Starting young ...

I can't blame kids for wanting to play goalie nowadays. There's no question that it's become a glamor position. Here in Boston, if you turn on NESN, the Bruins local TV channel, you're bound to see highlights of Tuukka Rask (the B's anointed one) and Tim Thomas (the 2008-09 Vezina Trophy winner). Goalies are superstars, the center of attention. And that's bound to catch any kid's eye.

Suffice to say, that wasn't always the case. While I was growing up, I was in the distinct minority, one of the few with the kinked DNA who actually wanted to play goalie. The fashionable positions were the forwards, the goal scorers. Then Bobby Orr, with his preternatural skills, came along, and gave defensemen added panache. Overall, it was the stars who skated out who sparked the dreams of most school-age buddies of mine.

Goalies were stereotypically some sad-sack grommit who was short on talent and, more often than not, long on girth (or someone's kid brother who would play any position just to be part of the game). The idea was to take the worst skater, and stick him in the nets. After all, the thinking went, they didn't have to move very far. And even if they got pummeled, they'd stick around because they didn't really have any choice.

Today, gear improvements have made the position much, much safer, which makes it more attractive for first-timers (more on equipment advances in a later post). Plus, the gear looks really cool, and that adds allure to playing goal. But there's also an undeniable athleticism that modern goaltenders brings to the game that makes the position look like such a blast to play. As a coach, I understand that the skills on display in pro and college-level games are the result of years and years of hard work, but kids don't know that. They just see these fabulous acrobats, coiled like jungle cats in front of their cages, making life miserable for the world's best shooters on a nightly basis.

If only it were so simple. I'm not discouraging anyone from trying, but the PlayStation generation doesn't always grasp the effort required to play a position as physically demanding as hockey goaltender. And once they find out for themselves, their first reaction is often to dump the "tools of ignorance" and pick up their skinny sticks. So it's critical to make sure novice goalies are given the correct set of expectations, designed to give them the best chance of success.

There are several caveats to consider before you put your youngster (or any youngster) in the nets. Most importantly, remember that children under the age of 10 are still getting their skating legs under them. The added obstacle of trying to move around with cumbersome goalie gear is a rude wake-up call. Chances are, they'll flail, desperately trying to find a balance point on their edges without the natural advantage that momentum provides. Goalie-specific skating is much different than the long, looping strides of regular skaters, and regular hockey skates aren't design for the quick, compact movements a netminder makes. So the very act of staying on their feet becomes a daunting challenge for many young goalies.

During a recent clinic for my Agawam Youth Hockey goalies, I had one little shaver who couldn't have been more than 7. And he couldn't stay upright. Every time he moved, the poor kid fell. He simply wasn't bending his knees, and kept losing his balance. Once he fell – either on his backside, or on all fours – he could not get back up. It was excruciating. After about 10 minutes of flopping around, he burst into tears. I helped him off the ice, delivering him to his dad, but it was clear that his goaltending days were numbered. He found out the hard way that goaltending was whole lot more difficult than it looks on TV.

One very effective method to prevent these awkward on-ice moments is to have the young netminder bring the gear home, and try it on without skates. Most equipment for Mite and Squirt goalies is relatively light, but can still feel stiff and bulky. To make things easier, give your first-time netminder a chance to get used to moving with all that added bulk, without the added tribulations of slipping around on the ice. Play street hockey, fire tennis balls at him, laugh. Be patient. And don't be in a great rush to your undersized netminder onto the ice. The realization of how tough it is to play goal is akin to "sticker shock" for many youngsters; too many quit without really giving the position an honest effort.

The good news is that the learning curve is fairly sharp, provided they stick with it. Make it fun, and don't worry about the results of the first few skates. The only goal you want to focus on initially is that they want to get back in the nets.

All the best,
-Brion