Goaltender

In ice hockey, the goaltender, is the player responsible for preventing the puck from entering their team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring. The goaltender usually plays in or near the area in front of the net called the goal crease (often referred to simply as the crease or the net). Goaltenders tend to stay at or beyond the top of the crease to cut down on the angle of shots. In today's age of goaltending there are two common styles, butterfly and hybrid (hybrid is a mix of the traditional stand-up style and butterfly technique). Because of the power of shots, the goaltender wears special equipment designed to protect the body from direct impact. The goalie is one of the most valuable players on the ice, as their performance can greatly change the outcome or score of the game. One-on-one situations, such as breakaways and shootouts, have the tendency to highlight a goaltender's pure skill, or lack thereof. Only one goaltender is allowed to be on the ice for each team at any given time.

Goaltender (box lacrosse)

The goaltender or goalie is a playing position in indoor or box lacrosse. More heavily armoured than a field lacrosse goaltender, since the invent of indoor lacrosse in 1931, the box lacrosse goalie has evolved into a much different position than its field lacrosse cousin.

Equipment

In Box Lacrosse, a goaltender is typically more heavily armoured than a field lacrosse goaltender. Box lacrosse goaltenders are known for their massive upper body gear, large shin guards known as "irons", and ice hockey-style helmets.

Sticks and Gloves

There are three types of lacrosse sticks in use right now by the modern box lacrosse goaltender. Traditional wooden sticks that are made from the bending of long strips of wood and pockets woven with leather and string. This variation goes back to the roots of the game and is still popular with goaltenders at the amateur levels (senior, junior, and minor) but is cost-inhibitive with new sticks ranging in price from $250-400 CAD. Another long-used goal stick type is the NCAA-head stick. Much smaller and covers less space between the legs, the NCAA-head is much easier for ball control. The newest make of goal stick is the "carbon triangle". Similar materials to the NCAA-style stick, the carbon triangle is sized to mimic the coverage of a wooden stick but the lightness of the NCAA-style. This style is becoming very popular in the minor and junior levels, but is banned in the National Lacrosse League. NLL goaltenders generally use NCAA-head sticks.

Goaltender (field lacrosse)

In field lacrosse, the goaltender (goalie, goalkeeper, or the keeper) is the last line of defense between the opposing offense and the goal. The goaltender's primary roles are to defend the opposing team's shots on goal and to direct the defense.

Rules

Goaltenders are the only ones on the field who can touch the ball with their hands. However they are not allowed to pick up or control the ball with their hands. Hand touches are legal only when in the crease. Each team has a goaltender on the field at all times.

Equipment

A goaltender is required to wear certain protective gear. Every goaltender must wear gloves, a chest protector, a helmet and a throat guard. They optionally wear padded undergarments and a mouth guard, although mouth guards are required in youth levels through high school, as to minimize the amount of concussions and head-related injuries. In women's lacrosse, thigh pads, shin guards and elbow pads are common. Women's lacrosse prohibits jewelry, except for religious purposes. In men's lacrosse, a protective groin cup is required for all players. Goaltenders also have a larger crosse (the head of a lacrosse stick) than the other players. This makes it easier to save shots. The downside is that it can be harder to cradle and pass the ball to another player/teammate.