Suggestions needed

[old hippy]

I have a son who is a first year mites goalie(age 8). What I would like to know is if anyone might have a suggestion as to where to find a training video with some basic training techniques? I don't have the resources to make frequent trips to Dallas or OKC to do clinics, nor can we easily afford private lessons. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[fangers]

We've never used videos, but I've heard these two sites have pretty decent stuff:

www.sportsnationvideo.com/hockey.html?gclid=CMXAtsXZ5pACFRuhFQodBTLrXA

www.goaliecentre.com/videos.shtml

There are two books that my son found very helpful:

Hoceky Goaltending by Brian Daccord

The Hockey Goalie's Handbook by Jim Corsi and John Hannon

[old hippy]

Thanks. I really appreciate the info.

[mctopeka]

oldhippy said:

I have a son who is a first year mites goalie(age 8). What I would like to know is if anyone might have a suggestion as to where to find a training video with some basic training techniques? I don't have the resources to make frequent trips to Dallas or OKC to do clinics, nor can we easily afford private lessons. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Hippy have you talked to the Goalies in Wichita Falls and see if one of them would like to earn a little extra money? $50.00 would probably cover a lesson or three. That's a whole lot more than a regular clinic would cost and help the kid earn a little spending cash.

[CleverCat]

..what a great idea, McTopeka! Always great for players to have the opportuniity go 'give back' to hockey.

[old hippy]

Actually, yes we have. We are working on something along those lines, but were also looking for stuff that we could work on in the back yard. Stuff to give him a little skull practice as well.

[fangers]

For off-ice look for hand-eye exercises (like bouncing tennis ball off wall/etc.) that he can do around the house. Stretching will help with flexibility as he gets older. My son also loved for me to play knee hockey with him, shooting tape balls at him in the basement while he had his glove & blocker...it was fun and it really worked on his reflexes & hand/eye stuff.

Let him roller blade all he can, with plenty of puckhandling and shooting - goalies have to skate well and the better they can control the puck the better he'll be when he gets older. And it can be fun, something different than playing goalie - don't want to go overboard with the "goalie stuff" all the time at that early age for fear of them burning out. My goalie has skated out playing inline every spring/summer for years and now his skating and puck handling are considered strengths.

Videos etc are great too, but be aware of their attention span at that age and keep it fun too.

[old hippy]

We have done the ball over the shoulder thing, except using his pitchback. He got the goalie bug playing ball hockey over the summer. Last year he skated as a forward and had some success scoring. He had never shown any interest in being a bull's-eye, but the problem was that his team was a house team playing in a travel league and getting beat by 15, 20 or even 30 goals every game. Not fun. This season the league he is in is playing in an all- house and rec league, which is a much better fit. Nothing worse than watching your kids' confidence get beat to hell by being stomped every game and having to listen to the other team's parents talking among themselves about how bad they suck.

[simontemplar]

oldhippy said:

We have done the ball over the shoulder thing, except using his pitchback. He got the goalie bug playing ball hockey over the summer. Last year he skated as a forward and had some success scoring. He had never shown any interest in being a bull's-eye, but the problem was that his team was a house team playing in a travel league and getting beat by 15, 20 or even 30 goals every game. Not fun. This season the league he is in is playing in an all- house and rec league, which is a much better fit. Nothing worse than watching your kids' confidence get beat to hell by being stomped every game and having to listen to the other team's parents talking among themselves about how bad they suck.

If they are getting beat by 20 goals I think they need to change leagues.

Like suggested already get one guy from the NAHL or even their Goalie Coach who might want to make some extra cash.

Where are you at in Cincinatti ?

I could probably find something for you if I know where your at.

[Marc Foster]

Cincy, Simon? Hippy is in Wichita Falls. Fangers is in Cincy.

[old hippy]

Actually, the situation was partly a matter of the coach doing everything possible to get games with anyone he could. Some of the teams involved also misrepresented themselves. This year we are in an actual league comprised of house teams. Much better fit. The Youth Program here is only about 4 years old, and until this year most of the games were between each other.

[stlfan]

oldhippy said:

Actually, the situation was partly a matter of the coach doing everything possible to get games with anyone he could. Some of the teams involved also misrepresented themselves. This year we are in an actual league comprised of house teams. Much better fit. The Youth Program here is only about 4 years old, and until this year most of the games were between each other.

OH, I have a suggestion...GET HIM OUT!!!! Haven't you heard? All goaltenders are nut jobs!!! Ya know...screw loose...not right in the head!!! ;D

[old hippy]

He comes by it honest.....

FWIW-- this year he is 8-5, .785, 4.2 GAA with 2 shutouts