On today’s episode of the Lax Goalie Rat Podcast, I’m joined by goalie coach Ryan Olson.
I first stumbled upon Ryan’s content on Reddit, where he went by the name BaconBob, and I was immediately drawn to his unique perspective on the goalie position.
Our connection led to a fantastic podcast collaboration that you won’t want to miss.
A native of Fulton, NY, just north of Syracuse, Ryan grew up in a blue-collar environment where lacrosse was a gritty and formidable sport.
He immersed himself in both winter box lacrosse and spring field lacrosse, honing his skills and mentality in a tough playing environment.
Ryan’s lacrosse journey eventually led him to the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), where he played goalie for their men’s lacrosse team.
During his college career, Ryan’s remarkable performance as a goalie garnered him the title of a 4-year starting goalie and 3-time MVP at VMI.
He holds the program record for career saves, boasting an impressive 768 saves, and is also a top 10 player in career groundballs with 199.
Ryan has also contributed his insights on the mental game to the Lax Goalie Rat blog. His guest blog, titled “Tips for Being a More Consistent Lacrosse Goalie: The Mental Game,” delved into important concepts every goalie should understand in order to have a strong mental game.
After his college days, Ryan’s passion for coaching led him to various camps across the East Coast and Ohio regions, where he had the privilege of learning from some of the best coaches in the game.
He even founded the lacrosse program at Hargave Military Academy in Virginia, demonstrating his dedication to nurturing and developing young lacrosse talent.
Our podcast conversation with Ryan is rich with his experiences, insights, and thoughts on the goalie position. His unique approach to coaching and playing the game offers a fresh perspective that can benefit goalies of all levels.
Join us in this episode as we explore Ryan’s journey from gritty beginnings to becoming a mentor and goalie parent.
P.S. - Whenever you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you:
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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.
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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.
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