Defender position at U12

[Anonymous]

Related question—my son is also mostly playing left back and starting to really enjoy it. He’s left-footed and fast but small and wiry and likely to stay that way. How important is size to this position as kids get older?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is a U12, and the coach generally plays him as a left back, which he's pretty good at. He's not a big or tall kid, but somehow, seems to be a good fit for the position. He doesn't mind being a defender, but wants to get some experience in the midfield (not interested in striker or wing, and not right of those positions either, but wants to try any of the midfield positions). The problem is, our team has kids who are good as forwards, but only one other kid who is good at defense (a right back), and so generally, DS and this kid are always defenders. The great thing is that they both pretty much get 100 percent playing time, but the downside is that they never get to try other positions. DS has asked to try midfielder, and has been allowed to in scrimmages, but never in a game.

Any advice?

unfortunately, travel coaches care more about winning every last game than about player development.

keep asking, and if your son starts to be frustrated, find a new team. it isn't your problem that the other kids aren't versatile.

This is a deal breaker for us this year.

My kid was Center D all last year at U11--even after politely asking the coach multiple times to try a new position. He is a very technical player with high soccer IQ. The very few times he came out of the game the team would pretty much collapse with somebody else there. The problem is that I don't even believe it's my son's strongest position and he likely won't have Center D height down the road. He was a prolific goal scorer and tons of assists even in midfield. But, he started losing his finishing ability after an ENTIRE year only in the back. Parents on the team were happy with him in that position and voiced it often. It began to piss me off because he never got a chance elsewhere while the other kids did and it definitely was affecting the love of the game for him.

This year, new Coach. He started getting a lot of time at center mid and was ecstatic and performing very well. But, last few games he is once again only at Center D. I think they do put him there when they think it will be a tough team. It's frustrating because there is a finishing problem up front and with him in the back it becomes a defensive game instead of coming out on the attack. Recently, there was a 0-0 game until half---they finally moved him up to mid and he had a hat trick in 10 minutes. But, now that he is solely in the back again he said to me on the way to the car: "It's not even fun anymore since I only ever get to play defense".

It's a developmental club yet they seem to stick these kids in spots and never move them. The striker has never been moved in a single other position for the past 2.5 years no matter how he is performing.

Seeing that it is killing the love of the game for my kid and also hurting his attacking abilities---we will be looking for a new team this spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is a U12, and the coach generally plays him as a left back, which he's pretty good at. He's not a big or tall kid, but somehow, seems to be a good fit for the position. He doesn't mind being a defender, but wants to get some experience in the midfield (not interested in striker or wing, and not right of those positions either, but wants to try any of the midfield positions). The problem is, our team has kids who are good as forwards, but only one other kid who is good at defense (a right back), and so generally, DS and this kid are always defenders. The great thing is that they both pretty much get 100 percent playing time, but the downside is that they never get to try other positions. DS has asked to try midfielder, and has been allowed to in scrimmages, but never in a game.

Any advice?

unfortunately, travel coaches care more about winning every last game than about player development.

keep asking, and if your son starts to be frustrated, find a new team. it isn't your problem that the other kids aren't versatile.

This is a deal breaker for us this year.

My kid was Center D all last year at U11--even after politely asking the coach multiple times to try a new position. He is a very technical player with high soccer IQ. The very few times he came out of the game the team would pretty much collapse with somebody else there. The problem is that I don't even believe it's my son's strongest position and he likely won't have Center D height down the road. He was a prolific goal scorer and tons of assists even in midfield. But, he started losing his finishing ability after an ENTIRE year only in the back. Parents on the team were happy with him in that position and voiced it often. It began to piss me off because he never got a chance elsewhere while the other kids did and it definitely was affecting the love of the game for him.

This year, new Coach. He started getting a lot of time at center mid and was ecstatic and performing very well. But, last few games he is once again only at Center D. I think they do put him there when they think it will be a tough team. It's frustrating because there is a finishing problem up front and with him in the back it becomes a defensive game instead of coming out on the attack. Recently, there was a 0-0 game until half---they finally moved him up to mid and he had a hat trick in 10 minutes. But, now that he is solely in the back again he said to me on the way to the car: "It's not even fun anymore since I only ever get to play defense".

It's a developmental club yet they seem to stick these kids in spots and never move them. The striker has never been moved in a single other position for the past 2.5 years no matter how he is performing.

Seeing that it is killing the love of the game for my kid and also hurting his attacking abilities---we will be looking for a new team this spring.

