Recruiting and First Steps for Young Goalies: When and How to Start?

Becoming a goalie is more than just wearing the gear and standing in the crease. It’s a long-term process that requires solid technical, physical, and motivational foundations. Specializing too early can be counterproductive, while allowing young players to explore different roles and build the right skills before committing to goaltending ensures a stronger future in the position.

At What Age Should a Child Become a Goalie?

This is a question many parents and coaches ask. Some clubs organize structured goalie training sessions for kids as young as 6 or 7 years old, but is it really the right time to specialize?

The best answer is no. Before committing to the goalie position, a child must master skating and experience playing as a skater for at least 3-4 years. Depending on the club and the age they start, this means that a child can begin playing as a full-time goalie between 8 and 10 years old.

Why Not Earlier?

Ice hockey is a complex sport requiring a mix of technical, physical, and cognitive skills. Most children start hockey schools at around 4 or 5 years old, a time when they are still learning balance, skating, and basic puck control.

To become a good goalie, a player must first be a strong skater. Without solid skating skills, a young goalie will struggle with technical movements, quick changes in direction, and the balance needed to keep up with the game. This can create a technical gap that is hard to overcome later.

Additionally, playing as a skater early on helps children develop basic hockey sense, which will be crucial when they need to read plays and anticipate game situations as a goalie.

Motivational Aspects and Choosing the Position

Beyond technique, motivation plays a key role. Kids should have the chance to explore different positions before making an informed choice. Experiencing both skating and goaltending allows them to understand what they truly enjoy.

At this stage, coaches should observe who shows natural aptitude for the goalie position. Some abilities, like reading shots and staying in the shooting line, are partially innate. If a child consistently turns away from shots or reacts in the wrong direction, they may not be suited for goaltending in the long run.

Allowing a child to play goalie without these essential traits could shorten their hockey experience. If they struggle too much, they might lose interest and quit the sport.

The Goalie Recruitment and Development Process

The first step is to observe children in U9 games, watching how they perform in goal and talking to them about their aspirations. If a child has no interest in being a goalie, there’s no point in forcing it.

By the U12 level (around age 8-10), clubs usually decide who will be the designated goalies. At this stage, specialized training begins.

During the initial summer training period, the focus is on:

• On-ice skating to develop agility and control.

• Off-ice coordination to improve balance and reaction speed.

Once a week, a 30-minute skating session is dedicated to goalies, but without too much technical instruction at first. The goal is to let them experience the position naturally.

 When the first season in goal begins, training shifts towards:

• Skating (at least two sessions per week).

• Basic techniques: positioning, simple saves, and puck handling.

The goalie coach becomes crucial at this stage, correcting and reinforcing techniques so that good habits develop early. Over the first 4-5 years, training should be structured and direct—this is not the time for a democratic approach. The fundamentals must be learned properly from the start.

Do you have personal experience with this topic? Are you a coach or a parent facing this decision? Share your thoughts in the comments!