Position guide

Lacrosse goalie drills

Goalie is the most trainable position in lacrosse, because almost all of it is repeatable mechanics: where you stand, how you step, where your top hand goes. Here is how to build it — including work with nothing but a wall and a tennis ball.

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These drills are starting points. The coach adjusts difficulty, volume, cues and progression to the player's age, experience and current need.

Stance and arc

  • Stance holds

    Hold your ready stance 45 seconds, 5 rounds. Cue: hands out in front at chest height, weight on the balls of the feet, stick vertical.

  • Arc walk

    Shuffle along the top of the crease arc following an imaginary ball, 6 laps. Cue: stay square to the ball, always at the same distance from the post.

  • Pipe-to-pipe

    Touch one post, shuffle across, touch the other. 10 rounds. Cue: never cross your feet, never turn your shoulders.

Step to the ball

  • Shadow steps

    Call a shot location out loud and step to it, top hand leading. 10 each of the four corners. Cue: hands drive to the ball first, feet follow.

  • Low-corner steps

    20 reps to each bottom corner. Cue: step down and out, don't drop to a knee — bottom corners are lost by collapsing.

  • Live shot reps

    60-100 shots per session from 10-12 yards, mixed locations. Cue: reset to stance completely between every shot.

Reaction work you can do alone

  • Tennis ball off the wall

    Throw hard against a wall, catch barehanded, 50 reps each hand. Cue: eyes track the ball the entire flight.

  • Two-ball drop catch

    Hold two balls at shoulder height, drop one at random and catch before the second bounce. 30 reps. Cue: fast hands, no lean.

  • Bounce-off-the-wall saves

    In full gear, bounce the ball low off a wall and make a save on the rebound. 40 reps. Cue: attack the ball, don't wait for it.

Outlets and clearing

  • Outlet on the whistle

    Make a save, step out and hit a target 25 yards away. 15 reps. Cue: first look is up the field, second is to the wing.

  • Weak-hand clears

    20 clears with your off hand. Cue: goalies who can only clear one way get pressured relentlessly.

Common questions

  • How do I train a lacrosse goalie at home?

    Stance holds, arc shuffles, shadow steps and tennis-ball reaction work off a wall cover most of it — no shooter required. Add live shots twice a week when someone is available.

  • How many shots should a goalie face per session?

    60-100 quality shots with a full reset between each. Rapid-fire barrages past that build bad habits more than reflexes.

  • What gear does a youth goalie need?

    Helmet with throat guard, chest protector, cup, goalie gloves, shin guards and a goalie stick. Don't let a young goalie into the cage without a proper chest protector.

Want a session built around your player?

The PrivateLaxCoach AI coach turns these drills into a personalized plan for your player's age, position and goals — and you can send a video of any drill for a coach's breakdown with fixes and an action plan.