The Importance of Confidence and Support In working with keepers there are in-game actions that surprise coaches as we look at game tapes. Goalies that are moving well and making saves in warm-ups stop stepping, are on their heels, hands are down/in toward the body. Worse, they seem very late to shots. This is very frustrating to the coach who can see great play occasionally but more than occasionally sees less than great goalie performance. Most of this game/scrimmage lockup by the keeper involves fear. Our instincts are to duck or run from stuff that is thrown hard at us. During warm-ups the fear of being scored upon is less, since most coaches encouraging correct stance and movement to the ball and re-enforcing good fundamentals, as they should. Plus, the whole team isn't dependant on the outcome of warm-up shots - they are in the game. Therein lies the difference between workouts and games - tension and uncertainty. Many times warm-ups and workouts are not very game like.
To counter this low
productivity, I use a set of game like drills that put a lot of
distractions into the workout (passes, drives, fakes), less predictable
shots (quicksticks, lefty shots) and shots that are harder
to save than
most game shots (closer and faster) that force concentration on the
ball, full readiness and movement to the shot (they need to focus on "watch, ready, go").
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Use these left to right. Always warm up with high shots 10 yards then 6 yards and then choose what to do more of that day. The goalies confidence will rise as he/she makes one, then two, then three and then most of these difficult saves and he/she wont be surprised by what the shooters are doing. Remember also, having your shooters pound on the goalie during workouts is not productive, they get to shoot their best during your scrimmage. If you can't shoot these shots, learn them, or instruct your shooter as to what to do on almost every shot. | ||
Great Gift - "I'm a GOALIE" hats in Navy Blue with Gold Lettering or Pink with Purple lettering - get your today. |
Copyright Weston Lacrosse 2-2011