Equipment confidence

HockeyPlayer.com

In Goal
Equipment confidence
By Mitch Korn
Jul 24, 2002, 14:01

Pick a goal pad with adequate protection from just above the knees down to the ankles. Photo courtesy Vaughn Hockey.

Very often we see a goalkeeper who seems puck shy, and will “pull-up” on a shot. We tend to think he is afraid of the puck, but his fear is actually caused by lack of confidence in his equipment.

Equipment confidence is a state of mind that greatly affects the goalkeeper’s movements. A goalkeeper without equipment confidence feels unsafe and hesitates before making a move. As a result, he often pulls up, taking his eyes off the puck. This pulling-up motion hinders all other movements of a goalkeeper. He is literally afraid. Obviously, a goalie cannot consistently stop what he cannot see, and unless his eyes are on the puck, he’ll have a tough time making the save.

Our responsibility as coaches and parents is to see that our goaltenders are properly protected, and have enough equipment confidence to get the job done. Many people, however, do not know how to achieve this.

Confidence lacking

The biggest areas where equipment confidence is lacking are in the shoulder, arm, and chest regions. Many goalkeepers use equipment supplied by local youth hockey associations, and unfortunately that equipment is often inadequate. The equipment is sometimes “broken down” due to overuse, or it fits the youngster poorly.

Many equipment companies mass produce arm pads with each arm padded identically. Goalkeepers, however, use each arm differently, with the catch-side needing more padding inside the arm, and the stick-side arm needing maximum elbow protection. Overall, assembly-line goalkeeper arm and shoulder pads often fall short of the protection needed at the age level for which they were designed. In general, arm pads should be rated to protect the goalkeeper at least one level above that which he is playing.

Today, due to technology, materials and design, the equipment is much better than in the past. There is no excuse for putting a youngster in goal with poor body gear.

A second area of concern is the thigh region protected by the hockey pants. A goalie’s pants should be loose fitting, and suspenders are better than a belt. No matter what type of pants the goalkeeper now owns, they can be fairly easily upgraded at home. In the thigh-pad area, replace the thin plastic thigh pad with a high density rubber coated pad (football-type) which can be purchased at most sport shops. The inside and outside of the thigh can be strengthened by sewing in foam from any upholstery shop. In all goal equipment, especially the arm pads and hockey pants, the goalkeeper may sew in added padding where needed.

A third area of concern is the inside of the leg pads, ranging from just above the knee down to the ankles. Inadequate protection will inhibit the goalkeeper’s ability to make saves. Many goal-pad manufacturers, assembly line or custom, are now including either limited or complete inside-leg protection. Every goalkeeper should have some type of inside-leg protection. Should a pair of pads lack this protection, it can either be purchased or made with foam (or thick, rolled cotton) sandwiched between leather (or its equivalent) and slid onto the goal-pad straps.

No goaltender should play without a throat protector. Photo courtesy Vaughn Hockey.

Skate protection, too

Surrounding the ankle, most goal skates do provide the necessary protection. There are many young goalkeepers without specifically-designed goalie skates, and that is fine, but in those cases ankle guards should always be worn.

A goalkeeper must have full use of the goal stick. At almost all levels, this no problem. However, I have noticed that many mite- and squirt-level goalkeepers are provided with stick gloves that have “mitten-type” hands rather than the normal palm.

These mitten-types restrict the use of the stick and are inadequate. Some goalies, in an attempt to be “fashionable,” use gloves that are too big. That can also cause stick-control problems.

Finally, no goalkeeper should play without a throat protector. There are a number of different styles, serving different functions. One style which hangs from the mask is primarily designed to protect the throat from the impact of pucks, while another, a “collar-type,” shields the arteries and veins from lacerations. Ideally, both should be utilized.

Goalkeeping equipment which affects equipment confidence has a direct relationship on a goalkeeper’s moves and performance. It is important that the goalkeeper has the best protective equipment, and that it fits properly.

It is the responsibility of coaches, parents, and goalkeepers themselves to be aware of the options available to better protect the most important player on the ice—the goalkeeper. l

Mitch Korn is the goaltender coach for the Nashville Predators of the NHL. In addition, he is an administrator at Miami University (Ohio) and directs the 8-week Summer Hockey School. Miami has Division I ice hockey in the CCHA.