Anonymous
03/23/2025 12:39
Subject: Position question
Anonymous wrote:Hi! I have been involved in soccer for 45+ years, playing, coaching, reffing, managing and have focused on helping kids get better for a good part of the last 7 years.
I would say the kids "should" be rotated to all positions (excluding a few goalkeepers) until U13. Usually it is coach dependent.
Some coaches will only keep a few key players in central roles, like Attacking Center Mid, Defensive Center Mid and Center Back. And they will largely rotate a few players for defensive wings/ wingbacks and rotate few players to play offense, such as striker or winger. This is a typical game plan by coaches by U11. The problem with this is, you are really only developing a few key players on the team and afraid to let other players work in those positions. Coaches run the risk of not developing all the kids on the team.
Take a kid who only played striker, winger or defensive left/ right back. Aside from the fact these are positions largely on the periphery of the formation and thusly do not get to handle the ball as often, these players are also substituted more frequently.
The 3 kids who are allowed to play in the 3 central positions are involved in most plays and usually not subbed out as much...they are in essence getting 2x the amount of play time a development as the rest of the team.
I would argue at the U11 level, equal playing time should be given to kids to play in the central positions. This should be done to better develop players, even if it comes at the expense of taking the better players out/ out of a central role.
What good will a kid be if they play right winger all the time and when U13-U15 hits and their new teams/ coaches want them to play a different position? They will have a hard time and possible fail at it, thusly, not get a starting sport where the team needs a player as they may already have 3 wingers.
So, to answer your question, positions are not set at all. But if a coach plays some players in a central spot all season, they are doing it at the expense of the other team members and only concerned with wins or developing only a few players. I would somehow request that all players get a chance to rotate. And that rotation should be practiced during the practices leading up to game day.
I totally agree. Below the U13/U14 age group, a good coach will have players spend time in all positions, that includes letting goalies get some time spent in positions outside of goalie. A great coach will find a position that a player is uncomfortable with, and teach that player to feel comfortable. For instance, a player is right foot dominant, have them play on the left side. Wins do not matter at these age groups in their conferences; what matters is development.
Coaches can always play to win in tournaments or state cups. When coaches do this, it also allows the players to enjoy some wins and shuts up the parents because the development becomes more obvious.
Anonymous
03/21/2025 17:55
Subject: Position question
Anonymous wrote:I would say the kids "should" be rotated to all positions (excluding a few goalkeepers) until U13. Usually it is coach dependent.
GK's should be rotated through field positions through at least U12 if not U13. Not just to build ball skills but to learn position and tactical awareness as well.
Far too many coaches and clubs are failing at developing keepers by sticking them at that position and hoping they learn how to play the position on their own.
Anonymous
03/20/2025 21:46
Subject: Re:Position question
Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thank you all! I’m new to soccer and all the opinions are good to know of.
My DS has been locked in the same position for the whole two years. Yes, the coach got three players who will be in the main position and the others actually rotate or sub back and forth. I guess my DS is fortunate to have playtime and his skills for the current position benefits the team. Our team has a large roaster and many players are benched or only plays 10mins out of the 60mins. I thought this was the norm and reality, but I do think it’s too harsh for this age group.
This is the problem with the US Youth Soccer system. Players should be rotating and learning. The emphasis should not be on “exclusively winning”.
Anonymous
03/20/2025 19:59
Subject: Re:Position question
This is OP. Thank you all! I’m new to soccer and all the opinions are good to know of.
My DS has been locked in the same position for the whole two years. Yes, the coach got three players who will be in the main position and the others actually rotate or sub back and forth. I guess my DS is fortunate to have playtime and his skills for the current position benefits the team. Our team has a large roaster and many players are benched or only plays 10mins out of the 60mins. I thought this was the norm and reality, but I do think it’s too harsh for this age group.
My DS has been locked in the same position for the whole two years. Yes, the coach got three players who will be in the main position and the others actually rotate or sub back and forth. I guess my DS is fortunate to have playtime and his skills for the current position benefits the team. Our team has a large roaster and many players are benched or only plays 10mins out of the 60mins. I thought this was the norm and reality, but I do think it’s too harsh for this age group.
Anonymous
03/20/2025 19:17
Subject: Position question
My DS is U14 now. He is a flexible, high level player, but he has always been put in positions that serve the team's benefit versus his own development and enjoyment, starting at U9. Some kids can adapt quickly no matter where they get put on the field, no problem, but my DS is an overthinker, so it can negatively affect his mindset. It can also be draining to see teammates get opportunities to specialize in one position the whole year, a position my DS loves and has better skill for, while he is told he HAS to play a certain position so the team won't lose. In my opinion, it can make a kid lose interest in the game because it takes the joy out of it. This issue has been at more than one program for him, so I doubt leaving a team will change that.
