Lacrosse Goalie’s Quick Guide to Dodging

After a goalie makes a save, his or her team is now on offense.

If you’ve read my post on leading the clear, you’d know how to go through your progressions for an outlet pass.

But in the event a goalie has no open outlets he/she will exit the crease and may find themselves carrying the ball up the field.

Here’s a quick primer on the different dodges for goalies to practice so we can leave riding attackman in our dust.

The Face Dodge

The face dodge was my bread and butter move when it came to juking attackman.

It works so well for 2 reasons:

1. The majority of riding attackman don’t play solid defense. They just try to make a hero check.
2. The goalie stick is so large, attackman get drawn to it like a red cape for a bull

Pull the stick back as if you’re going to make a pass, then pull it in front of your face and watch the opposing attackman look like a fool as he tries to check a goalie stick that’s no longer there. Then you continue the clear up the field north/south.

Here is Kyle Harrison explaining how to execute the face dodge:

The split dodge is very similar to the face dodge except in the split dodge after pulling the stick in front of our face we switch hands. Since most goalies don’t have a strong off-hand I recommend you stick with the face dodge.

The toe drag is also similar to the face dodge except in the toe drag we cross our stick low in front of the defender. Instead of crossing the stick face level you crosse it toe level. If you’ve wound up to throw a sidearm pass and the riding attackman comes at you high, it’s a great opportunity to toe drag.

Here’s a toe drag in action from Syracuse goalie Asa Goldstock so you know what I’m referring to:

 

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Another toe drag:

The Bull Dodge

The Bull Dodge is all about size and power. Nothing fancy to it, you simply lower your shoulder and run the riding attackman over.

A popular offensive move for bigger, stronger lacrosse goalies going up against a small attackman.

Goalies can perform the bull dodge with one hand on the stick or both hands on the stick. This move is pure force and power.

 

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In the bull dodge, goalies should make sure not to push off with their free arm, because this is a penalty and will result in a turnover.

If you’re a small goalie like me, don’t try the bull dodge. This move is for larger goalies with mass.

In the video above the goalie also performs a “hot pizza” technique where he carries the ball out in front of his body with a one hand. This is a great move to avoid getting checked from behind.

Here’s another classic bull dodge from Army’s David Symmes for your viewing pleasure:

The Roll Dodge

The roll dodge requires strong weak-hand stick skills which goalies typically don’t have.

But if you’re a goalie who’s spent time developing their ball carrying skills with their weak hand then feel free to include this dodge in your arsenal.

The roll dodges can leave slower riding attackman in the dust. In this dodge, a goalie starts in one direction then pivots backwards in the other direction with their back to the riding attackman.

If done right, the goalie player rolls off the attackman and moves upfield north/south.

Here’s a video explaining the roll dodge:

The Hitch Dodge

A hitch dodge is the equivalent of basketball’s pump fake.

Either with your shoulders or stick you’ll fake as if you’re going to throw a pass in the attempt to get the riding attackman to react or commit. Then you can run around him/her or run into open space and make a crisp outlet pass.

Here is Max Seibald explaining how to do the hitch dodge:

Side note: Nice save at 1:13 in that video, huh?

When Not To Dodge

As a goalie our responsibility is to clear the ball and get it into the hands of our offense so they can do their thing.

Therefore, we should never attempt risky dodges where we could lose possession of the ball and even worse, give up an empty net goal.

I recommend goalies only dodge when we’re forced to. We’re not looking to take on riding attackman via a dodge.

But if everyone is covered and there’s no open outlet and a riding attackman on the goalie, then one of these dodges could come in handy.

In every case, I always recommend goalies pull away into open space and deliver a crisp pass to a teammate versus trying to take on a riding attackman via a dodge.

Dodging Requires Stick Skills

As a goalie you should have some of the best stick skills on the team.

If that statement doesn’t define you then add wall ball into your training sessions until it does.

Strong stick skills will help you out in all of the dodges I’ve described above. In addition, great stick skills directly translate into move saves from strong hand eye coordination.

Conclusion

Our primary responsibility is to stop the ball but that doesn’t mean goalies can’t learn a few dodges to make riding attackman look like fools.

When it comes to dodges for goalies there’s really just 3 options: the face dodge, the bull dodge, and the roll dodge. If you’re a smaller goalie, don’t try the bull dodge. If you have bad off-hand stick skills avoid the roll dodge.

Better yet, be careful with dodging as a goalie and really only attempt a dodge when there’s no other alternative.

Of course you could always be like Blaze:

Until next time! Coach Damon

Any other different types of dodges that you goalies do? Let me know about it in the comments.

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Main photo by Travis Warren.