The Position from the Ground Up
This page is a work in progress. I need to add more content (Like photos) to help demonstrate concepts.
This is how I recommend you play the position. This is starting from nothing, leaving as little out as possible
Getting Between the Pipes
Stick
Sometimes it is the wand and not the wizard. Get your stick dialed in!
Stance
Poise
[Video Reference: GS Poise and Stepping]
Mindset
Mindset is essential to how you play the goalie position. While the position isn't particularly physically taxing, it is mentally taxing. Honing your mindset will allow you to perform consistently and bounce back from adversity. This section is a brief overview of the Mindset page.
Set good goals
It is easy to find yourself in a position where you want to say "I will not let them score" or "I will save the next shot I see" after giving up a goal or two. However, these set yourself up to miss them, and then you are in
Making Saves
Positioning
[Video Reference: IL Picking up a Shot]
[Video Reference: PLL Alley Shots]
Stepping at The Shot
Attacking the ball with an effective step is key to making saves. Unfortunately, resources on this are a bit lacking. However, my advice is as follows:
- Develop your lateral drive outside the cage
- Move laterally to cover more cage surface area
- Finish your step in a ready position -> step - gather step - ready
Top & Bottom Hand
Clearing the Ball
Confidence in the clear starts with rock-solid stick skills. You need to have the confidence to make aggressive passes if you want teams to respect you and leave the easy passes open.
When you have stick skills, you need to understand some of the key things that allows a riding team to thrive;
- Hero plays
- One person ends up going through 3 different riders
- Condensed clearing team
- One rider can cover 2+ clearers
- 50-50 passes
- There are passes which only your guy can make a play on. Don't let them get a chance
These give some pretty easy keys you can implement for success
- Look for "checkers" opportunities. If you beat a guy and someone is coming to you, someone is open behind them!
- Spread your defense and yourself. Don't push past the box, keep defenders in the alleys
- Make the pass only your guy can get to.
- Throw a hard "laser pass" if he's got limited separation breaking laterally.
- Throw a one-hop ahead of him if he's got green ahead of him Make sure it is not a buddy pass
Running the Defense
You are the only person on defense who can ball watch and see the entire field. It is essential you communicate to the defense what is going on at all times. You should likely be the loudest out there.
The information you might share can vary, but there is a lot you can be communicating. For example this is what I would try communicate:
- Ball position
- Scheme/package
- 1 & 2 slides
- Goal-line
- Hands
- Imminent threats
- Picks
