developing youth goalies

coaches and parents always ask me "how do you get kids to play goalie"

my experience has taught me there are some dos and donts when it comes to "manufacturing" goalies. i was taught first hand when my oldest son who is 17 now was hit by a shot in the neck in practice when he was in grade 5, never to return to the cage again.

here are some of the things i do to find first time goalies, train them, and keep them safe at the same time.

first I always use the "flinch drill" with the youngest players and first time players

line them up with their helmets on and slow toss a ball at their face masks. it seems the ones who don't flinch or laugh at the ball hitting them qualify for a shot at keeper. kids who duck or cower in fear seem to be less apt to step in.

here are key points i use when training new kids to play goal for the first time, it goes with out saying they must have a cup, chest protector and throat guard - no exceptions. i dont like arm pads on youth goalies because it slows their movement, but it's ok if the parent insists.

1. teach them the proper stance and to how to hold the stick properly. make sure it is high and away from the body. show them what an athletic or "ready" stance is, and remind them continuously to keep the stick up. teach to have the thumb at eye level or "eye, thumb, ball."

2 . start out with tennis balls. i get bags of "dead" balls from my local tennis clubs, they are glad to give them away for the most part. i have the goalies tell me when they are ready for a real ball.
this lets you take plenty of shots with out any "stingers". it builds confidence and technique

3. teach them the "arc" and to "step" in to every shot. start by hand tossing shots. use a lot of balls, don't have them waisting time retrieving balls from the cage. i ignore when they miss saves and remind them "forget that one" "get ready" "stance" and i call "shot" on every toss
take the balls out when the cage is full for a short break.

4. i believe youth players need shin guards, make sure they are in the coaches bags. they simply don't have the mechanics to stop low and hard shots. the thin soccer type are fine.also, wearing sweats takes the sting out of shots and can hide shin guards for the older kids who complain about being embarrassed to wear them.

5. set up cones players must stay behind when doing shooting drills. start out far enough where the goalies can make easy saves and only agree to move them in when the goalie says he is ready for closer looks. quick stick drills and close in shots should be done with no goalie. i like to put them behind the cage making "saves" by trying to react where the ball is going.

more goalie stuff later...