Starting hockey as a goalie
Want to play goal? Honest answer first: we haven't yet found a beginner program in our listings that teaches adult goalies specifically. What we have found are beginner programs and leagues that make it easier and cheaper for goalies to join.
Goalie-friendly beginner programs we've found
- Power Play Hockey, Sunday Night Skills Clinic + Scrimmage (Watertown, MA, Boston): goalies free.
- LeFrak Center, Adult Learn to Play (Brooklyn, NYC): goalies free.
- Suburban Hockey Schools, Adult Breakfast Club (Detroit area): goalies free.
- Suburban Ice Farmington Hills BADHL (Detroit): goalies free (must register).
- Suburban Ice Macomb BADHL (Detroit): $50 per goalie vs. $750 per player.
- Greensboro Ice House C3 League (Greensboro): $243 for goalies vs. $427.50 per player.
- AHA Beginner School (Twin Cities): spots for 2 goalies per group.
Many drop-in and pickup sessions on this site also let goalies in free, for example Union Sports Arena (NJ), RMU Island Sports Center (Pittsburgh) and Polar Ice Wilmington.
Know a beginner goalie clinic we're missing? Add it free.
Tips for new goalies
- Learn to skate first. Goalies skate a lot, mostly side to side and on edges.
- Ask before you buy. Some rinks and programs loan or rent goalie gear, and goalie gear costs much more than skater gear. See goalie gear prices.
- Ask the rink or league about goalie clinics or private lessons; many rinks don't list them online.
- Leagues are often short on goalies, which is why many give discounts. Ask a learn-to-play coach if you can try goal during a session.
Find a program near you
- Boston14 programs
- Charlotte6 programs
- Chicago13 programs
- Dallas–Fort Worth13 programs
- Denver10 programs
- Detroit12 programs
- Greensboro / Winston-Salem5 programs
- Los Angeles–Orange County13 programs
- Minneapolis–St. Paul12 programs
- New Jersey20 programs
- New York City10 programs
- Pittsburgh11 programs
- Home iceRaleigh6 programs
- Seattle14 programs
- South Florida13 programs
- Wilmington5 programs
More guides: What to expect in learn to play · Your first skate · What hockey costs · Can't skate? · Beginner leagues · Sizing · Women's hockey · Goalies · Starter gear
Programs change. Always confirm details, gear rules, dates and prices with the rink before you register.
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