Total Clueless Question...help?!

AndyGaut 7
Rutter 5
IRN BRU 5
The.Rampage.Rado 5
JiMMM 5
ragyrascal 5
shepdogg 4
Bulsara 4
serbulator 4
juveniliahockey 4

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[rnkath2008]

 

  Hey all, just found this forum and I'm hopelessly trying to understand the needs of my 15 year old Varsity level GK.  The school has (up till now) provided her with old crap gear, poor padding, decent obo yahoo type leg guards and kickers,  and really poor gloves. I'm not saying my girl is a phenom, but given the amount of training and the exposures she's had, people say she's a good keeper with natural talent.
Me-- being hopeful she keeps with it, and not wanting to see her hurt, while simultaniously finding very little info/choices here (US, upstate NY) want to buy her (I think) the robo body armor and new gloves. Do I get high rebound? control? How about helmets? She's wearing a catchers mitt, and likes the feel, but would like to find her something less gross (old and used) perhaps she can custom paint one? (is that okay even???) I'm having a terrible time finding good intel to educate myself, and I don't really want to waste a lot of cash as this all ain't cheap, and it's just me trying to swing the costs. (Naturally the school won't help) even though she's the only varsity GK they have, so more important to me to be sure she's well protected. Please respond here or email any suggestions, thoughts, anything at all is totally appreciated as I'm really in a bit over my head.
  Also, if anyone knows any college goalies in upstate NY who might want to do some one on one training sessions, please send them my way. Rachel's been playing since she was 11, but still wants to improve and the camps she's been to haven't all been very keeping oriented.
pchefkath@aol.com
Thanks all!!! kathy

[dannythegoalie]

Now, I am not quite sure what level Varsity is but if I were you I wouldyou could go for OBO Yahoo Kickers and Legguards(like you have), TK 3.0 GX Pads, OBO Yahoo Foam Chest Guard,TK GX 3.0 Elbow Pads, Grays neck Guard, TK GX 3.0 Hand Protectors, Grays G500 International Helmet. Also, If ther are any clubs near you, they may have spare kit from the 80's and 90's (I know my club does) which might have been top notch back in the day. I, personally would go for the second option.

[The.Rampage.Rado]

If you have mercian around you you could find some of their higher level gloves - excellent protection and rebound for the money...

Helmet - you're living in NY and saying you can't find appropriate helmet?! - some Bauer + cat-eye grill is your choice.. The normal grill is good too but some people doesn't like it....

Bodyarmour - ask her if  she would like to wear one or just chest pad and elbow pads... If she likes the full protection the armour could achieve go for Yahoo armour or some of TKs in the money...

Honestly I don't think she needs ROBOs in school... she must be last grade and playing with boys to need that sort of protection...

Check the legguards and the kickers for splits and damage - fix any, buy new kicker straps and you're OK for the next couple of seasons...

Cheers!

Radoslav

[Su*x]

oh my god, i think first priority is to get her a proper helmet!

its good to know there is young ladies interested in keeping...its so hard to get younger females interested in keeping!!!!

 you may be able to get a cheap ice hockey helmet, and attach a grille to it, its going to be the most cost effective option at the moment from the sound of it

i personally wear a Jofa ice hockey helmet, you may be able to pick one up reasonable priced from your local ice hockey team or ice hockey rink may have some older equipment knocking about!
check out ebay too, there is often keeping equipment online for a reasonable price 

[braxer001]

Don't really have a clue what level Varsity would be, but given that she's 15 I'll assume it's not the complete beginner's level and not the top level either

The current helmet definitely sounds  something that you should look to replace Since you are based in the USA, easiest way by far is an icehockey helmet (nike/bauer, jofa, ...) with a decent grill and maybe a throat protector shield, or an icehockey mask (gk-specific stuff). There's no need to go for the highest level protection or most expensive gear, just something suitable for seniors, no junior masks anymore.

If you only have access to OBO, look into the Cloud body armour as well. It's just one level down from the robo but the price difference is considerable. Or you could look into ice hockey or lacrosse gear, just make sure the protection looks decent and that if fits comfortably

For the hand protectors: again, cloud9 should be good enough, definitely no need for robos there. I personally love the TK gx 1.0 gloves as well.

[g9]

will Email you with what we use for Varisty and JV keepers at the HS where I am GK coach, as well as for the travel teams I coach. 

[Gabz]

Just a note for those who don't use the term
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varsity_team  Varsity seems to be term for the rep squad. so if your the team which represents your High School your on the varsity team. please correct if i'm wrong.

At 15 you still have to ask yourself will she keep growing i guess.
so that's a budget decisions.

My small recommendation, start with OBO Cloud gear.  and go Robo for parts which she can use for years to come.  (I've used Obo cloud gear in mens and it still protects)

Don't be cheap on head protection, it will probably last her 5 - 10 years.   Being in the USA you probably have access to ice hockey helmets. so they add a choice.

Can't comment on mercian apparently mercian gear is too expensive to sell in australia.

[GoaliesXrule]

Im with the Varsity team for my school, and I have the TX GX 3.0 kickers and pads, and the other keeper had the 4.0 kickers and pads. I have TK padded shorts, and she has a TK girdle, I think thats all it's called.I used a pair last year, and I liked it. As for chest protectors, I have an STX Chopper, its lacrosse, but it works good for me, and the other goalie has a Tk chest gurad, Im not sure which on though. The Yahoos should work too, thats what my school had until they got new gear.

[g9]

Just a note for those who don't use the term
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varsity_team  Varsity seems to be term for the rep squad. so if your the team which represents your High School your on the varsity team. please correct if i'm wrong.

Varsity and JV are typical high school designations here, sometimes assigned by grade but very often not.  Varsity teams are generally considered the more competitive teams for a high school and while both will play other teams in a district as well as out-of-district matches, only the varsity teams will vie for Regional and State championships.  JV teams' competitive seasons often end at District championship level.

[rnkath2008]

  thank you all so much, I'm still trying to find the components you all mentioned at least to show her. I told her she has to register here later today and READ...there is so much good info here, I'm really pysched to have found it.
  Never before have heard of mercian, so not sure on that ...
I've found a few online sites to shop, penn monto, and longstreth, does anyone suggest any others? I'm leary of ebay only because there is no returning if it doesn't fit or isn't what she likes.
   I'm glad to know ice hockey gear is allowable, as there is a store near here (other daughter plays ice hockey and has since she was 5) so there are some neat goalie masks that Rachel did like, but I just wasn't sure they were okay.
   Anyway, have to do some errands, then will be back and scouring the net a bit. THANK YOU ALL!!!!
   

[AndyGaut]

Savage Field Hockey I think its called they are on here somewhere! could be worth a PM see what they can do for you too.

Is the leg guards and kickers in a bad way? If you want send me some pics I can take a look.

Is there any shops around you where you might be able to try some stuff on too, as Braxter said she won't need Level 5 protection but when it comes to helmets there is no point in trying to save money get a decent helmet that she feels safe in.

Mercian is a big name in the UK that has been around long before OBO and I've just made the switch to the Mercian Ultimate's and have no intention of going back but thats a personal touch.

If you want to put your shopping list up on here we might be able to find you the better deals too, even as far as buying your bits in different shops to see if you can keep the costs down but then shipping comes into play, contact the shops say your on a budget and see what they can do for you!

[rnkath2008]

the leg guards are okay, the kickers are on their third year of mixed turf play, so they're a little beat, but some hot glue and duct tape are helping a bit. The darn school made her turn the gear in last year (they said they had to send it to be cleaned for MRSA), as it turned out, they never sent it, and it got strewn all around several storage rooms. This season when they tried to find it, one kicker was ripped a bit, a glove is completely missing and they took 4 weeks to really try to track it down. They kept telling me it didn't come back from the cleaning place, only to find later they never sent it. So, that's in part why I'd like to try to get her own stuff, even if I have to go bit by bit to do it. I think helmet is first priority, then the chest pad set up and gloves for sure, then the rest I can take time to try to work out.
  Does OBO have a factory rep/sale place online where I could see if they have any old season stuff or sales?

[Jonty]

They have a slight seconds sale every November, usually on the 1st.

You can find threads regarding their sale on the main GK board.

[AndyGaut]

Sounds like the kickers might need replacing too then.

Try and contact mike @obo.com see if they can help you out in anyway, not sure at the moment tho!

[g9]

OBO November sale is a good bet for on-budget replacements, provided you know what you want and act quickly.   
Mercian is not a huge brand here yet in the US, but it is good stuff and well worth contacting Savage if you are interested.  Great guy and will sort you out!  If you go to any of the big hockey events around the US (Festival, NIT, Futures Nationals), you can see his stock in person and meet the great man himself, but harder to find in bricks and mortar stores.    Longstreth and Cranbarry being the big 2 in the US, you'll mostly find OBO, Grays, TK and some Gryphon.  You can definitely cross-purpose lacrosse and ice hockey gear, just make sure that with helmets they comply with NFHS rules and that with the rest they feel protective enough for you!   Anything you can try on is sooooo much better than what you have to order sight-unseen, but given the distances here to bigger fh markets/retail areas, you may have to deal with ordering and returning to find good stuff that works.  Best of luck!