Dear MJ,

I play goalie to just like your son. I play Midget house. One of the teams we play is a lot stronger then my team. That team has two goalies that are very good. Now I get to play every game so since we're are all friends we rotate in the net. Each one of us plays two periods. Lately though they have played for there team I have played for mine. Even though in Midget and Bantam one goalie plays the entire game, we were only playing 40 minutes and when playing for our repected teams I played 60 min and they played 30 each.

Then there is a mentality perspective. Tell your son that it is ok to let in a bad goal once in a while. When My team plays this really strong team I let an average of 7 goals a game in. I don't mean to brag but they are usually are good goals. Tell your son that it is ok to take a break if hes tired. That does not mean pulling him it means to let him sit on the bench and you have a chat with him. Tell him to focus on the puck, the game and the next shot (because thats all that matters.) He should not worry about letting in a goal and being benched in a game.

Pulling a goalie in Peewee is not a good idea becaues it destroys there confidence. Tell his coach to sit down with both goalies and to talk to them about playing half of the game. That way they don't half to worry about being pulled or playing as bad. Also spend a few minutes with your son telling him to visualise great saves he has done or has seen others do. This will help his confidence alot.

I hope this has bee a big help to you.

These are all very good comments and most of it makes perfect sense and I can accept most & agree wtih most. I think the problem I had with our situation is when these two goalies were pulled to this team, they were both told that they were to be played as equal. Not only that, but that when tryouts were taking place, the reason this team has 2 goalies is because the coach couldn't decide between the two. They are that similar. (in our program, there is (1) A team, (1) B team & (1) C team. The C team was left without a goalie this year because of the even play of these 2 goalies).
Our coach was a goalie himself. Played in state championships & in JR's.
After reading much of this advice, we sat down with him and explained that both sets of parents felt that because of his experiences as a goalie, he was having a hard time remembering that the boys are only 12 & 13 years old. He is particularly hard on the goalies. This can be a good thing & a bad thing.

Both goalies being so equal makes it hard for players & parents to understand uneven play time. Yes goalie A who gets pulled from game 1 after first period doesn't deserve to start game 2. However, he does deserve to start game 3 even if goalie B has a great game 2. Why? Because they are kids and no one is perfect. Everyone is going to have a bad day some time. Should goalie A be punished for having 1 bad game? no. He should be given another chance to prove he deserves to be on the team and can play well. Sitting him for 2-3 games doesn't teach him anything. It just hinders him further. At this point, instead of having 2 "A" goalies, you start having 1 "A" and 1 "B" goalie.

Should this be high school, it would be a different story. However, in high school goalies are well aware of who is #1 goalie & #2 goalie.

Perhaps I miss something and continue to miss it. The way I see it is that a first or second line center has a bad play or game, he is not in fear of missing his next game nor being pulled at the end of the first to sit the remainder of the game. Why do we not only accept this for a goalie but justify it.

A goalie cannot "work out his problems" on the bench. No more than you can "work out" your slap shot from the bench. By pulling the goalie, the coach is sending a message that this loss, or being down is the fault of a goalie. When he keeps him out he reinforces that opinion. His players begin to see goalie A is better than goalie B.

Guys, they are 12 years old. Between the first and second period ask him how he feels-if he says ok-put him back in.

I have seen teams with 2 goalies that make the switch every game halfway through the 2nd period. Each goalie plays the same amount.

Reason (for the most part) the goalies are pulled is to WIN games. Not to shake up the team. If you want to "shake up " a team sit the star forward or defensemen. A team that has a two goalie system (ie two goalies) should have a system to ensure equal playing time throughout the season. Youth hockey is to develop players and that is not the way of doing it. If it was it would apply to all players.

One more thing-------to say a goalie that is pulled from game one-doesnt DESERVE to start game two-is incorrect. PLease try this logic of sitting and punishing all players and there would be a riot. THEY ARE KIDS---If he is scheduled he should play---

I have seen a coach call his team in and tell them he was getting the goalie a lawyer so he could sue everyone for non support------reminding them that before the puck got by the goalie it got by the 5 of you-----

The way you allow a goalie to forget about the bad goal, or game, is to have him concentrate on the next shot coming his way-----not on bench punished...

quote:

Originally posted by ahj:
One more thing-------to say a goalie that is pulled from game one-doesnt DESERVE to start game two-is incorrect. PLease try this logic of sitting and punishing all players and there would be a riot. THEY ARE KIDS---If he is scheduled he should play---

I think you're confusing the point that was presented:
* Goalie A started game 1, was pulled.
* Goalie B came in.
* Goalie B was scheduled to start game 2, which he did.
* Goalie A parents upset Goalie A didn't get to start game 2.

My point was that in no case should Goalie B have to skip his/her scheduled start in these circumstances.

And, as with everything, the age and level of play have great influence on how coaches deal with goalies. My son has played Midget AAA for the past three years, so my perpsective may be a bit "harsh" to some, but it's reality at the older more competitive levels.

Fanger-
I stand corrected. You are right-in fact we actually agree-----no goalie should miss a start. If he was not scheduled well thats ok. In that situation you most likely have one set of parents upset-A or B.

I guess my point is that often a goalie is pulled and it does nothing to help and in fact can do harm as in confidence etc. 90 goalie so I can assume your goalie is 17-18 range. This is much different than seeing it done at the 12 year old age...

*exception to my rule---if the goalie is having a disaster of a game no player should be embarrassed. If he wants out then I would pull him. If not, then no.

quote:

Originally posted by ahj:
I guess my point is that often a goalie is pulled and it does nothing to help and in fact can do harm as in confidence etc. 90 goalie so I can assume your goalie is 17-18 range. This is much different than seeing it done at the 12 year old age...

*exception to my rule---if the goalie is having a disaster of a game no player should be embarrassed. If he wants out then I would pull him. If not, then no.

agree, that's why my caveot is always - depends on the age group & competitive level...

Things that are OK at an older, more competitve level don't always apply at lower levels, a thing that coaches can forget, especially if they used to coaching/playing at the higher level previously

Nice post! Keep in mind that a GREAT Coach can utilize his goaltenders (emphasis on plural) and WIN hockey games!!! My AA Bantam has been through more than his share and has come out stronger because of it BUT he has always been mentally prepared. The mental aspect cannot be taught but it can be communicated and explained in a way that a young goaltender can comprehend. If your net minder is pulled, don't look at it as a punishment (it is a learning experience - another rung in the ladder). With a GREAT Coach, 99.9% of the time the call is the right one. If the Coach has other issues you will know it by the circumstances surrounding the "pull" and by the outcome of the game(s). As a parent, if your goaltender is not happy find him more ice outside of the team, quality ice and instruction goes a long way. A Goaltender has the hardest job on and off the ice, he must take the heat or get burned and ACCEPT THE RESULTS. The mental stress is overwhelming and that doesn't take into account the physical stress. They are a SPECIAL breed!!!!!

That said, the issue now at the higher levels is SMALL "save-making" goaltenders vs BIG "coverage-only" goaltending. What a joke!! And we wonder why Michigan has to look to other states for skaters? The problem is in their own backyards (nets). If AAA Hockey has to "out-source" their teams, then it's not the BEST of the BEST, only the EASIEST and the CHEAPEST. IMHO, those Organizations (Coaches) are LAZY and do not faithfully represent their states. Comments.