I don’t take deals for my goalie. I go where he will be developed the most and who has the best coaching.

Being on my third I will just give one comment. There is no development by any team for a goalie anywhere. End of story. No practice plan is ever made for a goalie and in fact usually just gets the goalie developing bad habits trying to stop 2 shooters and other worthless drills. The team goalie coach who works with 20 goalies for 1 hour is a joke and a waste of time. I know about 2 coaches out of a 100 that actually understand the position. The only way your goalie is going to development is private goalie lessons. End of story.

We have a 2010 AAA goalie in an org that does offer a discount, somewhere around 1/3 off the full freight. We take the deals and give that difference back to the team to contribute extra toward the other team fundraising costs.

Organizations should provide some kind of break on cost and also provide goalie skills through the program. Gear is expensive: Helmet $800, leg pads $600, chesty $300, (sideline swap used catch glove and blocker $600, skates $300-400, 2 sticks $400, pants $150). Last calendar year: 2 new pairs of leg pads, 2 pairs of skates, a new helmet, new chesty, and new pants. Things get more expensive with the transition to Senior sized leg pads, Sr. gloves and blockers, and sticks that can break unlike at PW.

Add to the equipment budget the private goalie coaching. This is not really an extra thing. It's a basic thing. The only way to develop goalie-specific technique and skills. Costs in our area $60 for a small group lesson and $120 or more for a private, of course, camps and minicamps are more.

We've been fortunate to have 4/5 coaches from mite through PW ALL of whom have been former goalies. Every one of them acknowledges that they do not coach goalies in team practice and wouldn't want to. Goaltending has changed dramatically since they played.

With all that said, I don't think there's any reason in shopping around for goalie discounts... it is what it is. Find the best fit program for your kid where they can play at a level where they will be challenged, get playing time, and develop. It's a position that requires extra. Especially extra time, which is the most valuable thing of all.

Depends on the coach and the level. I know of a few coaches that actually game plan practice around a goalie and makes sure he is getting reps, works with him on challenging, angles, footwork, etc

Would think parents would want their goalie to be where they are happy, being challenged, and developing. Not where the best deal is. Sometimes the best deal screams desperation.

Wow, So F.u.C.k. us idiots that pay full price and have... wait for it... regular kids that only skate? we don't deserve a break or extra training? choke yourself pile!!!

Although this may seem controversial out here it is the norm in MN and the Midwest. Every goalie is offered 50% off the team fees for almost all levels except Midget AAA.

When your kid’s helmet alone costs a grand and the coaches are afraid to give him any instructions, yeah, goalie’s deserve more than your dime a dozen skater.

Don't settle. You should try and get his favorite flavor gatorade and a bowl of green-only m&m's in the locker room before every game.

Seems like teams have goalies set- who’s looking for goalies? I’m lucky that my head coach was a goalie. It’s does help some but have always paid for private lessons.