"Making" a goalie

[Air Force 1]

I am reaching out to the knowledge and experience on this board for advice/answers. Our program is coming up on a problem next year, there will be no squirt goalies. This year we have four squirt teams but only three goalies. The fourth team, which my son happens to be on, does not have a dedicated goaltender. My son, not sure if he is trying to follow in his brother's footsteps or not, said he would play goalie in some games but really likes to play defenseman and would like to play that a majority of the time. Another player, also a defenseman, also said he would play goalie part time. The other player played the first couple games and said he really liked it and wanted to full time switch to goalie. The next weekend, we were at a tournament and we brought our goalie gear with "just in case". The other player played two games in net, then asked the coach if he could skate out. My son stepped in and played the third game and afterward said that was enough, he wanted to skate out. The other player played the fourth game in the net. After that game, he said he was done, completely. That week his family turned in the loaner gear and he is skating D. The coach asked my son if he would play goalie for a couple weeks and my son said yes. Going into the games this past weekend, my son told me that he is kinda bored playing goalie and wants to skate out again, something I would prefer too. I stress to my kids that hockey is supposed to be fun and to let me know when they are not having fun anymore. My squirt has not said he is not having fun as a goalie, but he has said it is more fun to play D. I am concerned because he was really playing good D earlier in the season before he moved to the net. He has not skated out in almost a month, I am worried he is not developing his defensman skills and will be behind when he does get to skate out. I feel he is #2 of 5 defensman on his team and was looking really good with a legitimate chance of making the A team next season as a D. I also think he feels he needs to be a team player and take this hit and play goalie in this situation, but as I feel this is a team problem, everybody on the team can pitch in, just like they did as Mites. There are some kids that are much better in net than my son or the other player but I just don't see them ever having to take their turn.

As I said, barring one of these first year squirts stepping up to play fulltime goalie, my son included, next year there will be no second year goalies and one first year. Next year we will probably field 2, maybe 3 squirt teams. Beyond that, nobody else in Mites or Mighty Mites is making any noise about being a goalie.

I was talking with one of our Mite coaches that has coached at higher levels and is back to Mites because his son is coming up now. He expressed a concern about this situation and said that the program is going to have to "make" some goalies.

I was talking with my wife about this yesterday and mentioned the "making" a goalie statement and she exclaimed "they can't do that!" I have read about other coaches and associations that have or had to do this, the philosophies of which player you target ect.

Yes, I am worried that in this case it could be my son because he has showed interest in the position. His older brother, a Pee Wee, is a goalie and is pretty good at it. He showed an apptitude back in Mites and really enjoys playing the position, I enjoy seeing him play well and having fun. He never was that great a forward, was a brutal defenseman, but has truely found his niche in the net. My squirt on the other hand, he just doesn't have the disposition to be a goalie, does not show the apptitude for it, and the results aren't that good. I fear if it comes to "making" a goalie and it is him, he will play for a while and eventually quit playing because it isn't fun for him.

Having an older child that plays the position I know what a goalie's parents are in for. Yes, the gear is expensive, but we have loaner gear that reallly takes the burden off. We purchased my Pee Wee's pads, my squirt's are loaner gear but I have purchased almost a full set of used gear. The loaner stuff is OK, but it is well used. I have also asked my son what his team mates are really saying to him when they come back and give him a whack in the pad after a puck gets by him, and it ain't "get 'em next time". Hopefully it is only a problem with our kids but "when the team wins, the team wins, when the team loses, the goalie lost if for them", that's a quote from my son. He is able to let stuff like that roll and face the next challenge, my younger son is not like that.

Anyway, I have seen many people on this board provide their resumes of experience as players, coaches, officials, volunteer, ect. I never played, can barely skate. How have you/your associations handled similar situations?

