Summary

Top 5 Annoyances of Goalie Parents

As goalie parents, we know that watching our kids between the pipes comes with unique challenges. We asked the community to share their biggest frustrations, via the Goalie Parents Canada Group – and here are the top five complaints:

1. Head-high shots in warm-ups
Warm-ups are supposed to prepare the goalie for the game, not rattle their confidence—or worse, injure them. Yet, too often, players treat warm-up as a shooting contest, firing head-high slap shots instead of helping their goalie get ready.

Agreed! 

I do think we need room for players to shoot to score as I said last week but I think as parents we also need to consider our criticism here. I remember my son telling me the shot he feared the most at U15 was from a teammate even though he wa practicing with a Junior A team. When I asked why he said “because I don’t know where it’s going and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t either!”

The thing is you have to get up to a pretty decent level before the kids have complete control over their shots – if that ever happens. And while we can encourage them to be careful we do need to understand that they are still learning – and buy a good helmet!

2. Lack of goalie coaching at practices
One of the biggest frustrations is the lack of dedicated goalie coaching during team practices. Many goalies are left to fend for themselves, acting as little more than targets while their teammates work on drills. This often forces families to seek out private training, adding extra costs and time commitments.

This one came up a lot and the sad thing was the comments about kids not liking the game anymore and not wanting to play.  We’ve said it a million times here – we need more people who can support our goalies. I spoke to one association recently where it is mandatory for one coach per team to have taken the hockey canada course and I know they aren’t alone. That’s a start. 

Especially if you have a younger goalie please consider taking the course yourself and volunteering. More on this later as I have another coaching your kid segment teed up. 

3. Blame from teammates and parents
It’s a team game, but goalies often bear the brunt of the blame after a loss. Whether it’s teammates pointing fingers in the locker room or parents in the stands saying, “My kid would have stopped that,” the pressure on young goalies can be overwhelming.

100% the pressure and the blame on a goalie can be brutal. I’m preaching to the choir here but we need to be better. 

4. Unnecessary roughness after the whistle
Few things frustrate goalie parents more than watching players repeatedly jab at their child after the puck is covered, with referees letting it slide. Not only is it unnecessary, but it can also lead to injuries and bad habits that go unaddressed.

Yup it’s tough and I did a segment on this already but…as parents we need to lead here and try to teach our kids not to be upset by it – because it’s not going to get better- watch a junior or pro game. I agree we need to protect the youngest – but we also need to help them cope with a situation that is unlikely to change.

5. Last-minute starting goalie decisions
Confidence and preparation are key for goalies, but some coaches don’t announce who’s starting until just before game time. Finding out in the dressing room—or worse, right before stepping on the ice—adds unnecessary stress and prevents goalies from mentally preparing for the game.

This one is frustrating too. First off in minor hockey I don’t get it. They should be splitting evenly so having a plan is quite simple. This simply should not be an issue. 

I know of one NHL team who has a plan a full month in advance. That’s the gold standard. 

But again…teach your kids to always be ready. But you know I don’t think this is really an issue of having time to mentally prepare. You can learn to be ready…but can you imagine taking your 12-year old to the rink on the weekend and they don’t know if they get to play? That’s why we join hockey – to play the games! Come on coaches – sort this out. 

At the end of the day, we all want kids to love being a goalie. It’s an incredible position that builds resilience, leadership, and mental toughness—but it should also be fun! Unfortunately, challenges like unsafe warm-ups, lack of coaching, unfair blame, unnecessary roughness, and last-minute lineup decisions are making it harder for goalies to enjoy the game. When these frustrations pile up, some kids start questioning whether they want to stay in net at all. If we want to attract and keep more young goalies, we need to address these issues, create a more supportive environment, and remind everyone—players, coaches, and parents—that goalies aren’t just targets. They’re a vital part of the game, and they deserve the same respect, preparation, and development as everyone else on the ice.

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