Fat Firstime Goalies, unite....?

holyground · Peewee Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 5

Hey all.

I know you receive countless "halp, I'm a noob" posts, but I'm looking for a specific set of information, and couldn't find it at all.

So I'm fat. I also want to play goal.

I'm 28, 6'5" and started this year weighing 400 lbs. Since march, I'm down to 380ish, and my pant size is around a 52. I haven't played sports in 10 years (hence the gut). On a lark, I signed up for a street hockey tournament in June.

I've been working out most days now, was going to be on defense (still might) but my goalie's passport isn't finalized yet. (we're going to canada for the Walter Gretzky tournament). In a pick-up street hockey game, no one wanted to be goalie so I strapped on some of the pads and went to work. It was oodles of fun.

anyways, Here are my questions:

I'm starting out for street hockey and have a limited amount of funds. I've seen several ways of messuring equipment, but, like I said before I'm big. I have an atk of 19.5-20, depending on what is meant by "middle of the knee"

So:

Does anyone know of extra large equipment? The only thing I'm really worried about is goalie pants. Are there alternatives to those? I didn't wear any during my stint as goalie and have a massive bruise to prove it.

I'm out of shape and probably won't be doing butterflies in June. Does anyone have any references to styles other than butterfly?

Any tips on posititioning/stances for really tall people?

What's wrong with those marvel itech masks?

any links or references for this obese sucker?

Thanks.

ps. I also can't skate. Any fat guy skating referals would also be appreciated.

puckstopper135 · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 3:23 pm Post subject:

1) Since you said you can't skate, I'm assuming it's an inline tournament? If so, go out and grab a set of roller blades and do a hell of a lot of skating. Start off on the sidewalk or side of the road, where you can fall onto the grass if you lose your balance. Then start skating while carrying a stick, it helps with balance. Then once you're used to that, do it while trying to stickhandle with a tennis ball.
2) For practicing as a defenceman, or any position except goalie really, just grab a stick and tennis ball and stickhandle around in an open area. Grab a couple pylons and stickhandle around those.
3) For most goalie equipment you can watch ebay pretty closely, it's pretty easy to grab some good deals on there. For goalie pads... again, this comes down to what kind of street hockey you're playing. Street hockey as in on the cement that kids always play outside on? Or the kind of indoor street hockey, where the court is smooth? if it's real "street" hockey, I'd say just grab the cheapest set you can, and put them through a one-time usage, where they'll get torn to shreds after playing, since the surface is rough. Are you playing with a ball or a puck? Obviously you want protection as well.
4) Styles other than butterfly: Stand-up, or you might even be able to pull off a hybrid style, depending on how much you work out. If you're going stand-up, obviously most of your game will be cutting off the top half of the net, and standing up for the most part. Tricky part will be when shooters start shooting low on you, and you'll be forced to react faster with your feet. Hybrid would involve doing some butterflies. This would require more work on your part... as in, grab a set of knee pads for now, and practice going onto your knees and getting up as fast as you can. Do something like 20 of them in a row, take a minute breather, and do 5 sets total. It's a good workout.
5) Positioning/stances, I'll let the tall people of this forum answer that. I'd be of no help, I'm only 5'4".
6) Itech masks generally would be okay for street hockey if you're playing with a ball. If you're using a puck, I'd say to stay away from the lower end models. I had an Itech (don't know the model number) and I had constant ringers because of it. And that was only Bantam age...
7)
www.goalieforum.com ( Wink

)
www.ebay.ca
www.goaliemonkey.com (check the clearance outlet since you can find some good deals there)

hope this helps Smile

holyground · Peewee Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 5

I guess it would be clearer if I said I was playing a dek hockey tournament. So no skates/blades at all. mylec ball. On an outdoor dek hockey surface.

Thanks for the grass comment. I'm afraid to fall down and shatter my knees. lol.

anyone with experience in larger than life goalie pants?

