diff --git a/ChangeLog.md b/ChangeLog.md
index a72815f..8fe2aec 100644
--- a/ChangeLog.md
+++ b/ChangeLog.md
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 # Changelog for mtlstats
 
+## current
+- only search for active players/goalies on game data input
+
 ## 0.15.0
 - Ask for database to load on start-up
 - Add page break to report file
diff --git a/src/Mtlstats/Prompt.hs b/src/Mtlstats/Prompt.hs
index 47e65b1..c6c74bc 100644
--- a/src/Mtlstats/Prompt.hs
+++ b/src/Mtlstats/Prompt.hs
@@ -43,7 +43,9 @@ module Mtlstats.Prompt (
   goalieNumPrompt,
   goalieNamePrompt,
   selectPlayerPrompt,
+  selectActivePlayerPrompt,
   selectGoaliePrompt,
+  selectActiveGoaliePrompt,
   selectPositionPrompt,
   playerToEditPrompt
 ) where
@@ -263,18 +265,21 @@ goalieNamePrompt :: Prompt
 goalieNamePrompt = namePrompt "Goalie name: " $
   modify . (progMode.createGoalieStateL.cgsName .~)
 
--- | Selects a player (creating one if necessary)
-selectPlayerPrompt
-  :: String
+-- | Selects a player using a specified search function (creating the
+-- player if necessary)
+selectPlayerPromptWith
+  :: (String -> [Player] -> [(Int, Player)])
+  -- ^ The search function
+  -> String
   -- ^ The prompt string
   -> (Maybe Int -> Action ())
   -- ^ The callback to run (takes the index number of the payer as
   -- input)
   -> Prompt
-selectPlayerPrompt pStr callback = selectPrompt SelectParams
+selectPlayerPromptWith sFunc pStr callback = selectPrompt SelectParams
   { spPrompt       = pStr
   , spSearchHeader = "Player select:"
-  , spSearch       = \sStr db -> playerSearch sStr (db^.dbPlayers)
+  , spSearch       = \sStr db -> sFunc sStr (db^.dbPlayers)
   , spSearchExact  = \sStr db -> fst <$> playerSearchExact sStr (db^.dbPlayers)
   , spElemDesc     = playerSummary
   , spProcessChar  = capitalizeName
@@ -292,18 +297,41 @@ selectPlayerPrompt pStr callback = selectPrompt SelectParams
     modify $ progMode .~ CreatePlayer cps
   }
 
--- | Selects a goalie (creating one if necessary)
-selectGoaliePrompt
+-- | Selects a player (creating one if necessary)
+selectPlayerPrompt
   :: String
   -- ^ The prompt string
   -> (Maybe Int -> Action ())
+  -- ^ The callback to run (takes the index number of the payer as
+  -- input)
+  -> Prompt
+selectPlayerPrompt = selectPlayerPromptWith playerSearch
+
+-- | Selects an active player (creating one if necessary)
+selectActivePlayerPrompt
+  :: String
+  -- ^ The prompt string
+  -> (Maybe Int -> Action ())
+  -- ^ The callback to run (takes the index number of the payer as
+  -- input)
+  -> Prompt
+selectActivePlayerPrompt = selectPlayerPromptWith activePlayerSearch
+
+-- | Selects a goalie with a specified search criteria (creating the
+-- goalie if necessary)
+selectGoaliePromptWith
+  :: (String -> [Goalie] -> [(Int, Goalie)])
+  -- ^ The search criteria
+  -> String
+  -- ^ The prompt string
+  -> (Maybe Int -> Action ())
   -- ^ The callback to run (takes the index number of the goalie as
   -- input)
   -> Prompt
-selectGoaliePrompt pStr callback = selectPrompt SelectParams
+selectGoaliePromptWith criteria pStr callback = selectPrompt SelectParams
   { spPrompt       = pStr
   , spSearchHeader = "Goalie select:"
-  , spSearch       = \sStr db -> goalieSearch sStr (db^.dbGoalies)
+  , spSearch       = \sStr db -> criteria sStr (db^.dbGoalies)
   , spSearchExact  = \sStr db -> fst <$> goalieSearchExact sStr (db^.dbGoalies)
   , spElemDesc     = goalieSummary
   , spProcessChar  = capitalizeName
@@ -321,6 +349,26 @@ selectGoaliePrompt pStr callback = selectPrompt SelectParams
     modify $ progMode .~ CreateGoalie cgs
   }
 
