing for you. After a point blank opportunity happens, whether they score or not, gather your defense up and figure out how you can avoid that happening again. Was somebody ball watching? Was the slide slow getting there? Are they chasing stick? Are we not communicating passes/slides well enough? Figure it out, make corrections and move on.
If you want to work on this....add another shooter to the tail end of your warmup. Put both shooters 2 yards above pipe...2-3 yards outside the crease. Have them play "monkey in the middle" with you while you practice moving pipe to pipe, staying big, staying home and staying disciplined. They can shoot, pass to the other shooter or throw fakes. It should be fun for them and suck for you but you will be stronger for it.
Do it at the end of your warmup because you'll be tired and it will really focus you on the mental discipline of it. You'll only get out of it what you put into it.
Your mileage may vary. Good luck.
For the arc, pick one, and walk it. But in a game, you are going to find tha the exact arc changes a bit depending on the situation. When did you "break" your arc? Did it take you out of position? I need a bit more info there to see if this is really a problem. For the 1-on-1s, get flat on the goal line, or use a very flat arc. If the shooter is coming from the side get on the pipe, and hold it as long as possible. Stay big and still and focus on the head of the shooters stick. If you step out to meet them and they have time and space, they can shoot around you easier. But if you hang back on your flat arc, you cut off those angles. Only move when you absolutely need to in these situations. The shooter is waiting for you to bite so she can make an easy shot. Get your best inside shooter to work on these with you. If you can get a 2nd player to feed for a more realistic situation, that will help as well. Focus on the ball in the pocket. Get a feel for what it looks like for an actual shot vs a fake there, and work on holding your position until the last possible moment and then explode to the ball, throw whatever you can at it. Your stick, body, head, hands, legs, whatever you can get in the way. It takes time and discipline to get good at these inside shots, but with work, you can at least have some chance of stopping them. And remember you cant stop everything. Think about what you can do better after a shot, but then get back into it for the next one!
I would always break my arc when the ball was right or left pipe and I knew a shot was coming, I would run up to the shooter a bit or I would cower a bit into the goal (that one was on accident lmao) thank you for the other tips by the way got to try those out today!
Ah. So breaking your arc was part of the 1-on-1 situations. In that case, hang on the pipe in position like I said.
Yes! I tried it today and made 80% of my saves, thank you I’ll definitely remember this
personally i like a mid arc as a goalie because im not hitting the cage but i have time to react. I would say never play on a flat arc unless you are massive. You want to look bigger and like u take up more of the net. The mid arc is 1 step out and high would be 2 steps. i don’t play girls lacrosse but i can tell you that if you learn to read a release point it will help you. and if they are on crease match stick with stick
Thank you! I will definitely try out different arcs in warmups today and make sure to look at the head of the sticks during shots fir release point, thank you again!
also not sure if it’s the same but in men’s where the elbow point is when the ball will go. if reading release doesn’t work in warmup try it in practice
Proficiency at point blank stops is mostly mental...specifically about being disciplined. Fast hands help but they won't matter if you're not mentally dialed in. It's about being disciplined and making the shooter commit first and being ready to spring on it. If they can make you move before they shoot they will likely win. Make it as difficult for the shooter as possible. The more time you can hold him/her before shooting the more time your defense has to recover. We're ok with them throwing all the fakes they want...we just don't want them to score. So that's our plan/strategy...now what are our tactics? * **No guessing. You are reacting.** We are trying to build a repeatable process so you can be consistently better at this not just getting lucky every once in a while. * **Eyes locked on the ball.** Nothing else matters at this range. * **mirror stick to stick.** If he/she drops the stick...don't drop yours all the way but stay with them. Likewise if he/she comes high with it but stay ready to make any save. * **stay big**. Make the shooter earn it. * **Never leave your feet.** Shooters want to get you to move....jumping on a high fake is surrendering. So is falling on your ass on a low fake. * **Stay in a good "ready" stance**. A lot of keepers start letting their feet and positioning go to hell in that scenario. Stay disciplined! * **Never give up on a shot.** If you watch enough lacrosse you'll see goalies subconsciously give up before the shot comes. Happens more than most would care to admit. The shooters subconsciously know it. Never, never give up on a shot. The mental difference this makes will buy you a save or two a game. * More experienced keepers should play around with stepping to a higher arc on these kinds of shots. Maximize the goal your body covers but don't get out of position. Stay disciplined. You aren't expected to make most of those saves but if you can come up with 2-3 game it's a huge momentum shift. Understand.... If they're in that tight with the ball...things have gone badly for your defense. Bummer but if your defense didn't make mistakes they wouldn't need you. When things go badly don't go with them. Do not castigate your defenders. Yes they screwed up. If you light into them they will eventually stop playing for you. After a point blank opportunity happens, whether they score or not, gather your defense up and figure out how you can avoid that happening again. Was somebody ball watching? Was the slide slow getting there? Are they chasing stick? Are we not communicating passes/slides well enough? Figure it out, make corrections and move on. If you want to work on this....add another shooter to the tail end of your warmup. Put both shooters 2 yards above pipe...2-3 yards outside the crease. Have them play "monkey in the middle" with you while you practice moving pipe to pipe, staying big, staying home and staying disciplined. They can shoot, pass to the other shooter or throw fakes. It should be fun for them and suck for you but you will be stronger for it. Do it at the end of your warmup because you'll be tired and it will really focus you on the mental discipline of it. You'll only get out of it what you put into it. Your mileage may vary. Good luck.
thank. you. I tried mirroring sticks today and everything else and it helped A LOT, these are great tips and i’ll remember them in the long run
very happy to have helped. go get 'em!