1. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 1 January 2007 Jon Weston www.uslacrosse.org Youth Goaltending

2. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 2 Youth Goaltending Topics Finding and Keeping GoaliesFinding and Keeping Goalies Equipping Your GoalieEquipping Your Goalie Technique BasicsTechnique Basics Teaching ProgressionTeaching Progression DrillsDrills Attitude and ToneAttitude and Tone Teach TalkTeach Talk

3. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 3 Approach to Coaching Goalies THEY VOLUNTEER to be goalies Don’t get much better by scrimmaging COACHES: Dedicate time to them - 30 minutes a day Your feedback is how the keeper learns Provide Instruction & Repetitions THEY PLAY THE GAME COACHES: CHEER During games / scrimmages BE POSITIVE Giving up goals is negative BUILD ON STRENGTHS Even if only courage VARY What you do with keepers – Games Vary Keep repetitions interesting

4. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 4 Finding and Keeping Goalies Finding –Ask TWO to volunteer – They will split time –Make a public deal YOU will work with them individually – every day They can play another position regularly –Have Some Equipment to Loan Keeping them – spend time with them –Trick #1 – use two goals for two goalies Understand Performance vs. Improvement –Games and Scrimmages are performance CHEER with agreed upon positive adjusters –Your time with them is improvement time TEACH with lots of repetitions BUILD ON STRENGTHS - Even if only courage

5. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 5 Youth Equipment Considerations Stick –Light Shaft - Tape for Balance –Height – up to the chin –Narrow/deep pocket Pads –Chest protector – drop top hand epaulet, high so arms fit arm holes –Light shin guards –Shoulder and elbow pads (usually required) Gloves – Get Goalie Gloves –If hands too small tape the top hand thumb Shoes – Get good soccer shoes Helmet with Throat Protector –Adjust so x-bar is not in front of the eyes

6. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 6 Six Technique Rules 1 – WATCH THE BALL Easy to say, hard to do 2 – WATCH THE BALL WITH YOUR HAND On passes, in the stick, shots 3 – GREAT SETUP/STANCE Linebacker Stance with Hands Up and Out 4 – MAKE THE SAVE SIMPLE Drive the Top hand to the Ball Rotate stick – bottom hand pivot Step with the ball side foot 5 – START THE BREAK Handle the ball and throw well 6 – PROTECT THE PIPE

7. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 7 Watching The Ball – With Your Hand With Eye, Hand and Ball in line, keeper is faster to the ball Track: –Passes – set up behind your hand as you move –Ball in Shooters Stick –Shots - thru to stick pocket

8. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 8 Basic Setup/Stance Objective: Help Make Saves Simple/Smooth Hands Wrists behind the shaft Top hand at eye level, 12-16” out Bottom hand in front of off-side bicep Bottom hand farther out than top hand Grip Top hand tight grip Shaft off palm (if hands big enough Bottom a thumb/forefinger loop Elbows Pointing down In front of chest throughout the save Knees Bent, weight on balls of the feet Feet Slight Pigeon-toed is best (by far) Back Chest in front of the hips Shoulder rotation drops shoulder Stick Top at the cross-bar of the goal Slightly diagonal not vertical orientation

9. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 9 Basic Save Mechanics DRIVE TOP HAND TO THE BALL –LEAD with the Top Hand to the Ball –GRIP on Top Hand does NOT change –Bottom hand drives out from chest too –Don’t Move Bottom Hand Except Offside HI STEP WITH BALL SIDE FOOT –Triple step back into a good stance –Hands and first step move simultaneously –Step Up field – Step “Over-the-line” –Why Step: MOVE YOUR HIPS TO MOVE YOUR HANDS

10. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 10 Size Considerations/Techniques Stick Grip –1 inch lower with top hand –Tape where hands should be –Hands apart – one elbow width – at least Hand Height –Top hand pinky at eye height –Show keeper how high in the net he has covered Wide Stance –Aids in stepping and area covered

11. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 11 Hands and Grip WRISTS TO THE BACK For full wrist rotation TOP HAND Thumb on side, pointing a little upward Forefinger on side & front Shaft off the palm (if your hands are big enough) Don’t Change grip during save BOTTOM HAND Loop – make a pivot Don’t choke the stick

12. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 12 Position and Arc 6 PLACES 1.Right pipe 2.Between right pipe & center 3.Center 4.Between left pipe & center 5.Left pipe 6.High – two+ yards off GL STOP DANCING FEET “6” STOPS HIGH BOUNCERS SETUP ON BALL BEHIND Step-to-pipe, step-to-ball on turns Mirror Ball When Ball Behind One pivot step from pipe 6

13. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 13 Basic Throwing POWER THROWING - Top hand push –Takes lots of strength and practice –Bottom hand comes across the body –Chest/toes usually face the target TOUCH THROWING - PULL/ push –Top hand above ear level –Shaft points at the target –Chest/toes face perpendicular to target –Drive shaft toward the target –Bottom hand lift and pull straight down and back toward top hand elbow –Bottom hand stays on same side of body as top hand – point shaft at the target at end –Long touch passes easy, protects ball on ride –Very powerful / accurate technique

14. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 14 Shooting and Coaching Tips SHOOT and WATCH THE KEEPER –Watching ball into pocket, through bounce –Setting up early, prior to the shot –Eye/hand/feet coordination on feeds –Take breaks during a shot (not good) –Rock and kick – weight on heels (not good) –Stepping clean, balls of feet & step up field –Driving hands & chest up field, esp. low SHOOT ‘til KEEPER MAKES SAVES –Encourage keeper to concentrate –Let keeper know that the saves will come WORK ON NEW AREA –A little each work session - explain what/why –Work until good save(s) –Point out GOOD right then –Move to another area/drill

15. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 15 Making Corrections Keeper & coach can learn from every shot GOALIE LATE: –Goalie too uptight, stay loose –Hands drop early –Bottom hand moves outside the hip –Kicks or steps onto heel –Rocks to the back foot before stepping WATCH FOR: –Straight leg on step means rebounds –Going UP (or jumping) for HI save, means slow low –If top elbow is high, vision blocked on offside HI and slow to LO Move from Block to Save w/ keeper in practice –Hands out, on balls of feet, watching the ball

16. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 16 Instruction Sessions BALL TOSS DRILL WARMUP w/ATTACK STICK Game day sequence SHOOT at game speed almost every day INVOLVE FEEDER EARLY Get feet moving –Work on tracking ball w/hand, setting up early –Work on getting on balls of feet, HI & LO saves –Build until confident on close in saves HI & LO DRIVES or Shoot jogging - e specially if no feeder –Hide the ball, catch over shoulder & turn back DEMANDING SEQUENCES –Need some success for confidence –Have keeper fight thru some failure to progress MAKE MOST DAYS DIFFERENT Games are !!

17. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 17 Warm-Ups on Game Day HELP THEM MAKE SAVES Walk 10-12 yard arc 10 shots each at most HI to HI Watching/stepping Stick side then off stick side LO to LO 5 hole right & left Get stepping up field again HI to LO Keep walking arc FEEDS 6-8 yards out HI to HI Right then left Step Out – A few hard (?) shots Confidence builders Work the Arc DON’T TIRE THEM OUT – It’s Game Day

18. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 18 Coach’s Attitude GAME DAY - Be a CHEERLEADER –You are the key to him/her giving 60 minutes –“You can do it”, “Get the next one”, “Great Save” –Reset phrases: “Track the Ball”, “Hands Up” SCRIMMAGES - Ask for high level of play, positively WORKOUTS – with you – 20-30 minutes a practice –Be positive that they can do it –Let them struggle some –Build proof for them (one save never made before) –Demand that they be tough on themselves to improve IF THEY BELIEVE THEY CAN, THEY CAN –You determine what they can step up to –You believe and use progression so they believe Say “I believe in you” a lot, and mean it

19. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 19 Parents and Questions Understanding Kids – They Want –Praise and acceptance –Praise progress until we can praise their performance –Have objective comments – not “we lost because of you” comments Understanding Parents – They Want –Their children's success –You Praise their children’s progress Parents as Coaches – Instant Conflict –Separate praise from instruction – tough –Mix in some “I Love You”

20. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 20 Goalies are Born AND Made Click Above

21. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 21 Goalies are Born AND Made 2 Click Above

22. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 22 Top Level Video Examples Watch the Ball Howell, Notre Dame ‘01 Protect the Pipe Mulligan, Syracuse ‘01 Start the Break Horrigan, Towson ‘01 Good technique dominates these plays Smooth is very efficient

23. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 23 Recognize Block Habits Keeper and coach can learn from every shot Move from Block to Save w/ keeper in practice Hands out, on balls of feet, watching the ball Notre Dame-Syracuse 2000 NCAA Semifinals Click Above

24. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 24 FAN vs. COACH WATCHING

25. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 25 Tracking the Ball - Top Hand Great Stance and Watching the Ball Nick Murtha, JHU ’02 Great concentration pays off over and over

26. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 26 Goaltending Resources Book: Lacrosse Goaltending for Coaches, Players Too PC CD: Lacrosse Goaltending www.thegoalieman.com web site –Coaches Corner –Players Corner –Free email response to questions westonlax@aol.com –Goalie Equipment –No Rebound II Pockets for Goalies No Rebound II Pocket

27. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 27 Feed Drills – 1 or 2 Every Day C F GC F G C F G X to Wing FeedCross Crease FeedMiddie to Weak Side C F Behind to Crease C F Middie to Crease G G Footwork is different Left and Right Step-to-pipe, step-to-ball Practice left side and right side

28. Coaching Youth Goalies Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 – Weston LacrosseJDW2006- 28 Team D – Fast Breaks – Bonus Slide BREAK 1 - One D-man in the HOLE Take ball down the alley, buy time BREAK 2 - Two-in-a-stack One to ball, one to 1 st Pass, 1 st back to hole BREAK 3 - Three-in-a - triangle, pinch down low HOLD call for no rotation/slide ROTATE for slide BREAK 4 - Four-in-a - box zone Weak side corner sags in to middle BREAK 5 - Five-on-a-dice zone Middle takes cutter G D D D M BREAK 4 G D D DM BREAK 5 M