If the club you are at is truly developmental, game results should not be the focus. You seem very focused on results. Center backs need to have great field vision and the ability to take balls out of the air, defend well and make the right play (on the ground, to feet) under pressure. On a 9v9 field, it is THE key position. When your kid moves to 11v11 next year, those skills also translate well to the holding mid (or even attacking mid). Also--on a small 9v9 field, he should be able to pick his spots and get involved in the offense. At U12, he can certainly carry the ball into space and get chances on net from outside of the box. The more versatile your player is, the better off he will be when it turns into "real" soccer down the road.

Your frustration makes me think that you are not thinking long term about your player's development.

[Anonymous]

^ he’s been in the same position, no waivering, for 2 years now.

At 10 and 11 years old that’s detrimental to development. Other teammates play 1/2 the game up front: 1/2 in the back. He only plays center D. I am only thinking about increasing versatility, especially when coupled with physical attributes down the road. When it’s not fun for him, his play ultimately suffers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ he’s been in the same position, no waivering, for 2 years now.

At 10 and 11 years old that’s detrimental to development. Other teammates play 1/2 the game up front: 1/2 in the back. He only plays center D. I am only thinking about increasing versatility, especially when coupled with physical attributes down the road. When it’s not fun for him, his play ultimately suffers.

At 9V9, our Club plays with 2 center midfielders (attack and defensive). If the Center defender is being trained to be center mid at 11V11, where do those 2 midfielders go? The Center D is playing very deep. I don't see how that is creating versatility in play. There is little opportunity to do much than distribute out wide. Frankly, the wingbacks get much more attacking opportunity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ he’s been in the same position, no waivering, for 2 years now.

At 10 and 11 years old that’s detrimental to development. Other teammates play 1/2 the game up front: 1/2 in the back. He only plays center D. I am only thinking about increasing versatility, especially when coupled with physical attributes down the road. When it’s not fun for him, his play ultimately suffers.

But that's not what your original post said. You referred to him moving to mid-field in a tie game and scoring... so he isn't only playing D. If it's been 2 years, then he was a "prolific goal scorer" at U10. Would you be as upset if he was pigeonholed as a striker?


At U12, your child should be able to go to the coach and ask what, if anything, he needs to do to get some time at another position. If the answer is that they need him at CB to win games, you should run away from the club. If the answer is specific to how that position will make him a better player, then you need to decide whether you or the coach are a better judge of what is good for your player. And if the coach's explanation doesn't matter and your kid is just unhappy, just move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ he’s been in the same position, no waivering, for 2 years now.

At 10 and 11 years old that’s detrimental to development. Other teammates play 1/2 the game up front: 1/2 in the back. He only plays center D. I am only thinking about increasing versatility, especially when coupled with physical attributes down the road. When it’s not fun for him, his play ultimately suffers.

Just wanted to say, my daughter has been in the same position for 2 years - and now it seems some of her skills have a gap from the other players. My biggest concern is that she said it isn't fun anymore. (btw - on top team).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ he’s been in the same position, no waivering, for 2 years now.

At 10 and 11 years old that’s detrimental to development. Other teammates play 1/2 the game up front: 1/2 in the back. He only plays center D. I am only thinking about increasing versatility, especially when coupled with physical attributes down the road. When it’s not fun for him, his play ultimately suffers.

At 9V9, our Club plays with 2 center midfielders (attack and defensive). If the Center defender is being trained to be center mid at 11V11, where do those 2 midfielders go? The Center D is playing very deep. I don't see how that is creating versatility in play. There is little opportunity to do much than distribute out wide. Frankly, the wingbacks get much more attacking opportunity.

Depends... My daughter is U13 ECNL (not in DC area). Her team plays primarily a 4-4-2 (2 CBs, holding and attacking mids), or 3-5-2, where one of the CB's moves up to holding and the attacking mids create 2 diamonds. Even in a 4-4-2, if our CBs have space, they carry the ball and get involved in the offense (more than they would have on the 9v9 field--the "see-saw" that you might see with holding/attacking mids covering for each other in 9v9 would now apply to the CBs when one jumps up). Wing defenders are expected to constantly make runs offensively, so yes--that is likely more of an attacking position.

Keep in mind that where kids are playing at 9v9 doesn't necessarily dictate where they will play on the bigger field. My daughter played outside back almost exclusively as a U12, with the occasional token minutes at forward. This year, she plays about 70% at outside back and 30% in the midfield. The CBs on her team did not play there exclusively last year (one played holding mid, the other outside back/CB).

Depending on the league that your kid plays in, substitution rules can play in to where kids play as well. ECNL (no re-entry in the same half) or DA/GDA (no re-entry) mean that outside backs (and midfielders) need to cover a lot of ground and be very fit in order to jump up in the play and recover back over and over without running out of gas. Strikers might not need to be able to cover as much ground, but they need to be able to handle the physical play of receiving the ball with a defender on their back-fighting off that contact.