+-- | Selects a goalie (creating one if necessary)
+selectGoaliePrompt
+  :: String
+  -- ^ The prompt string
+  -> (Maybe Int -> Action ())
+  -- ^ The callback to run (takes the index number of the goalie as
+  -- input)
+  -> Prompt
+selectGoaliePrompt = selectGoaliePromptWith goalieSearch
+
+-- | Selects an active goalie (creating one if necessary)
+selectActiveGoaliePrompt
+  :: String
+  -- ^ The prompt string
+  -> (Maybe Int -> Action ())
+  -- ^ The callback to run (takes the index number of the goalie as
+  -- input)
+  -> Prompt
+selectActiveGoaliePrompt = selectGoaliePromptWith activeGoalieSearch
+
 -- | Selects (or creates) a player position
 selectPositionPrompt
   :: String
diff --git a/src/Mtlstats/Prompt/NewGame.hs b/src/Mtlstats/Prompt/NewGame.hs
index eb35b06..b864a91 100644
--- a/src/Mtlstats/Prompt/NewGame.hs
+++ b/src/Mtlstats/Prompt/NewGame.hs
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ recordGoalPrompt
   -> Int
   -- ^ The goal number
   -> Prompt
-recordGoalPrompt game goal = selectPlayerPrompt
+recordGoalPrompt game goal = selectActivePlayerPrompt
   (  "*** GAME " ++ padNum 2 game ++ " ***\n"
   ++ "Who scored goal number " ++ show goal ++ "? "
   ) $ modify . (progMode.gameStateL.goalBy .~)
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ recordAssistPrompt
   -> Int
   -- ^ The assist number
   -> Prompt
-recordAssistPrompt game goal assist = selectPlayerPrompt
+recordAssistPrompt game goal assist = selectActivePlayerPrompt
   (  "*** GAME " ++ padNum 2 game ++ " ***\n"
   ++ "Goal: " ++ show goal ++ "\n"
   ++ "Assist #" ++ show assist ++ ": "
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ recordAssistPrompt game goal assist = selectPlayerPrompt
 
 -- | Prompts for the player to assign penalty minutes to
 pMinPlayerPrompt :: Prompt
-pMinPlayerPrompt = selectPlayerPrompt
+pMinPlayerPrompt = selectActivePlayerPrompt
   "Assign penalty minutes to: " $
   \case
     Nothing -> modify $ progMode.gameStateL.gamePMinsRecorded  .~ True
diff --git a/src/Mtlstats/Prompt/NewGame/GoalieInput.hs b/src/Mtlstats/Prompt/NewGame/GoalieInput.hs
index 3e87aec..df5e6d4 100644
--- a/src/Mtlstats/Prompt/NewGame/GoalieInput.hs
+++ b/src/Mtlstats/Prompt/NewGame/GoalieInput.hs
@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@ import Mtlstats.Types
 
 -- | Prompts for a goalie who played in the game
 selectGameGoaliePrompt :: Prompt
-selectGameGoaliePrompt = selectGoaliePrompt "Which goalie played this game: " $
+selectGameGoaliePrompt = selectActiveGoaliePrompt
+  "Which goalie played this game: " $
   \case
     Nothing -> modify finishGoalieEntry
     Just n  -> modify $ progMode.gameStateL.gameSelectedGoalie  ?~ n
diff --git a/src/Mtlstats/Types.hs b/src/Mtlstats/Types.hs
index b64f46a..b5ad653 100644
--- a/src/Mtlstats/Types.hs
+++ b/src/Mtlstats/Types.hs
@@ -176,6 +176,7 @@ module Mtlstats.Types (
   addGameStats,
   -- ** Player Helpers
   playerSearch,
+  activePlayerSearch,
   playerSearchExact,
   modifyPlayer,
   playerSummary,
@@ -185,6 +186,7 @@ module Mtlstats.Types (
   addPlayerStats,
   -- ** Goalie Helpers
   goalieSearch,
+  activeGoalieSearch,
   goalieSearchExact,
   goalieSummary,
   goalieIsActive,
@@ -1003,6 +1005,23 @@ addGameStats s1 s2 = GameStats
   , _gmsGoalsAgainst = s1^.gmsGoalsAgainst + s2^.gmsGoalsAgainst
   }
 
+-- | Searches through a list of players with a specified criteria
+playerSearchWith
+  :: (Player -> Bool)
+  -- ^ The search criteria
+  -> String
+  -- ^ The search string
+  -> [Player]
+  -- ^ The list of players to search
+  -> [(Int, Player)]
+  -- ^ The matching players with their index numbers
+playerSearchWith criteria sStr =
+  filter match . zip [0..]
+  where
+    match (_, p)
+      =  map toUpper sStr `isInfixOf` map toUpper (p^.pName)
+      && criteria p
+
 -- | Searches through a list of players
 playerSearch
   :: String
@@ -1011,9 +1030,17 @@ playerSearch
   -- ^ The list of players to search
   -> [(Int, Player)]
   -- ^ The matching players with their index numbers
-playerSearch sStr =
-  filter match . zip [0..]
-  where match (_, p) = map toUpper sStr `isInfixOf` map toUpper (p^.pName)
+playerSearch = playerSearchWith $ const True
+
+-- | Searches through a list of players for an active player
+activePlayerSearch
+  :: String
+  -- ^ The search string
+  -> [Player]
+  -- ^ The list of players to search
+  -> [(Int, Player)]
+  -- ^ The matching players with their index numbers
+activePlayerSearch = playerSearchWith (^.pActive)
 
