If you knew then what you know now... (Goalies)

[stromboli]

For those of you with older goalies and/or who have played the position yourself, any advice on how to introduce a young kid to playing the position?

The background is that my seven year (yes very young) old's only real experience is having played between the pipes for two older brothers while they play knee hockey. Also tried it in full gear on ice for a couple of mite games last year and loved it. Kid keeps asking about playing goalie and getting some training (that's the problem with older brothers, as the youngest now knows there are options for training). Since the questions keep coming, and since I know nothing about the position (other than I'll be classified as one of "those" parents if I do end up with a goalie, and my checkbook may implode), any helpful suggestions? I've already set an expectation that my youngest will also continue to practice as a skater during the winter.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Everything from gear to coaches/trainers is on the table. Questions to ask? Things to avoid?

Thanks everyone.

[pond98]

A good book for you to get is "Goalies are not targets" You can google that also and go to their website. It is an excellent book on goaltending from everything from training to equipment. The most important thing for your goalie is to learn how to SKATE!!!!

[99GoalieDad]

I could not agree more with the skating comment. Our goalie "committed" as an intermediate mite but we continued to have him skate out as well through the end of squirts as well as pond hockey. We were also fortunate that his summer coach (yes Bernie) made him do all the skating drills that the players did in pads.

Rather than fight being a goalie parent we embrace it. It's a special position that takes a special athlete. What you will find is that your goalie will learn very quickly what a good goal and a bad goal are and that he is one of 6 players on the ice.

Feel free to PM me if you want to chat more. I have my opinions on Goalie training as well. Yes it does matter.

Good luck

[royals dad]

We were also fortunate that his summer coach (yes Bernie) made him do all the skating drills that the players did in pads.

While I agree on the importance of skating skills, there is no bigger waste of ice in my opinion then having goalies skating Russian circles, inside/outside edges, and cone drills with players. Yes they get aerobic exercise out of it but there is specific skating skills that goalies should learn and then develop muscle memory on. Having them skate crossovers or try a C-cut inside edge drill on goalie skates does not develop any skills that they can use. I would strongly suggest that during the initial 15 to 20 min of ice that coaches generally use for skating and cones, a separate coach should run the goalies through basic goalie skating and movement drills. If your team doesn't have a goalie coach then have one of the assistants or a parent go to the Minnesota Hockey Goalie Coach training session. 15 to 20 min of goalie drills, mostly without pucks at the start of every practice will make a huge difference over the coarse of a season. Dont let coaches sell your kid short by just telling them to get in the back of the line and skate with the players until they are ready for the players to start using them as a backstop. If you can get there it will be the best value you can find as a goalie parent.

In my opinion unless you are wealthy do not buy new equipment other then the helmet until your goalie is a teen. Make sure the equipment is in good shape and fits now, dont buy it to be grown into.

It can really be a roller coaster as a goalie parent, there are days when you will wish you could hide under the stands and days when you feel like you own the arena. I would suggest you always sit in the middle of the parents at the red line, never get to up or to down, dont interact with your goalie during the game, and dont coach in the car. Good luck and have fun.

[SWPrez]

My kid (a '94) started playing goalie his first year of squirts when we "rotated the pads" to any kids that wanted to give the position a try. He went full time as a second year squirt. I am not a big fan of mites being 100% committed to the position. Might help you get a higher squirt position when a first year squirt, but the lack of skating through mites will play against him long term.

As people have stated - letting them skate and learn the game from another position helps them in understanding the game from the crease. The MN Wild's Josh Harding didn't start playing goalie until he was 17....NHL when 22. So, no rush to make sure the kid is being overtrained at age 7.

Over the years - I cut cost corners by buying closeout equipment from goaliemonkey.com for his junior and intermediate (up to 31" pads) equipment. As he got to high school/adult sizes, it was Simmons goalie pads - they don't pay NHLers millions to shill their equipment, but their equipment is excellent and usually 60% what you would pay for major brand. I have never, ever, bought the latest greatest large manufacturer's equipment. The closeout and Simmons stuff worked just fine for my kid - he was able to play on the Benilde state champ team using equipment that didn't have the latest bling factor.

Training - early on, most local training is solid regardless of where you go - angles, edges, movement is what is important. As your son develops a style - butterfly, hybrid, etc. you may want to find someone that will train to that style. There are a lot of "stand up" old timers out there training when equipment, player flexibility, player build, etc. actually determine what style they play. Some coaches are not as flexible as others to individual player styles.

[luckyEPDad]

My daughter played goal until she started getting pressure to commit at U10. I see no reason for specialization at that age, or U12, or even U14 for that matter. Stop forcing exclusivity on goalies and you'll end up with more and better goalies. You'll have goalies who understand how to work with their D and D who know how to support their goalie. It drives my daughter nuts watching her teammates screen or interfere with their own goalie or screw up trying to break up a 2 on 1.

I think part-time goalies would solve a lot of resource issues. I see a lot of youth teams with only one goalie that have to scramble for a backup come tournament time, of if their goalie is sick or has another commitment on game day. On the flip side I see kids sitting out half or entire games while the other goalie is in net. Seems a waste not to use that kid as an extra skater.

I'm sure many kids only want to play goal, but I know there are many others who would like to play goal if it didn't mean they had to give up skating out.

[ripping1]

My son started playing goalie as a mite but rotated. 1st year squirts he "designated" goalie but still played out quite a bit. He played 4 years at Varsity, won a state title and is now playing Jr's. To this day when he plays pond hockey or pick up games he gives the pads to a buddy and he plays out. He is a fabulous skater and I feel it has made him a much better goalie.

You do not have to buy the most expensive pads but make sure they fit correctly. A sure way to get hurt is by wearing ill fitting pads or helmet.

Do not rely on your association to provide goalie training. Most of the people in charge have no idea what it takes to train a goalie they think just shooting on them is training enough. Even when they do hire outside training they are looking for the best deal. That is not always the best goalie coaches. Talk to other successful goalies see who/how they trained, try different coaches find the one that works for your goalie and stick with them.

Finally don't coach your kid from the stands or in the car. They know how they played and they have a coach for that. Be a parent support them and give them the tools they need. They will figure the rest out.