LGR 197: Learning About Lacrosse in Uganda with Allan Amone

On today’s episode of the Lax Goalie Rat Podcast, Coach Damon Wilson is joined by Alan Amone, a standout goalkeeper representing Team Mexico and Team Uganda on the international stage.

Alan details how he took on the unique challenges of the lacrosse crease and navigated the sport's rapid development in Africa, while addressing structural and psychological nuances unique to international competition.

"You win as a team, but a lot of times you lose as a goalie. At least that’s what goalies feel. You have the whole team behind you, and that's why when they celebrate, they run to the goalie first." — Alan Amone

Key Highlights & Takeaways
Backyard Origins: Like many goalie origin stories, Alan’s path began in elementary school, viewing the position as an individual challenge within a larger team framework.

Transition from Soccer: Coming from a background in soccer goalkeeping, Alan adjusted easily to the essential footwork and tracking habits required in lacrosse. He notes that the muscle groups required to plant, slide, and push off off-ball are strikingly similar across both disciplines.

The Psychology of Letting in Goals: Alan discusses the psychological strain of high-scoring lacrosse games compared to soccer. He details a personal routine of vocal over-communication and treating every reset as a "0-0 game" to prevent standard performance anxiety.

Overcoming Language Barriers: While playing for Team Mexico at the World Lacrosse Championship, Alan faced an explicit language barrier since he does not speak Spanish. He overcame this by leaning into off-field bonding and distilling tactical commands into basic defensive pointers.

Advocating for African Lacrosse Growth: Alan shares his goal of expanding lacrosse infrastructure across Uganda and neighboring countries like Kenya. He focuses heavily on the need for durable goalie gear at youth clinics to allow players to train safely from an early age.