Question/discussion for parents of girls who have been through the system

[Anonymous]

So first kid is working her way through travel soccer. She is u11 now. Talked with a few parents who have older girls(16-17) still playing. It seems there is a consistent theme that in these early years developing individual technical skill is the most important thing.

So our team played a team that was athletic and physical but not very technical. It was not to the point where it was like oh my ...that girl is super fast. They were just bigger but not as skilled. We lost not a big deal. The thing that bugs me is many of the parents(not the ones with older girls) were like oh that team was really good. I did not see it. They seemed one dimensional. The team did not break down the defense just over powered it. By this I mean the bigger girls(the 5’ 120 pound girl lol really big right?) worn down the smaller girl(4’ 7” 85 pound girl). I do not think the goals that were scored would be goals in a year or two. I walked away thinking that was not a good soccer team but they will get results now. I think others walked away thinking that was a good soccer team.

I am I crazy? Do things change? Is individual skill really that important(understanding you have to have athleticism to stay on the field)? Oh and how the hell do you develop an attacking midfielder(a #10) if this is the system?

[Anonymous]

Great question, OP. I would love to hear what other seasoned travel parents think as well. I also have a U11 DD as well.

[Anonymous]

My DD is one of the older girls. She started in rec, moved to travel, and has made to to the ECNL level.

In my opinion, it does change. As girls get into the 15-16 year age group, a good portion of the relative age effect has worn off. The girls that matured younger are no longer as dominant, and the smaller, more skilled girls gain traction. I don't think it really takes root until this age though. With that said, I think this effect is more obvious at the elite level because of the more focused development there. Below the elite level, it is more varied.

[Anonymous]

My DD is U16 now and from U10 onward we saw two places where things really change. One is when you go to the full field at U13. At his point foot skills and pace really take over. Size is less of a factor as most girls are in full on puberty, plus field size helps when winning a one v one battle is not an automatic scoring chance anymore. Speed starts to matter more and slower/bigger players can become cones to dribble around at times. This is a big reason why working foot skills before this period is key. The second change is U15/16 where girls figure out what they want to focus on in HS and some select other sports over soccer. Also at this time girls have completed puberty and the top six at U13 are no longer the top six. On my DD’s team four of the top six at U13 are now gone and the other two are middle to bottom six. Size, pace, foot speed, soccer IQ, conditioning, training and basically everything factors in at this point. Defenders now have to keep pace with the forwards, so speed is a huge factor. Some games become pretty physical and heading is also a bigger factor, so size does still help (but only if you also have good foot speed as well as size).

[Anonymous]

If one big girl is dominating your team, even with speed and just enough skill, and your team couldn't adjust, what does that really say? probably nothing much at u11 or u10 about your player or team or their team. It does say your midfield/def/goalie couldn't adjust and have more learning to do.

If you felt the player had no technical and was still scoring, then that player was good enough and that team wasn't bad. They just maybe not that good without that player. Lots of teams with a "good" player aren't bad, but also not good. Fundamentals are essential young, otherwise as other factors come into play, speed may be rendered irrelevant.

Direct & foot race goals will still be scored at the older ages, just maybe not as many as defenders get a lot better, but they will still be scored. They may be scored by a less technical speedster, a speedster who gained technique, tech player who developed speed as they grew, or a player who just started the run earlier and no one was marking well.

You also can't teach speed, so coaches are counting that those speedy players will develop skills. The only issue is that a lot of outside of the regular team training will be required, and not everyone is willing to put in the work and it might be too late when they get shutdown.

Your player may just not be a 10 attacking midfielder right now (or ever) regardless of the her/your desires. If ball handling skills are great, but can't use them because they can't play quickly or move quick "enough" then you have to be realistic. Every position has some different qualities that are required to be successful.

If you really want to develop your player as an attacking midfielder and that's the only position that will play, then you have to find a team that will afford them that opportunity. That may mean finding a team that is a good fit (maybe not the best team in the area) or a coach that believes they will be their 10 to the detriment/lack of opportunity for other players who want the same development as your player is an issue and then that coach is losing players too.

