"Making" a goalie

[Air Force 1]

As far as the other topic goes, we've had a few blow-outs this year...to keep the scores in the non-humiliating range, the coaches tell the kids to pass at least four times before they shoot. Or they switch up the offense and defense. Nothing groundbreaking, but you don't crush the opponents and the team gets to work on other skills.

They were playing both pass the puck and flipping F/D positions among other things.

This isn't so much about EGF/Hallock PWA or Squirt B goalies, but about apparently how "t5thgrader" and I see things differently in another thread. I make it easy to find information about myself and he is using that info to push my buttons. I started this thread to ask a serious question about a subject and have people with experience and knowledge weigh in and the first 9 replies and a couple recently have been helpful. I also was drawn into this little tiff with "t5thgrader" because I have this flaw that I feel it is impolite to not respond when addressed.

LB, thanks to you and all serious posters responding to the original issue.

[CreaseMonkey]

We had similar issues in Duluth a while back, with a few good goalies and many organizations not having anyone interested in playing the position.
Our rink started putting an emphasis on developing goalies. We have a goalie coach who started working with kids who were interested in playing at the mite level, teaching them the basics of the position and encouraging anyone interested to give it a try. We also stressed to the coaches that they must create an atmosphere on their teams where a child could try the position without the negative feedback that can occur when they struggle.

Later, an in season program was developed for goalies from mite thru high school, where they can train with coaches once per week and continue to develop. We now have a lot of really good goalies in town at the youth level. Unfortunately, there is a gap between the youth and HS level which will likely result in a few younger goalies skating with the HS when they would normally be playing bantam. That should level out in the future though.

I would recommend that you not force any child to play the position. Kids will only excel when they are truly loving what they do, and if it is not goaltending, you will be spending most of your time trying to persuade them to stay in the sport.

Maybe you could try to find a goalie coach who would be willing to run an off season program for the kids. That way they can try the position without the pressure of having to immediately step into a game situation. They can develop the basic skills to play the position and by fall you would likely have 1 or 2 new goalies itching to get a chance at making your teams.

I am willing to bet you have a few kids who would love a shot at playing goal, but the parents will not allow it. It takes a different kind of player, and parent, to make a successful goalie.

The main thing is to encourage the kids, but never force them. Someone will eventually step up if given the opportunity and tools.

[Air Force 1]

I am willing to bet you have a few kids who would love a shot at playing goal, but the parents will not allow it. It takes a different kind of player, and parent, to make a successful goalie.

And you'd win that bet!