goalie schools

Hi I'am looking for some help in finding good goalie instruction for my 7 year old son, he's been working very hard since age 5 and really seems to want to continue in the crease, he's totally fearless and loves to right in the middle of the action. Myself as his dad try as well as i can to help him with the basic,s (I don't want to be like the goalie parent's i read about in the doctor's column) got him to work with our local ahl team when they have their local hockey camp for youngster's. He's played two season's on a roller hockey league the second year taking the championship losing only 1 game,and presently in his second season of ice hockey. I really want to see that he is continually tested and striving to improve. Can anyone suggest good goalie instruction.... we're living in maine and are open to travel to the midwest states or canada. Thank you....

[Bryan]

The most important thing that cannot be stressed enough is this: He is WAY too young to be sticking to playing only goalie. It is imperative that he play out at least as often as he plays goal at that age.

Yes ! I'am sorry I did not mention that in his ice hockey league he does play out, and gets the call to play net for 1 out 10 games and 1 in 5 practices, but the pee wee teams come and ask him to play net for scrimage's as all teams only have 1 set of goalie equipment, hence only 1 goalie, the other kids really like him and encourage him and praise him when he makes the hard stops.SO what about a good goalie school?

[blackman34]

I went to the Jim Park goalie school a few years back and I've got to say, it improved my game 1000%! They know what they're talking about, and they're damn good at teaching it. But be warned, it is quite intense. I was in high school when I took it, and in pretty good shape. I lost about 9 pounds that week. I think it's 5 hours on ice a day. that's A LOT. I don't know how it is for young kids. I guess it all depends on his age. You might want to just check out local rinks for goalie clinics. He might not learn as much, or from experts, but he'll still learn.

Check out the videos. they're kind of expensive, and the first one is a bit old but the position hasn't changed all that much. I still review it every once in a while and I've been playing for 12 years!

BTW, the camp is in Toronto during the summer. I think they've got a web page.

also, check out the Huron schools in teh states. I've heard good things about them. can't speak for them myself though.
...and that's all I've got to say about that

I would recommend that you begin with a local clinic/camp. My son is 10 and has been skating out, playing goal 50/50 for 5 years now. His first choice is no question goal. He has attended 3 different goal programs, Rick Heinz 1 week camp during the summer in Connecticut, Puck Stoppers 1 week summer camp in Mass. and a group called Goalie Academy out of Mass during last season. His first camp was Puck Stoppers and it was an awakening. It was very intense and being his first formal goal instruction he learned a ton and came away MUCH improved. All 3 camps have had different styles of coaching but each has been valuable. He had the most fun at Rick Heinz. Thats important too. He's also attended 3 general camps. He did NOT receive any constructive goal coaching at any of those. Strictly a target. An advantage of a local coach is I've had a coach come watch some of my sons games. They can then offer additional instruction based on actual game performance. Different things show up in games than at a practice. All the goal programs he's attended have recommended trying other programs as well as returning to theirs of course. Each kid is different. What works for one may not work for another. Rick Heinz runs a skill competition the last day which (I'm bragging now) my son won. I think his success had a lot to do with his attendance at the other programs and his strong skating skills from skating out 50%. Finally I try to watch a lot of the clinics so I can learn drills that I can bring back to his team practices. You've got to keep him from just being a target during the season.

Jim Park's goalie school web address is

www.jimpark.com

Check out www.goaltending.net, I have met the instructors of Tretiak's camp, (they are running a local clinic now here), and it's goos stuff...

I'm also looking for a good camp for my 11 year old son during the summer and am considering Tretiak, Jim Park and Puckstoppers. I'm leaning toward Puckstoppers beacause they're affiliated with Source for Sports London and I really like dealing with them.

[badgerit]

I'm 17 and I haven't had the chance of professional instruction yet. I REALLY WANT INSTRUCTION, but I don't know how to get it. I've looked at brochures and stuff, and the age groups all end at 17 years old...I'll be 18 by the summer. Can anyone offer some help? Forge documents?

[Squealagig]

Maybe try just phoning them up saying you'll be 18 they may say no but they might be able to reccomend someplace else or tell you about some other program they have.

I guess I'm kind of in the same possition but I havn't really looked too hard but I haven't really noticed age limits but maybe I just missed them.

I just do not live by any of them so I will have to bribe the Huntington Blizzard camp director to have one of his goalies to come.

[bashby]

More help needed. My family have just about decided to take a summer vacation around the Vancouver area. My son would be taking a week long goalie day camp which would allow me and my wife to sightsee during the day.

Sooo, I would like to here some pro's and con's about any goalie camps in the area. And while I am thinking about it, the way I stumbled across the goaliestore site to begin with was through a page of links about goalie schools, however, I don't seem to be able to find any info on this site about their school. One camp under serious consideration is the GoldintheNet camp.

I'm really hoping Brett could chime in since I think I remember reading in another post that he taught in the area and might have some inside info.

[Brett]

bashby, call The Goalie Store. 1-800-661-4855. Talk with Paul Fricker. He is just in the process of finalising a move to a new and improved location, inside one of Vancouver's best ice rink facilities. He is going to be doing a lot of programs, and i think it best to talk directly to him.

I used to teach with Paul in Vancouver, and in fact began as one of his students close to 15 years ago. Now I live in Connecticut. I had the opportunity to work with a number of "Goalie Coaches" through my playing years, and can say in all sincerity that I have never worked with anyone with the innate ability to teach playing and understanding the position at a skilled level that Paul posesses.

If the student who will be attending the camp has a serious mental commitment to bettering his game, you will not go wrong. If the student is looking for a fun time, the chance to meet and yuck it up with some other goalies, and some ice time, go to Perry Eldrabloom's Gold in the Net program.

Good luck.

[This message has been edited by Brett (edited January 13, 2000).]

[bashby]

Thanks Brett for the info. I appreciate your time and opinion. I will certainly give Paul a call. My son is eight (will just have turned 9 at the time of the camp) and is very serious at becoming a better goalie, buut he is still at an age where having fun is important as well. The primary focus of the trip is for him to have a positive experience at the camp, both as far as knowledge/experienced gained and having fun. It is not the case that we were going to vancouver anyway and needed a place to drop him off for babysitting.

Any other schools in the area that you would rate as 2nd or 3rd in case the scheduling or whatever does not work out with Paul. I would like to have a good backup plan as well.

Thanks, again
cheers, brad

Brad, another school that you could look into that operates in the Vancouver area is Proformance Goalie Schools (sorry, can't remember their URL). I don't know if their any good or not, anybody else know? Brett, which rink is Paul moving to and is he moving his production facilities as well?