If you or your child plays lacrosse goalie, here’s something important to understand: Lacrosse goalie is almost a separate sport.

It’s like being a kicker in football. They’re part of the team, but their mechanics, mindset, and responsibilities are completely different from everyone else on the field. Because of that, they should be coached differently.

Here’s what to look for when choosing a lacrosse goalie coach:

1. They Treat Goalie as a Specialized Position

Most team practices don’t truly develop goalies. Often, goalies jump into team shooting drills with little preparation, don’t get a proper warmup, and receive minimal technical correction.

That’s not development; that’s exposure. A true goalie coach understands:

• Proper stance and balance

• Stepping mechanics

• Angle and arc play

• Rebound control

• The importance of the mental game

• Clearing under pressure

Just like a football team wouldn’t train its kicker the same way as its linemen, lacrosse programs shouldn’t train goalies the same way as field players.

2. They Build Decision-Makers, Not Just Shot Blockers

Stopping the ball is only part of the job. A strong goalie coach teaches communication, consistent clearing, and how to “quarterback” the field. Great goalies:

• Watch film and know their opponents’ tendencies.

• Direct the defense constantly.

• Initiate the transition immediately after a save.

If training is just “stand in the cage and take shots,” your goalie isn’t learning how to command a game—they’re just reacting.

3. They Train the Mental Game

Goalie is the most mentally demanding position in lacrosse. They will get scored on, and they will make mistakes as the last line of defense. The difference between average and elite goalies is the ability to reset their mind in between plays.

A quality coach helps goalies:

• Reset quickly after goals.

• Build confidence under pressure.

• Develop leadership presence.

• Stay composed in chaotic moments.

4. They Individualize the Training

Every goalie is different—different size, reaction speed, and aggression levels. One-size-fits-all coaching doesn’t work for this position. A good coach:

• Adjusts stance width and depth based on the athlete.

• Tailors drills to specific age and skill levels.

• Provides intentional progressions that build over time.

5. They Train for Game Speed

Games are chaotic. There’s traffic, screens, broken plays, and fast breaks. Practice must reflect that. The right coach creates:

• Game-speed shooting drills.

• Live reps that simulate real scenarios.

• Pressure-based clearing drills.

• Communication under duress.

The Bottom Line

Lacrosse goalie isn’t just another position. It’s a specialty role like a kicker in football or a pitcher in baseball. It deserves technical mastery, mental conditioning, and leadership development.

What You Can Expect at Our Lacrosse Goalie Clinics

Our clinics are built around one core belief: Goalie is its own sport, and it should be trained that way.

• Foundational Mastery: Master the stance and explosive mechanics used at the D1 level.

• Crease Command: Learn to quarterback the field and lead defensive communication.

• Elite Live Reps: Game-speed shooting drills tailored to your age and skill level.

• The Clearing Edge: Focused training on outlet accuracy and initiating the fast break.

• Q&A Segment: An open forum for goalies and parents to ask anything about the position.

Register for an Upcoming Clinic:

• Salt Lake City, UT (March 21): https://adaptivegoaltending.systeme.io/salt-lake-clinic

• St. George, UT – March 27th: https://adaptivegoaltending.systeme.io/st-george-clinic

See you in the crease!