Why is so difficult to get a goalie into your team?

[Silverhighlord]

Helo guys,
I'm portuguese and I'm trying to creat the first team of lacrosse here in Portugal. At this momente we've already some players..but none of them want to be goalie....
Why is so difficult to get a goalie into your team?
Cheers,

[Moaning Git]

Its not difficult, just get someone, brave, athletic swift of eys and movement... easy really!

Failing that get someone stupid, too slow to move out of the way of fiercely fired shots and too numb to feel pain.... that was how I ended up in nets!

[Silverhighlord]

Yeah...that's easy to say...but hard to do..because no one appears..eheheh

[joe garvey]

There is that instinct that tells most people to move away from something moving at 85mph + so it is very hard to get someone who has grown up getting out of the way, and tell them get in the way.

Your best chance to find someone who will be a good fit, is to look at other sports that have similar skills, cricket batsmen, field hockey goalies, those would be your best chance to start.

Ideally you would want to start with a child, kids, tend not to be scared when they are young, so if you start to teach them at around 8 or 9, they will learn the sport before they learn to be afraid of flying projectiles.

If all else fails, make the last person to the field goalie. If you find 1 person who is better then the rest, offer him bribes (beer, food etc.)

[Mort rotu]

If you find 1 person who is better then the rest, offer him bribes (beer, food etc.)

getting the club (money permitting) to buy their keeper kit (helmet chestpad gloves and stick) works quite well.

[G-DoGg]

If all else fails, make the last person to the field goalie. If you find 1 person who is better then the rest, offer him bribes (beer, food etc.)

Worked for me!!!

[CGKer]

You need to convince them its not as painful as it looks. Winter training is always hard on a keeper though as the ball is harder and has less bounce. Not sure if Portugal ever get cold though.

If they take a few hits and are encouraged and appreciated by there team they will hopefully think it worth it. The more experienced/better you get, the less it hurts.

[steve flint]

I totally agree with Joe, find someone daft enough and if all else fails get him drunk and make him sign up

[Eddie (wacs)]

start them young and have regular training.
do some drills with a pop lax ball to get their conridence up.
good luck in your search

[davewilliams]

There's a recession on; Portugal is a beautiful part of the world, so if you could offer part-time work, a beach, food, & lodging, hundreds of lacrosse players would trade in their attack sticks for a season in Coimbra. You might think of floating the idea of a reality TV show to select your goalkeeper.

[dizzy]

Once you have persuaded someone to try it, then they need a lot of encouragement in order to stick out that initial period where standing infront of flying balls just seems stupid. As a goalie myself, I know that I am always extremely important and that any goal that goes in is most definitely not my fault!

[Harry Collins]

Once you have persuaded someone to try it, then they need a lot of encouragement in order to stick out that initial period where standing infront of flying balls just seems stupid. As a goalie myself, I know that I am always extremely important and that any goal that goes in is most definitely not my fault!

In other words, try finding someone with a massively over-inflated sense of self importance tell them they'll be doing you a favour and you massively need them, that they'll be the most important player on the pitch and will be the ones who win the game, yet have no fault when you lose, then let their ego do the rest...

...worked on our team...

[dizzy]

Exactly

[mully]

I agree, its like playing school lacrosse again, everyone wants to be an attack. Its the shooting, scoring, the glory, no one wants be at the other end. you need to convince them that only the bravest, the swiftest, the strongest makes a good goalie, the last line of defense, but the first line of attack and if you're half decent, every team wants you.

and show them this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnWPmVcov5s&NR=1

[webby]

...worked on our team...

That explains a lot!

[fudge]

and show them this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnWPmVcov5s&NR=1

[RedRaider27]

Well you might some persuasion. Goalies need to be more than just brave; they need guts to. At first it's kind of freaks you out. Even if they aren't at a young age, the first week or so in net, start with tennis balls. Then from there, progress daily with more regular lacrosse balls. You need a lot of team couragement always, but your goalie needs to do the same for the team. Don't let your goalie feel overwhelmed with feeling like the game is on their shoulders; it isn't, it's a TEAM sport. Also another key thing for any goalie is a strong communication system with the team. Defense needs to be loud, whether it's saying, "left side(ex.)" or saying the player they have. the goalie needs to do the same though; it works both ways.

[J-Lo]

I don't think that it's got anything to do with bravery or not wanting to get hit by the ball.

Most people would prefer to be out scoring goals, taking on people and running around. Goalie can be a boring and lonely position at times (when your team is controlling the game). It can be cold, not much moving around and it's as beneficial for fitness. A midfield player will burn well over 1000kcal during a match, a goalie probably only a third of that at maximum.

[UKLaxfan]

I don't think that it's got anything to do with bravery or not wanting to get hit by the ball.

Most people would prefer to be out scoring goals, taking on people and running around. Goalie can be a boring and lonely position at times (when your team is controlling the game). It can be cold, not much moving around and it's as beneficial for fitness. A midfield player will burn well over 1000kcal during a match, a goalie probably only a third of that at maximum.

The Goalie may only be involved in 50% of the game but when the ball is in defensive end he should be on his toes and 100% alert at all times, mentally & physically the Goalie position can be very draining and a good work out if you are playing the position correctly.

Also at training the goalie is the only position that has to be at 100% game speed as the ball still hurts in practice.

The days of putting the fat kid in nets and leaning against a post should be well and truly over.

The courage and toughness needed to play goalie are probably the biggest factors involved deterring new players to the position.

That and you have to be mad

How many brave, tough mad people are out there?

If you are come to Norbury LC Prem 2 you will be welcomed
http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/norburylacrosseclub/

We train through summer on Tuesday evenings

[Rotisserie]

The days of putting the fat kid in nets and leaning against a post should be well and truly over.

I was just about to suggest this!