Mooretown Lady Flags Goalie Development
As Hockey Canada redesigns their development pathway for hockey at the U9 and U11 levels for players and goalies, Mooretown Lady Flags has recognized the need and desire to recruit and support goalie’s and their development.
OWHA is mandating the implementation of the 2020 / 2021 pathways, including no goalie specialization will begin until U11. This means we need to take action now to ensure we have a strong number of goalies developed.
At the U9 age, Goalie Specialization is being phased out. At the U11 level, it is recommended that teams have 2 goalies and the goalie not playing goalie in a particular game will play out. We are in support of this, as the fact is, a goalie's skating skills are most important to long term success in the position. Playing goalies in net full time too early can hinder this development. Playing out also allows a goalie to learn all aspects of the game, meaning that by the time they enter U13, they will be more easily able to make the commitment to play goalie full time.
We began laying the foundation of this Goalie Development Program in the 2018 / 2019 season with the implementation of the Goalie Coach position. For the 2019 / 2020 season, Mooretown Lady Flags will be offering the following:
1. Goalie Clinics routinely with professional goalie coaches for our goalies to learn from the best and our Lady Flags coaches to also learn various drills that can also be incorporated into routine practices
2. The purchase of Goalie equipment, so goalies that accept a goalie position do not have to make such a financial commitment until their player fully discovers the goalie position over the course of the season.