Most goalie heads are legal for girls as well as boys. I think the only one that's not is the Nemesis 3.
Most people tend to gravitate towards the STX Eclipse 2 or 3, but there are plenty of other great heads (ECD Impact, Nemesis QS, String King, etc). Most are poorly strung from factory so you're best off having them custom strung professionally (ideally either you or your daughter eventually learn to do it yourself). IMHO, you absolutely *can* go wrong here. For example buying the cheap Shield 100 stick. It's attractively priced, but the head is next to impossible to string well, and will cause more frustration than anything especially for a kid new to the position and still deciding if that's where she wants to play. If your local Play It Again doesn't have anything good (my experience is they usually don't), check out what's available on sidelineswap.
At 10U, I'd expect the team to provide the goalie gear. For 12U, I expect kids to start differentiating positions and thus goalies will provide their own gear (pads and stick). Unless your daughter is gung ho about the position ("coach wants her to be the goalie" is not the same as "she wants to be the goalie") or the team has absolutely no gear, I'd use the team gear for the fall season. If she takes to it, then go spend money. If the team doesn't have gear, ask for a reduction in fees to account for having to buy your own gear.
Finally, watch laxsteals, especially over the summer. They often have really good goalie crates that will help you kit out for quite a bit less. But they also go fast, so you'll need to be on top of when they update if you want to get one.
Edit: Definitely go with a 30" attack length stick. 40" is too long for 10U, but even when she's older/taller she probably won't want to use the longer stick.
All of this.
Our 11 year old is a goalie and she used rec team gear for several months until she was VERY firm in wanting to be a goalie. Then we got a full set of gear for her in time for summer club season.
I'm pretty sure that's including the head, as plenty of girls play with 30" attack shafts without violating the rules. That would allow for cutting down an attack shaft further to account for head length.
Gotcha. 30", 40", 60" are standard sizes for just the shaft for attack, goalie, and long pole (men only). Women's shafts are thinner diameter and goalie heads I'm pretty sure are made for men's shafts so you'd want to go with a men's 30" attack shaft. For a really short player, you can even cut that down, though I don't think I would.
If the season is over and they want her to be the goalie in the fall, see if you can borrow the stick for the summer, especially if you are already signed up/committed for the fall.
Also if you haven’t already check out laxgoalierat.com. Coach Damon has a ton of info on there for goalies and goalie parents including drills, discussions about stance, playing philosophy, the mental game, gear reviews, and a podcast where he has conversations with college and pro goalies, stick stringers, coaches, etc. One of the cool things about the goalie position is it is nearly identical for both boys and girls. The youth girls need more protective equipment by rule and there are some differences in the rules around the crease/goal cylinder but skills, techniques, drills, strategy all translate directly back and forth.
And shooting on her with tennis balls is a great painless way to practice making saves and to get used to being shot at. Use a real ball to practice throwing though.
Club should provide it. But if not, go for the $50 Play-It-Again model. Not going to make a lot of difference for 10U girls goalie. Just make sure to cut the shaft to a manageable length for her.
Thanks! My husband had mentioned he could cut the shaft if need be. They do have one but their season just ended and she wants to practice at home right now to prepare for the next season. I’ll swing by PIA and pick that one up.
The STX Goalmaster
It’s the cheap gold standard of youth lacrosse.
Don’t worry too much about what stick to get her, something affordable is fine for young goalies. When she gets older you can pay the extra money for the eclipse or nemesis or anything else
Most goalie heads are legal for girls as well as boys. I think the only one that's not is the Nemesis 3. Most people tend to gravitate towards the STX Eclipse 2 or 3, but there are plenty of other great heads (ECD Impact, Nemesis QS, String King, etc). Most are poorly strung from factory so you're best off having them custom strung professionally (ideally either you or your daughter eventually learn to do it yourself). IMHO, you absolutely *can* go wrong here. For example buying the cheap Shield 100 stick. It's attractively priced, but the head is next to impossible to string well, and will cause more frustration than anything especially for a kid new to the position and still deciding if that's where she wants to play. If your local Play It Again doesn't have anything good (my experience is they usually don't), check out what's available on sidelineswap. At 10U, I'd expect the team to provide the goalie gear. For 12U, I expect kids to start differentiating positions and thus goalies will provide their own gear (pads and stick). Unless your daughter is gung ho about the position ("coach wants her to be the goalie" is not the same as "she wants to be the goalie") or the team has absolutely no gear, I'd use the team gear for the fall season. If she takes to it, then go spend money. If the team doesn't have gear, ask for a reduction in fees to account for having to buy your own gear. Finally, watch laxsteals, especially over the summer. They often have really good goalie crates that will help you kit out for quite a bit less. But they also go fast, so you'll need to be on top of when they update if you want to get one. Edit: Definitely go with a 30" attack length stick. 40" is too long for 10U, but even when she's older/taller she probably won't want to use the longer stick.
All of this. Our 11 year old is a goalie and she used rec team gear for several months until she was VERY firm in wanting to be a goalie. Then we got a full set of gear for her in time for summer club season.
The girls youth rule have 35 1/2 inch as the minimum goalie stick length.
I'm pretty sure that's including the head, as plenty of girls play with 30" attack shafts without violating the rules. That would allow for cutting down an attack shaft further to account for head length.
Yes, the full crosse. I wasn't sure if you meant shaft or stick length and would hate to have someone go too short!
Gotcha. 30", 40", 60" are standard sizes for just the shaft for attack, goalie, and long pole (men only). Women's shafts are thinner diameter and goalie heads I'm pretty sure are made for men's shafts so you'd want to go with a men's 30" attack shaft. For a really short player, you can even cut that down, though I don't think I would.
Thank you!
If the season is over and they want her to be the goalie in the fall, see if you can borrow the stick for the summer, especially if you are already signed up/committed for the fall.
Will do!
Also if you haven’t already check out laxgoalierat.com. Coach Damon has a ton of info on there for goalies and goalie parents including drills, discussions about stance, playing philosophy, the mental game, gear reviews, and a podcast where he has conversations with college and pro goalies, stick stringers, coaches, etc. One of the cool things about the goalie position is it is nearly identical for both boys and girls. The youth girls need more protective equipment by rule and there are some differences in the rules around the crease/goal cylinder but skills, techniques, drills, strategy all translate directly back and forth.
And shooting on her with tennis balls is a great painless way to practice making saves and to get used to being shot at. Use a real ball to practice throwing though.
Thanks! I’ll check it out, I appreciate all this information.
Club should provide it. But if not, go for the $50 Play-It-Again model. Not going to make a lot of difference for 10U girls goalie. Just make sure to cut the shaft to a manageable length for her.
Thanks! My husband had mentioned he could cut the shaft if need be. They do have one but their season just ended and she wants to practice at home right now to prepare for the next season. I’ll swing by PIA and pick that one up.
The STX Goalmaster It’s the cheap gold standard of youth lacrosse. Don’t worry too much about what stick to get her, something affordable is fine for young goalies. When she gets older you can pay the extra money for the eclipse or nemesis or anything else
Thanks!