Lax Goalie Rat Podcast – Alex Ready (University of Denver)

Episode Summary

In this episode of the Lax Goalie Rat Podcast, Coach Damon Wilson sits down with Alex Ready, starting goalie for the University of Denver and the 2016 Big East Goalkeeper of the Year.

Alex shares his journey from volunteering to play goalie in second grade to becoming one of the nation's top Division I goalies. Throughout the conversation, he discusses the importance of experimenting with your playing style, building elite fundamentals, developing mental toughness, and finding the right balance between athleticism and technique.

Whether you're a youth goalie looking to improve or a college player searching for an edge, this episode is packed with practical advice on training, leadership, confidence, and the mental side of playing one of the toughest positions in sports.

Topics Covered

• Alex's journey into becoming a lacrosse goalie

• Why playing field positions helps goalies develop faster

• Learning from Trevor Tierney and Ryan LaPlante at Denver

• Developing an aggressive yet reaction-based goalie style

• Why every goalie should experiment and find what works for them

• Combining athleticism with proper technique

• Alex's off-season training program

• Balance, mobility, yoga, and resistance band exercises

• Quality reps vs. simply taking more shots

• Tennis ball drills and reaction training

• Coaching philosophy for youth goalies

• Why every young goalie should master a short stick first

• Leadership lessons for goalies

• Building trust with teammates and defenders

• Working through performance slumps

• Managing pressure in high-stakes games

• Meditation and mental preparation

• Common mistakes youth goalies make

• Equipment setup and stick preferences

Key Takeaways

• Play multiple positions early in your development to better understand offensive tendencies and improve communication.

• There is no single "correct" goalie style—experiment until you discover what fits your strengths.

• Elite goalies combine natural athleticism with sound fundamentals and technique.

• Focus on quality training sessions instead of simply increasing volume.

• Small daily improvements compound over time.

• Goalies should embrace leadership by earning teammates' trust through hard work.

• Stay present after both great saves and goals allowed—move on to the next play.

• Meditation and mental preparation can improve focus, confidence, and consistency.

• Master basic stick skills before worrying about advanced goalie techniques.

Notable Quotes

"Everyone's different. Everyone's skill sets are different. Everyone's comfortable doing different things."

"It's more about the quality rather than the quantity."

"You're not a goalie—you're a lacrosse player first."

"Have fun, work really hard, and live with the results."

"Be present. Whether it's a great save or a bad goal, move on to the next play."

Connect

Follow Alex Ready on Instagram:
@aready16

Learn more and access goalie training resources at Lax Goalie Rat.