[newsguy35]

I am reaching out to the knowledge and experience on this board for advice/answers. Our program is coming up on a problem next year, there will be no squirt goalies. This year we have four squirt teams but only three goalies. The fourth team, which my son happens to be on, does not have a dedicated goaltender. My son, not sure if he is trying to follow in his brother's footsteps or not, said he would play goalie in some games but really likes to play defenseman and would like to play that a majority of the time. Another player, also a defenseman, also said he would play goalie part time. The other player played the first couple games and said he really liked it and wanted to full time switch to goalie. The next weekend, we were at a tournament and we brought our goalie gear with "just in case". The other player played two games in net, then asked the coach if he could skate out. My son stepped in and played the third game and afterward said that was enough, he wanted to skate out. The other player played the fourth game in the net. After that game, he said he was done, completely. That week his family turned in the loaner gear and he is skating D. The coach asked my son if he would play goalie for a couple weeks and my son said yes. Going into the games this past weekend, my son told me that he is kinda bored playing goalie and wants to skate out again, something I would prefer too. I stress to my kids that hockey is supposed to be fun and to let me know when they are not having fun anymore. My squirt has not said he is not having fun as a goalie, but he has said it is more fun to play D. I am concerned because he was really playing good D earlier in the season before he moved to the net. He has not skated out in almost a month, I am worried he is not developing his defensman skills and will be behind when he does get to skate out. I feel he is #2 of 5 defensman on his team and was looking really good with a legitimate chance of making the A team next season as a D. I also think he feels he needs to be a team player and take this hit and play goalie in this situation, but as I feel this is a team problem, everybody on the team can pitch in, just like they did as Mites. There are some kids that are much better in net than my son or the other player but I just don't see them ever having to take their turn.

As I said, barring one of these first year squirts stepping up to play fulltime goalie, my son included, next year there will be no second year goalies and one first year. Next year we will probably field 2, maybe 3 squirt teams. Beyond that, nobody else in Mites or Mighty Mites is making any noise about being a goalie.

I was talking with one of our Mite coaches that has coached at higher levels and is back to Mites because his son is coming up now. He expressed a concern about this situation and said that the program is going to have to "make" some goalies.

I was talking with my wife about this yesterday and mentioned the "making" a goalie statement and she exclaimed "they can't do that!" I have read about other coaches and associations that have or had to do this, the philosophies of which player you target ect.

Yes, I am worried that in this case it could be my son because he has showed interest in the position. His older brother, a Pee Wee, is a goalie and is pretty good at it. He showed an apptitude back in Mites and really enjoys playing the position, I enjoy seeing him play well and having fun. He never was that great a forward, was a brutal defenseman, but has truely found his niche in the net. My squirt on the other hand, he just doesn't have the disposition to be a goalie, does not show the apptitude for it, and the results aren't that good. I fear if it comes to "making" a goalie and it is him, he will play for a while and eventually quit playing because it isn't fun for him.

Having an older child that plays the position I know what a goalie's parents are in for. Yes, the gear is expensive, but we have loaner gear that reallly takes the burden off. We purchased my Pee Wee's pads, my squirt's are loaner gear but I have purchased almost a full set of used gear. The loaner stuff is OK, but it is well used. I have also asked my son what his team mates are really saying to him when they come back and give him a whack in the pad after a puck gets by him, and it ain't "get 'em next time". Hopefully it is only a problem with our kids but "when the team wins, the team wins, when the team loses, the goalie lost if for them", that's a quote from my son. He is able to let stuff like that roll and face the next challenge, my younger son is not like that.

Anyway, I have seen many people on this board provide their resumes of experience as players, coaches, officials, volunteer, ect. I never played, can barely skate. How have you/your associations handled similar situations?

Thats a crappy position to put any kid in. Hopefully the association is smart enough to ask other associations/cities around or even put up flyers at the rink that state they need goalies. I know Eagan had the same problem when I was coming up and that is how they handled it but if you are in a more rural area that may be tough.

If your kid had some coaching as a goaltender do you think he would like it or is it? Sometimes that is all it is, not saying all the time as there are many kids who are not geared to be in net. Whatever the outcome, I hope that they do not scar your little skater. If worst comes to worst, I would end up asking the player if he would prefer to play for another association rather than hang 'em up...

[Can't Never Tried]

The simple answer is this...let your child play where he would like to play.
This business of anyone telling a 10 year old kid he has to, or pressuring him that "we Need you to play it" is bogus and irresponsible on the part of the coach, or assoc.
Your child wants to be a skater? then a skater it is!! Done.
I guarantee that if he's telling you he's bored with it now, he doesn't like it and wants out, so set him free.

