Wenger says technical skills/footwork are what you should build between 7-14. If you don’t have it at 14, he says you won’t go anywhere.

From what I have seen there are plenty of kids who have both. Develop both. It’s not an either or. On my son’s current team all the kids have both.

Anonymous wrote:Size

And this is why Argentina will continue to beat us like a drum.

Size

Anonymous wrote:Speed and Speed At 11
As a coach, if there is athleticism, I’ll take speed and teach them the rest.

Completely disagree! Fundamentals and footwork are needed at this age. Otherwise, you could just go to a local Track and Field team and pull the fastest kids and say that they should be starting soccer players. Makes no sense!

If you are on a travel team that does not value fundamentals and footwork from an early age than that coach is an idiot and you need to get your DC to a better team immediately!

Speed and Speed At 11
As a coach, if there is athleticism, I’ll take speed and teach them the rest.

If it comes with at least an ounce of technical ability, I take speed. Easier to teach technical skills than speed.

Technical at this age.

At this age, as a parent, invest in technical foot work. Speed and agility coaches can be brought in at age 14 or 15 during the high school years. Have comfort on the ball at this age.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Straight speed and size. Technical skills do not mater. Have seen kids with incredibly technical skills who were able to dominate game not used time and time again.
Being able to operate in tight spaces under pressure is pretty uncommon. So much so travel coaches have no clue what to do with those player. In the US those type of players are square pegs and are forced in to round holes. Many drop out.

We are fairly new to travek so still learning. Compared to say basketball would this be like a tall basketball player but with no shot or passing abilities? Or an American football wide receiver that can’t catch but would make a good DB?

american soccer coaches value speed in the same way basketball coaches value size - you can't teach either but you can teach the rest

Anonymous wrote:Straight speed and size. Technical skills do not mater. Have seen kids with incredibly technical skills who were able to dominate game not used time and time again.
Being able to operate in tight spaces under pressure is pretty uncommon. So much so travel coaches have no clue what to do with those player. In the US those type of players are square pegs and are forced in to round holes. Many drop out.

We are fairly new to travek so still learning. Compared to say basketball would this be like a tall basketball player but with no shot or passing abilities? Or an American football wide receiver that can’t catch but would make a good DB?

I agree with the above poster.

But it also depends on the position. Technical ability is most more important and valuable for center midfielders especially the attacking midfielder. Whereas speed is most important for outside and center forwards.

Straight speed and size. Technical skills do not mater. Have seen kids with incredibly technical skills who were able to dominate game not used time and time again.
Being able to operate in tight spaces under pressure is pretty uncommon. So much so travel coaches have no clue what to do with those player. In the US those type of players are square pegs and are forced in to round holes. Many drop out.

Parent of U16 boy - highly technical but not speedy. Spent his early years in Germany. If European coach, technical ability will be valued above speed as ball travels faster than even the speediest kid.

Unfortunately given the state of American select soccer, it’s cost forces a kind of ‘win anyway you can’ and most American coaches go with ‘kick and run’ style in early years since it’s hard to have everyone be well trained enough for one touch play.

So speed wins in the end.

Alright coaches: what do you choose, speed or technical ability? Age 11.