Hello Lacrosse Fans,

My name is Dallas Eliuk and I play for the Philadelphia Wings.

When I was asked to provide the PLPA with some goal tending tips for their web page, I considered all of the nuances that make goal tending the beast it is. All athletes that compete at this level have their own recipe for success. Rather than elaborate about my approach, I have chosen to highlight some of the fundamentals that I think are important.

First of all, facing sixty to seventy shots per game can be physically and mentally taxing. A goal tender should be in great condition sound body, sound mind. I am a firm believer that mobility is far more important than bulk. So, aerobic conditioning and flexibility are vital.

Find a comfortable stance - one that enables you to move laterally without losing your balance. A proper stance will include having your feet shoulder-width apart, not leaning into your stick, keeping your shoulders square, and maintaining a low center of gravity. From a profile point of view, in your crouch position, your shoulders should not stick out farther than your knees.

Playing your angles (knowing when to step out to cut down the percentage of net that the opponent sees) is crucial. It helps to know if the ball carrier is a shooter or a feeder (study your opponent). The second to last thing you want to do is get caught out of position for an easy slam-dunk goal. The last thing you want to do is to get hit in the sack…

Stopping the ball is the bottom line. Once the save is made, it is important to try to corral the rebound to prevent any second or third shot attempt. When the rebound is controlled, quickly look up the floor for that fast break. If it isn’t there, rather than throwing an ill-advised pass, dish it to your nearest teammate away from the bench, to prevent congestion during a possible line change.

The net-minder must believe that every shot is stoppable. Yet, it is just as important not to obsess over what may be perceived as an easy goal. Play one shot at a time. The screen shot is often mistaken for a bad goal by those watching from the sideline. Communication comes into play here - you must make your defenders aware of their surroundings in the defensive end. Be their second pair of eyes and let them know what is going on around them. For example, “pick coming”, “ball is top left”, “screen”, “shot”, “break, break!”…you get the idea. Most of the time it will be your teammate that screens you for a goal. Don’t bark at him. Remember you are working together.

Above all, concentrate on the ball and react to it. In time, with experience, comes the ability to anticipate your opponents’ next move. Live the clean life, work hard, and don’t take any wooden nickels.