If he's the #2 D what the heck coach would give that up?? put a #9-10 fwd. in there, or else it's a rotate each player every game, that way the team carries the burden if that's what it is.

Or how about this I'll bet your coach is a parent?? just a hunch.
Suggest that he put his child in for the sake of the team

Do not by any means feel obligated to make your son do this, or that your child will be looked upon unfavorably next season because of his choice.
This is a short term problem that is not yours, or your sons, and his future of playing has many years left, so although it may seem like a tough choice to say no now, you will be thankful you did later.
Good luck!

[tomASS]

Goalies also need the mental fortitude, demeanor, and attitude to play the position. Doesn't matter how well the kid plays the position, if he doesn't have the mind set to play goalie he will never be more than a fill-in during emergency situations.

Many parents try to move their kid away from that position more so because they, the parents, can't handle the pressure of what happens when the rubber finds the back of the net.

My opinion.

[really?]

Play your kid where he wants to play.

Next year? - This is just an opportunity for a "C-player" who can skate, to step up , make the A-team and maybe someday play in HS. Someone will see that and be happy for the chance. It'll be a tough couple of years for that new goalie/family - Stay behind 'em...

[Broke Goalie Dad]

If your association is going to 'make a goalie', they need to make sure the kid loves playing goalie. They should also select a player who has decent skating skills, which means they'll lose a good F or D - but they could end up with an even better goalie! It happens.

If your son prefers D, he should play D. Not sure how you're going to communicate this with the coach - but good luck!

[Lily Braden]

Our association put out a plea for squirt goalies during this year's tryouts. They cut the fee to play hockey by 50-percent.
I think 23 kids showed up at tryouts.
I'm curious how many will stick with it after this year, but the slash in fee certainly seemed to encourage to kids (or their parents?) to try out as goalie.

[theref]

Agree with the general sentiment that you should let your kid play where he wants to play.

A coach switching a player from forward to defense is not the same as switching an out player to a goaltender.

Sure, you may deal with some backlash of parents that think your child or your family might be selfish for not making your child play goaltender, but also realize that they also didn't put their child in that position and your kid will probably stay in the game longer if he has fun doing it.

[nikebauerhockey21]

I think rotating players in net is the best option for mites. That is how I fell in love with goaltending and never looked back. Even though I was one of the better skaters and players on our team, I found playing goalie really interesting because every team needs a good goalie to be able to compete. Its like the quarterback for a football team, you get the glory but you also take a lot of blame and it is humbling. You need the right mind state and a very short term memory to be a good goalie. I think the coach should not put any pressure on any kid to play goalie, they should rotate and maybe some kid will perform awesome and get infatuated with it just like I did. But your son is right, playing goalie in squirts and younger isn't very exciting but just wait untill the skill level grows.

[Donkey9]

Our association put out a plea for squirt goalies during this year's tryouts. They cut the fee to play hockey by 50-percent.
I think 23 kids showed up at tryouts.
I'm curious how many will stick with it after this year, but the slash in fee certainly seemed to encourage to kids (or their parents?) to try out as goalie.

First off I don't really like this idea of waiving a fee for goalies because then parents will jsut pressure their kids into playing goalie just to save a little money on playing youth hockey. Now if the kid is left with the choice that their parents can't afford to let the kid play hockey, then by all means have them play goalie so the kid can still enjoy the love of the game.

Secondly this is a real tough spot for a parent to be in. My advice is for the your son to play D no matter what the rest of the team says. I grew up with a brother that was a goalie and it really take a different duck for someone to want to be a goalie. He loved since day one and was very good at it.

The thing you really need to look at is that he is one of the top D on his team therefore one of the better one's in the association. If he sticks with D and does well which from what it sounds like from you has the potential to do so. As he moves up to the upper levels he has a better shot at playing. You have to look at a good team will carry around 6 D and only 2 goalies. With being one of the six D he has a much better chance at playing (just the odds).

We are having a similar problem in the St. Cloud area from what I hear. I hope that some how they'll be able to find goalies in the youth programs and spark some intrest in the younger kids.

