Are goalies typically the kids who can’t cut it in the field?

[Anonymous]

I have 3 kids who play lacrosse. My fastest, moth athletic one is a goalie. She also excels at basketball and picks up any sport that requires agility and hand eye coordination very quickly. Most years her club team has offered half off all fees to get her to stay, other teams have offered us zero club fees to get us to try and move her. Now that she’s in high school she’s getting a lot of attention from college coaches. I will say that goalies have it the hardest in terms of accountability for wins and losses and they have to be able to immediately shake off setbacks, but if your kid is mentally tough and physically capable it’s a great position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is hoping to play goalie in the spring for his team. He is in 4th, an overall athletic kid with great stick skills and fast hit just really wants to play this position and begged to have the chance in the upcoming season. I mentioned to one or two moms with older kids and their response was about their own kids, said the same thing “Oh Larlo would have played but the team needed him on attack, he was too good” Once or twice ny son stepped in for a tournament when the team needed one and a parent would say “No don’t do that the team needs him to score points” … Is the general reputation for the goalie position that they are kids that aren’t as good on the field?

You are correct. Of course, there are exceptions but in general boys HS goalies come from little dudes who couldn’t handle the physicality of boys field lacrosse and girls HS goalies come from bigger, slower young girls who couldn’t handle the speed. If your kid isn’t that, they can go far as you can see from the local goalies who have gone on to play in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone, this is helpful. It’s unfortunate a few people seem to have this idea about it. I’m going to encourage my son because he wants to do it, I was just wondering why the negativity or strange comments. At his level in rec he will never specialize and will continue to play multiple positions. We can cross that bridge later when he decides what he wants to do if he continues in the sport.

when you are making decisions about your son or daughter's pathway in sports, it is not wise to ask moms on the team for advice. they are usually uninformed, and if they are well informed, they often will steer you to into choices that benefit their own child more than yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is hoping to play goalie in the spring for his team. He is in 4th, an overall athletic kid with great stick skills and fast hit just really wants to play this position and begged to have the chance in the upcoming season. I mentioned to one or two moms with older kids and their response was about their own kids, said the same thing “Oh Larlo would have played but the team needed him on attack, he was too good” Once or twice ny son stepped in for a tournament when the team needed one and a parent would say “No don’t do that the team needs him to score points” … Is the general reputation for the goalie position that they are kids that aren’t as good on the field?

You are correct. Of course, there are exceptions but in general boys HS goalies come from little dudes who couldn’t handle the physicality of boys field lacrosse and girls HS goalies come from bigger, slower young girls who couldn’t handle the speed. If your kid isn’t that, they can go far as you can see from the local goalies who have gone on to play in college.

Terrible take and not true. All of the top goalies are players that can play in the field. They do play in the field. Talk to Blaze Riorden or Scotty Roger's about that. One plays is the NLL as a field player.

[Anonymous]

The better question is whether top field players are capable of playing goalie, for the most part they are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is hoping to play goalie in the spring for his team. He is in 4th, an overall athletic kid with great stick skills and fast hit just really wants to play this position and begged to have the chance in the upcoming season. I mentioned to one or two moms with older kids and their response was about their own kids, said the same thing “Oh Larlo would have played but the team needed him on attack, he was too good” Once or twice ny son stepped in for a tournament when the team needed one and a parent would say “No don’t do that the team needs him to score points” … Is the general reputation for the goalie position that they are kids that aren’t as good on the field?

You are correct. Of course, there are exceptions but in general boys HS goalies come from little dudes who couldn’t handle the physicality of boys field lacrosse and girls HS goalies come from bigger, slower young girls who couldn’t handle the speed. If your kid isn’t that, they can go far as you can see from the local goalies who have gone on to play in college.

Terrible take and not true. All of the top goalies are players that can play in the field. They do play in the field. Talk to Blaze Riorden or Scotty Roger's about that. One plays is the NLL as a field player.

They are fat loads who are stick skilled for about 50 steps before they gas out. Neither could ever play in field lacrosse for any extended time. Fyock at OSU was the most stick skilled area lax goalie I've seen but could never play in the field due to his size and weight. Their skills and physical size allow them to make great, quick outlet passes which is the difference maker when playing goalie.

[Anonymous]

Arguing over which position is most prestigious in 4th grade league is nuts.

[Anonymous]

This is insane if you think someone who can start at point guard for their hs basketball team can’t play something other than goalie. Can this thread die?

[Anonymous]

This whole post is a clown show.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I’m the OP and there’s been a lot of gross comments, similar to a few of the other parents on the team’s comments. It has no impact. Obviously I want my child to play the position he wants to play. I was just curious why people would say something like that. My child is neither overweight and slow or weak and tiny, if anything he is consistently one of the more athletic kids in his grade in any sport he plays.

[Anonymous]

If your goalie is the best athlete on the team, that can be a very good thing.

[Anonymous]

Not every goalie is traditionally athletic, but many are. Every good goalie has excellent reflexes, is quick (if not fast), is self-confident, fearless and a strong communicator with great lacrosse IQ. A team above lower rec that puts their worst player in the goal will not succeed. There are all shapes and sized of kids who excel at goalie.

[Anonymous]

Meghan Taylor at least on the women’s side changed how the position is played and looked at. More and more you see smaller 5’1”-5’4” girls in the goal and the position is much more demanding than the days of old. These girls play a lot outside of the circle now and are expected to be an extra defender not just in the circle. You will still see bigger girls in cage and some are very good but we are seeing less and less of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meghan Taylor at least on the women’s side changed how the position is played and looked at. More and more you see smaller 5’1”-5’4” girls in the goal and the position is much more demanding than the days of old. These girls play a lot outside of the circle now and are expected to be an extra defender not just in the circle. You will still see bigger girls in cage and some are very good but we are seeing less and less of that.

Taylor physically is still an outiler, very rare to see girls under 5'4 in goal.

It does seem the coaches are wanting more active goalie play though. Its a risk reward I guess.

[Anonymous]

2 of Maryland’s current goalies are under 5’4” including JJ Suriano. The former Tufts,NW, & Hopkins goalie Molly Laliberty 5’4”. There are more. The point is it’s no longer a position that is just fill the goal up with the biggest body. More and more the goalies are some of if not the most athletic players on the field.