In this episode of the Lax Goalie Rat Podcast, Coach Damon Wilson sits down with longtime goalie coach and lacrosse leader Chris Burdick to break down the science, technique, and mindset behind elite goaltending.
Chris shares the story behind the famous goalie training video that helped inspire a generation of lacrosse goalies, including his “straight line save technique” philosophy. Rather than thinking about seven different saves for seven different quadrants, Chris explains how goalies should simplify their approach: see the shot, drive the lead hand to the ball, get the lead step through the line of the shot, and let the rest of the save follow.
Drawing from his master’s research in sports psychology and years of coaching experience at the collegiate level, Chris dives deep into how goalies process shots, how they identify stimuli, and how coaches can build better habits through repetition and intentional training.
Chris also discusses his coaching philosophy, including:
- Why the lead hand and lead step are the most important parts of the save
- How the trail step and control hand help finish the movement
- Why watching goalie film starts with watching the feet
- How young goalies can overcome fear of the ball
- Why goalie coaches are essential at every level
- How parents can better support developing goalies
- Why culture must be built through shared actions, not just words
The conversation also explores Chris’s career, from playing goalie at Delaware to coaching at Providence, working with elite goalies, coaching the Polish national team, and now building a new program at Weber.
Key Takeaways From Coach Chris Burdick
1. Simplify the save
Goalies don’t have time to think about “stick-side high,” “off-stick hip,” or other save categories when a shot is coming at 100 mph.
The goal is one consistent movement:
- Lead hand goes directly to the ball
- Lead step cuts off the shot
- Body gets behind the save
- Trail unit controls the finish
2. The feet tell the story
When evaluating goalie film, Chris focuses heavily on the feet.
Look for:
- Is the first step going toward the shot?
- Is the goalie avoiding false steps?
- Is the trail step following the same path as the lead step?
- Is the body moving through the save?
A goalie’s feet reveal the efficiency of their entire save.
3. Young goalies need patience and quality reps
Fear of the ball is a natural part of developing as a goalie. The solution is not forcing confidence — it’s building it through:
- Proper warmups
- Consistent repetition
- Good coaching
- Breaking movements down into smaller pieces
Chris emphasizes that muscle memory takes time, and coaches need to be patient.
4. Every goalie needs a goalie coach
Chris believes goalie coaches are one of the most important investments a program can make.
The position requires such specific technical and mental development that having someone dedicated to watching, teaching, and supporting goalies can completely change a player’s trajectory.
5. Culture is created through actions
While building his new program, Chris focuses on creating a true culture — not just declaring one.
His philosophy:
Culture is shared belief and shared behavior.
Players should take ownership of the standards, habits, and expectations of the team.
Topics Covered
00:00 – Introduction and Chris Burdick’s background
03:12 – The origin of the straight line save technique
06:00 – Breaking down the save into lead and trail units
09:00 – Chris’s master’s research on imagery and goalie confidence
12:30 – Helping young goalies overcome fear of the ball
15:50 – Drills for developing efficient save mechanics
20:00 – Rethinking the 45-degree step approach
22:00 – Building an athletic goalie stance
25:50 – Using film to improve technique
29:00 – Developing hips, feet, and athletic movement
31:20 – Why every program needs a goalie coach
36:40 – How parents can support goalie development
41:00 – What to look for when watching goalie film
42:50 – Positioning philosophies and learning from elite goalies
48:00 – Chris’s goalie influences growing up
53:00 – Building culture at Weber
58:00 – Process vs. results in building a program
1:00:30 – Chris’s final advice for goalies
About Coach Chris Burdick
Chris Burdick is a longtime lacrosse goalie, coach, and educator. He played collegiate lacrosse at the University of Delaware, coached for 14 seasons as the head coach at Providence College, worked with elite players and programs throughout his career, and has continued developing goalies through camps, clinics, and coaching roles.
His work focuses on combining technical efficiency, sports psychology, and leadership development to help goalies reach their potential.
Final Message From Coach Burdick
Goalies are leaders.
Whether you are a starter, backup, youth player, or college athlete, your value comes from the example you set:
- Be the hardest worker on the field
- Be fully engaged off the field
- Be someone your teammates can count on
- Bring value to your organization every day
That is what great goalies do.