And by the way, things change, but probably not with the same coach on the same team. Your kid can't show up to a tryout or new team practice saying that they play outside back or wing and hope to get the job as a 10. Or say they want to play the 10 and then don't near;y have the appropriate attributes or vision at the current game pace. You show up as a 10 and be able to do it better than the current 10s and be able to play another position well too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD is U16 now and from U10 onward we saw two places where things really change. One is when you go to the full field at U13. At his point foot skills and pace really take over. Size is less of a factor as most girls are in full on puberty, plus field size helps when winning a one v one battle is not an automatic scoring chance anymore. Speed starts to matter more and slower/bigger players can become cones to dribble around at times. This is a big reason why working foot skills before this period is key. The second change is U15/16 where girls figure out what they want to focus on in HS and some select other sports over soccer. Also at this time girls have completed puberty and the top six at U13 are no longer the top six. On my DD’s team four of the top six at U13 are now gone and the other two are middle to bottom six. Size, pace, foot speed, soccer IQ, conditioning, training and basically everything factors in at this point. Defenders now have to keep pace with the forwards, so speed is a huge factor. Some games become pretty physical and heading is also a bigger factor, so size does still help (but only if you also have good foot speed as well as size).

What competitive level is this that the top 6 at u13 are now now the bottom 2? I think that just goes to show that you can't limit to just your current team, you have to be thinking of players in a 10 mile radius that might also join your team. The PP didn't say who moved into the top 6 slots, but I am guessing at u16s, it's new to team players, not the original u10 or even u13 players.

[Anonymous]

Parent of 2 boys that have gone through the age groups, both played on great teams and one is pursuing a soccer at the college level. Younger one decided that he wanted to focus on studies.

Both paths are fine by me.

Onto your question, as referenced by a previous poster...you will see a huge difference in well trained players when they hit 11v11 at U13. With the larger fields you can't kick and run as easily and controlling the possession time is critical. You won't see the lop sided 7-0 scores anymore and the big kid that could run fast will just be relegated to the kid that looses the ball. Focus on the technical skills and filed IQ at the younger ages. How to receive the ball, attacking 1v1/1v2, looking for open space, movement without the ball (critical), and stamina. You don't have to beat the other team in a sprint, but you sure need to outlast them in the marathon. My eldest was always the fastest kid on the field, but he could take on 1v1s with ease and was a non greedy player so he knew how to distribute the ball and win it back up high.

Find a good coach that understands the progression of the player and you are set. I can't take credit for either of my kid's development on the field, but as parents we did support them in identifying which coaches to stay with and which ones to leave. I know many people say 9v9 small sided is a great way to get touches on the ball, but I find it too cramped and limits creativity. 11v11, the ballers will rise to the top and the run and gun players are left behind...literally. There is a saying in soccer that the fastest thing on the field is the ball and the one thing that never gets tired is also the ball, so let it work for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD is U16 now and from U10 onward we saw two places where things really change. One is when you go to the full field at U13. At his point foot skills and pace really take over. Size is less of a factor as most girls are in full on puberty, plus field size helps when winning a one v one battle is not an automatic scoring chance anymore. Speed starts to matter more and slower/bigger players can become cones to dribble around at times. This is a big reason why working foot skills before this period is key. The second change is U15/16 where girls figure out what they want to focus on in HS and some select other sports over soccer. Also at this time girls have completed puberty and the top six at U13 are no longer the top six. On my DD’s team four of the top six at U13 are now gone and the other two are middle to bottom six. Size, pace, foot speed, soccer IQ, conditioning, training and basically everything factors in at this point. Defenders now have to keep pace with the forwards, so speed is a huge factor. Some games become pretty physical and heading is also a bigger factor, so size does still help (but only if you also have good foot speed as well as size).

What competitive level is this that the top 6 at u13 are now now the bottom 2? I think that just goes to show that you can't limit to just your current team, you have to be thinking of players in a 10 mile radius that might also join your team. The PP didn't say who moved into the top 6 slots, but I am guessing at u16s, it's new to team players, not the original u10 or even u13 players.

This is a U16 CCL A team for DD's club. U14 was the age switch to birth year, so looking at current make up of team since then is 11 original, 2 from B team, 5 new players. Top six are 4 original, one B player, and one new player.

