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The Goaliecoaches.com Newsletter
The newsletter for Goalie parents, coaches, players or fans who want smarter development decisions — not more noise.
Goalie Enthusiasts Edition Issue 25 6-12-2026 @goaliecoaches
IN THIS ISSUE
Crease NotesConflicting Advice and what to do about it Is your goalie getting conflicting advice? |
Gear VerdictYouth Chest Protectors, which ones are worth it. See our youth chest protector reviews- |
This weeks FindThese are two free warmup/edgework skating drills for goalies Head over to our Youtube Channel |
01 Crease Notes — Why every hockey parent gets conflicting advice, and what to do about it.
02 Gear Verdict — The Bauer GSX chest protector: smart buy or skip it?
03 This Week’s Find — A free YouTube video that beats most paid goalie lessons.
04 Development Corner — What “read the play” actually means for parents.
05 Crease Poll — One question. 10 seconds. Shapes next week.
01 — CREASE NOTES
You’re getting too much advice. Here’s why that’s the real problem.
Last season, we watched a hockey mom spend 45 minutes in our private Facebook group asking which chest protector to buy for her 12-year-old. She got eleven different answers. Three people recommended gear her kid had already outgrown. One person told her to “just buy what the NHL goalies use.” Nobody asked how much she wanted to spend.
If that sounds familiar, you’re in the right place. You’re spending thousands of dollars a year on gear, camps, and private lessons — and the advice you’re getting is scattered, contradictory, and almost never written with your specific goalie at your specific level in mind.
That’s what the goaliecoaches.com newsletter is here to fix. Every issue: one gear verdict, one curated resource from our YouTube library, one development concept decoded for parents, and one question that helps me make the next issue better for you. Let’s get into it.
02 — GEAR VERDICT
Our top 3 youth chest protectors — ranked by us, for your goalie
We get gear related questions like this constantly in our Goalie Parents Facebook Group: “What’s the best chest protector for my youth goalie?” We reviewed and ranked the field. Here’s where things landed.
🥇 Warrior X5 — Our top pick overall. Best protection, best fit, worth every dollar.
🥈 Vaughn Velocity VX1 — Strong runner-up. Great for goalies moving up in level.
🥉 Bauer GSX — Smart budget buy for ages 9–12. Solid starter option.
🔍 Bauer GSX — Closer Look
Best for: Beginner Goalie, Mite / Squirt / early Peewee Price range: $160–$190 Durability: 1–2 seasons
The honest verdict: For beginner goalies ages 9–12, the GSX does exactly what it needs to. Protection is solid for that age group’s shot velocity and it fits smaller frames well. The arm floaters aren’t as adjustable as the Warrior X5 — which matters more once your goalie hits Peewee and shots get harder. If your kid is 13+ or playing competitive Peewee or Bantam, save up and go with a Vaughn, but for a Squirt-level goalie who might grow two sizes this season? Smart, sensible buy.
| Check out the Bauer GSX on Pure Goalie |
Pure Goalie has one of the best return policies in hockey, if it doesn’t fit they will make it right
📖 Want the full breakdown on the top youth chest protector on the market? Read our complete review on goaliecoaches.com
03 — THIS WEEK’S FIND
Free from our YouTube — better than most paid lessons
Every week we pull one video from the Goalie Coaches YouTube library that’s specifically worth a parent’s attention. This week’s pick is one we would show any goalie before the next on ice practice.
📺 Goalie Warmup — Edgework Drills · @goaliecoaches · Free · Watch on YouTube
Why this one: These drills build the edge control and footwork your goalie needs before every practice and game. Short, specific, and free. Worth bookmarking and sharing directly with your goalie before their next skate.
| ▶ Watch Free on YouTube @goaliecoaches |
04 — DEVELOPMENT CORNER
What coaches mean when they say “read the play”
If you’ve ever watched practice and heard a coach shout “read the play!” — you’re not alone in having no idea what that actually means in practice. It sounds obvious. It isn’t.
Reading the play” isn’t a natural skill. It’s a learned one — and some coaches assume young goalies already have the foundation when they don’t.
Here’s what coaches actually mean: they want your goalie to track the puck before a shot happens, not react after. A goalie who reads the play watches where the puck carrier’s eyes go, recognizes when a cross-ice pass is coming, and adjusts their positioning before the shot is even released.
For goalies ages 9–12, this starts with one habit: tracking the puck on every single touch — not just when it’s in shooting position. For ages 13–16, it expands to anticipating play patterns (point shot vs. pass to the slot).
What you can do right now: At the next practice or game, watch where your goalie’s eyes go when the puck is behind the net or along the boards. If their gaze drifts away from the puck — that’s the habit to address first, before any butterfly technique conversation.
One question. Your answer shapes next week.
Hey —
We’re launching something new and want to make sure we send you the right thing.
Which best describes you?
→ I’m a goalie parent(I have a kid who’s a goalie)→ I’m a goalie or player(I play or used to play)→ I’m a coach(I coach goalies or players)→ Just a hockey fan(I love the game)
Click your answer and we’ll make sure you only hear from us about things that actually matter to you.
— Joe w/ Goalie Coaches
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📣 JOIN 24,000+ GOALIE PARENTS
You’re not the only one figuring this out.
Our Goalie Parents Facebook Group is where
parents like you share gear tips, camp reviews,
and real talk about raising a goalie.
→ Join the Group Here — it’s free
🏒 FREE DRILLS APP FOR GOALIES
100+ goalie-specific drills.
Used by goalies, parents and coaches.
Free to download on iOS and Google Play.
As always thank you for being the best part of Goaliecoaches, and we can’t wait to get to work on next weeks issue of “The Goaliecoaches.com Newsletter”
Joe and the team at GoalieCoaches.com
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