Splitting Goalie Time

[mikebu 0]

My son will be splitting time with another goalie. Every week they play a game on saturday and sunday. What do you goalies think is best: each kid playing one entire game or splitting both games? His coach is trying to decide which way is best. This is at the Squirt 9-10 year old level.

I am leaning towards suggesting playing one entire game each weekend...

[DCott 0]

I split time for many years in youth hockey, and I really preferred playing half of every game. I personally hated having to show up for a 7am game an hour away in which I knew I wasn't going to be playing.

[mikebu 0]

I have never played goalie...

But wasn't it hard going into a close game halfway through when you had sat on the bench for half the game?

[cbj05 0]

But wasn't it hard going into a close game halfway through when you had sat on the bench for half the game?

It's also hard to switch goalies in the middle of the game if the one who starts is on fire.

Anyways, if it is Squirt hockey, why do you have 2 goalies?

[jason37 2]

I always rotated games when I had to goalies ... never wanted to put one in "cold".

[tro 4]

I would go with one entire game, gives them a sense of accomplishment to win and play the entire game, sucks to watch your kid sit on the bench though, they should let him play out the other game.

The two goalie system led to me quiting hockey at the age of 14, I never understood why teams had to have two goalies. At least I didn't have to start sharing time until I was 13. But young goalies should be able to play every game, there is no logical reason for it(I am still pissed about it 13 yrs later) I will not let either of my boys play goal for this reason.

[jeffw 1]

My boy & another boy swicth up every game. They hate splitting up a game, especially if the first guy is going good.

[Wolfpack_1986 154]

honestly, best way would be to sit the two kids down and see what they'd like to do. If they both want it one way problem solved.

If they cant decide, try one weekend one way the next weekend the other. After that, try to pick the best one.

[tiki21 0]

at that age, shouldn't they just split the games so they both get involved.. its squirt hockey, doesn't mean that much.. as the get older, peewees they should probably start playing whole games, so they can condition themselves in a sense, and get ready to play whole games.. i don't know of bantam or midget goalies that play half a game.. at least not at higher levels..

[Chadd 916]

The USA Hockey push has always been for kids that age to split games and I have to agree with that. The extra focus and endurance needed to play three periods just isn't there for most kids that age.

[DCott 0]

Fellas: the reason youth teams have two goalies is that it just isn't fair to a 9-10 year old to cut him (unless it's at a select/high level tryout).

I was great coming off the bench: the exact opposite of every other goalie I had as a teamate. I had no problem watching the first half, and coming in cold.

It was also sometimes an advantage to throw in a different goalie, especially if his style is much different than the first one. It can take a period and a half sometimes to figure out how to score on a goalie you've never played before. Then you put in a goalie that plays the game a completely different way, and the other team has to adjust again.

[Zamboni 6]

9-10 is Minor Atom and Atom here in Ontario, by that age we have AAA-AA-A-AE calibre levels with Select and house(tiered in some centers)under the rep teams. The AAA to AE teams almost to a rule give goalies full games at that age, exhibitions are usually shared. Select and house level teams with 2 goalies dressed have them share so they both play each game....but often have goalies play forward when its not their scheduled game.

That would cause an unacceptable delay in rep if starting goalie got hurt-and not many goalies could play AAA as a forward. If your squirt team is not a top travelling team why not let goalie not scheduled play out, especially in games the team doesn't have 9 forwards? Even if the goalie is 10th forward he'd have more fun as 10th forward/occasional shift than sitting.

[Clark12 0]

I coach 8-12 year olds and each goalie would usually get half a game.

I do this because one of the goalies is a lot better than the other. For the first half I would put out the stronger netminder and send the team out to rack up the goals so that when we put the weaker goalie in there's more of a margin for error.

If both of your goalies are of a similar standard however I would recommend just giving them a game each.

[rwshockey55 0]

I coach a team with two 14 year old goalies, which i know is a little bit older than your son, but each goalie plays a full game. Just makes coaching a lot easier i think. I find the kids like playing a full game better than be taken out half way through.

[chk hrd 164]

why not let one play out instead of sit. It will make them better skaters and give them an idea on whats going on outide of the crease

[5minutesforfighting 0]

As a player, I'd feel more comfortable having my goalie play 1 full game, instead of splitting. Reason being, I don't like having to worry about a "cold" goalie, while the rest are warmed up and have been playing for 30 minutes.