goalie advise for atom goalie

mustang19671967 · Squirt Joined: 04 Mar 2010 Posts: 4

MY daughter is going into Atom next year (girls league) and she needs new pads. They supplied them for this year and were 22 inches but have been told she needs 25's. Everything new seems to be 24-26. Now the problem is she is tall and thin. So her RBK's she wore this year were not to heavy but the old style pads she tried where to heavy for her. What is a pad that is a good price and will absorb the shot and is very lite. There is a big selection at goalie monkey but so many brands and prices. would like to get two years at least out of them.

also the trapper and blocker again rbk (3) I believe were so stiff she couldnt even close the trapper and I sat infront of the tv for hours trying to work it in. Need a suggestion for one that will close easy and do a good job

bullsandscars · Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 10:32 pm Post subject:

I can't help you with the pads but if you use shaving cream on the trapper and rub it in well it should soften right up
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mustang19671967 · Squirt Joined: 04 Mar 2010 Posts: 4

thanks but I looked into that, and its not really the leather thats the problem, its all the padding inside the trapper. I went to a couple places and they both said you just have to work them in

Returning2MyNet · Minors Joined: 09 Mar 2009 Posts: 379

traps need be opened and closed alot, you can also tie them shut with a soft ball in the pocket to break the pocket in.
as far as pads go avoid Itechs for her, the inexpensive Itech that have graphics one sliders fall apart.
RBKs are great way to go, as are the monkey Kohos, and bauers.
what is her ankle to knee measurement center of ankle bone, up and to center of knee cap? Atom is what Mite...age 7?
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mustang19671967 · Squirt Joined: 04 Mar 2010 Posts: 4

Atom for girls atleast is 9 and 10 at dec 31 of the year. I haven't done the measurment yet as some say do a measurment from mid ankle to mid knee the mid knww to mid thigh, others are one measurement with leg at 90 degree ankle. I know the reebook are small in size. There 24 inch pads where actually small than the rbk22 inch pads. I have never played goalie or had to dress a goalie.

Also how do you fit a chest pad in terms of size and safety but not to big and bulkie. AT this atom age are goalie skates a big difference that other skates.

Also they are teaching her butterfly almost totally so is a two piece or 1 piece pad better.

I was told simmons are the best but they dont go onsale and I will keep away from Itech thank you. Have the battle is the colour with girls

ps I appreciate all the help, I am reading and when I go tothe hockey store I have 18 year old who never played goalie or who have and think everyone needs $1000 pads and the best or the best. I have to remember that she will probably outgrow this is two year.

right now she is about 59 inches ( tall for her age) and weighs 55 pounds thin for her height.

Returning2MyNet · Minors Joined: 09 Mar 2009 Posts: 379

MY daughter played and since left to focus on swiming.
For a chest protector you can do no better than John Brown.
The simmons are also very nice and compairable in protection and quality and if you go to them or call them with a tape meausrre in hand you can count on getting properly fitting gear. the center of ankle to knee x2 measure ment will give you the ball park, experienced reps can finalize your daughter from that point.
Look at the simmons int pads, and RBK int as well.
Yes she should be in goalie skates now.
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Majiktom · Squirt Joined: 08 Nov 2010 Posts: 4 Location: Calgary, AB

Not sure how things turned out, but I'm a Goalie Coach at Novice level and played minor league Goal for 10 years. (Just got back in full gear recently and I still love it!) Here are my recommendations for Atom and up:

Get newer gear (4 years old or newer). If you can afford it, go ahead and get brand new. It's like skates, brand new equipment will give your kid an edge over those who use old equipment. The downside is you have to break everything in. Takes a few practices and a few games to get it to feel right. And don't forget to pack it properly. You can search for Goalie Bag equipment packing techniques. Nothing is worse than a distorted chest protector that doesn't fit as designed.

