U12 positions

[Anonymous]

Op here. I have no idea if it is common

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry to derail, but is center back a common position for teams to have at U12? We don't have one - we have a left back, right back, and holding midfielder (my son).

To answer the question, there is minimal rotation - my son will sometimes play left or right back if needed, and very occasionally center midfielder. It all depends on who else is there and how strong our opponent is. Coach is more likely to try a less commonly held position if we are already ahead by a lot.

Yes it is common, but they might not call them center backs on you team. If you play a 2-3-3 then they are basically center backs. The wingers are more like wing backs and have a lot of defensive responsibility. Then in U13 they just add two traditional full backs and transition to the 4-3-3.

[Anonymous]

Sorry to derail, but is center back a common position for teams to have at U12? We don't have one - we have a left back, right back, and holding midfielder (my son).

To answer the question, there is minimal rotation - my son will sometimes play left or right back if needed, and very occasionally center midfielder. It all depends on who else is there and how strong our opponent is. Coach is more likely to try a less commonly held position if we are already ahead by a lot.


Yes it is common, but they might not call them center backs on you team. If you play a 2-3-3 then they are basically center backs. The wingers are more like wing backs and have a lot of defensive responsibility. Then in U13 they just add two traditional full backs and transition to the 4-3-3.

I had no idea on my own, but he says they play 3-2-3

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it normal at this age to always play the same position? Kid is center back. Best on team at it and kids trust him. But never plays anywhere else.

Yes at U-12- in particular if you want them to make ECNL/higher level teams.Not so much U-11 and below where they should be exploring and developing. The DA /ECNL level coaches spot talent and where it should ideally fit by U-12 and try to track kids.

Ultimately clubs put together their top 'teams' at U13+ based on rounding out positions--not just the top players (they don't want a team of all midfielders for example). Center back is a key spot on a team. BUT, it would be good if he had a 'minor' position to show versatilty (likely in mid).

My kid played all roles in U-8/U-9; started to move toward 2 roles as of U-10 and U-11, then by U-12 was exclusively in one position. And now is exclusively in that same role in ECNL several years in. Having him move to wing or forward at U-12 when he's clearly a defender really wouldn't have progressed his development by that point--he needed more reps in the back to build out confidence, skill set and mastery. I think U-11 and below is the time to explore--but U-12 and up is when you start to specalize.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Thanks for that post about your kid's progression. That sounds just like him (minus the ECNL team). But he is progressing, getting tons of minutes, learning the position very well, and playing pretty evenly matched games. I can't really complain about much. I was just wondering from a development point of view what folks though that had more experience.

[Anonymous]

At his age group, coaches should rotate and let kids play different positions. Good CBs are hard to find so coaches tend to rotate CBs less, but from development prospective, the kid will benefit from playing different positions. Does his coach allow him to play a different position, when there are a big lead in the game or in a meaningless scrimmage? My oldest played on a strong ECNL team and his coach rotated him in at least four different positions. My daughter is a starting CB on a U14 team and generally plays the entire game, but coach still plays her in midfield in less important games or even at striker if they have a huge lead. Kids need to see the game from different positions. I would not stress out too much about lack of rotation as long as your son is getting a lot of playing time, which CBs generally do.

[Anonymous]

Op here. In games they are up by a lot or even losing by a lot, he moves around. If at all.close he plays entire game. It sounds like this is fairly normal but he should still rotate a little or as much as he can.

[Anonymous]

My U11 DS plays the entire game at Rt back. He’s bored and wants to quit. I think he doesn’t like the position, but DS won’t confirm it. I told him to talk to the coach. He won’t. I told the coach he was asking to quit. The coach begged me to talk him out of it and said he was one of the best defensive players he’s seen at his age. Refs have pulled him aside after games and said the same. I welcomed the coach to talk to my DS. He hasn’t. DS is probably quitting at the end of this season. Makes me sad, but I want him to find a sport and source of exercise that he likes. So oh well. My instincts tell me he would have stuck with soccer longer if he had been rotated through other positions.

[Anonymous]

Coaches rationale is dumb as hell. Thats not development, thats a coach not wanting Ls on his sheet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My U11 DS plays the entire game at Rt back. He’s bored and wants to quit. I think he doesn’t like the position, but DS won’t confirm it. I told him to talk to the coach. He won’t. I told the coach he was asking to quit. The coach begged me to talk him out of it and said he was one of the best defensive players he’s seen at his age. Refs have pulled him aside after games and said the same. I welcomed the coach to talk to my DS. He hasn’t. DS is probably quitting at the end of this season. Makes me sad, but I want him to find a sport and source of exercise that he likes. So oh well. My instincts tell me he would have stuck with soccer longer if he had been rotated through other positions.

This saddens me. My ds is younger than yours and plays about 75% defense. I hope this is not his future. Did your ds like right back u9 and u10?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My U11 DS plays the entire game at Rt back. He’s bored and wants to quit. I think he doesn’t like the position, but DS won’t confirm it. I told him to talk to the coach. He won’t. I told the coach he was asking to quit. The coach begged me to talk him out of it and said he was one of the best defensive players he’s seen at his age. Refs have pulled him aside after games and said the same. I welcomed the coach to talk to my DS. He hasn’t. DS is probably quitting at the end of this season. Makes me sad, but I want him to find a sport and source of exercise that he likes. So oh well. My instincts tell me he would have stuck with soccer longer if he had been rotated through other positions.

Maybe changing clubs or doing something like msi classic (medium level) will allow him to change positions more?

[Anonymous]

He’s always liked playing a position in the mid-field. He’s good at it but not as good as the starting center mid, who is amazing in that position. As the field and # of players get bigger, there probably will be more opportunity for him mid-field, and he’s enjoyed playing some 11 v 11 U12 games. I think he likes to move around the field. I asked him if he would like to work out w/some other teams or even go back to rec next year, hoping to buy some time, but he said no. I should have moved him sooner, but between covid and leaving his friends, it wasn’t really an option. Not a crisis though, it’s not like we were expecting him to play in college or pro.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He’s always liked playing a position in the mid-field. He’s good at it but not as good as the starting center mid, who is amazing in that position. As the field and # of players get bigger, there probably will be more opportunity for him mid-field, and he’s enjoyed playing some 11 v 11 U12 games. I think he likes to move around the field. I asked him if he would like to work out w/some other teams or even go back to rec next year, hoping to buy some time, but he said no. I should have moved him sooner, but between covid and leaving his friends, it wasn’t really an option. Not a crisis though, it’s not like we were expecting him to play in college or pro.

Thank you for following up.

[Anonymous]

geez, play the kid as a right midfielder half the game and as a right back half the game.

[Anonymous]

I want my best dribbler at #10 or right wing. Maybe left wing if he's left footed. Keeping them further back than a #8 decreases his chance of being successful. This is not Premiere League, but American youth soccer. Kids like this need space and isolation to beat a player and make a pass or shoot. When it gets to the big field I want to know you can beat at least one man off the dribble.