Some gear help?

[GoaliesStepDad]

Okay I am a step dad to a 7 year old aspiring goalie, and after reading a ton on these boards and other goalie sites I have a few questions. Before the questions though, I just want to say that he is sharing the net this year with another goalie, and playing out on his off weeks, so saving money on equipment would be a plus. To save money his mom decided he could use his player skates and pants when in net, she's cheaper than I am...

His passion is goalie, although he loves playing defense as well, I would like to help him excel with his passion as best possible in the time he has in net.

I have been reading a lot lately on goalie skates and how beneficial they are compared to a player skate, right now he uses his player skates when in net (size 2.5-3 if that matters). Would changing to a goalie skate really make much difference at this point, or just an add expense with little real gain?

While strapping on his pads this weekend, I notice that his player pants don't have any sort of protection on the inner thigh, and seem to be one layer of a stretchy fabric, leaving him wide open to one hell of a stinger should a puck get in there. Is there any sort of extra padding I can get to put in there as a work around to make his mom happy, or should I just come home one day with a pair of goalie pants for him?

Now my last question is so much gear related as instructional videos... I've been checking out a lot of the different videos out there, and reading many of the reviews on here, but can't really get a feel for which one would be best for a young goalie. From those I have looked at Between the pipes and Future Pros seem like they might have the best for young goalies, but I never played net (or hockey for that matter) so I really have no clue. Which instructional video would be best for a young goalie to teach him more of the basics?

Thanks for the help gang.

[cuprajake]

hi,

it is hard when on a budget, but if he gets hurt now it will be hard to shake off. i would say while goalie skates are important at this point shorts first, you can pick up really cheap shorts that will bo him well, he needs thigh and inner leg protection not to mention the lower spine.

goalie skates are completely different to players, they have a longer flat blade, which gets you close to the ice, gives you better protection from the puck as it is encased in a hard plastic cowling, they are also lower on the leg to aid movement, he will have to learn to skate in them though so the younger the better i say on that.

i can only comment on future pro, when i got them i thought they tought the basics very very well and showed very good examples too. it really simplifies it for him and i think this is good, as it teaches the key skills needed for a good foundation.

jake

[GoaliesStepDad]

Thanks Jake

[Jolam80]

Goalie skates are a most. Whitout them, he won't learn how to position himself properly, have less balance and take much more time getting up from a butterfly position. I'm not even talking about his movements around the crease which are very different whit the high, thin and curved blades on players skates. First thing to change. Have a look at the classified on the board or on Ebay for cheap used pairs. It's the first thing he needs.

I've coach goalies for a couple of years and always recommended goalie skates for every begginers.

For the pants, it's a matter of protection. It's the same for the cowling on goalie skates ; it would sure be helpfull but at his level, the most important thing is improving. Pants won't help him improve. Skates will...

I'm not saying protection is not important. You could modified his pants and putt inner legs and back protections (have a look at the mods thread). Or symply wait for a good deal. By the way, you don't want to go with to much added size on skates but it's ok to get him bigger pants. Some goalie wear XXL pants when they have 32 size waist, and are not limited in there movement at all.

P.s. I modified my c/a adding an extra plexus protector by cutting a piece of foam for kids room's floor, glued with a reusable fabric bag. Very light, perfect protection and cost me $8 whit the glue.

[croy33]

goalie skates are a most, my first year in net on ice hockey, coming from a long history of inline goaltending, used player skates. i then finnally bught goalie skates, and the transition was easy, and i noticed a big difference. i would say that the goalie skates are a must. you move much better and get lower. it would be nice if you could get skates and the pants aha

[STLGoalieman]

Check out "play it again sports" cant go wrong there. $30 goalie skates. about the pants, for full protection you need a pair of goal pants ans well as a goalie cup with the pads that extend from the cup. Even on my pro pants, the whole pelvic area is unpadded. I have one of these http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.c..._2017_29879010 where the padding protects the upper groin.

[GoaliesStepDad]

Thanks for the replies guys, guess the wife is just going to have to suck it up when I bring in some new used gear for him.

I have read else where that goalie skates are much like inline skate, more so than player skates. Is this true?

If so he should be able to adjust to goalie skates rather easily as he taught himself how to skate using his older sisters inlines (which were 3 or 4 sizes too big) when he was about 3. He started with one skate and by the time he was 4 he was flying around the house in both, we bought him his own pair at that point. I think he actually inline skates faster and harder than he does on ice skates.

