[dewire]

So this year is my first year playing lacrosse, well it is really my second but in seventh grade when I played I was injured and had to sit out the rest of my season and not getting back into the game, last year I transfered to a new school that had lacrosse, but I decided to take the year off. And this year my friend talked me into playing. However I loved it, especially playing middie/attack. Our only goalie who is a freshman (keep in mind this is highschool) broke his arm snowboarding and now we had ended up in a predicament leaving us with no goalie. So the only person who would play goalie was this goofy kid who had a lazy on I am not sure why this matters but we always told him to keep "both eyes on the ball" however we lost our first two games 16-0 13-2. Now this is where I come in. Seniors obviously love to haze the under classmen. Especially this one senior who I am friends with but he still hazes me. He was pegging balls at me and obviously im going to do what I can to not get hit so I was stopping them with only a middie stick. He suggested I play goalie however I have problems causing me to let in goals.

My first game we lost (I was subbed in at half)
8-3

Second game:
13-2

Third game
8-2 (second best team in the state)

Now I am coming to you g uys with these problems:

What can I do to NOT be afraid of the ball?

What can I do when they are two feet from my crease or ontop of it and are shooting? Usually what happens is I put my stick up and duck just the littlest bit, but I am not as tall as the crossbar so it goes over my head.

Are there anything drills I can do to increase my abilities?

This would be a great help and thanks for listening to half of my lifetime story ^.^

[Laxabilly]

Not being afraid of the ball:
Next time your getting warmed up, drop your stick and put your hands together like your holding your stick. Have your coach, or whoever is warming you up, start shooting on you, at a slower to medium speed. Use only your body to stop the balls, this teaches you to step to the ball, not to be afraid of getting hit, and also to get low and drop down on grounders and bouncers.

For crease shots, don't feel like those are your fault, your defense shouldn't let them get in there, much less be able to shoot from there. But when that does happen, try and make yourself as big as possible, come out at them, try and get your stick in front of his, and try not to duck. Just get in front of him as much as you can. Also if you can, knock him down, theres not much better feelling than stuffing an attack and putting him on the ground at the same time.

[Dadabhoy]

For getting over your fear of the ball, you can always wear some padded shorts. It may make you a more confident goalie which will then make you make more saves. You can also have people shoot tennis balls at you. Then have them randomly switch to lacrosse balls. You will bever know the difference.

Close shots are always a problem for any goalie. The best advice I have would be to mirror his stick and try to get in a stuff. Some people like to come out and smoke to player on the crease. Some people like to wait back and rely on their reflexes to make the save.

Good luck in your quest and keep us posted.

Dadabhoy

[goalie2000]

do stepping drills with tennis balls and a partner
with no stick-dont be afraid- Is it pain-do you have an injury or is it just relfexes-Listen to the other guys with the drills and just repeat them so in the game it will come naturally-

for 1 on 1's theres not much you can do- They have the advantage but my best advice is to:

stay big in the crease and dont step out
watch there stick and just relax
dont make the first move on their fakes

practice this with a partner slowly to follow the ball better with your eyes.

when you know then yoiu'll stuff them stick on stick after lots of practice.

also have a good angle and body position .

[lax28keeper]

Originally Posted by dewire

So this year is my first year playing lacrosse, well it is really my second but in seventh grade when I played I was injured and had to sit out the rest of my season and not getting back into the game, last year I transfered to a new school that had lacrosse, but I decided to take the year off. And this year my friend talked me into playing. However I loved it, especially playing middie/attack. Our only goalie who is a freshman (keep in mind this is highschool) broke his arm snowboarding and now we had ended up in a predicament leaving us with no goalie. So the only person who would play goalie was this goofy kid who had a lazy on I am not sure why this matters but we always told him to keep "both eyes on the ball" however we lost our first two games 16-0 13-2. Now this is where I come in. Seniors obviously love to haze the under classmen. Especially this one senior who I am friends with but he still hazes me. He was pegging balls at me and obviously im going to do what I can to not get hit so I was stopping them with only a middie stick. He suggested I play goalie however I have problems causing me to let in goals.

My first game we lost (I was subbed in at half)
8-3

Second game:
13-2

Third game
8-2 (second best team in the state)

Now I am coming to you g uys with these problems:

What can I do to NOT be afraid of the ball?

What can I do when they are two feet from my crease or ontop of it and are shooting? Usually what happens is I put my stick up and duck just the littlest bit, but I am not as tall as the crossbar so it goes over my head.

Are there anything drills I can do to increase my abilities?

This would be a great help and thanks for listening to half of my lifetime story ^.^

when they are that close to the crease etherpush them a way or stick on theres

[DRTDVL]

Originally Posted by dewire

What can I do to NOT be afraid of the ball?

Basically nothing except get hit by the ball...

put your stick down and let people take soft shots (think passing speeds) and block them with your body

[Atmosphere]

Make sure your stepping to the ball. It hurts more when your are relaxed and not expecting it.

For 1 on 1 you won't be able to stop all of them. The only thing you can do is higher your chances. First you want to stay still in the net when you come out and rush them you give the shooter more options. Try giving up one part of the net, this is called baiting. I get low, baiting the shooter to shoot high, and when they do pop up and stop it. Don't get discouraged if you let in a 1 on 1 shot. Goalies can't save everything.