How many goalies on team?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:(3) the great one will leave too, if another team is willing to give him 100% time, so you may need to match that to keep him happy (and on the team).

So what happens if the other goalie leaves? Stud goalie could get hurt, leave for another, better team (even if it means splitting time), or could go to Disney World the same weekend as a tournament.

Putting all the eggs in one basket isn’t a great strategy in anything. Plus, I’ve seen the not-so-good 5th grade goalie become a big time D1 recruit in both boys and girls. And I’ve also seen plenty of awesome youngsters who were the best players on their travel team, quit the sport altogether in high school.

You just never know, so you should always have a contingency plan in your back pocket. Developing the second kid will benefit a club in the long run. Stud kid isn’t going anywhere to play the whole game if they’re already in the best team. People don’t go to weaker teams to play more (even though they probably should).

I was referring to middle school and HS teams. At that age, stud goalies aren't missing tournaments to go to Disney World. Teams are willing to take a risk of the stud getting hurt, and having to scramble to find a replacement, in exchange for having the stud play all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:(3) the great one will leave too, if another team is willing to give him 100% time, so you may need to match that to keep him happy (and on the team).

So what happens if the other goalie leaves? Stud goalie could get hurt, leave for another, better team (even if it means splitting time), or could go to Disney World the same weekend as a tournament.

Putting all the eggs in one basket isn’t a great strategy in anything. Plus, I’ve seen the not-so-good 5th grade goalie become a big time D1 recruit in both boys and girls. And I’ve also seen plenty of awesome youngsters who were the best players on their travel team, quit the sport altogether in high school.

You just never know, so you should always have a contingency plan in your back pocket. Developing the second kid will benefit a club in the long run. Stud kid isn’t going anywhere to play the whole game if they’re already in the best team. People don’t go to weaker teams to play more (even though they probably should).

I was referring to middle school and HS teams. At that age, stud goalies aren't missing tournaments to go to Disney World. Teams are willing to take a risk of the stud getting hurt, and having to scramble to find a replacement, in exchange for having the stud play all the time.

This.

Or as someone said, they pull up the best B goalie.

There really is no reason to have 2 goalies on a boys team at the older ages. It is sort of like having 2 Qbs on a football team. If you have 2 that aren't better than the other, that means you don't have one really good/great one.And your F'd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On the boys side, the answer is usually 2 goalies, but sometimes one. Never more than 2.

The reason for just one is if the team has an exceptionally good goalie, they are better off having him play full time than sharing 50/50. There are a few reasons:

(1) The goalie coming in cold for the second half is at a disadvantage.

(2) if you have one great goalie and one that is merely good, you still have to play them 50/50 (or the good one will leave), which leaves the team weaker in one half.

(3) the great one will leave too, if another team is willing to give him 100% time, so you may need to match that to keep him happy (and on the team).

The one goalie plan only works if the kid and the parents are super healthy and dependable. You can't have a family that says "we're good for the first two tournaments but will miss the third one for our beach trip."
Plus, usually 1-2 field players will take a few reps in goal so they can jump in if the goalie is injured during a game, and for a longer term injury, they would go out and recruit a second goalie to fill in.

What about a younger team? 33/34

I agree with this take even at the younger ages, provided that your 1 goalie really loves it. There’s usually a field player who will take reps on occasion just in case the goalie gets sick or travels.

[Anonymous]

This conversation makes no sense. Show me a HS football team with only 1 QB.

Good HS teams are carrying as many as 4 goalies. They may play down on JV as well if needed. College teams have as many as 6

At younger ages, teams should be focused on developing talent, meaning playing more than 1 goalie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This conversation makes no sense. Show me a HS football team with only 1 QB.

Good HS teams are carrying as many as 4 goalies. They may play down on JV as well if needed. College teams have as many as 6

At younger ages, teams should be focused on developing talent, meaning playing more than 1 goalie.

For girls, club teams generally look to carry two and split time evenly. HS teams (i.e., school based) with more developed programs will have one to two rostered at varsity and the rest JV and playing up if needed. Less developed programs can be lucky to have two competent goalies.

College teams will likely reduce the number of goalies that they carry with roster caps approaching. Several D1s are not recruiting goalies this year (that said, a couple brought in 2). The portal is also seeing a good bit of goalie movement.