"Indian" midget

[stollie_the_goalie]

My name is Mike, and I have a height deficiency. When in my stance, my head barely touches the crossbar. I have developed a crick in my neck from constantly having to look up at people, and my stilts wear down faster than my stick blade. Many 4'9" 12-year-olds encounter these troubles.

But the real problem is, I keep letting in top-shelf goals that I can't even reach. I'm always out on top of the crease, positioned correctly, and sometimes I even jump, but I keep letting pucks go in right over my shoulder. This problem is especially magnified being that I get about 10 shots every game from about 5 feet away with nobody within 6 feet. The shooters are growing better, but I'm not growing taller.

Is there anything I can do about this, besides taking growth hormones?

[bedris]

Talk to Darren Pang, and see if he can help you out, Satinder.

[streethockeygoalie]

Stollie, the only thing I can think of to help you is to just challenge alot more, and be very quick moving around to make up for your aggresivness. And, don't worry, you will grow


BTW, I am 6ft1

[StartingGoalie]

Eventually, me, a 5'1" 12 year old lets a few in over his shoulder too. Only in his crouch, though.
Anyway, you could try to reach up your left-hand shoulder with your glove to try and block or deflect it somewhere. Like this:
_0o; _= Right Shoulder, 0= Head, o=Glove over your left shoulder.
A cheater would help on your glove with this, too.
Also, have some teammates shoot over your shoulders and you can practice trying to stop/block/deflect the shots in some other way or form.
But on your right side, your helmet COULD help block some too.

[TartanBill]

First, you are not "height deficient"! You are "vertically challanged"!

Second, it is time to use your head for something other than keeping your helmet warm. Think this through. The crease is 6 ft in radius. If the shooter is another 5 feet out (make it 6 just to make it even) then a puck just under the cross bar will be exactly two feet high when it crosses the top of the crease!

Keep working on your lateral quickness, and make sure you are square and centered on the shot. Don't cheat your gloves high, but keep those gloves in front of you!

Of course the shooters are all taller than you and are looking downward. Being rather dim, they assume that there is really a lot of net up high. Mr. puck for brains cannot even think like a puck and see the game from the puck's perspective. They will then wonder how they missed high or worse, hit your glove that was so low!

Bon chance oh diminutive one.

[Matt#30]

Originally posted by streethockeygoalie
BTW, I am 6ft1

SUUUURE....GO AHEAD AND BRAG UP YOUR HEIGHT TO ALL US 5'0 16 YEAR OLDS HERE ....................

And stollie, maybe your having a problem i used to have. My stance used to be extreamly "compact" (low) I was always kinda leaned more forward than upright. After seeing a photo of myself in my stance, i realized that could be one reason i was always getting beat upstrairs. I've never seen your stance, so i cant really comment on it, but this might just be a minor problem your having.

[Hall the Wall]

I'm 6'1 too and I'm only 15. When i'm in my stance my mid back hits the crossbar.
Eric

[TartanBill]

Matt brings up a very good point. Try to get some stills and some video. The visual feedback will be invaluable. Make sure that when in your stance, either on your skates or your knees, you are both compact and big. Try to see what you are doing when those shots go top shelf and see where they are really going.

If you want to be daring, you should experiment with alternate stances. In some situations e.g. long shots, you might sacrifice compactness for even more bigness.

Finally, don't worry. You won't be 4'9" forever. Even if you end up relatively small, what works as a 12 year old will not work as a 15 year old, which will not work as an adult. At 12, you are in the intermediate stage. You should be consolidating your basic skills and may be ready for more advanced concepts like looking off the puck.

It is still too early to be overly concerned with your style or results. Experiment.

Of course, soon you'll discover girls, and forget all about hockey.

[Old Swiss2]

First, I would stop smoking, or at least cut it down to a pack a day. If not, try something with a filter on it.

Second, a few months ago Goalie's World had an issue featuring Arturs Irbe, another vertically challenged goalie. In it he explained why his height is not a detriment. There is also some decent writing by Mitch Korn on the positive attributes of smaller goalies.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. Growth comes in spurts. My brother in law for instance, was a member of the Lollipop Guild in high school. By the time he graduated college he was 6'4".

Old Swiss2

[BLADEZ]

Originally posted by stollie_the_goalie
My name is Mike, and I have a height deficiency.

Well seeing as we are all introuducing ourselves , My name is Andy and I'm an alcaho...... oops , wrong room

But seriously, get out there , challange the shooters and if possable , use that melon of yours for a change, it might hurt thorugh your *cough*cough*jofa*rubbish*cough*cough* but hell , you've never used that brain of yours before y not start now

Bladez

[stollie_the_goalie]

Yeah, I guess I will have to use my head more. I come out to challenge at least 2 feet above the crease, and my stance is very upright (looked at stills and action video), but the fact is that I have no size. I'll try just knocking them down with my head. I always seem to think of doing it, but I never do. Maybe I need to knock some sense into myself.

Thanks for all the help. I appreciae it.

[Steve L]

As long as we're talking size, I was 5'10" at 14 when I made my first travel team. Now at (almost) 45 I'm 5'9" (and a pinch). Age and a couple of compressed disks in your back will do that to you!

I went from 5'4" to 5'10" in three months between 7th and 8th grade. That was a painful summer!

But Stollie, fear not. Until you finish growing, just study the vertical angles and adjust your positioning out a little farther.

[kevinthenet]

Maybe the big kids would let you play during the intermissions?
That would be adorable! And if you got beat, no problem. Everyone was in the bathroom anyway

[stollie_the_goalie]

LOL! What intermissions?

Steve, that must be what's happening to me. my knees and back have been absolutely killing me lately! I was even thinking of getting knee braces for when I play hockey because I get a combonation of sharp and dull pains. I also feel it popping sometimes. Not good.

[streethockeygoalie]

Stollie, getting knee braces is a very good idea, your knees will thank you I have the Ace bandage brand blue ones. They are very good Check em out