Long story short--things change quite a bit when they move to the bigger field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ he’s been in the same position, no waivering, for 2 years now.

At 10 and 11 years old that’s detrimental to development. Other teammates play 1/2 the game up front: 1/2 in the back. He only plays center D. I am only thinking about increasing versatility, especially when coupled with physical attributes down the road. When it’s not fun for him, his play ultimately suffers.

But that's not what your original post said. You referred to him moving to mid-field in a tie game and scoring... so he isn't only playing D. If it's been 2 years, then he was a "prolific goal scorer" at U10. Would you be as upset if he was pigeonholed as a striker?


At U12, your child should be able to go to the coach and ask what, if anything, he needs to do to get some time at another position. If the answer is that they need him at CB to win games, you should run away from the club. If the answer is specific to how that position will make him a better player, then you need to decide whether you or the coach are a better judge of what is good for your player. And if the coach's explanation doesn't matter and your kid is just unhappy, just move on.

Thanks. The underlying answer is winning games as that is where he is every tournament and 99% of games. I am under no illusion this is about his individual development. He has repeatedly asked and advocated for himself- but there is only so many times you can do that without coming off as disrespectful or subordinate. I told him ultimately he has to respect the coach’s decision. He is team captain.

We will stick it out this year, but if it continues the same will look around this spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ he’s been in the same position, no waivering, for 2 years now.

At 10 and 11 years old that’s detrimental to development. Other teammates play 1/2 the game up front: 1/2 in the back. He only plays center D. I am only thinking about increasing versatility, especially when coupled with physical attributes down the road. When it’s not fun for him, his play ultimately suffers.

Just wanted to say, my daughter has been in the same position for 2 years - and now it seems some of her skills have a gap from the other players. My biggest concern is that she said it isn't fun anymore. (btw - on top team).

What age and what position?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ he’s been in the same position, no waivering, for 2 years now.

At 10 and 11 years old that’s detrimental to development. Other teammates play 1/2 the game up front: 1/2 in the back. He only plays center D. I am only thinking about increasing versatility, especially when coupled with physical attributes down the road. When it’s not fun for him, his play ultimately suffers.

But that's not what your original post said. You referred to him moving to mid-field in a tie game and scoring... so he isn't only playing D. If it's been 2 years, then he was a "prolific goal scorer" at U10. Would you be as upset if he was pigeonholed as a striker?


At U12, your child should be able to go to the coach and ask what, if anything, he needs to do to get some time at another position. If the answer is that they need him at CB to win games, you should run away from the club. If the answer is specific to how that position will make him a better player, then you need to decide whether you or the coach are a better judge of what is good for your player. And if the coach's explanation doesn't matter and your kid is just unhappy, just move on.

That's your answer. Any club/coach that openly admits that they are making decisions based on winning at U12 is not prioritizing development. Run from this coach/club.
Thanks. The underlying answer is winning games as that is where he is every tournament and 99% of games. I am under no illusion this is about his individual development. He has repeatedly asked and advocated for himself- but there is only so many times you can do that without coming off as disrespectful or subordinate. I told him ultimately he has to respect the coach’s decision. He is team captain.

We will stick it out this year, but if it continues the same will look around this spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ he’s been in the same position, no waivering, for 2 years now.

At 10 and 11 years old that’s detrimental to development. Other teammates play 1/2 the game up front: 1/2 in the back. He only plays center D. I am only thinking about increasing versatility, especially when coupled with physical attributes down the road. When it’s not fun for him, his play ultimately suffers.

But that's not what your original post said. You referred to him moving to mid-field in a tie game and scoring... so he isn't only playing D. If it's been 2 years, then he was a "prolific goal scorer" at U10. Would you be as upset if he was pigeonholed as a striker?


At U12, your child should be able to go to the coach and ask what, if anything, he needs to do to get some time at another position. If the answer is that they need him at CB to win games, you should run away from the club. If the answer is specific to how that position will make him a better player, then you need to decide whether you or the coach are a better judge of what is good for your player. And if the coach's explanation doesn't matter and your kid is just unhappy, just move on.

Thanks. The underlying answer is winning games as that is where he is every tournament and 99% of games. I am under no illusion this is about his individual development. He has repeatedly asked and advocated for himself- but there is only so many times you can do that without coming off as disrespectful or subordinate. I told him ultimately he has to respect the coach’s decision. He is team captain.

We will stick it out this year, but if it continues the same will look around this spring.

That's your answer. Any club/coach that openly admits that they are making decisions based on winning at U12 is not prioritizing development. Run from this coach/club