Saving the ball is only part of your job as a lacrosse goalie. After you make a save you must now initiate a clear.
It is important to learn how to correctly complete a clear, because if not then any saves you make are all for naught.
We break throwing mechanics down into three important points:
Feet Placement
Your feet are going to dictate where your pass goes. The best way to do this is to picture yourself staring at your target; now turn your whole body to the right (or left if you are left handed) so that the direction you are looking is 90 degrees away from your target.
Turn your head so that you are looking at your target and shift your left foot so that it is now pointing toward your target. You now should have your back foot (or “plant foot”) still at a 90 degree angle from your target, while your front foot is pointing directly at your target.
Your body is not facing your target but your head is turned so you can see it and your front foot is point toward it. Your feet placement on passes is almost identical to what a quarterback does with his feet, if that helps you conceptualize it.
When you go to make the pass, just like a quarterback does, it is imperative that you step into it and do not keep your feet still. After your pass your back foot will now be in front, since you have stepped into the throw.
Arm Placement
Next it’s time for arm placement. Arms should be out away from your body. We call this being on a second plane, and it is the same way your arms should be in your normal saving stance.
If your arms are too close to your body they will get “bunched up” and can get stuck on your jersey or helmet, hence they need to be far enough away from your body to avoid this.
When holding your stick, have one end at the very bottom and the other about 3/4ths of the way down the shaft, if not farther. One of the most frequent mistakes I see in bad passing mechanics is having that second hand too high (like near the middle of the shaft). One you have your arms out and your stick gripped the right way you are ready to make your pass.
As you make the pass you want to push with your top hand and pull with your bottom hand. This push-pull combo is going to allow the smoothest realize. Be sure to throw overhand, not sidearm, this will make you much more accurate.
One last thing to add to this, make sure you twist your torso as you release the pass; a good throw uses the whole body to generate power and much of this comes from your core.
Eye Placement
Alright lets wrap a bow on this perfect passing technique. Eye placement is vital.
Your eyes and your front foot are the factors telling that ball where you want it to go. So you want to stare down where the ball should go.
I don’t just mean look at your teammate or even at his stick, I mean focus on the section of diamonds in his mesh that is the exact place you want the ball to go. Just like a basketball player shooting a free throw, you need to stare down where the pass should go.
Aim small, miss small.
Passing mechanics are basic fundamentals of your game, do them correctly ,every time, and soon they will be committed to muscle memory. Remember to have your feet set, your arms out, and your eyes focused on a very specific target. Avoid side arm passes as well as passes on the run if possible.
These things will help you make a great pass every time.
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