I don't really know why so many organizations are having problems filling the goalie position. Might be due to the outragous price goalie pads are coming to or just because kids are putting more emphasis on goalies costing their team the game. It's a sad problem but i don't have a solution for the problem other then maybe trying to spark an intrest in goaltending at a very young age.



______
Plugin'

[5thgraders]

[quote="Air Force 1"]I am reaching out to the knowledge and experience on this board for advice/answers. Our program is coming up on a problem next year, there will be no squirt goalies. This year we have four squirt teams but only three goalies. The fourth team, which my son happens to be on, does not have a dedicated goaltender. My son, not sure if he is trying to follow in his brother's footsteps or not, said he would play goalie in some games but really likes to play defenseman and would like to play that a majority of the time. Another player, also a defenseman, also said he would play goalie part time. The other player played the first couple games and said he really liked it and wanted to full time switch to goalie. The next weekend, we were at a tournament and we brought our goalie gear with "just in case". The other player played two games in net, then asked the coach if he could skate out. My son stepped in and played the third game and afterward said that was enough, he wanted to skate out. The other player played the fourth game in the net. After that game, he said he was done, completely. That week his family turned in the loaner gear and he is skating D. The coach asked my son if he would play goalie for a couple weeks and my son said yes. Going into the games this past weekend, my son told me that he is kinda bored playing goalie and wants to skate out again, something I would prefer too. I stress to my kids that hockey is supposed to be fun and to let me know when they are not having fun anymore. My squirt has not said he is not having fun as a goalie, but he has said it is more fun to play D. I am concerned because he was really playing good D earlier in the season before he moved to the net. He has not skated out in almost a month, I am worried he is not developing his defensman skills and will be behind when he does get to skate out. I feel he is #2 of 5 defensman on his team and was looking really good with a legitimate chance of making the A team next season as a D. I also think he feels he needs to be a team player and take this hit and play goalie in this situation, but as I feel this is a team problem, everybody on the team can pitch in, just like they did as Mites. There are some kids that are much better in net than my son or the other player but I just don't see them ever having to take their turn.

As I said, barring one of these first year squirts stepping up to play fulltime goalie, my son included, next year there will be no second year goalies and one first year. Next year we will probably field 2, maybe 3 squirt teams. Beyond that, nobody else in Mites or Mighty Mites is making any noise about being a goalie.

I was talking with one of our Mite coaches that has coached at higher levels and is back to Mites because his son is coming up now. He expressed a concern about this situation and said that the program is going to have to "make" some goalies.

I was talking with my wife about this yesterday and mentioned the "making" a goalie statement and she exclaimed "they can't do that!" I have read about other coaches and associations that have or had to do this, the philosophies of which player you target ect.

Yes, I am worried that in this case it could be my son because he has showed interest in the position. His older brother, a Pee Wee, is a goalie and is pretty good at it. He showed an apptitude back in Mites and really enjoys playing the position, I enjoy seeing him play well and having fun. He never was that great a forward, was a brutal defenseman, but has truely found his niche in the net. My squirt on the other hand, he just doesn't have the disposition to be a goalie, does not show the apptitude for it, and the results aren't that good. I fear if it comes to "making" a goalie and it is him, he will play for a while and eventually quit playing because it isn't fun for him.

Having an older child that plays the position I know what a goalie's parents are in for. Yes, the gear is expensive, but we have loaner gear that reallly takes the burden off. We purchased my Pee Wee's pads, my squirt's are loaner gear but I have purchased almost a full set of used gear. The loaner stuff is OK, but it is well used. I have also asked my son what his team mates are really saying to him when they come back and give him a whack in the pad after a puck gets by him, and it ain't "get 'em next time". Hopefully it is only a problem with our kids but "when the team wins, the team wins, when the team loses, the goalie lost if for them", that's a quote from my son. He is able to let stuff like that roll and face the next challenge, my younger son is not like that.

Anyway, I have seen many people on this board provide their resumes of experience as players, coaches, officials, volunteer, ect. I never played, can barely skate. How have you/your associations handled similar situations?[/quote] Brent if you are playing Hallock you probably could
do fine without a goalie and just skate 6 players do you know what this
means if not I can further elaborate.

