Minor Hockey Goalies

[Northendzone]

So my sister and I were having this debate (her daughter is a goalie for her ringette team and my son is a goalie for his atom team) - should young goalies play the whole game, or split the game if there are two goalies on the team.

i guess i am old school and feel that the goalie should play the whole game - i'd hate to see a goalie pitch a shutout and then switch the goalie up halfway and send out a fresh goalie who is cold.

she thinks that with the old way, one goalie is sitting there wasting an hour of his time - one golaie will miss participating in the big game, etc

what does the collective hockey minds at CP think? i am especially interested in hearing from those of you who have coached minor hockey.

[CMPunk]

Alternate games if there's two. Who the hell splits a game?

[Jayems]

I was lucky enough growing up that I was the only goalie on most teams. It wasn't until I got into midget and junior that I played with others. We played the entire game. Going in cold sucks. So does being the gate boy, but meh. You knew you'd get the entire game next one.

As for missing the big game, one started the tournament/playoffs and then we traded off each game. It was kind of the luck of the draw.

[Northendzone]

my plan is to rotate the goalies - my son is fine with sitting every other game.

[silentsim]

Rotate.

[metallicat]

My team has both goalies dress but one plays the whole game. The goalies agreed on the arrangement. Fine with me.

[Hanni]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

she thinks that with the old way, one goalie is sitting there wasting an hour of his time - one golaie will miss participating in the big game, etc

This is what is wrong with society today, this everyone is equal and should be equally rewarded for participating bs. People like this are the ones who came up with the genius idea of not keeping score during games. You can't keep your kids sheltered from the real world forever. Eventually they need to learn that everyone is not equal and they will be treated as such when they become adults. Why has it become so wrong to allow kids to learn how the real world works through sport and school by actually judging them based on ability? All we are doing as a society is setting them up for failure when they get in to the real world and realize they aren't prepared for it all.

/rant

[hkstylez]

girl coaches don't know jack squat about coaching.

In all seriousness through, I'm just kidding around, like most posts above, it think its wise you split games instead of switching goalies halfway through the game.

It's just not right, maybe if your team was getting arse raped than yea by all means change, but if your up by a goal I wouldn't dare.

[bc-chris]

as a goalie.... you start the game and you play until the end

splitting a game is ridiculous.

let them play every other game, at least you don't have a cold keeper coming in half way thru a game.

if the kid doesn't think that's fair - tough crap.... he'll learn soon enough that life isn't always fair!

[Sample00]

The only time goalies should switch in the middle of the game is preseason and even then, if one is riding a shut out, you approach the goalie sitting in the bench and ask him what he wants to do. There isn't a goalie out there that would ask to go in if the other is riding a shut out.
During regular season you alternate games and if the goalie playing is having an off game, you yank him and throw the other one. Make sure you talk to him and tell him why he for pulled and let him go at it again the next game.

[saskflames69]

On my team (Midget) this year we have 2 goalies. The coaches already told both of them to be prepared to get dressed for every game. One of them will be the starting tendy for the entire season and the other will serve as his back-up, going in when we're up by 5 or 6 or 7 goals or our starter lets in 3 goals on 4 shots. The coaches aren't going to split a game unless those things occur. I assume they'll occasionally let our back-up start against a weaker team. But this is in midget hockey.. when I was in atom, you either played the entire game or you quit and the rest of the game was cancelled. Goalies shouldn't split games, simple as that. If he starts, he finishes.

[HOZ]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

So my sister and I were having this debate (her daughter is a goalie for her ringette team and my son is a goalie for his atom team) - should young goalies play the whole game, or split the game if there are two goalies on the team.

i guess i am old school and feel that the goalie should play the whole game - i'd hate to see a goalie pitch a shutout and then switch the goalie up halfway and send out a fresh goalie who is cold.

she thinks that with the old way, one goalie is sitting there wasting an hour of his time - one golaie will miss participating in the big game, etc

what does the collective hockey minds at CP think? i am especially interested in hearing from those of you who have coached minor hockey.

At that level the Non-playing goalie could be out as a player. That way they are part of the team and not cheer leading.

[hayduke's dad]

My son is a goalie as well. Last year was frustrating as there were 3 goalies for 2 teams. One got to play all the time while the other 2 split. Goalies need to be good skaters and at that level there is no contact so no major safety risk. If I were you I would pick up some cheap player equiptment and have him play out every second game

[kirant]

On my old minor teams, we used to split seasons fairly evenly, but not games. The back up would watch from the bench and play the next game. However, if they weren't showing the same level of dedication as the starter and now developing proper game play attitudes, they would be benched again.

[fleuryisgod]

During atom one goalie should play the entire game and the other should play out. As mentioned earlier a goalie needs to be a strong skater and the best way to improve that is by playing out. They may prefer being in net but actually playing any position improves their game in net and is better then simply watching for a half/full game. Also at atom level (I think 8-9ish years old) a goalie should never be pulled...always let them play the game and always do an even split of games regardless of who the better goalie is.