Anonymous
03/20/2025 19:16
Subject: Position question
Hi! I have been involved in soccer for 45+ years, playing, coaching, reffing, managing and have focused on helping kids get better for a good part of the last 7 years.
I would say the kids "should" be rotated to all positions (excluding a few goalkeepers) until U13. Usually it is coach dependent.
Some coaches will only keep a few key players in central roles, like Attacking Center Mid, Defensive Center Mid and Center Back. And they will largely rotate a few players for defensive wings/ wingbacks and rotate few players to play offense, such as striker or winger. This is a typical game plan by coaches by U11. The problem with this is, you are really only developing a few key players on the team and afraid to let other players work in those positions. Coaches run the risk of not developing all the kids on the team.
Take a kid who only played striker, winger or defensive left/ right back. Aside from the fact these are positions largely on the periphery of the formation and thusly do not get to handle the ball as often, these players are also substituted more frequently.
The 3 kids who are allowed to play in the 3 central positions are involved in most plays and usually not subbed out as much...they are in essence getting 2x the amount of play time a development as the rest of the team.
I would argue at the U11 level, equal playing time should be given to kids to play in the central positions. This should be done to better develop players, even if it comes at the expense of taking the better players out/ out of a central role.
What good will a kid be if they play right winger all the time and when U13-U15 hits and their new teams/ coaches want them to play a different position? They will have a hard time and possible fail at it, thusly, not get a starting sport where the team needs a player as they may already have 3 wingers.
So, to answer your question, positions are not set at all. But if a coach plays some players in a central spot all season, they are doing it at the expense of the other team members and only concerned with wins or developing only a few players. I would somehow request that all players get a chance to rotate. And that rotation should be practiced during the practices leading up to game day.
I would say the kids "should" be rotated to all positions (excluding a few goalkeepers) until U13. Usually it is coach dependent.
Some coaches will only keep a few key players in central roles, like Attacking Center Mid, Defensive Center Mid and Center Back. And they will largely rotate a few players for defensive wings/ wingbacks and rotate few players to play offense, such as striker or winger. This is a typical game plan by coaches by U11. The problem with this is, you are really only developing a few key players on the team and afraid to let other players work in those positions. Coaches run the risk of not developing all the kids on the team.
Take a kid who only played striker, winger or defensive left/ right back. Aside from the fact these are positions largely on the periphery of the formation and thusly do not get to handle the ball as often, these players are also substituted more frequently.
The 3 kids who are allowed to play in the 3 central positions are involved in most plays and usually not subbed out as much...they are in essence getting 2x the amount of play time a development as the rest of the team.
I would argue at the U11 level, equal playing time should be given to kids to play in the central positions. This should be done to better develop players, even if it comes at the expense of taking the better players out/ out of a central role.
What good will a kid be if they play right winger all the time and when U13-U15 hits and their new teams/ coaches want them to play a different position? They will have a hard time and possible fail at it, thusly, not get a starting sport where the team needs a player as they may already have 3 wingers.
So, to answer your question, positions are not set at all. But if a coach plays some players in a central spot all season, they are doing it at the expense of the other team members and only concerned with wins or developing only a few players. I would somehow request that all players get a chance to rotate. And that rotation should be practiced during the practices leading up to game day.
Anonymous
03/20/2025 18:44
Subject: Position question
My U11 always plays central defense or central midfielder. I can’t recall them playing any other position this year. Last year at U10 they rotated a bit more, but that’s when they were on a lower level team. I honestly don’t keep track of whether or not other players rotate. I think some kids go back and forth between striker and winger. And I think some kids who normally play upfront are asked to play some defense when they are not playing a tough opponent, because the coach wants them to understand the mindset of a defender. It seems like everyone is more locked into certain positions when they are playing a tough opponent.
Anonymous
03/20/2025 18:12
Subject: Position question
Hi. This is for lower team on the travel team or something like MSI classic, not Rec. For ages around U11, are the positions set or do they usually rotate a bit?
For example, Mid fielder always the mid fielder? (Goalie seems like a special position that you need to have 2-3 players to commit) However, it seems there are popular positions like strikers, which often seems to be shared by multiple players (switching during games) but there are positions that are locked by one player throughout the year.
For example, Mid fielder always the mid fielder? (Goalie seems like a special position that you need to have 2-3 players to commit) However, it seems there are popular positions like strikers, which often seems to be shared by multiple players (switching during games) but there are positions that are locked by one player throughout the year.