In this episode of the Lax Goalie Rat Podcast, Coach Damon sits down with former Navy lacrosse goalie Mickey Jarboe to discuss his journey from a high school backup goalie to a two-time C. Markland Kelly Award winner, professional lacrosse player, Navy helicopter pilot, and goalie coach.
Mickey shares lessons from his career about patience, preparation, leadership, mental toughness, handling adversity, and what it takes to develop into an elite goalie. He also talks about his time at Navy, playing professionally with the Los Angeles Riptide, coaching Navy goalies, and preparing for a return to competitive lacrosse.
Guest: Mickey Jarboe
Mickey Jarboe is a former Navy lacrosse goalie who earned national recognition as one of the top goalies in college lacrosse. He was a two-time recipient of the C. Markland Kelly Award, given annually to the top goalie in NCAA Division I lacrosse.
After Navy, Mickey served as a Navy helicopter pilot while continuing his lacrosse career, eventually playing professional lacrosse with the Los Angeles Riptide of Major League Lacrosse.
He later returned to Navy as a volunteer goalie coach, helping develop the next generation of Navy goalies.
Key Topics & Takeaways
The Growth of Lacrosse and the Goalie Community
- Lacrosse continues to grow at every level, from youth programs to college and professional leagues.
- Despite the growth, the sport maintains a unique small-community culture where former players and professionals remain accessible.
- The willingness of elite goalies to share knowledge is one of the strengths of the lacrosse community.
Going From High School to Navy
- Mickey entered Navy without being a dominant high school starter.
- Before arriving at the Naval Academy, he attended the Naval Academy Prep School and worked with former Syracuse goalie Chris Saran.
- Chris helped him improve his stance, positioning, confidence, and transition to the college game.
- Mickey earned the starting job as a freshman, including being named the starter against Syracuse before his first college season.
Developing Goalie Technique
Mickey describes his style as:
- Patient but aggressive
- Mid-arc rather than extremely aggressive or extremely deep
- Focused on reacting honestly to the shot rather than guessing
Key technical points he emphasizes:
- Athletic stance
- Wide base
- Hands out in front
- Being loaded and ready to step to the ball
- Maintaining positioning so recovery is possible
The Importance of Being a Fiery Goalie
Mickey discusses his emotional style of play and how he used intensity as a strength.
Key lessons:
- Different goalies have different personalities.
- Some goalies thrive with an even-keel approach.
- Others perform better when they channel emotion and intensity.
- The important thing is learning how to reset after a goal.
Mickey explains that his frustration after goals was not about losing control — it was about caring deeply and using that energy to make the next play.
Goalie Training Philosophy
Mickey's training focused on:
- Jump rope
- Footwork drills
- Wall ball
- High-quality shooting reps
His biggest advice:
"See as much rubber as you can."
He emphasizes that goalies need realistic reps:
- Shots from 10–12 yards
- Shots from game-like angles
- Shots that mimic actual situations
Quality repetitions matter more than simply taking lots of shots.
Winning the C. Markland Kelly Award
Mickey reflects on winning the goalie of the year award in 1999 and 2000.
He believes it was the result of:
- Natural progression
- Continued development
- Team success
- Years of preparation
He remains humble about the achievement and credits the many talented goalies competing during his era.
Playing Professional Lacrosse After a Long Break
After serving in the Navy, Mickey returned to professional lacrosse with the Los Angeles Riptide.
His transition back required:
- Getting comfortable with the speed of the game again
- Facing elite shooters
- Returning to goalie-specific training
His biggest challenge was getting reacclimated after spending years away from the crease.
Lacrosse Skills That Translated to Helicopter Aviation
Mickey discusses how being a goalie helped him as a Navy helicopter pilot.
Skills that transferred:
- Hand-eye coordination
- Situational awareness
- Communication
- Leadership under pressure
- Making decisions quickly
He explains that commanding a defense on the field had similarities to leading people in aviation.
Overcoming Slumps
Mickey shares how he handled difficult stretches where he wasn't playing his best.
His advice:
Focus on contributing in other ways:
- Win ground balls
- Improve clearing
- Communicate better
- Lead the defense
He also emphasizes visualization.
Before games, Mickey would visualize:
- The opening faceoff
- Making perfect saves
- Executing proper movements
He believes mental preparation helped him return to confidence.
Coaching Goalies at Navy
Mickey's coaching philosophy:
- Don't completely rebuild goalies who already have strong foundations.
- Identify major issues that limit performance.
- Polish what already works.
He believes every goalie has their own style and coaches should develop the athlete rather than force everyone into the same mold.
Mental Game Coaching
Mickey emphasizes conversations over lectures.
His approach:
- Understand what goalies are thinking
- Help them build confidence
- Encourage positive habits
- Teach them how to respond to mistakes
He believes coaching others also improved his own understanding of the game.
Why Navy Lacrosse Is Different
Mickey credits Navy's success to:
- Dedicated goalie coaching
- Strong team culture
- Players willing to sacrifice for teammates
- Hard-working athletes who embrace their roles
He explains that service academies often attract players who value teamwork and commitment.
Goalie Gear Discussion
Mickey talks about his classic goalie setup:
- Brine Eraser stick
- 12 diamond mesh
- No V shooting setup
- Three hockey-style shooters
- One nylon at the top
He explains that he likes creating his own pocket and prefers a clean release.
Advice to Young Goalies
Mickey's biggest advice:
Be patient and keep working your craft.
He encourages young goalies who may not be starting or seeing immediate success to continue improving.
Opportunities come when you:
- Stay committed
- Keep learning
- Keep practicing
- Trust the process
Favorite Quotes
"Be patient and keep working your craft."
"See as much rubber as you can."
"You can be upset for five seconds, ten seconds, but then you have to reset."
"Your primary job is to stop shots, but there are a lot of other things you can do to help the team."
Episode Resources
- Follow Mickey Jarboe on Instagram and Twitter: @MickeyJarbs
- Learn more about goalie development through the Lax Goalie Rat community.
Closing Thoughts
Mickey Jarboe's career is a great example of how goalies develop through persistence, preparation, and mindset. His journey shows that success is not always about being the most highly recruited player — it's about continuing to improve, embracing opportunities, and becoming the type of teammate others can rely on.