 -- | Searches for a player by exact match on name
 playerSearchExact
@@ -1068,6 +1095,23 @@ addPlayerStats s1 s2 = newPlayerStats
   & psAssists .~ s1^.psAssists + s2^.psAssists
   & psPMin    .~ s1^.psPMin + s2^.psPMin
 
+-- | Searches a list of goalies with a search criteria
+goalieSearchWith
+  :: (Goalie -> Bool)
+  -- ^ The search criteria
+  -> String
+  -- ^ The search string
+  -> [Goalie]
+  -- ^ The list to search
+  -> [(Int, Goalie)]
+  -- ^ The search results with their corresponding index numbers
+goalieSearchWith criteria sStr =
+  filter match . zip [0..]
+  where
+    match (_, g)
+      =  map toUpper sStr `isInfixOf` map toUpper (g^.gName)
+      && criteria g
+
 -- | Searches a list of goalies
 goalieSearch
   :: String
@@ -1076,9 +1120,17 @@ goalieSearch
   -- ^ The list to search
   -> [(Int, Goalie)]
   -- ^ The search results with their corresponding index numbers
-goalieSearch sStr =
-  filter match . zip [0..]
-  where match (_, g) = map toUpper sStr `isInfixOf` map toUpper (g^.gName)
+goalieSearch = goalieSearchWith $ const True
+
+-- | Searches a list of goalies for an active goalie
+activeGoalieSearch
+  :: String
+  -- ^ The search string
+  -> [Goalie]
+  -- ^ The list to search
+  -> [(Int, Goalie)]
+  -- ^ The search results with their corresponding index numbers
+activeGoalieSearch = goalieSearchWith (^.gActive)
 
 -- | Searches a list of goalies for an exact match
 goalieSearchExact
diff --git a/test/TypesSpec.hs b/test/TypesSpec.hs
index d88de00..e6d6340 100644
--- a/test/TypesSpec.hs
+++ b/test/TypesSpec.hs
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ spec = describe "Mtlstats.Types" $ do
   gmsPointsSpec
   addGameStatsSpec
   playerSearchSpec
+  activePlayerSearchSpec
   playerSearchExactSpec
   modifyPlayerSpec
   playerSummarySpec
@@ -80,6 +81,7 @@ spec = describe "Mtlstats.Types" $ do
   psPointsSpec
   addPlayerStatsSpec
   goalieSearchSpec
+  activeGoalieSearchSpec
   goalieSearchExactSpec
   goalieSummarySpec
   goalieIsActiveSpec
@@ -647,6 +649,19 @@ playerSearchSpec = describe "playerSearch" $ mapM_
   , ( "x",    []                     )
   ]
 
+activePlayerSearchSpec :: Spec
+activePlayerSearchSpec = describe "activePlayerSearch" $ mapM_
+  (\(sStr, expected) -> context sStr $
+    it ("should return " ++ show expected) $ let
+      ps = [joe, bob, steve & pActive .~ False]
+      in activePlayerSearch sStr ps `shouldBe` expected)
+  --  search, result
+  [ ( "joe",  [(0, joe)]           )
+  , ( "o",    [(0, joe), (1, bob)] )
+  , ( "e",    [(0, joe)]           )
+  , ( "x",    []                   )
+  ]
+
 playerSearchExactSpec :: Spec
 playerSearchExactSpec = describe "playerSearchExact" $ mapM_
   (\(sStr, expected) -> context sStr $
@@ -778,6 +793,28 @@ goalieSearchSpec = describe "goalieSearch" $ do
     it "should return Bob" $
       goalieSearch "bob" goalies `shouldBe` [result 1]
 
+activeGoalieSearchSpec :: Spec
+activeGoalieSearchSpec = describe "activeGoalieSearch" $ do
+  let
+    goalies =
+      [ newGoalie 2 "Joe"
+      , newGoalie 3 "Bob"
+      , newGoalie 5 "Steve" & gActive .~ False
+      ]
+    result n = (n, goalies!!n)
+
+  context "partial match" $
+    it "should return Joe" $
+      activeGoalieSearch "e" goalies `shouldBe` [result 0]
+
+  context "no match" $
+    it "should return an empty list" $
+      activeGoalieSearch "x" goalies `shouldBe` []
+
+  context "exact match" $
+    it "should return Bob" $
+      activeGoalieSearch "bob" goalies `shouldBe` [result 1]
+
 goalieSearchExactSpec :: Spec
 goalieSearchExactSpec = describe "goalieSearchExact" $ do
   let