Help! My 6 year old is really interested in playing goalie. What do I need to know?
Goaltending is an interesting position. It is a bit isolated from the team and tends to appeal to kids who are not quite as team-oriented and a little more “inside their head.”
It is also stressful for parents, because the goaltender is the only player who is always on the ice, and every goal against goes past them. It can be hard to avoid feeling like it is “their fault” when games do not go well. Goaltending (especially with very young kids) is hard on kids who dwell on failures or mistakes, and it works better for kids who let things slide without too much worry.
Young kids also struggle with boredom when play is in the other end for 5 to 10 minutes at a time and they have to stand and watch without getting too distracted. It is a small thing, but some kids hate the position because of it.
Where can I find pads?
Most hockey organizations I have worked with have free goaltender pads for 6-year-old players who are just testing the position.
Most goaltenders decide after a year or so and get their own pads. There is an active market for used kids goalie gear, since they outgrow it every couple of years and goalie pads last for years.
You can start goaltender work as a 6-year-old with player skates and a player helmet. After a while, probably within a year, they will want goalie skates, which are more effective for the necessary movements once the basics are down. A goalie helmet can come a year later as kids begin to shoot higher and harder. A significant padded neck protector is recommended as well.
How much does it cost?
The cost is a little higher than for normal skaters, mainly due to equipment, but as the player gets older they often start to get discounted or free ice time. Many adult league goaltenders pay nothing to play, because teams really love reliable goaltenders.
Hockey leagues often range from about $400 to $1800 per season (more at the highest levels). Goalie pads will probably run another $600 or so every 2 years (versus roughly $150 per year for a skater).
Ice time is still usually the biggest cost, even for a goaltender, though equipment is more noticeable.
Be aware of the challenges
One caution: some kids get a little obsessed with the goalie equipment (pads, helmets, big stick, and so on), but after a couple of rough games in net they are done, because they do not handle the pressure above very well.
Most Tyke or mini-mite (6-year-old) teams rotate goalies so every skater can try the position. Only after seeing them in a few games, and how they handle it, would I recommend going all-in as a parent. We strongly discourage 5- to 7-year-old players from settling on a position, since preferences often change.
Get them into a hockey program with loaner pads. Make sure the coach knows your kid wants to play goalie a lot, but they should also learn to skate out and play as a skater, at least at first.
Bottom line
Let a 6-year-old try net with loaner gear, watch how they handle the quiet minutes and the rough games, and keep them skating out too. Do not lock in a position this early.
Coaches who are planning practices and diagramming drills for those young teams can use RosterFX.