Arthriticbutterflystyle · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 4:19 pm Post subject:

Returning2MyNet · Minors Joined: 09 Mar 2009 Posts: 379

your bigger than me and my Ankle to knee is 19.25 and Im in a soild 38" You are too.
MY Itech Hp pros are xxl and big on me.
I have some Size 11 koho goalie skates worn for a year that I can sell you cheap
dont get an ITech cheapo, your a grown man and you will eventually take a shot from a guy witha shot and you will get your bell rung! I have a custom painted NXI phantom back up mask no cage that I can sell you for 75, a cage is avail for 75 and your mask will be far better than the nxi el cheapo.
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Slinky · Minors Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Posts: 471 Location: Canton, GA

holyground,

might i suggest something i saw a big guy pull at a tournament... probably about 350lbs... 6'2" maybe. He would stand there, and on the first shot butterfly... and then not get up. Just shuffle around on his knees, and then get up when the puck left the zone. Being 6'5" you don't really need to worry too much about shots going over your shoulders and in, even in the butterfly. And with the majority of shots (although in ball hockey it's much easier to get some elevation on the shot) being low, you're going to want the majority of your surface area blocking the middle and low sections of the net.
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Because it hurts so good.

itechwarrior · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 6:53 pm Post subject:

itechwarrior · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 6:57 pm Post subject:

holyground,

I think it's awesome you're taking this up! Be patient, and make sure you ease in to it. Cause your heart is probably a little overloaded if you're already that big of a man. Maybe go to a doctor and get clearance first.

Only reason why I bring this up is a guy just died on the ice this week at my rink.

All you other goalies, start working out, or running during the week. Don't be a weekend warrior fatality.

puckstopper135 · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:34 pm Post subject:

itechwarrior · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:24 pm Post subject:

puckstopper135 · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:38 pm Post subject:

Woah... uuber scary. That just convinced me to start running more often... that and I could stand to lose a bit of weight Laughing

holyground · Peewee Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 5

puckstopper135 · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:50 pm Post subject:

Itech has it. He can inform you all about it.

itechwarrior · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 10:02 pm Post subject:

canadian_man_44

So I'm fat. I also want to play goal.
That's the spirit. It doesn't matter what size you are, if you've got the heart. I've got a friend that was 355 at 5'9" who started playing goalie in street hockey as well. One of his big concerns was being able to move around and exert himself without doing damage. The first thing he did, and you'll want to do also, is get a physical. Find out from your doctor how good of shape your heart is in then you'll know where to start. The second thing is to start out easy. Don't get too excited and jump into it skates first, then find out you can't take it. In spite of the misconstrued opinions of the past, goalies don't just stand around. There's a lot of movement and exertion involved and you have to prepare for it. I've been playing for a while now and if I miss a couple weeks(wife won't let me play hockey when we're on family vacation:roll: ) my legs are like rubber after an hour on the ice, and I'm only 171lbs and in pretty good shape. I can't sugar coat it Holy, it's going to be hard, but, with the right kind of work ethic, it will be very rewarding for you.

I'm starting out for street hockey and have a limited amount of funds. I've seen several ways of messuring equipment, but, like I said before I'm big. I have an atk of 19.5-20, depending on what is meant by "middle of the knee"
For sizing questions, listen closely to what itechwarrior and Returning2MyNet have to say. R2MN because he's a tall guy as well and itechwarrior because....well, he just knows his stuff when it comes to gear.

I'm out of shape and probably won't be doing butterflies in June. Does anyone have any references to styles other than butterfly?
Learn all you can about stand up and hybrid styles. You'll probably be mostly standup for awhile, but it never hurts to throw in a butterfly now and then to see how you can handle it. Like has been said before, with your height you're going to cover the top of the net when you're down anyway.

Any tips on posititioning/stances for really tall people?
For positioning....learn your angles. The basics are a goalies foundation and the foundation is built on angles. If you have them right you have a large portion of the net(no pun intended) covered already.
For the stances for tall people....I have no idea. At 5'9.5" I'm no shrimp, but beside you I'm pretty short.

What's wrong with those marvel itech masks?
No protection would be the first thing wrong. Believe me, you don't want one of those on your head when someone really gets a hold of a shot and wings it off your face mask.

ps. I also can't skate. Any fat guy skating referals would also be appreciated.
For a guy of your size, the skates are probably the most important part of your gear. Make sure you get skates that fit well and don't cramp your feet up. I'd recommend something that you get baked so they form to your feet, providing stability and control because they almost become part of you.
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