[Anonymous]

Op here.Thanks for your response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD is U16 now and from U10 onward we saw two places where things really change. One is when you go to the full field at U13. At his point foot skills and pace really take over. Size is less of a factor as most girls are in full on puberty, plus field size helps when winning a one v one battle is not an automatic scoring chance anymore. Speed starts to matter more and slower/bigger players can become cones to dribble around at times. This is a big reason why working foot skills before this period is key. The second change is U15/16 where girls figure out what they want to focus on in HS and some select other sports over soccer. Also at this time girls have completed puberty and the top six at U13 are no longer the top six. On my DD’s team four of the top six at U13 are now gone and the other two are middle to bottom six. Size, pace, foot speed, soccer IQ, conditioning, training and basically everything factors in at this point. Defenders now have to keep pace with the forwards, so speed is a huge factor. Some games become pretty physical and heading is also a bigger factor, so size does still help (but only if you also have good foot speed as well as size).

I generally agree with the timing. Some kids start out great and get worse, others grow into and become better. You just have to stick with it and obviously the goal is to get good at everything as much as you can. U13 is a big transition due to puberty and the field size, and for girls the U14 year can also be tough due to continued puberty changes in some players. U15 is a transition year because some of the girls are going to HS and with the DA/ECNL/High School teams there is often a transition for many. By U16 the focus is on college ID camps, showcases and such.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So first kid is working her way through travel soccer. She is u11 now. Talked with a few parents who have older girls(16-17) still playing. It seems there is a consistent theme that in these early years developing individual technical skill is the most important thing.

So our team played a team that was athletic and physical but not very technical. It was not to the point where it was like oh my ...that girl is super fast. They were just bigger but not as skilled. We lost not a big deal. The thing that bugs me is many of the parents(not the ones with older girls) were like oh that team was really good. I did not see it. They seemed one dimensional. The team did not break down the defense just over powered it. By this I mean the bigger girls(the 5’ 120 pound girl lol really big right?) worn down the smaller girl(4’ 7” 85 pound girl). I do not think the goals that were scored would be goals in a year or two. I walked away thinking that was not a good soccer team but they will get results now. I think others walked away thinking that was a good soccer team.

I am I crazy? Do things change? Is individual skill really that important(understanding you have to have athleticism to stay on the field)? Oh and how the hell do you develop an attacking midfielder(a #10) if this is the system?

It's very club specific. I can't even say league specific. I've seen ECNL teams that were technical teams and teams that were just big and fast. Same goes for DA and all the rest.

I do though think it's not simply a kid is either big and not technical or they are small and technical. And this is where the megaclubs like NC Courage excel. They have a large enough talent pool that they can fill their teams with both big AND athletic.

A good club will not allow a big player to rely on size. They will develop that player to be more. I have seen clubs that are more developmentally focused that do that. It will though need parental support. American families often don't understand what development looks like.

[Anonymous]

I meant big & athletic AND technical. I think you got my point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So first kid is working her way through travel soccer. She is u11 now. Talked with a few parents who have older girls(16-17) still playing. It seems there is a consistent theme that in these early years developing individual technical skill is the most important thing.

So our team played a team that was athletic and physical but not very technical. It was not to the point where it was like oh my ...that girl is super fast. They were just bigger but not as skilled. We lost not a big deal. The thing that bugs me is many of the parents(not the ones with older girls) were like oh that team was really good. I did not see it. They seemed one dimensional. The team did not break down the defense just over powered it. By this I mean the bigger girls(the 5’ 120 pound girl lol really big right?) worn down the smaller girl(4’ 7” 85 pound girl). I do not think the goals that were scored would be goals in a year or two. I walked away thinking that was not a good soccer team but they will get results now. I think others walked away thinking that was a good soccer team.

I am I crazy? Do things change? Is individual skill really that important(understanding you have to have athleticism to stay on the field)? Oh and how the hell do you develop an attacking midfielder(a #10) if this is the system?

You have described a team much like my daughter's team played back in the day. She has since graduated high school. Her team would routinely lose to a team much like the team you described. By the time college rolled around, several of the girls on the team you described headed off to play at Coastal Carolina, and many did not play. My daughter's team sent 4 to UVA, and others to schools that made the college cup.