Resources
Build Stronger Teams, Stronger Players, Stronger People
Goalie Focused Team Drills
Downloadable team drills that focus on developing both players and goalies.
COMING JANUARY 1st
Team Building
Build trust, communication, and confidence through fun challenges. Simple teambuilding ideas to use with your teams.
Blind Instructions
One has eyes-closed, partner guides.
- Variation 1: Add small obstacles (cones, lines).
- Variation 2: No words—only claps or snaps.
- Variation 3: They can only use 1 word.
Silent Order
Without talking, line up by criteria (birth month, height).
- Variation 1: Add time limit (60 seconds).
- Variation 2: Allow talking but must close eyes.
- Variation 3: Mouths closed, no noises.
Mirror Walk
Partners mirror posture, pace, and pattern.
- Variation 1: Add sprint starts or sudden stops.
- Variation 2: Silent mirror scrimmage without ball.
Step-Sync
March in rhythm arm-in-arm or shoulder to shoulder.
- Variation 1: Vary tempo each 10 steps.
- Variation 2: Add verbal cadence (“1-2-go”).
- Variation 3: Walk backward on whistle.
Walk-Stop-Clap-Jump
Everyone must do the OPPOSITE of the command they hear.
Builds focus, listening skills, quick reaction time, and group awareness
Name Ball Pass
- Create a fixed pass order by tossing or passing to someone and remembering who tossed to you.
- Run the pattern with one ball; add more balls gradually.
- Time 1 complete pattern.
Pause & Ponder
Questions Worth Thinking About
Reflection deepens growth.
Every chapter of Calm in the Crease ends with a “Pause & Ponder” — short reflections for coaches, goalies, parents, and players to think more deeply about the game, themselves, and each other.
Here’s a small preview of the more than 200 questions from the book.
- What’s it really like to be coached by me?
- Do I coach how I was coached—or how I wish I’d been?
- How often do I put myself in my goalie’s shoes—literally or figuratively?
- When mistakes happen, do I teach through them or react to them?
- Does my tone build confidence or tension on the field?
- How do I reset after a goal—or a mistake?
- What metaphor or mantra helps me find calm in the crease?
- Do I measure success by saves, or by how quickly I refocus?
- What kind of energy do I bring to my defense and teammates?
- How do I show gratitude to those who protect me on the field?
- How do my words on the car ride home shape my child’s confidence?
- Am I my child’s coach—or their biggest encourager?
- Do I value growth and effort more than stats or playing time?
- How do I model composure when things do not go our way?
- What would my child say it feels like to have me on the sideline?
- How quickly do I admit mistakes and reset for the next play?
- What kind of teammate am I when things go wrong?
- How can I encourage others after a mistake or goal?
- What strengths outside lacrosse make me better on the field?
- Do I understand how hard my goalie’s job really is?
Want to see how these reflections come to life inside the book?
Mindful Minutes
Simple, short activities to center focus and strengthen the mental game.
Mindset & Confidence
- Mindset Minute—share a short quote, story, or lesson
- Confidence Corner—each athlete shares one success after practice
- Highlight Reel Recall—think of a personal best moment before a drill
- Positive Self-Talk Practice—rehearse simple mantras after a mistake. (“Next play”)
Focus, Calm & Reset
- Silent Stretch—warm-up stretch in silence, focusing inward
- Box Breathing Breaks—one minute of box breathing (4 breaths)
- Red Light / Green Light Breath—stop, breathe, reset before next play
- Reset Routine—practice reset routines after goals
- One-Word Focus—players choose one word to guide practice
- Mistake Recovery Reps—immediate reset after a turnover
- Visualization Break—60 seconds of mental rehearsal (saves, shots, stops)
- Visualization of Success—close eyes, imagine making the perfect rep
Resilience & Toughness
- Two-Minutes of Toughness—discuss what mental toughness means
- Bounce-Back Challenge—intentionally create tough scenarios and reset
- Controlled Adversity—start drills down a goal, short-handed, or tired
- Pressure Shot Drill—all eyes on one shooter/goalie
Team Connection & Communication
- Gratitude Walk—reflection on three positive events from the past 24 hours
- Effort Check-In—have players rate their daily effort (1–10)
- Silent Drill—communicate without words during a play
- Strands of Three—players get into groups of three and give one positive shoutout to another teammate in their trio
- Core of Four—players get into groups of four and share one thing they did well in practice with their core
3–5 Minute Add-Ons
- Five Minutes of Focus—set a timer for a high-intensity drill or mental skill talk. We may need to set our timer for shorter periods and build up
- Post-Practice Reflection—answer “What did we learn today?”
- Three Wins—list three small victories at the end of practice
Weekly Themes
- Team-building Tuesdays/Thursdays—dedicate time to activities that strengthen trust, communication, and connection between teammates.
- Mindful Mondays—start the week by focusing on one mental skill (e.g., confidence, motivation, mental imagery, focus, resilience, team cohesion, self-talk, mindfulness, goal setting, or emotional regulation).
- Fun-Day Fridays—end the week with team-building games, challenges, or fun competitions that build chemistry while keeping things light.
- Service Saturdays—bring your team together off the field by serving the community, doing clean-ups, clinics, volunteering, or supporting those in need.
Coach, Goalie, and Parent Tools
Printable worksheets and guides to help you live the lessons from Calm in the Crease.
Coach’s Purpose Statement Worksheet
Reflect on your “why” and clarify your core values and goals as a coach.
Z Health Athletic Performance
Brain-Based Neuroscience Training
Goalie Reset Routine
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Don't Say Don't
The Words we Use
I Love to Watch You Play
Parent Resource
Dum Dum Challenge
Preseason parent meeting idea
Videos & Links
Drills From Book
Goalie Warm up Variation
Hard Eye Drills