The Present-Moment: Achieving a Completely Blank Mind
The Present-Moment: Achieving a Completely Blank Mind January 25, 2026 My own journey as a Division I goalie and coach...
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The pressure of being a lacrosse goalie is unlike any other position on the field. Because one mistake can be fatal to the outcome of a game, our brains are naturally wired to look for threats. Often, those threats aren’t coming from the opposing attackmen, they are coming from inside your own head.
Why Your Brain Lies to You
During a game, your brain will constantly throw thoughts at you just to see what sticks. When you are in the heat of a game, negative self-talk like “You can’t save this” or “You’re letting the team down” can feel like absolute truth. Accepting every one of these thoughts as reality is the fastest way to trigger a mid-game spiral.
The Bucket System
To survive the mental load of the crease, you need a disciplined way to manage this internal chaos. We can use a cognitive tool called the Bucket System to categorize every thought that enters his mind:
- The Bad Bucket: When a negative or corrosive thought pops into your head, you must acknowledge its existence but immediately drop it into the “Bad Bucket”. You recognize it as useless noise and refuse to let it define your worth or your next save.
- The Good Bucket: You must actively fuel this bucket by creating positive, reinforcing self-talk. Tell yourself: “I have put in the work” or “I made an incredible save earlier”.
Choosing Your Reality
By accepting only the positive thoughts as “truth,” you keep your self-confidence high even when the scoreboard suggests otherwise. This is not about being delusional; it is about strategic focus. If you focus on the negative of your experience, you play stiff and slow. If you focus on your competence, you play with freedom.
The Post-Game Purge
To make this system work long-term, you need to “empty the buckets” after the final whistle. Use journaling to gain perspective:
- List everything: Write down what went well and what didn’t.
- Cross out the noise: Physically cross out anything that was outside of your control, such as a bad bounce or a missed defensive slide.
- Refine your focus: Only the controllable mistakes remain. These become your actionable plan for the next practice.
By mastering the Two Buckets, you stop being a victim of your own thoughts and start being the commander of your performance.
Have Any Questions ?
We know every goalie’s journey is different. If you have questions about training, packages, or what’s best for your game, we’d love to help.