Are the same coaches still at those clubs though? Still working with the same age groups? |
Depends on the club. Some rotate their coaches back through the age groups when the kids move to U13. Mileage will vary. |
Drop Herndon and Alexandria and you have your list. FWIW none of the clubs above are developing position specific players at ages 9-12. |
Agree with the sentiment and it really applies to all clubs. At these ages clubs are not developing positions, but the style a club plays will cater to some positional strengths and weaknesses. Positional development will happen as a matter of course if not a matter of specific focus. |
I think we already settled that playing style is coach driven. Although clubs may claim to have a style that is more talk than reality. Find a coach who understands kids and appreciates/encourages technical work and you will have an environment capable of developing any midfielder. |
If you never see the TD at the fields this is true. If you do in fact see the TD at the fields observing practice then there is a chance that the club is instilling a club philosophy. Some clubs require coaches to provide their lessons ahead of time too. Mileage will vary but some clubs do try but I will concede that most don't and any attempt is based solely on getting the right coach irrespective of the club. |
I think there is a distinction to be made between OP and this. OP is asking which clubs value midfield play at u13+; just because a club values midfield play, doesn't mean they develop it. Case in point, if a talented 10 or 8 shows up at McLean or FCV at u13 or older, they will take the player and probably play the player at that position. However, the players that are coming up through their clubs aren't getting the training they need to become that player. |
+1 |