How many have encountered a hockey dad, claiming to have played the game before (no professional credentials) insisting to help out with the goaltenders and then bad-mouthing one or both of them to other parents on the team. The dad in question is married to a Principal of a school in the same District as one of the goaltenders, so the bad-mouthing is highly unappropriate as he should well know. Should a parents input (whether he helps on the ice or not) be instrumental in deciding a decision reserved for a PAID Head Coach? If it is, wouldn't the Head Coaches position then become one of a money-making scheme and not one of a Self-employed Professional venture?

In defense of the goalies, both did their jobs when called upon, stepped up to the plate when needed and kept the team in the game on numerous occasions. Spectators have often complimented both goaltenders on their performance both at tournaments and at away games. In spite of their consistent goaltending records, both were cut. The kids (PeeWee) were lied to directly and they realize that, they have moved on quite nicely but still have questions of "Why". How long will those questions linger? Thank you for your sincere comments.

BTW, one of the goalies was cut (the call made) by another dad and not by the PAID coach. Self-employed Professional venture or money-making scheme? For the record, this incident happened within the Mount Clemens Association in Eastern Michigan.

Welcome to the world of a goalie parent!

While I have not gone thru those specific circumstances, it doesn't surprise me all that much - there is simply a major shortage in qualified goalie coaches in most parts of the country, and most coaches don't have a real clue about the position. Consequently, coaches accept practically anyone who claims that they can work with the goalies.

It shows in tryouts, where most teams do nothing extra for the goalies - they simply take turns in net as the skaters run thru one skating/shooting drill after another. No goalie-only drills that would help a knowledgeable goalie evaluator. No situational drills that put the goalie in game-like scenarios to see how they react there. Seen many goalies picked because they do great in tryouts but are lousy in games (be it nerves, lack of game/situation awareness, etc.).

During the season it usually carries over into practices...the lucky ones have a coach that can work with them periodically during the season, but those would be the lucky minority.

My suggestion - look for a coach who knows the position and be willing to pay out of your own pocket to have them come in periodically...

I agree (as I usually do) with what Fangers had to say--just wanted to share my own experiences.

A few years ago (1st year squirts), my son had a coach that knew nothing about the position. He would simply blast away at them as a way to warm them up for practice. After that no feedback. (Even disallowed us from bringing out one of the goalies from the local college women's team--just because you find a coach to help doesn't mean that the head coach will allow them on the ice.)

The following year and a new coach who at least was willing to admit he knew nothing about goalies and was willing to accept help. We found a local ex-pro who was great with kids to get on the ice as much as possible--GREAT. I would go on the ice as well to help with goalie-specific drills and listen and watch what he did. My "job" was to carry-over and reinforce what the paid coach did and said when he could not be there. Worked great. The only drawback here is that the head coach started looking to me for suggestions/direction on who would start certain games. The goalies generally rotated but there are always easier and harder opponents and tournament championship games were always earned. This was VERY hard to do and a VERY difficult position to be put in. Never again. Even if you do everything totally above board there is no way it doesn't raise questions. (For this same reason, parent coaches whose kid plays D, for example, should coach the forwards during the game and vice versa.)

This year I helped on the ice as well. I don't claim to be an expert, but even at peewee, they need somebody to make sure they are getting good work, drills are not getting out of hand (shots from multiple directions at the same time, etc.), and plan some goalie-specific training. My son just commented last week: "All you do is steal drills from my goalie coach or other teams." Exactly!! For me, that's coaching!! I don't claim to be a goalie guru; just someone who is looking out for them. This season, however, I was very clear from the very first day--I am happy to offer thoughts and feedback, but the ultimate playing decision is made by the head coach and he needs to communicate that to the goalies and the goalie families. Worked great.

I am sorry to hear about your situation. I would guess that the questions would linger for them into early next season but you say that they have moved on quite nicely and as soon as they settle in with the new team I would hope that would start to fade--will certainly make for some "fun" games if they get to play their old team and beat them next season!!

Best of luck to both of the goalies.

Agree with above which is to say goalies are generally on their own for personal skill development. It's just not going to happen at the younger ages in practices with the team.

Knowing that, change your view a little bit. Understand that the practice time spent with the team is about the team. Goalies should do most of the skating drills and provide back stop services for the rest of the team drills.

Goalies have to mentally accept this situation and do their best to work on technique and concentration while participating with the team in practice.

If the goalie is lucky, and it is a very few, there will either be a head coach who understands that he can improve his team by directly improving the play of his goaltenders or has an assisstant coach with a goaltending background to work on specific movement and agility drills during the teams regular ice-time. Again this is an optimal situation.

Also, apply the situation to pitchers in baseball. Hockeynut is right, pitchers don't throw all the BP and goalies shouldn't just be a back stop without instruction. Pitchers need mechanics training which generally can't be done during practice and they need a coach who knows mechanics.

But most of all the mental aspect is the same. A pitcher needs mental focus the same as a goaltender in a pressurized game setting. This is difficult to simulate in a practice setting.

Pitching - 30% Physical 70% Mental
Goaltending - 30% Physical 70% Mental

Do the best you can with the physical part, mentally it's up to the kids, it can't be taught.

Very simple, The only person in this world that will look out for you son or daughter is you.
Hire a Goalie Coach that you pay for, so you have control. 98% of the Coaches have no clue on how to train a goalie. You paying for this Coach makes you in charge, and has a Coach looking out for your son on the ice during a practice. Your son is not is not a target for a shooting gallery.

quote:

Originally posted by Mshugrue12:
Very simple, The only person in this world that will look out for you son or daughter is you.
Hire a Goalie Coach that you pay for, so you have control. 98% of the Coaches have no clue on how to train a goalie. You paying for this Coach makes you in charge, and has a Coach looking out for your son on the ice during a practice. Your son is not is not a target for a shooting gallery.

You assume goalie coach(s) even available...most US cities don't have that luxury (re****ble goalie coaches that is, not counting a dad that played some years ago)...which means it's big $$$$ to bring in someone from out of the area...if you can get them at all...

Thank you for the replies! Sorry it took so long to get back but that ONE situation was a whopper!! BOTH goaltenders are stronger and had wonderful seasons!!! It has since been revealed that the PAID Coach in question (President of the Association) has conveniently avoided stronger teams to appear good. It wasn't until Districts that the bottom fell out and his TRUE colors materialized. He now has a track record, at least three years in the making, of the same scheme. A MAJOR conflict of interest on numerous fronts. Welcome to travel hockey, AAA I hear is worse, but corruption in any form is UNACCEPTABLE! Heads up hockey!!!