Advanced Level Goalkeeping: Skills & Concepts

with Brooke Eubanks,
University of California-Berkeley Head Women's Lacrosse Coach from 2014 to 2022;
former Stanford University Assistant Women's Lacrosse Coach;
3x member of the Canadian National Team;
scored 12 goals for the 3rd place 2009 World Cup Tournament team

Paige Soenksen,
University of California-Berkeley Assistant Coach;
2017 All-American at the University of Colorado as a player

and Denise Wescott,
University of California-Berkeley Assistant Coach;
2018 National Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee;
Director of Lacrosse for the Capital Lacrosse Club (Alexandria, VA);
over 30 years of Division I college coaching experience;
former German National and World Cup Team Head Coach (1996-2005);
New Jersey Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee (2006)
IWLCA Diane Geppi-Aikens Lifetime Achievement College Coaching Award

Being an impact goalkeeper involves more than being proficient at "seeing the ball" and having good save mechanics - it involves being an integral part of the defensive unit with their presence, mobility, and communication. This video featuring Hall of Fame Coach Denise Wescott and Coach Paige Soenksen presents a number of situational topics to help goalies train to get to this next level. From the pregame warm-up to being the "8th defender," learn how to help your goalkeeper be an impact player.

Warm-Up and Situational Positioning

An effective warm up needs to cover all fundamental save mechanics at a pace that gets the goalkeeper into game mode and ready to go. You'll see how the Cal Berkeley goalies go through a warm-up that works on all shot locations and types.

Coaches Wescott and Soenksen walk you through a number of game situations and discuss how the goalkeeper should address them. You will learn effective footwork on getting into position for a save, proper body positioning to make the save, and some tactical considerations to increase your understanding of optimal net coverage. In all, you'll see how to train for the following situations:

• Crease Rolls
• 2-on-1
• 1-on-GK
• Intercepting
• Clear and Recover
• 8 meter shots

Wescott and Soenksen also show how to train your goalies to move in relation to what the attacker does, and how their footwork and body positioning creates and eliminates opportunities for the attacker.

Save Footwork and Angle Play

Using a variety of shots and motions, see how to train your goalkeeper on the footwork necessary to move within their crease. Understand the role angles play in relation to footwork and body position through a drill that dictates movement from the shot locations inside the 8-meter and below GLE. Coach Westcott shows how the use of ropes can assist in the understanding of angles, and how to adjust within the angle for a shooter changing hands.

Being a great goalkeeper requires more than the ability to save the ball. This video will help train your goalies to get to the next level through an understanding of how to be prepared for a variety of situations that occur in a game. Helping your goalkeeper become the "8th defender" will not only help your goalkeeper, but your entire defensive unit!

83 minutes. 2020.