What to do when coach has kid playing a position they don't like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The problem is they don't have players that can play midfield so the coach has to play my kid there. If you can't get the ball up the field how do you expect the team to score? Weaker players are playing the wing and forward positions. Basically, the coach is making do with what he has.

This is very common in youth soccer. The older they get, the harder it is for the stud forward to make an impact if he/she cannot be supplied the ball. The field is simply too big now. If that forward has ball skills, then they will drop them to a deeper position (midfield), so they can affect the game.

+1 this is a coach's strategy for "where to place weaker players". Winger is the spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My kid is playing U13 now and plays their heart out where ever the coach positions them. And it has nothing to do with playing time as someone mentioned. Also, I'm not an overbearing soccer parent I'm the opposite and don't say anything at all which sucks cause we're paying $2500+ a year.

It's just tough seeing my kid frustrated with soccer right now when my kid was really coming into their game towards the end of 2019-2020 season.

My hope is the team will get a new coach for next year and maybe things will change. I personally don't want things to work out with the academy team cause that commute is going to be hell.

What happens when the next coach puts her in a new position as well? It is amazing to me that this is an issue at the ECNL level. Your child is playing and developing into a more desirable all over player who won’t make it in college if she can’t get out of her head and stop complaining. If she just wants to have what she wants pull her out of ECNL and let her play at a lower level. Everyone wants the glory of an elite level but few know what it takes to actually be elite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The problem is they don't have players that can play midfield so the coach has to play my kid there. If you can't get the ball up the field how do you expect the team to score? Weaker players are playing the wing and forward positions. Basically, the coach is making do with what he has.

This is very common in youth soccer. The older they get, the harder it is for the stud forward to make an impact if he/she cannot be supplied the ball. The field is simply too big now. If that forward has ball skills, then they will drop them to a deeper position (midfield), so they can affect the game.

+1 this is a coach's strategy for "where to place weaker players". Winger is the spot.

My DD was moved from CF to CM to her ball skills but mostly due to her passing skills. In a few games, he even put her in at Defensive Back to get the ball out to the Midfielders and Forwards. My DD does have a attacking mentality too but she understands and is willing to play at any position just as long she’s in the game. She’s a lot more hesitant if the coach plays her at goalie but he hasn’t yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OTHER COACHES DID YOUR KID A DISSERVICE BY NOT ROTATING HIM AROUND AT YOUNGER AGE GROUPS.

Now he's a spoiled kid who complains when he's not in his fave position.

OP here. My kid has had a couple coaches since u8 and is on the 3rd for u13. They tried my kid at different positions. At defender my kid was okay, at midfield okay again but really comes alive at striker or wing so that's where my kid would end up. Being ambidextrous my kid can pass and shoot equally well with both left and right. And my kid isn't complaining my kid will play where ever they're positioned. My kid self evaluates each game and how they played and this year it's been more not so good and therefore frustration builds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OTHER COACHES DID YOUR KID A DISSERVICE BY NOT ROTATING HIM AROUND AT YOUNGER AGE GROUPS.

Now he's a spoiled kid who complains when he's not in his fave position.

OP here. My kid has had a couple coaches since u8 and is on the 3rd for u13. They tried my kid at different positions. At defender my kid was okay, at midfield okay again but really comes alive at striker or wing so that's where my kid would end up. Being ambidextrous my kid can pass and shoot equally well with both left and right. And my kid isn't complaining my kid will play where ever they're positioned. My kid self evaluates each game and how they played and this year it's been more not so good and therefore frustration builds.

Then your kid should deal with it and do they best he/she can regardless of what position the coach puts him/her in. Or, you can look for a team that has good midfielders already but no one who can score and move him/her there. Either way, talk to the coach and she what he/she says. Maybe when the team is up (or down) by several goals and game is out of reach, the coach can move your kid back to the forward position.