clubs sell you on false info...

[Anonymous]

So--you get told at the start of the season (U11) that the players will have the opportunity to play in a variety of different positions.

Week after week your kid only plays in one spot---even when it's a scrimmage or your team is winning 12-0.

At the parent meeting 2 weeks ago, you raised your hand to ask if that was still going to happen. The reply 'definitely'.

You don't want a 10-year old not being able to be developed with versatility.

Kid frustrated because other kids move around, not him. He is one of the starters and plays majority of game.

Not sure what to do at this point. Advice?

[Anonymous]

Have you asked explicitly about your child? Good coaches move everyone around no matter what but sometimes if you have a coach who is under pressure to win then he or she will play kids who do well in one position in that same position.

Same thing happening in our U11 club with most kids getting moved around but I think two kids (very talented ones at that) never moving. I thought the kids and their parents wanted it that way but maybe not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you asked explicitly about your child? Good coaches move everyone around no matter what but sometimes if you have a coach who is under pressure to win then he or she will play kids who do well in one position in that same position.

Same thing happening in our U11 club with most kids getting moved around but I think two kids (very talented ones at that) never moving. I thought the kids and their parents wanted it that way but maybe not.

It was the TD holding the meeting. I will try again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you asked explicitly about your child? Good coaches move everyone around no matter what but sometimes if you have a coach who is under pressure to win then he or she will play kids who do well in one position in that same position.

Same thing happening in our U11 club with most kids getting moved around but I think two kids (very talented ones at that) never moving. I thought the kids and their parents wanted it that way but maybe not.

It was the TD holding the meeting. I will try again.

and it's not a 'pressure to win' place. Touted as 'developmental' so it's really strange.

[Anonymous]

We are in the exact same position in a small club touts itself as development focused. Our U11 DS has played the same position the entire season (and, to be fair, none of the other players are being rotated either). DS hates the position (right back) and says it's boring and he'll never have the chance to score. We did show him videos of famous defenders to help him understand how to 'have fun' with the position, and have encouraged him to play up and take opportunities that arise to try and score (FWIW coach also encourages playing up). We also talked to the coach, and mentioned our son's desire to try other positions, but coach said that on this team that position is the best one for our DS. DS does start and always plays entire game, so at least he is getting field time.

DS seems to be operating under the impressions that he can earn his way to midfield, which is where he prefers to be. Given our conversation with the coach this seems unlikely, unless the entire makeup of the team was to change. We have casually asked him what he thinks about the team and whether he wants to stay with this club or move to another in May, and he has said he likes the coach and wants to stay...but again, he also seems to think he will eventually rotate positions and does not know about the conversation we had with his coach. We plan on filling him in, but I want to wait until spring because I think it would just completely demoralize him...we have had many crying sessions on the way home from practice because he is so unhappy in his position.

I'd love to hear opinions on what we should do. If it matters, I do believe in the importance of rotating through positions because it helps to make a player better/more well-rounded. I definitely do not see defense as a 'lesser' role by any stretch.

[Anonymous]

Has the kid asked the coach for a change? I have a kid who refuses to advocate for herself and I've heard the coach ask where she wants to play and she shrugs her shoulders and says she doesn't care. If the coach is getting pressure from other kids and has one accommodating kid, s/he may find it easier/preferable to put your kid into the position s/he feels is the best fit. (May not even notice s/he is doing it.) I don't mean that the kid should be a pest, but maybe a polite conversation at the end of practice pointing out he's played the same position all season and wants to try another.

[Anonymous]

PP here - also forgot to add that son's team is at the max of the roster - there are 15 kids on the team, and several that barely play in games. So his playing in that position every game for the entire game isn't necessarily because they are short players. He is also fairly tall, and the tallest kid on the team. Not sure if that has anything to do with it.

[Anonymous]

Is the position keeper?

[Anonymous]

15 for 9v9 is way too many players!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:15 for 9v9 is way too many players!

Agreed! I was so upset when I found out - clearly a money grab. And they had several people join at the end that did not even try out. Again, my son plays the entire game so am thankful for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So--you get told at the start of the season (U11) that the players will have the opportunity to play in a variety of different positions.

Week after week your kid only plays in one spot---even when it's a scrimmage or your team is winning 12-0.

At the parent meeting 2 weeks ago, you raised your hand to ask if that was still going to happen. The reply 'definitely'.

You don't want a 10-year old not being able to be developed with versatility.

Kid frustrated because other kids move around, not him. He is one of the starters and plays majority of game.

Not sure what to do at this point. Advice?

Pay to play...they'll lure you any way they can. It is a biz. Trust club officials as much as you'd trust a snake oil salesman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you asked explicitly about your child? Good coaches move everyone around no matter what but sometimes if you have a coach who is under pressure to win then he or she will play kids who do well in one position in that same position.

Same thing happening in our U11 club with most kids getting moved around but I think two kids (very talented ones at that) never moving. I thought the kids and their parents wanted it that way but maybe not.

Why would two very talented kids not get moved around when everyone else does? How does it help win games ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you asked explicitly about your child? Good coaches move everyone around no matter what but sometimes if you have a coach who is under pressure to win then he or she will play kids who do well in one position in that same position.

Same thing happening in our U11 club with most kids getting moved around but I think two kids (very talented ones at that) never moving. I thought the kids and their parents wanted it that way but maybe not.

Why would two very talented kids not get moved around when everyone else does? How does it help win games ?

Some positions are harder to fill (e.g., goalkeeper, centerback, left back). The kids that excel in these positions are hard to find and may end up not moving around to other positions. Kick and run teams would normally put their "best" players (i.e., fast, physical kids who can finish) up top. So there may be different reasons for not rotating certain players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you asked explicitly about your child? Good coaches move everyone around no matter what but sometimes if you have a coach who is under pressure to win then he or she will play kids who do well in one position in that same position.

Same thing happening in our U11 club with most kids getting moved around but I think two kids (very talented ones at that) never moving. I thought the kids and their parents wanted it that way but maybe not.

Why would two very talented kids not get moved around when everyone else does? How does it help win games ?

Some positions are harder to fill (e.g., goalkeeper, centerback, left back). The kids that excel in these positions are hard to find and may end up not moving around to other positions. Kick and run teams would normally put their "best" players (i.e., fast, physical kids who can finish) up top. So there may be different reasons for not rotating certain players.

It can be frustrating if your kid is a good defender and the coach doesn’t trust other kids to play in these positions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you asked explicitly about your child? Good coaches move everyone around no matter what but sometimes if you have a coach who is under pressure to win then he or she will play kids who do well in one position in that same position.

Same thing happening in our U11 club with most kids getting moved around but I think two kids (very talented ones at that) never moving. I thought the kids and their parents wanted it that way but maybe not.

Why would two very talented kids not get moved around when everyone else does? How does it help win games ?

Some positions are harder to fill (e.g., goalkeeper, centerback, left back). The kids that excel in these positions are hard to find and may end up not moving around to other positions. Kick and run teams would normally put their "best" players (i.e., fast, physical kids who can finish) up top. So there may be different reasons for not rotating certain players.

My kid is put at center back. He never wavers. It's not his best position, but the best on the team in that position. He is excellent in midfield and forward. He should be able to rotate through the positions at 10 years old and not be pegged to only play center back. Futhermore, height most likely will not be on his side post-puberty. Why pigeon hole kids at the early ages? It's only to win, not develop the kid. IT ends up screwing the kid.