The Hardest Position | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Sports

The Hardest Position

The life of a lacrosse goalie.

1522
The Hardest Position
Lax Goalie Rat

Being a goalie in any sport is not easy, but there is one sport where being a goalie is possibly one of the most difficult positions to play: lacrosse.

In hockey, goalies get peppered with shots and are expected to make a high number of saves. The average save percentage for a hockey goalie is usually high. This year, the lowest team save percentage in the NHL was 89.2 percent. That's pretty much saying that, as a hockey goalie, you are expected to make saves.

In soccer, goalies usually don't face many shots. That's why most soccer games are low-scoring. Being a soccer goalie may be difficult because of the large net, but when you facing an average shot of just 60 miles per hour, it really does not seem that bad.

In my personal belief, the hardest sport to be a goalie in is lacrosse. The average shot you face as goalie is 80 miles per hour, and the ball can travel up to 100 miles per hour. The fastest lacrosse shot ever recorded was 114 miles per hour — the fastest hockey shot ever was 110 miles per hour. Another thing you have to keep in mind is the goal in lacrosse is 36 square feet, compared to a hockey net which is just 24 square feet. Essentially, lacrosse goalies have a larger area to cover, and it also gives the players more of a target to put shots in the net as well. Also, unlike a hockey goalie, lacrosse goalies really don't have any pads. You have a stick, gloves, a helmet with a throat guard and that's it. You don't have pads for your arms or really anything else, so that makes even more dangerous.

Not only is the ball coming in at a higher velocity, but you also aren't supposed to be making as many saves either. The average save percentage for a lacrosse goalie is 50 percent; that's not very high if you think about it. To put in perspective, it's the same odds you have of flipping a coin once and landing on heads. That's crazy. ESPN even recently did a Sports Science segment on being a lacrosse goalie and how difficult it is check it out.

As a goalie, I can tell you from firsthand experience being a lacrosse goalie is the hardest position in all sports. I know it is hard to hit a baseball, but I am telling you making a save in lacrosse is harder because of the close-range shots and the speed the ball can travel. Being a goalie is difficult because it takes a lot out of you. As a goalie, you are the last line of defense. In my mind, it's pretty much impossible to not allow in at least one goal a game, and in any goalies mind, it is hard to watch a shot go into the back of the net. Whenever you are asked what position you play and you respond with "goalie," people usually look at you and say, "Wow, you must be crazy." I agree that you do have to be crazy to let someone fire a lacrosse ball at you at high speeds for fun. But I am sure every goalie would tell you they love the position they play and would never want to change it.

Being a goalie is a big mental game, just like it is in any sport. But I think it becomes even more of a mental game in lacrosse because it's a more common sport for goalies to be scored on. And when you get scored on, you have to relax, take a deep breath and make the next play, or else the flood gates might open and every shot the opposing team might take might end up in the back of the net.

If you still don't have respect for how hard it is to be a lacrosse goalie, you might want to go to YouTube, and just search "best lacrosse saves" I am sure you will find a video that will make your jaw drop.

People may always say that this position to play in sports is harder than this position, but if you ask any lacrosse goalie what the hardest position to play is, they will say their position. Just watch this video and you'll respect lacrosse goalies.

From Your Site Articles
Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

1930
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1176
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

200391
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

21007
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments