Make the Save Presenter: JD Orr

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The inaugural Make the Save Multi-Sport Goalkeeping Coaches Forum, hosted by USA Field Hockey, will be held live on Zoom on Thursday, May 20 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET. Hosts Phil Edwards, USA Field Hockey's Senior Manager of Coaching and Performance, and Craig Parnham, USA Field Hockey's Director of Coach Education and Learning, will be joined by coaches and specialists from a range of different sports who will share their perspectives on supporting the development of goalkeepers of all levels.

Today, USA Field Hockey is excited to introduce the fourth Make the Save presenter who will discuss the tactics necessary for a team handball goalkeeper, JD Orr.

JD grew up playing lacrosse as a goalkeeper and transitioned to handball in college where he found great success. Handball goalkeeping offers many similarities to lacrosse and it is something he had been very grateful for. He has extensive experience with club and grassroots development, founding the Team Handball Club at The Ohio State University in 2012 and serving as head coach. He competed with the Junior U.S. National Team in 2013, and made team handball a recognized sport of the Arnold Sports Festival, the largest sports festival in the world. Orr served as assistant coach of the Junior U.S. Men’s (2017) and Senior (2018) National Team Handball Teams and was named 2018 USATH Volunteer Coach of the Year. Orr is currently also the General Membership Director on the USA Team Handball Board of Directors.

His philosophy with coaching team handball goalkeepers is that mental toughness is crucial. Handball goalkeepers give up more goals than any other sport, so finding joy in each save and quickly moving on from the last goal is very important. He also is a strong advocate that you cannot fit a square peg in a round hole. Each goalkeeper has their own style and as a coach you must be able to recognize that and determine the best way to develop the player into the best they can be.

JD will be presenting on Team Handball Goalkeeper Tactics. His presentation will discuss the tactics necessary for a team handball goalkeeper to excel at his/her position. These tactics will include, but are not limited to: shot geometry, body positioning, hand positioning, communication, mentality, conditioning, strength and flexibility exercises, and more!

A detailed schedule and presenter information for the Make the Forum will be released at a later date. For more information, check out the Make the Save: Multi-Sport Goalkeeping Coaches Forum event page. If you can't make the session live, registrants will have access to the recording to view at their convenience.

The Make the Save Multi-Sport Goalkeeping Coaches Forum cost is $10.00.