"His Coaches also believe in total football and have said at 12.5 years old---there's no telling what position he will eventually specialize in. But--the best player is a versatile player."

It's beyond versatility. A kid won't understand what versatility means.

If a striker can't think like a defender or a goalie, automatically, he is never going to beat them consistently.

A striker who always plays striker and just has a coach try to tell him what it feels like to be a goalie or what the goalie should be thinking is never going to internalize what a goalie can or can not do.

Without that information available instantly, at game speed, his potential will be limited.

I think Arlington makes kids start to specialize around age 12 - a friend's son got an offer for his ASA team but it was dependent on him committing to the goalie slot. He had hoped to stay a field player.

Bright side of goalie - I imagine there are fewer kids who really want to play that position, so there might be more demand for him. A friend of mine got a scholarship to a D1 school for goal-tending.

At U11, he should not be a 'striker'.

Under U12/13 is way too young to specialize.

Total football. The most valuable player is one that can play all positions well---even if they have an inclination for one.

My kid was put at striker his first 2 years, than center mid, and now defender this season which he is not loving (but he does it very well)--it's a possession based Club that really expects a lot from the defenders and allows them to take the space, build the attack and even shoot on goal as players shift as he goes up--overlapping runs, etc.

He's been down/a bit depressed after each practice, game and when he asked the Coach--he said "I don't trust anyone else back there". My kid is tenacious and works to win back the ball immediately.

I would definitely allow your kid to get some goalie training/experience. It changes a player's perception and enhances field play.

I told my child--if he wants to play elsewhere he has to demonstrate that he is better than anyone else in the team at that position. Very recently- he's been getting some time at center mid/forward which is making him smile ear-to-ear.

His Coaches also believe in total football and have said at 12.5 years old---there's no telling what position he will eventually specialize in. But--the best player is a versatile player.

We've told him play hard wherever he is put and see it as advantage to learn each position well. No questions to the Coach. He brought it up and they know his preference--but no badgering or complaining.

I think that deciding what position your kid should play in a game is the height of micromanaging. I also have a lot of respect for people/kids who are willing to get out of their comfort zones and try things for which they have less skill in an effort to get better. I would be completely encouraging of letting him try what he wants. So what if he is not as good - it's just a game, remember?

On to some practical advice for OP ..... how tall is your son likely to be? Will he want to play travel at a high level, or be a starter on a big HS varsity team? If he is going to be smallish I would hesitate to have him switch over to goalie, particularly if he is good as a forward.

Find a new club. That being said, strikers and goalies have the same mentality. Your son should have played all the positions. You want him to be a good soccer player not a good striker.

Anonymous wrote:Where are you playing? I don't know any club that makes kids specialize. As a matter of fact, the junior (U11 and younger) teams would always entice kids to play gioalie by offering them to play whatever position they wanted as long as they played one half in goal.

For your kid's sake, leave your current club.

Arlington girls force their goalie to specialize

Anonymous wrote:Where are you playing? I don't know any club that makes kids specialize. As a matter of fact, the junior (U11 and younger) teams would always entice kids to play gioalie by offering them to play whatever position they wanted as long as they played one half in goal.

For your kid's sake, leave your current club.

We started to have a dedicated goalie at U12 (11 years old). The goalie will play striker when we are leading 4-0 or 5-0.

Where are you playing? I don't know any club that makes kids specialize. As a matter of fact, the junior (U11 and younger) teams would always entice kids to play gioalie by offering them to play whatever position they wanted as long as they played one half in goal.

For your kid's sake, leave your current club.

Op here. Our club specializes I specific goalie training for goalies. It is separate. That’s why he’d have to give up his field position.

I am in the opposite boat. DS is in the goal 95% of the time. He loves the goal but there’s no way it’s good for his development to spend virtually all his time there. When I ask the coach for him to have a break from the goal, he sits out most of the game. He has maybe played on the field 45 minutes all spring.

I would have your child find another outlet for goalie off the travel team. For example, do an outside goalie clinic or soccer camp. He can then offer to sub if he sees his coach needs help because the goalies are injured/sick/out of town.

If your club is making 11 year olds stick in one position, it is time to find a new club. That is not developmentally appropriate and, in most cases, is not in the best interest of the players and team.

It also doesn't make sense that training as a field player would end just because he is playing goalie in games. He should still be attending team training which would be focused on field player drills and skills.

Why not just join some goalie clinic to begin with?

He IS 11, right? Seriously OP? Let him just have fun.

My son , age 11 has been playing striker for years and is very good at it. He has expressed interest recently in the past six months or so he wants to play goalie. He is not a great defense player on the field, but when he plays soccer for fun (not at practice or games) He always wants to be goalie. He has not trained formally for a goalie, where as he has had a lot of training and practice as an offense of player. I definitely think he is better technically as a striker then as a goalie. Unfortunately would have to choose One position as he would be unable to play both. I know in many clubs players are able to rotate positions but in our club they stick with one position. I think that at this stage switching positions is not ideal, especially because I don’t think there is as much technical talent. Or do I just let him play the position that he wants?