[Air Force 1]

Brent if you are playing Hallock you probably could
do fine without a goalie and just skate 6 players do you know what this
means if not I can further elaborate.

Nice try, two different kids, my Pee Wee is a goalie, my squirt let his coach know last night that he no longer wanted to play goalie after this weekend and the coach was very understanding, much to my relief. My squirt won't even play Hallock this year, they are playing an "A" schedule, he is a "B".

At what point is it the other teams job to keep it out of their net and get it in our?

5thgraders, again, you seem to have me at a disadvantage.

[egf hockey1]

5th grader: you sure seem to rip on Hallock alot. Did they beat up on you as a child or what is your problem with them? You have written 8 posts and most of them are just to make fun of Hallock.

[egf hockey1]

As far as "making a goalie" nobody can force a player to play goalie. Goaltenders need a little different mindset and to be very thick skined. If you try to target that player in a group of 3rd, 4th, 5th graders and make them play goalie it will always back fire. The type of player that you are trying to target is the same type of player that will most likely rebel and not want to play at all. If you force a kid to play in the net and he doesn't want to be there, he/she will not be giving their best effort and always be thinking how much better it is to skate out. Eventually, a kid in this group will decide that he/she likes playing goalie and will step up. Until then, it doesn't hurt any kid or team to have to rotate kids in the net.

[5thgraders]

[quote="egf hockey1"]5th grader: you sure seem to rip on Hallock alot. Did they beat up on you as a child or what is your problem with them? You have written 8 posts and most of them are just to make fun of Hallock.[/quote] I have no problem with them Hallock boys as a matter
of fact if you look at my posts you will see that is the true fact that I only
spoke about Hallock 1 time oh how the truth hurts. It was just a FACT
that the EGF ran up the score on them 14-1 my point is that you must
really like them because they are about the only team that you can go
and beat up like that. Why is it that you would be proud to beat up an
opponent like that is my point show some respect to your only friends
that will allow you to beat them up like that. You should not even be mentioning the Heroes from Hallock for allowing you and your boys
from EGF to feel they are something that they are not and that is not
GOOD...

[egf hockey1]

I don't think that I ever said that I was proud that EGF beat up on Hallock. They are 11 and 12 year old kids, nobody should take any pride from anything that our kids do on the ice. It is the kids playing not us, and newsflash - the kids could care less what the score was, they play the game and move on to the next one, if only parents could do the same.

We are getting off subject though

[5thgraders]

[quote="egf hockey1"]I don't think that I ever said that I was proud that EGF beat up on Hallock. They are 11 and 12 year old kids, nobody should take any pride from anything that our kids do on the ice. It is the kids playing not us, and newsflash - the kids could care less what the score was, they play the game and move on to the next one, if only parents could do the same.

We are getting off subject though [/quote] You didn't have to say it
you did it proud or not proud you did it. Proud = arrogent ; haughty=
having or showing great pride in oneself and contempt for others;arrogant
Check your dictionary if you need further clarification. Also known as the
Websters New World Dictionary. Barnes and Noble do you know what that
is. If not ask Brent he has a boy who is a goalie so he knows EVERYTHING.

[Air Force 1]

I have no problem with them Hallock boys as a matter of fact if you look at my posts you will see that is the true fact that I only spoke about Hallock 1 time oh how the truth hurts. It was just a FACT that the EGF ran up the score on them 14-1 my point is that you must really like them because they are about the only team that you can go and beat up like that. Why is it that you would be proud to beat up an
opponent like that is my point show some respect to your only friends
that will allow you to beat them up like that. You should not even be mentioning the Heroes from Hallock for allowing you and your boys
from EGF to feel they are something that they are not and that is not
GOOD...

FACT: Crookston 9 Hallock 1, Warroad 15 Hallock 0, Roseau 14 Hallock 0, LOW 8 Hallock 0, LOW 4 Hallock 2, and the one that causes 5thgraders so much issue, EGF 14 Hallock 1. As a matter fact, I have friends that have kids that play on Hallock, I went to school with them, I'm related to some. I have the upmost respect for that program, its a proud program and as bad as it gets-they keep battling!

Based on these scores, I guess all the D16 teams run the score up. Like I asked 5thgraders, when does it become the other teams job to keep the puck out of their net and put it in ours.