I recommend Rebok Pads and any V shaped chest protector for younger kids. They are light and protect very well. As they get older, Vaughn has better gear imho (I like the narrow channel behind the knee).
Go Vaughn Blocker and Trapper all the way. The new models have all the proper adjustments and are the only gloves my Novice Goalie is comfortable with and able to keep on without having to worry if the Trapper will fall off. To break in the trapper, stick a Softball in the mit, tie it all up with long skate laces and bake the whole thing at 200 for 5 minutes. Let it cool for a day still tied up, then bake it again and have your kid put it on without the lace wrapped around, fit it well and let it cool to the shape of their hand. Then keep it tied up for a few months when not in use. Shaving cream works well to soften the leather, but I prefer true leather oil.

Sizing Pads. Measure from the Ankle to the knee. That is the crucial part. the toe to ankle at that age is pretty standard, unless your kid has massive feet. Make sure the knee fits snug into the right place. You don't want too much above the knee just 3-5", and make sure it has an inner pad that covers the knee when bent. Learn how to fasten the Leg Pads. Make it real tight at the skate, snug but a little loose up the leg and very loose for the last two straps so they don't pinch when flexing all the way. Failure to fasten properly (too tight) will cause your little one to swim when they go down and not be able to get up. This allows the foot to control the pad rotation, but still allows the pad to move freely at the top when down in Butterfly (pro-fly) so that the pad acts as a wall to the puck. Your kid will eventually want to readjust this until they feel comfortable when in pro-fly. (I like them a little tighter than some Goalies, otherwise it feels like they're flapping in the wind.) I suggest you have them use foamy knee-pads on the knees, just so they get used to the feeling so that when they reach Pee-Wee, wearing proper knee pads under the Leg Pads is not a foreign feeling. I prefer Bauer knee-pads, they fit better in Vaughn Leg Pads.

Chest pad, just make sure the arms are long enough, but not too long to impede the fit of the gloves.

Goalie skates Atom up for sure. If your kid is really into Goaltending, you need to have them developing their skills as early as possible, Novice is still a little young because they have to learn to move around with the gear before they can really learn to control their strides. Once they get into the Goal skates after a year Goaltending with player skates, it'll be like oiling a rusty bearing, they will really love it. If your kid plays every weekend as a Novice Goalie, it's not too early to start, but you'll want both a pair of player and Goalie at that age so they can keep doing regular skating drills.

Butterfly style is debateable. Don't forget Martin Brodeur just passed Patrick Roy as winningest Goalie, and he's a classic Standup guy. I teach all three, Standup, Hybrid and Butterfly, with an emphasis on Hybrid. I was taught Hybrid by an ex-CHL goalie before it was known as Hybrid. Every season after that I ended with anywhere around 2.0, 2.1 or 2.2 GAA. The only thing you have to be careful of is the shape of their Femur and how it fits into the hip socket. Invest in having someone who knows about this issue check your kid's exrays for possible future problems. Shaving the bone is an option, but not until Bantam/Junior imho. If your kid is at risk of issues, make sure they learn Hybrid/Standup until then. Otherwise they may tear their Labrum or develop hip problems between 14-18. Be aware and be warned. Many Bantam/Junior kids are starting to show hidden hip problems because they were taught Butterfly only and their Femurs are not built for it. Believe it or not, many NHL Goalies actually play with a slightly torn Labrum and don't know it. It's easy to fix, but usually gets mis-diagnosed by Hockey Trainers as "Just needs a good massage". Best way to diagnose is a dye in an MRI scan. Don't let this scare you out of Goaltending. Players say we are crazy folk, but I'd rather be in net than getting slammed into boards every game killing my shoulders, breaking teeth and suffering concussions. Smile

Within the next 5 years, I Guarantee this issue will be so well documented that it will be common place for every Goalie to get a bone shave before their last season of Junior. (Women typically don't experience this issue).

So spending about $600 on all this is fair off season. August to Dec will cost you $1000 yeah, but you can sell it all for $500 2 years later or do like me, donate it to the local community. Those 40 year old pads do nothing for our kids, and donating gear gives you great perks at the arena, preferred preference for clinics and rebates on ice-time. Pays off in the end and helps other kids.

Regards,
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Majiktom