Young Goalies Unite!

I've seen goalies in nothing but a helmet and kickers, and I've seen goalies who can barely move because they've been encased in a bubble of multi-coloured foam. And get this, a full set can cost anywhere from $300 US to over $2000!! But what do you really need?

The Basic Equipment List

Kicker and Legguards - You've got to trust these babies because they're your main defense. They've got to be both protective and effective. You have either get foam (yes, choose the foam!), or you can get the steel-bar kind (no, choose the foam!).

Hockey Pants - These protect your thighs and hips. You can get special field hockey pants, but ice hockey pants will do just fine. Some goalies even use American football pants. Either way, they'll save you a lot of nasty bruises! A short note on hockey girdles: Ice hockey girdles are a harder-to-find type of hockey pant that is more lycra based than the traditional type, and therefore is quite close-fitting or clingy. Many goalies I know prefer this type of hockey pant, as they claim is allows for greater mobility. If you do choose to use a hockey girdle, make sure it has decent protection, because I have come across some with no thigh protection at all, which is quite hazardous. Bauer makes an excellent hockey girdle, although it is rumored that they have discontinued them. You should also invest in some type of over-pants (a friend of mine uses some nylon soccer goalie shorts over-top of her hockey girdle) because it will lessen the wear on the lycra and prevent major holes.

Chest Protector - OK, remember the hard, round object speeding at you like a bullet? What if it goes at your chest? You need to be prepared! Again, you can get special field hockey chest pads, but ice hockey or baseball catcher's pads are good too.

Helmet - Don't you DARE go to a game without this! In fact, you're not even allowed to play without it. It protects your brain, for crying out loud! Ice hockey helmet are most common. You can get it with a normal grill, or with a cat's eye/pro style grill. I prefer the cat's eye style because it's easier to see the ball when it's on the ground. However, I recently switched helmets and am currently plain with the traditional grill. My visibility is limited, but it will have to do until I can save up enough to get a cat's-eye replacement.

Stick - A lot of the time (mostly when you're a very young or beginning), your stick is just a decorative touch, but it has its moments! I've made some great stick stops, and it's especially useful for aerial saves and dives on the ground. Sure, they make fancy goalie sticks, but a normal field hockey stick will do just fine. Just make sure that it's not too long!

Gloves - Your can get two kinds of gloves: the leather hand-shaped ones, or the foam blocker ones. The leather ones can be slightly cheaper, depending on where you get them, but in my opinion, they're just not worth it. Foam gloves make it much easier to stop air-borne balls, and I find it easier to hold my stick with them. DON'T use ice hockey gloves, because the left hands are not designed for blocking, and you'll just get hurt. Ice hockey goalie gloves are also innappropriate because you aren't permitted to catch the ball in field hockey.

Jock Strap/Jill - OK, yes it hurts to be hit down there. In fact, if you're a guy, go out and get a jock RIGHT NOW. However, it's not as essential for girls. For example, of the 7 girls who recently attended a goalie clinic with me, only two wore a jill. I just started wearing one this year, because although I've been hit there before, it didn't bother me enough to go get some protection. However, some of the ladies on my women's league team have rather hard hits, so I decided one less bruise might be nice. It depends on how comfortable you are about getting hit in your nether-regions.

Shoulder/Arm Padding - I love these things, but some goalies feel that they just make it harder to move your arms. They also make playing in spring/summer weather SUCK! But if you're going to get into diving, it's nice to know your won't get your arm blown off.

Throat Protector - Yes, your throat is extremely vulnerable, especially on the ground. But you have to be careful with throat protectors. There are two types that you can get that hang down from your helmet: a narrow, only frontally protective one, and the clear more wrap-around type that ice hockey goalies use. The first type mentioned are, in my opinion, a waste of time. They only attach to the front of your helmet/mask, and so can go askew especially when you are on the ground. The clear kind that attaches in three places on your helmet is much, much better because it will stay in position more or less, and therefore be more protective. I don't play with a throat protector (I know, bad, bad!), but goalies who do have recommended the kind that are foam-padded and wrap around your neck. You can get these from OBO. There are also wrap-around kinds for ice hockey, but those are designed to protect the players from cuts and the like, not actually to protect from a blow from a puck or ball. Try to stick to this theory: the stuff that protects you should be about as hard as a hockey ball. So it you do buy a foam wrap-around throat protector, it's best to have some kind of hard plastic inside it, so you won't one day be faced with a tracheotomy.

Mouthguard - Some people say that mouthguards are good, because they absorb shock if you're head in the head. This may be true, but I still don't see the point. I have been pegged in the head with a ball wearing a road hockey helmet (which, by the way, you should NEVER wear playing field hockey! I was stupid!), and a mouthguard, in my opinion, would not have made the eperience any better. Anyway, in theory, if you have a good helmet, it's job is to absorb the shock of impact, so you shouldn't need a mouthguard. Another argument against mouthguards is the fact that it is the goalie's job to direct defenders and talk it up in the game. A mouthguard makes this extremely difficult.

Other-other Stuff

Now that you've got all that, you're going to need somewhere to put it. There's no getting around it, you need a bag. The most common type is just a regular ice-hockey equipment bag. I use one, and they work really well, especially if you've got lots of pockets to organize stuff. I used to use a large luggage bag, which also worked OK, until I got new legguards which wouldn't fit. And before that, I used a mesh laundry-bag. As long as everything fits, it's all good. Bonus points if your bag has wheels!

Hey, how come everyone gets a spiffy uniform...Everyone except you? Get yourself a nice jersey! Some people use NHL team jerseys, but those are REALLY expensive. I've got two jerseys, and they're both just regular long-sleeved coloured mesh shirts. You will need a jersey, because some tournaments require you to wear one. Plus, they just look good! (Although mine are in horrendous colours, so I'm currently hunting for a nice-looking, yet inexpensive new one)

Being a goalie is all fine and dandy, but there's just one thing...What is that funky smell?!?! That's right, your stuff stinks. No way around it. I wash mine just about every week, and it still gets pretty bad. I think the bacteria has become immune to soap. The fastest solution to clean-but-smelly equipment is this wonderful invention: FEBREEZE! Febreeze is the best fabric deodorizing spray I could find. The best stuff is the extra-strength, and the anti-bacterial. Use it well.

Some other handy things to have in your bag are: a water bottle (if you're playing in the spring and summer, you can't go without one, as Goalies lose a lot of water by sweating), a tarp or garbage bag (in case it rains, and you don't want to get your stuff all wet), some field hockey balls (because coaches and managers are always late, and you need to practice on your own, right?), tennis balls (for reflex training), and anything else you find handy, like a screwdriver set or maybe some extra shoelace for emergencies.