Well, Miss18.2 enjoyed her week as a mite (atom/Tim Bits) goalie so much, she offered to be the full time goalie next year in squirts. WTF???
The current squirt goalie moves up to peewee and there is nobody else willing to play squirt goalie next year. Everyone wants 2 teams, so they really need 2 goalies, but she's willing to be at least one of them. I think she's nuts.
I played goalie in 3 practices as a bantam. I have no idea how to coach a young goalie, short of what I hear in NHL games.
Square to the shooter. Forget the last goal, and just focus on the next shot. Hug the posts when it's on your side. Follow the puck with your eye all the way into the glove. You guys taught me the VH pad thing. Aaaaaaaand that's about all I know.
She got leg pads, chest protector, glove & blocker from the organization. I guess they'll cover the cost of the stick, neck protector & goalie cup. Does a goalie need the special cup in squirts? Goalie skates? Fuck.
I'm in so far over my head. I haven't even had her try the pads on yet. We got them all dusty, so I cleaned them and they're drying by the fire. Do you put leather conditioner on them? How does one size a goalie stick? So much to google... I have a goalie coaching book. Somewhere.
Need to find that and dust it off too.
Big issue I have- she shoots righty when skating out, but catches with her left hand. So now when she goes to play the puck, she'll do the old school thing of turning the stick around, which I've heard from many goalies is an absolute no-no anymore. So I guess she'll have to learn to pass the other way. I'm certainly not buying another set of blocker & glove.
Miss18.1's boyfriend is a goalie. I thought of asking him some questions, but then I'd be asking my daughter's boyfriend for help, and as a man/dad, it's hard enough to admit she has a boyfriend, let alone need to ask the kid for help.
Any general advice from the goalie dudes? Besides don't be a psycho parent and don't expect her to stop everything? (Believe me, I have NO delusions of shutouts coming any time soon
) But I got the pads nice & early so she'll have all summer to practice. Need to find a goalie camp I guess. Man. I've always made fun of goalies for being weird/crazy. Now I've got one. Terrifying.