Hope everyone enjoyed the 1st round of the Men’s NCAA tourney last week. There were some great games and there were some blowouts.
After watching all the 1st round of games of the men’s tournament I wanted to pull out 3 particular lessons that goalies could learn from. Specifically when it comes to a part of the game that is just as important as making saves – leading the clear.
I’ve discussed these concepts before on the blog but sometimes seeing them in action helps young goalies learn better.
So here’s the 3 lessons on clearing from the 1st round of games.
Clearing – 1st look: where the shot came from
As I talked about in my post on how to clear, all goalies need to have a series of progressions that you go through after save.
Having a set series of progressions is going to help streamline your clearing game.
The first look is always exactly where the shot came from.
Typically the shooter will be watching his shot (as is the case here) allowing the defending middie to slip behind and be wide open for an outlet.
This look not only allows for an easy clear with a lob pass but it sets up your team with a fast break. Remember goalies can create offense by being great clearing and distributers of the ball.
I love the outlet pass of #24 Hopkins goalie Will Ryan on this play.
He overshoots the middie just a little with his outlet. But that’s totally fine because:
they’re playing on turf where the bounces are always true and easy to pickup
from his point of view he can see that no Duke defenders are in front of his middie
leaving the pass short would kill the fast break chance and perhaps even get intercepted by the Duke middies sprinting back.
In this case, it’s much better to miss long than to miss short. Although with practice you should be able to drop a ball into the bucket with a perfect lob pass 9 times out of 10.
Although Hopkins wasn’t able to convert this fast break we still have to give props to their goalie for making the save and creating the opportunity with a perfect lob outlet.
Goalies Are the 1st line of offense
While watching Syracuse take on Yale one thing that jumped out at me was Evan Molloy’s clearing game.
Evan Molloy had an amazing day inside the pipes making 15 saves but it was some of his outlet passes that really ignited the offense.
Checkout his 50 yard outlet pass at 2:11 in this video that leads directly to a last second goal at the end of the quarter.
There’s a few other examples in this game of Molloy’s crisp and accurate outlet passes leading to fast breaks for his offense although none convert into goals.
Contrast that with a play like this:
Yale is holding a 1 goal lead late in the 3rd quarter when goalie #35 Phil Huffard makes a bad outlet pass and hands a goal right to Syracuse.
Working on your outlet passes is extremely important for goalies. You can create offense for your team. But perhaps more importantly you can avoid momentum shifting turnovers in your own end that lead to empty net goals.
Goalies Need to Be Able to Handle the Ball
At some point in your goalie career you’re going to have no outlet options and be hounded by a riding attackman.
It’s at this point where we see which goalies have put in time working on their stick handling skills and their goalie dodges. Goalies should be able to dodge an attackman in this situation to free themselves up to make an outlet.
For Air Force’s Mitch Rose we see he’s one of those who can handle the ball. In fact most goalies don’t reach this level unless they can.
For the young goalies out there, put in extra work at wall ball and practicing a few dodges and stick handling. Then when you’re getting ridden aggressively by an attackman, you won’t panic, you’ll remain calm and lead the clear.
Conclusion
Hope you enjoyed this quick post with 3 takeaways from the 1st round of NCAA games. This past Saturday I watched all the quarterfinal games and these same clearing examples surfaced again.
As a quick recap:
When clearing, the 1st look in your progression is right where the shot came from
Goalies are the 1st line of offense and must avoid turnovers at all costs in their own end
Stick skills and dodging skills are important in clearing
There’s plenty more NCAA games to come and hopefully plenty more lessons that I can share with the Lax Goalie Rat readers.
Until next time! Coach Damon
Are you watching the NCAA tournament? Who is your pick to win it all?
P.S. - Whenever you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you:
1.Lax Goalie Rat Academy - The Lax Goalie Rat Academy is a premier membership program that gives you the tools and skillset to level up your goalie game. Technique, drills, mental game, lacrosse IQ and direct coaching from Coach Damon to turn your goalie into a leader and a confident save machine. Join 400+ goalies inside.
2.Lacrosse Goalie Super Mom/Dad - Some call lacrosse goalie the hardest position in sports. That's not true. It's the goalie Mom or Dad. I put together this course specially for the parents who know nothing about lacrosse but still want to help their son or daughter be the best they can be. Learn how to train them but more importantly learn how to support them on this emotional rollercoaster.
3.Promote yourself to 11,000+ subscribers by sponsoring my newsletter.
5 thoughts on “3 Quick Lessons on Clearing from the 1st Round of the Men’s NCAA Tourney”
My coach wants me to chase out almost every cutter so d doesn’t have to come in so far. But by doing this it let for easy up and over shots ( exspecially when they’re 6’4 against me 5’6). What is your take on this and do you have for any tips? P.s. This is the girls game.
