How To Stop Giving Rebounds
Giving rebounds is a challenge for most lacrosse goalies. In today’s post Coach Edwards talks about how to stop giving rebounds to a young female lacrosse goalie who is having problems. If you have trouble giving rebounds be sure to leave a comment below so we can continue to the conversation.
Question:
Hi Jonathan!
Answer: Emma you need to relax your hands a bit but this comes with practice. As you get more comfortable with the speed of the shots you will catch more. Your brain will make the fine tune adjustments so that you can catch and not just block the ball. Don’t worry, it happens to all of us. You can also be moving so well to the ball that it’s hitting right in the center of the pocket and bouncing out. That will happen no matter how deep the pocket is. If you catch the ball a little bit off center that can help. Also, if you punch your pocket the opposite way so that it’s sticking out towards the shooter, this can help a bit because the pocket then cushions the ball a bit. It’s a little thing that can help.
You’ll get it. Let me know if that helps though!
Coach Edwards
Another Tip To Stop Giving Rebounds
P.S. A common problem with lacrosse goalies is that they hold the stick with all five fingers. Be sure to hold the stick loosly with the top hand between your thumb and index finger. This will guarantee that you won’t be choking the stick which takes away all shock absorption.
hey jonathan,
my reaction time is a little slow and definately need a way to quicken my hands a little. how do you feel about the stick donuts? would that be a sufficient way to quicken my hands. and if so should i just use it when i am doing warm-ups or prcticing clears or both or none?
hey jonathan,
i am having a little trouble with my reaction time and as wondering if a stick donut would help? if so what weight and when should i use it?
Hey there Julia, stick donuts can help but they need to be light. We’re talking ounces not pounds or anything like that.
Reaction time is a combination of things. Remember, as goalies we need to 1) see the ball, 2) know where it is going, and 3) move to it. The first two steps don’t usually take too much time at all. It’s the third step, moving to the ball where we can make up the most time. A stick donut can help. But what can help a lot more is strengthening the rest of your body as well. If your school has a weight room try to get in there, or join a health club near your home and sign up for a session with a good trainer who can teach you about squats, bench presses and deadlifting.
The donuts will help a bit. So start there. Use them in warm ups for now. Then take them off for the rest of practice. After a week or two you can try them in other drills. You will notice that the stick feels significantly lighter after using the donut. Then that feeling will go away over time. You can use it in all of your passing drills as an extra challenge. But remember, more is not better. The donut should weigh ounces, not pounds.
Let me know how it goes.
Jonathan –