Moving teams to play different position

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would help immensely to know the age of the kid, and the sport.

Best way to do this tends to be word of mouth- and general knowledge of what positions teams are looking to fill. Which isn’t always easy….

There is really not ever a guarantee unless specifically discussed ahead of time with the coaches (and depending on the age group, demanding- or even angling- to play a certain position at a tryout can be frowned upon).

OP here- kids is 12. He seems to be in a position that won’t advance his skills for that sport. I had the fear that angling for a specific position before tryout won’t go over well.

Also,

Is it baseball? And he plays outfield? That’s my guess? If so, outfield is super important but he should get reps in the infield and potentially get to pitch also if he can at least throw strikes. If he likes the team has he asked what he needs to do to get reps? My son had success asking for IF reps at 12U (got reps in practice and in easy games). The better hitter he is, the more leverage you will have BTW. IME.

Often changing to another team - getting a look from different coaches- CAN possibly help. But, I’d never ask about playing a particular position at tryouts (will make you look like a PITA).

Also, once you get above 12, LF & CF become very important.

My kid hasn’t sat a defensive inning yet bc he can track the ball on the big field and make the routine plays in OF.

Meanwhile, outside of SS, the infield group continually rotates.

If that is the issue, tell him to be patient. OF suddenly becomes very important at 13 on the big field.

[Anonymous]

OP, the sport and position matter for us to give our opinion. This is the age where positions that were less desirable when they were little (outfield, defense, etc) are more important as the fields grow, opponents become more competitive. You can't hide weak kids in those positions as they get older so it may be a testament to them being a good player.

e.g. in baseball by age 12 1st base is usually the slowest/least athletic kid. When they're younger, its the kid who can actually catch a ball b/c most kids only hit in the infield.

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind that your son might just be really great at the position and the coach plays him at it for the good of the team.

DD doesn’t play her preferred position even though her coach acknowledged that is where she should be long term. He is looking at the team and thinks she is the best option for the position he is currently developing her in. Maybe it will be come her preferred position, maybe it won’t. She will also play this sport in HS and that could be different, too.

Tell your son to continue to work on improving at his desired position because it will make him a better all around player even if it is not his primary Position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that your son might just be really great at the position and the coach plays him at it for the good of the team.

DD doesn’t play her preferred position even though her coach acknowledged that is where she should be long term. He is looking at the team and thinks she is the best option for the position he is currently developing her in. Maybe it will be come her preferred position, maybe it won’t. She will also play this sport in HS and that could be different, too.

Tell your son to continue to work on improving at his desired position because it will make him a better all around player even if it is not his primary Position.

That really depends. If the kid is a hockey goalie, then he isn't developing elsewhere. Once the coach knows the kid can play the position well, they get pigeonholed. The same is true of catcher in baseball

[Anonymous]

I always feel slightly badly that 1B are considered slow and the least athletic since I have a 1B kid myself I do agree that OF, especially CF, are super quick and have great arms. That regulation sized field is big.

This has me thinking though. I’ve often wondered if he’s been pigeonholed into 1B but he pitches too so maybe he’s saving wear and tear on his arm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always feel slightly badly that 1B are considered slow and the least athletic since I have a 1B kid myself I do agree that OF, especially CF, are super quick and have great arms. That regulation sized field is big.

This has me thinking though. I’ve often wondered if he’s been pigeonholed into 1B but he pitches too so maybe he’s saving wear and tear on his arm.

1B is definitely a good place for pitchers to "rest."

[Anonymous]

My kid is now a PG but for a long time, he played a forward. He had to switch many teams to get there. It was a long road.

[Anonymous]

It's reasonable, we had/have a lot of drama on our team (soccer) around who plays center back. It is incredibly critical but most kids (including mine!) hate it. If you told us he'd be in that spot next season we would have walked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's reasonable, we had/have a lot of drama on our team (soccer) around who plays center back. It is incredibly critical but most kids (including mine!) hate it. If you told us he'd be in that spot next season we would have walked.

I’d be curious to hear more about this. My kids’ teams have CBs who are happy in the position, afaik. But the moment the strikers/offensive mids aren’t scoring a lot, there seems to be grumbling among parents that defenders would do a better job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is now a PG but for a long time, he played a forward. He had to switch many teams to get there. It was a long road.

From what I’ve seen, most coaches in this area will not allow a big kid to play PG. It really stunts their growth in the sport. You basically have to refuse to play a different position and it doesn’t go over well with coaches or the team.

[Anonymous]

What is PG??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's reasonable, we had/have a lot of drama on our team (soccer) around who plays center back. It is incredibly critical but most kids (including mine!) hate it. If you told us he'd be in that spot next season we would have walked.

Why do kids hate it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is PG??

Point guard.
Lots of former-PG-now-basketball coach guys with short sons who only want their own kid in that spot because its the only position they will ever be able to play. If the bigger kids don't get to handle the ball in games, they don't improve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is now a PG but for a long time, he played a forward. He had to switch many teams to get there. It was a long road.

From what I’ve seen, most coaches in this area will not allow a big kid to play PG. It really stunts their growth in the sport. You basically have to refuse to play a different position and it doesn’t go over well with coaches or the team.

At younger ages, it's harder to find a skilled big than a good PG. The kids who are best off are those that start as guards and then grow. A kid who is tall early, but won't end up tall enough to stick as a big is in a really bad position because they never develop the skills they'll need as they have to shift from 4 or 5 to a 3 or even a 2. On the other hand, a kid who starts as a 2 and grows will make a great 4

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's reasonable, we had/have a lot of drama on our team (soccer) around who plays center back. It is incredibly critical but most kids (including mine!) hate it. If you told us he'd be
in that spot next season we would have walked.

Why do kids hate it?

They want to score goals.
If you make a mistake as a forward or mid, the backs are there to cover for you and no one criticizes. But when you make a great play. everyone cheers. The defenders are criticized for every mistake but no one gets excited when they do their job well.