At what age do travel soccer clubs start to specialize kids at positions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. This is very interesting. My child has been playing keeper at u10. He loves keeper but I worry that he has specialized too early. I’ve had coaches tell me not to let him spend so much time in the goal but his current coach keeps him there for entire games about 50% of the time and half the games the other 50%. It just doesn’t provide enough time on the field and I can see his skills there slipping. But maybe I’m spending too much time worrying since keeper is ultimately the position he wants to play?

I think the biggest problem is most coaches are former field players and don't honestly understand the Keeper position enough to develop one. their innocent ignorance is what the problem truly is. the young keepers suffer because coaches like to pat themselves on the back and take pride in developing field players because its easier and far better odds . I would like to know how many clubs work with there Keeper separately during training and not jus supplemental an hour a week and at what ages? every soccer team practice ive seen from u10 up and thru u17 every other position is being developed 3-4 times per week for 1-2 hr blocks but the keepers aren't getting the needed reps to develop. how do the different clubs in the area handle keeper training please let know how your clubs do it ? thanks in advance

Amanda from the Golden Boot Soccer office here. Supporting emerging keepers can be tough! And helping established ones reach the next level is sometimes even tougher. There are clubs that do offer some sort of specialized keeper training, either from a coach who's passionate about the position or through outside organizations (like, ahem, us), who partner with the club to provide keeper-specific sessions that focus on the mental and physical skills needed to be successful.

This summer, we're also offering several Goalkeeper Training camps for ages 8-13 at locations around Northern Virginia. Plus, we have a deep bench of talented keeper trainers who are available for private, semiprivate, or team/small group work. Please feel free to reach out to me in the office if you'd like to discuss your particular player's situation.

[Anonymous]

My son’s coach has provided excellent keeper training. We are at Potomac.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son’s coach has provided excellent keeper training. We are at Potomac.

Sorry! This is in response to 8:49.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wingback can be the one of the most exciting positions to play, as you can pick your space to attack based on what the players in front of you are opening up for you and you can arrive into the box unannounced as the forwards and mids will attract most of the attention. On my team some of our most talented players play 2 and 3 as it allows them space and 1v1 matchups to use their creativity in addition to attacking overloads. Our center backs often help bring the ball out the back and step into the midfield, and they go up on corners as well. Then on top of that there’s the rush of playing defense and denying an opponent, making a tackle, winning a 50/50, your player might actually like it and have an aptitude for it!

I notice they take the brunt of the blame too.

Kids can repeatedly lose it at forward/midfield—but when the back is taking on a forward/often more than one and they get by all the parents of firwarsmda whose kids just lost the ball btw, groan and blame the back.

This is actually why our Club puts some of the weaker kids in outside midfield---buffered by a strong wingback and good forward.

[Anonymous]

As a coach I tend to "see" kids fill certain roles around 9/10, however there is still a lot of experimentation through the end of high school. There are some critical positions obviously (keeper, center backs, attack midfield) that really kind of stay in those roles, but it wouldn't be unusual for a wing player to play everything from wingback to forward depending on individual situations.

It also really depends on coach - some like to stay rigid with the kids from 9 on, some like me do move folks around to round out their skills.

[Anonymous]

What skills do good center backs at the high school level have? Is it absolutely critical to be strong in the air? B/c of his height DS gets placed there but, honestly, heading doesn't come naturally to him at all. Specializing in that role hasn't helped . .

[Anonymous]

HS soccer is essentially volleyball so yes, heading is crucial.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HS soccer is essentially volleyball so yes, heading is crucial.

+1

[Anonymous]

I have to say I agree with PP Goalie training is an afterthought at many clubs. You think in a sport that doesn't have high scoring outcomes the goalie what be considered a premium. unfortunately most coaches/clubs chase the glory of scoring goals rather than focusing on the stopping of them. everyone preaches defense wins championships. but turnaround and practice and focus on offense and finding the next Renaldo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have to say I agree with PP Goalie training is an afterthought at many clubs. You think in a sport that doesn't have high scoring outcomes the goalie what be considered a premium. unfortunately most coaches/clubs chase the glory of scoring goals rather than focusing on the stopping of them. everyone preaches defense wins championships. but turnaround and practice and focus on offense and finding the next Renaldo.

Yet this country has produced many goalies and no Renaldos.

[Anonymous]

You can get decent goalies by specializing at u12 or u13. It’s better for the goalie to have some individual skills and experience playing field positions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can get decent goalies by specializing at u12 or u13. It’s better for the goalie to have some individual skills and experience playing field positions.

Some Clubs, like Bayern and Barcelona, use the Goalie like another defender/back. Today's keepers need field skills as well at typical goalkeeper ones.

[Anonymous]

If he is being asked to be a defender consider it a compliment. A few college coaches told us when recruiting our son that they plan to move him because they need range, speed and high game IQ to play defense and they have their best athletes playing defense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can get decent goalies by specializing at u12 or u13. It’s better for the goalie to have some individual skills and experience playing field positions.

Some Clubs, like Bayern and Barcelona, use the Goalie like another defender/back. Today's keepers need field skills as well at typical goalkeeper ones.

I agree but a goalie needs to have as many reps as possible catching , diving , coming off their line reps. playing angles , defending set pieces, etc we work almost every minute of training field players and virtually no time or minimal time with goalies. playing goalie is so much more involved than any other position on the field. yes the center back has many responsibilities but is much easier interchangeable with other field players where as the goalie has to see and play the game in a totally different mindset than the other 10 players on the field.

[Anonymous]

Sweeper keeper needs to be able to come off his line quick to clean up direct play and be an extra field player when in possession. Unless you have a goaltender in which case you almost have to commit to a low block.