How Team Coaches Can Help Develop Youth Goaltenders

By Pamela Foster for Pro Ambitions Hockey, Inc.

Often, goalies get neglected during hockey practice. Yet there are hockey games where goaltenders win you the game single-handedly. If you coach a team, that position deserves your attention and a real plan. Here are the key areas team coaches need to focus on to help youth goaltenders actually develop.

Warm-Up Your Goalies the Right Way

If you want a fruitful practice session with your youth goalies, always start with a solid warm-up. Avoid giving them shots to block the second they hit the ice. Give them enough time to prepare properly before anything gets fired at them.

Your youth goalies can join other team members for a group warm-up. That said, goaltenders don't need the same thorough skating warm-ups other players go through. Give them specific exercises and drills that target the muscles and movements they actually use in the net. Hip flexors, groin, and lateral mobility need to be ready before the puck drops.

Match the Shots to Their Skill Level

Coaches may feel tempted to pepper goalies with as many shots as possible during practice. That is the wrong approach. Corey Schwab, once a goalie development coach for the San Jose Sharks, urges youth hockey coaches to exercise restraint. Focus on shots that fit the skill level and age of the player.

Hammering young goalies with hard shots, especially from adult coaches, can make them scared of the puck. Once a kid loses their love for the position, it is very hard to get it back. Keep the pace and power appropriate, and their confidence will build naturally over time.

At the same time, do not allow anyone other than coaches to take shots on youth goaltenders during drills. Other players may not know the goalie's abilities and can easily shoot too hard without realizing it.

Skating Is Not Optional for Goalies

Many coaches overlook the need for youth goalies to work on their skating skills. The assumption is that they live in the crease, so skating matters less. That thinking is wrong.

Kevin Reiter, former goaltending coach at USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, considers skating the lifeblood of goaltending. A goalie who cannot move efficiently around the crease is always going to be a step behind. Strong skating mechanics help them track shots, move post to post, and control their angles. Build skating into goalie training, not around it.

Put Goalies in Other Positions During Practice

If one of your goalies is not in the net during a drill, do not park them on the bench. Put them out as a forward or defenseman. They stay engaged, they keep skating, and they start to understand the game from a different perspective.

A goalie who understands how forwards attack and how defensemen set up gives them a real edge in the net. They stop just reacting and start anticipating. That mental read of the game is something you cannot teach from the crease alone.

Set Specific Goals for Each Practice

The ultimate job of a goalie is to stop the puck. But to get better at that job, they need clear, short-term objectives at every practice. Vague reps do not build skills. Intentional reps do.

Give them focused tasks, whether that means working on preventing goals from the corners, tightening up their positioning, or improving how they handle the puck after a save. Each practice should leave a goalie knowing exactly what they worked on and why it matters.

Simulate Real Game Situations

Drills are useful, but game-like situations are where real learning happens. In a drill, goalies can often predict where the puck is coming from. In a game, they have to track the puck, read the shooter, and react without a roadmap.

Build scenarios in practice that replicate what they will face on game night. Odd-man rushes, screens, redirects, and traffic in front of the net. The more realistic the practice environment, the less surprised they will be when it matters most.

Develop the Mental Side of the Position

The mental aspect of goaltending is not a soft topic. It is a core part of the position. A goalie who is mentally rattled will let in goals that have nothing to do with their physical ability.

Confidence comes from preparation and small wins in practice. Giving a youth goalie reps where they can make strong saves with their glove or blocker helps them feel capable in the net. Coaches should also be aware if a goalie is showing signs of low confidence or excessive anxiety. Piling on more reps in that state often does more harm than good, both mentally and physically.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How often should youth goalies get dedicated goalie coaching during team practice?

Ideally, a goalie should receive position-specific attention at every practice, even if it is only for a portion of the session. Team coaches are not always goalie specialists, but they can structure drills to give the goalie purposeful reps rather than just standing in net while everyone else works on shooting.

Is it bad to have a youth goalie play other positions?

Not at all. Putting a goalie out as a forward or defenseman during practice helps them develop hockey sense, improves their skating, and keeps them mentally involved. A goalie who understands the full game is harder to beat than one who has only ever stood in the crease.

At what age should youth goalies start working seriously on skating?

From the very beginning. Skating is the foundation of goaltending, not an afterthought. Young goalies who build strong skating habits early will have a much easier time learning advanced positioning and movement as they grow into the position.

How do you build confidence in a young goalie who is struggling?

Start by controlling the environment. Use appropriate shot difficulty, set them up for saves they can make, and give them positive reinforcement that is specific, not generic. Confidence in goal is built rep by rep. A goalie who feels prepared and supported by their coach will always perform better than one who is just thrown to the wolves.