This discussion needs to be split over to the discussion about possible initatives to reorganize into Mega, A, B, ect or even the A vs B1 discussion.

[watchdog]

i didnt read all the posts and im sure this was said but you have the loaner goalie gear each kid takes a turn in net every game until the season comes to an end get your kid out of the net!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[5thgraders]

[quote="Air Force 1"][quote="5thgraders"]I have no problem with them Hallock boys as a matter of fact if you look at my posts you will see that is the true fact that I only spoke about Hallock 1 time oh how the truth hurts. It was just a FACT that the EGF ran up the score on them 14-1 my point is that you must really like them because they are about the only team that you can go and beat up like that. Why is it that you would be proud to beat up an
opponent like that is my point show some respect to your only friends
that will allow you to beat them up like that. You should not even be mentioning the Heroes from Hallock for allowing you and your boys
from EGF to feel they are something that they are not and that is not
GOOD... [/quote]
FACT: Crookston 9 Hallock 1, Warroad 15 Hallock 0, Roseau 14 Hallock 0, LOW 8 Hallock 0, LOW 4 Hallock 2, and the one that causes 5thgraders so much issue, EGF 14 Hallock 1. As a matter fact, I have friends that have kids that play on Hallock, I went to school with them, I'm related to some. I have the upmost respect for that program, its a proud program and as bad as it gets-they keep battling!

Based on these scores, I guess all the D16 teams run the score up. Like I asked 5thgraders, when does it become the other teams job to keep the puck out of their net and put it in ours.

This discussion needs to be split over to the discussion about possible initatives to reorganize into Mega, A, B, ect or even the A vs B1 discussion.[/quote] The others did it so it is OK Cmon I fugured they
taught you the difference between right and wrong in the Air force Brent.

[watchdog]

im not sure if you call it running the score up. your playing a hockey game with the object being to score. i know roseau does not make a practice of running the score up in most cases and certainly not in the hallock case. its tuff to go through those growing pains to move up a level but i personaly think its a decision made by d16 and the hallock association. i hope things can get better for your hockey program in the future.

[netminder.net]

5th Grader wrote;
"We are getting off subject though [/quote] You didn't have to say it
you did it proud or not proud you did it. Proud = arrogent ; haughty=
having or showing great pride in oneself and contempt for others;arrogant
Check your dictionary if you need further clarification. Also known as the
Websters New World Dictionary. Barnes and Noble do you know what that
is. If not ask Brent he has a boy who is a goalie so he knows EVERYTHING"
and:
"as a matter
of fact if you look at my posts you will see that is the true fact that I only
spoke about Hallock 1 time oh how the truth hurts. It was just a FACT
that the EGF ran up the score on them 14-1 my point is that you must
really like them because they are about the only team that you can go
and beat up like that. Why is it that you would be proud to beat up an
opponent like that is my point show some respect to your only friends
that will allow you to beat them up like that. You should not even be mentioning the Heroes from Hallock for allowing you and your boys "

If this isn't really a 5th Grader, this is the greatest schtick ever

[watchdog]

watch it netminder your gona take over my title of nonreadable posts! i could hardley fallow that one

[Lily Braden]

As far as "making a goalie" nobody can force a player to play goalie. Goaltenders need a little different mindset and to be very thick skined. If you try to target that player in a group of 3rd, 4th, 5th graders and make them play goalie it will always back fire. The type of player that you are trying to target is the same type of player that will most likely rebel and not want to play at all. If you force a kid to play in the net and he doesn't want to be there, he/she will not be giving their best effort and always be thinking how much better it is to skate out. Eventually, a kid in this group will decide that he/she likes playing goalie and will step up. Until then, it doesn't hurt any kid or team to have to rotate kids in the net.

I agree. It might actually make the team stronger once they figure out the challenges facing the goalie (like, maybe you should stop passing in front of the net if the other team is on the doorstop...or if the goalie isn't great at freezing the rebounds, you might want to kindly help him out by knocking the puck out of the zone. Just some COMPLETELY random observations).

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.

[netminder.net]

Yeah... I have not figured out how to use all the gadgets yet.