Hi Anna – I’m not exactly sure what you mean “chase out every cutter”. But if that’s taking you out of position to save shots I’d say its bad. When the ball is at ‘X’ you can setup to help pickoff passes to cutters thereby helping the D but I wouldn’t do anything that gets you out of position to make saves. Hope that helps.
Absolutely correct on first look, where the shot came from. I would add that you should be yelling “break” as soon as you make the save. Loud and clear. Much quicker for your players to consistently get up field.
Middies should be breaking up field hard (the better you get at clearing the more they’ll know to get up and out fast).
2nd look – If “where the shot came from” isn’t open I teach young goalies to scan the field in a “Z” pattern starting at the substitution box.
Across midfield first looking for another middie breaking out or a forgotten attackman wide open on the midfield line. If nothing is there look across the top of the box for a delayed break. If you still have nothing look to each back corner. Your long poles should be there spreading the field.
If everybody is covered it means you’re the open guy. confirm no on is about to jump you and step out the back of the crease with your head up still scanning the field.
At this point you are an offensive player and the clear just becomes a simple draw and dump game. Bring the ball up field until you draw a rider then pass to the guy he was covering. He should keep it hot and do the same up the field. The clear just climbs the “draw and dump ladder” (no one should be standing around).
Errata: – avoid passing to the middle of the field inside the box…bad things happen there – with a little practice the z pattern is easy and intuitive – if things go sideways don’t force something on your end of the field. throw it to a far corner of the field or out of bounds. Better to have a couple seconds to reset the d than to try something cute and give up an easy goal.
I’m having trouble clearing the ball as far as I can and I can only clear 30 yards I want to clear farther what can I do and what drills I can do to make that happen? Need your help
Lacrosse is my passion! The game has given me so much and this blog is my way of giving back to the lax community. Specifically the most bad a$$ part of that community - the goalies! After learning to play goalie from scratch, I wanted to create a site where I could share what I learned with others so they too can become champions in the crease and in life. Learn more about Coach Damon.
Want virtual goalie coaching sessions from the best coaches in the game? Look no further...
The Lacrosse Goalie Summit replays give you access to best goalie coaching out there. Coaches like Ted Bergman, John Galloway, Matt Deluca, Brian Phipps, Kyle Bernlohr, Liz Hogan, Caylee Waters, Lyndsey Munoz, Chris Buck, Taylor Moreno, Sean Quirk, Goaliesmith, Meg Taylor, Drake Porter, Emily Sterling, Brett Dobson, and so many more. These sessions give your youth the confidence and the tools to be amazing in the crease!
Click an event to learn more about the goalie coaching sessions included!
Join The
Lax Goalie Rat Online Camp
Full Goalie Education
The only lacrosse goalie training that covers ALL of the areas necessary to be dominant: technical, physical, and mental.
Over 80 Videos Yours For Life
Revisit the drills and mental inspiration every season! Plus new videos added to the camp are yours for free.
Supportive Community
Access to private forums to interact with other goalies, coaches, and Coach Damon on a personal basis.
My coach wants me to chase out almost every cutter so d doesn’t have to come in so far. But by doing this it let for easy up and over shots ( exspecially when they’re 6’4 against me 5’6). What is your take on this and do you have for any tips?
P.s. This is the girls game.
Hi Anna – I’m not exactly sure what you mean “chase out every cutter”. But if that’s taking you out of position to save shots I’d say its bad. When the ball is at ‘X’ you can setup to help pickoff passes to cutters thereby helping the D but I wouldn’t do anything that gets you out of position to make saves. Hope that helps.
Absolutely correct on first look, where the shot came from. I would add that you should be yelling “break” as soon as you make the save. Loud and clear. Much quicker for your players to consistently get up field.
Middies should be breaking up field hard (the better you get at clearing the more they’ll know to get up and out fast).
2nd look – If “where the shot came from” isn’t open I teach young goalies to scan the field in a “Z” pattern starting at the substitution box.
Across midfield first looking for another middie breaking out or a forgotten attackman wide open on the midfield line. If nothing is there look across the top of the box for a delayed break. If you still have nothing look to each back corner. Your long poles should be there spreading the field.
If everybody is covered it means you’re the open guy. confirm no on is about to jump you and step out the back of the crease with your head up still scanning the field.
At this point you are an offensive player and the clear just becomes a simple draw and dump game. Bring the ball up field until you draw a rider then pass to the guy he was covering. He should keep it hot and do the same up the field. The clear just climbs the “draw and dump ladder” (no one should be standing around).
Errata:
– avoid passing to the middle of the field inside the box…bad things happen there
– with a little practice the z pattern is easy and intuitive
– if things go sideways don’t force something on your end of the field. throw it to a far corner of the field or out of bounds. Better to have a couple seconds to reset the d than to try something cute and give up an easy goal.
Thanks again for adding that Ryan.
I’m having trouble clearing the ball as far as I can and I can only clear 30 yards I want to clear farther what can I do and what drills I can do to make that happen? Need your help