[Cujo_64]

I fell into the step dad role when mine was about 6... now he is 12 and the bond we made was through hockey.... everything grew from there. He started out as a defensemen and then moved to goalie similar to your situation, since I had played goalie for a good 14 years at that time I started working with him... he then changed to goalie full time and now he is a Pee Wee goalie playing in select hockey...

I would recommend getting some goalie pants... used would be good, check ebay if you dont have play it again sports, also check some hockey shops there and get the sizes you need and then go online... places like goalie monkey.com and check their clearance section... they will have some good deals for you. As far as the skates go... until he is definately switching to goalie... you can hold off on those (unless u get a really good deal on them used), however shuffling and t pushing as a goalie would be more difficult without goalie skates....

You can get the dvd's that you were looking for via their sites... Keeks dvd's cover a lot of the basics and would be great for a beginner, BTP seems to be a little more advanced but I think they would still be fine. Also check youtube for some videos of drills and skating basics and that should help get you and him going for now. any questions, please feel free to ask.

Rob

[GoaliesStepDad]

Thanks for the advice Rob.

DVD will likely be for Christmas, even though the season will be part way over. He's been using NHL08 on the XBox 360 as his learning tool, standing in front of the tv with his pads and gloves watching the goalies and doing what he sees. He does the same thing when watching Toskala and the Leafs.

These boards are great, I have picked up a lot here since I started reading the boards that I have been able to pass on to him.

My wifes says I am living my dream through him, as I always wanted to be a goalie myself, but never made it past the whole skating thing... But honestly if he didn't show the passion for goalie I wouldn't pressure him either way, so long as he is having fun.

[blacksv1]

I am also budget conscious, so I do my research online or go to one of the local hockey shops and educate myself on gear fit and quality and know what the equipment is really worth. Then I keep an eye on eBay for deals. I find the resale shops are overpriced and I get much better deals on eBay or once in a while on clearance from an online retailer. Sometimes it's trial and error, but I usually get my money back through eBay if something doesn't work for me. I agree that skates make the biggest difference. Not too many 7 year olds can get the puck off the ice yet, so it might be a good time to start getting used to the skates if he really really wants to play goalie. The good thing about kids' stuff is that they outgrow equipment fast, so someone else's loss can be your gain.

[SNOW57]

Thats awesome dude. always love to hear when a kids got an inspirational person in there life. gear at his age is a lil cheaper. good used stuff on ebay and stores around town. keep up the fatherly work man its always nice to read stuff like this.

[rocki033]

I started on player skates in ice. At his age the shots will not hurt if they hit his player skates. Same with the pants. I grew up on used, and borrowed equipment until I was 15. It went a long way in making me focus on other ways to improve then the equipment.
Now this is not to say skipping going to chucky cheeses one time to afford some used skates and pants wont be worth it, or putting him to work to help pay for them if he wants it.

as for advise, I would ask a goalie thats a little older to work with him in some practices. Pay them a few bucks or most adult goalies will do it for free a few times.

[old G]

The skates are a must. It just is not the same to play in player skates.

I grew up playing in player pants and only got goalie pants as an adult. Once in a blue moon would I get a good one in the inner thigh. It builds character.

You can mod player pants. Make a little pouch in the right spots of the inner thigh so you can pop in the extra padding when he is in the nets.

[GoaliesStepDad]

Thanks guys.

Been looking around on ebay for some skates as I have to agree with most used stores I have checked out seem over priced on used gear.

Between Koho 580, Bauer Reactor 1000 or Bauer Supreme 1000 which would be the better choice for him? Koho became the RBK series didn't they?

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I should likely add, that he has been goalie before, he's played goal in Tyke (they alternate between all the players in net) for two years, Summer 3 on 3 hockey he played net full time (his team won their division), and he also played net this summer for the local tyke rep Lacrosse team (for his first year in lacrosse I think he did an amazing job in net).

I have to admit I was prouder than proud (even had to fight back some tears) when at a tournament I over heard a coach from another team say how amazing the goalie was on our team. Up until that point my son had been beating himself up over the fact that his team hadn't won very many games, and felt it was because of him.

[GoaliesStepDad]

Quick question, as far as quality and protection which would be better for my son.

Itech 4.8 Prodigy c/a protection or McKenney Instinct 355 c/a?

I found used ones on ebay, and being he is out growing his old one (and his dad went out an bought him goalie skate, saving me the money) I figured I would get one of them with used pants. Not sure which would be better, in terms of quality and protection, but I am leaning towards the McKenney.

Any thoughts?