Crush It in Games, Struggle in Practice? Here’s How to Flip the Switch
By Coach Damon
Last updated: May 3, 2025
One of the most common issues young goalies face is being able to replicate their awesome practice performance in games.
Well what if you’re the exact opposite?
A goalie who has no problem bringing the intensity to the game, but really struggles to turn it on during practice.
This post is for you and by implementing these tips you can ensure no practice goes wasted.
“Gamify” Practice
If you’re the type of goalie who feeds off competition, then turn your practice session and drills into a game.
Regardless of what drill you’re doing (ball drops, juggling, jump rope) turn it into a competition against your coach, against your partner or against yourself where you always try and set your personal best.
Not only will this make you push yourself harder in drills (leveling up your game), but it will also start to trigger the same nervous system that lights up on game day.
Always push yourself for a personal best:
- How many ball drops can you get with your partner without dropping?
- How many minutes can you jump rope without messing up?
- How many saves can you make in a row without letting in a goal?
Additionally, we can add in some mini-consequences to help simulate the game pressure. Drop a ball = 25 pushups.
The final thing I’ve used with young goalies to replicate game intensity during practice is to create “clutch reps“.
Late-game moments are full of pressure — the scoreboard matters, teammates are watching, and one mistake can change everything. You can’t just train movements; you need to train the moment.
Try this: tell the goalie it’s 9–8, two minutes left. One shot. One save. Visualize the crowd, the coach yelling, the tension. Then take the rep.
Over time, these reps build emotional familiarity — so when that pressure shows up in a real game, the body and brain already know what to do.
Overall, if we can turn practice into a competition we can create the same intensity the goalie feels during an actual game in the practice environment.
Connect with Your “Why”
One of the strongest mental motivators for athletes is having a deep connection with their “why”. That is, the reason they do what they do.
An athlete’s “why” is their deep, personal reason for showing up every day — to train, to compete, to fight through adversity.
Maybe they got cut from a team. Maybe someone told them they would never make it. Maybe they want to make their family proud.
Connecting with this why is crucial because if a goalie doesn’t see a direct, emotional reason for practice reps, they check out.
Practice becomes “homework” instead of “reps to greatness.”
Some goalies already have a strong why but if yours struggles to make that connection, encourage them to pull out a journal and write answers to questions like:
- Why did you really start playing this sport?”
- What do you want to prove — and to who?”
- What moment made you fall in love with this?”
- What pain or setback made you stronger?
Without linking drills to a personal mission, practice feels empty and you’ll never have that game-like intensity.
How You Do One Thing is How You Do Everything
A lot of goalies believe they can just flip a switch on game day — that when it really counts, they’ll rise to the occasion.
But that’s a myth. There’s no switch. You don’t suddenly become elite under pressure — you fall back on your habits.
This quote captures its all:
Every time you step on the field — whether it’s warm-ups, wall ball, or a slow footwork drill — you’re training your nervous system. You’re sending a message to your body and your brain: “This is how we do things.”
Coasting through reps when no one’s watching? That’s teaching yourself it’s okay to be casual.
Not tracking the ball with your eyes during a partner drill? That’s wiring in sloppy focus.
Jogging back to cage between reps instead of sprinting? That’s rehearsing a slow response when the game speeds up.
Now flip it — dial into every rep like it matters, even the boring ones. You’re not just training to get better. You’re building the version of yourself that shows up when the game is on the line.
Ask yourself:
If a college coach was watching this exact moment… would they want me on their team?
Because the truth is: the way you train is the way you play.
Reflect with Curiosity, Not Criticism
Bringing game-level intensity to practice isn’t just about effort — it’s about awareness.
And one of the most underrated ways to build that awareness is through honest, non-judgmental reflection.
Not every practice will feel great. Some days you’ll be tired, distracted, or mentally off. That doesn’t mean the day was wasted — it means there’s something to learn. The key is to ask yourself the right questions without beating yourself up.
Instead of thinking: “I didn’t have it today.” Instead ask yourself:
- What was different about today — mentally or physically?”
- When did my focus start to slip?
- What could I have done to re-lock in?”
- Would I accept this level of effort in a game situation?”
This kind of reflection turns off days into mental reps.
It teaches goalies how to self-correct, adjust quickly, and recognize patterns that impact their focus. That’s how you start to bring a more consistent, game-ready mindset to every practice — even when conditions aren’t perfect.
Intensity isn’t something you flip on during a game. It’s something you train — and reflection is how you keep it sharp.
Liam Entenmann on Practice Intensity
To close out this post, I want to leave you with a quote from the GOAT Liam Entenmann.
During the Lacrosse Goalie Summit 15, a young goalie asked the Atlas pro how to replicate game like intensity during the game.
Listen to Liam’s answer:
Conclusion
If you’re the type of goalie who struggles to bring intensity into practice, you’ll never achieve greatness.
If you’re a goalie who shows up big under the lights but fades in practice, you’re not broken — you’re just untrained in the art of intentional preparation. The truth is, intensity isn’t something that magically appears on game day. It’s something you build, rep by rep, decision by decision.
By gamifying your training, connecting deeply with your “why,” treating every drill like it matters, and reflecting with curiosity, you start to close the gap between game-day greatness and daily discipline.
No more wasted practices. No more going through the motions.
The version of you that shows up when it counts? You can build that player every day — starting right now.
Until next time! Coach Damon
Are you a goalie who struggles to bring the enthusiasm in practice? Leave me a comment down below.
