Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
DS went to tryout for a travel team, and ends up training with the team, I found out that other new kid (from tryout) also in the training with the team is not as good as my DS.
I suspect that coach picked up him only because he is left-footed.
I would be very disappointed if that kid is chosen in the end but not my DS only because of left-footed advantage.

Is that big advantage being left-footed in soccer (or other body-contact team sports such as basketball, hockey, lacrosse...) ?

Players should be near equal with both feet but that is not very common at younger ages. It is a slight advantage to have a naturally left footed player at younger ages but it is rarely a reason for a player to be selected.

At what age should the be near equal with both feet?

u10

PP must be joking. Watch the pros - many aren't equal and run around their non-dominant foot. There's no magic age .

This can’t be right. Half the kids on my U11 DD team can’t kick well even with their dominant foot.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
DS went to tryout for a travel team, and ends up training with the team, I found out that other new kid (from tryout) also in the training with the team is not as good as my DS.
I suspect that coach picked up him only because he is left-footed.
I would be very disappointed if that kid is chosen in the end but not my DS only because of left-footed advantage.

Is that big advantage being left-footed in soccer (or other body-contact team sports such as basketball, hockey, lacrosse...) ?

Players should be near equal with both feet but that is not very common at younger ages. It is a slight advantage to have a naturally left footed player at younger ages but it is rarely a reason for a player to be selected.

At what age should the be near equal with both feet?

u10

PP must be joking. Watch the pros - many aren't equal and run around their non-dominant foot. There's no magic age .

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
DS went to tryout for a travel team, and ends up training with the team, I found out that other new kid (from tryout) also in the training with the team is not as good as my DS.
I suspect that coach picked up him only because he is left-footed.
I would be very disappointed if that kid is chosen in the end but not my DS only because of left-footed advantage.

Is that big advantage being left-footed in soccer (or other body-contact team sports such as basketball, hockey, lacrosse...) ?

Players should be near equal with both feet but that is not very common at younger ages. It is a slight advantage to have a naturally left footed player at younger ages but it is rarely a reason for a player to be selected.

At what age should the be near equal with both feet?

u10

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
DS went to tryout for a travel team, and ends up training with the team, I found out that other new kid (from tryout) also in the training with the team is not as good as my DS.
I suspect that coach picked up him only because he is left-footed.
I would be very disappointed if that kid is chosen in the end but not my DS only because of left-footed advantage.

Is that big advantage being left-footed in soccer (or other body-contact team sports such as basketball, hockey, lacrosse...) ?

Players should be near equal with both feet but that is not very common at younger ages. It is a slight advantage to have a naturally left footed player at younger ages but it is rarely a reason for a player to be selected.

At what age should the be near equal with both feet?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
DS went to tryout for a travel team, and ends up training with the team, I found out that other new kid (from tryout) also in the training with the team is not as good as my DS.
I suspect that coach picked up him only because he is left-footed.
I would be very disappointed if that kid is chosen in the end but not my DS only because of left-footed advantage.

Is that big advantage being left-footed in soccer (or other body-contact team sports such as basketball, hockey, lacrosse...) ?

Yes left footed player is preferred for positions on left side of field. If you kid is right foot don't try out for left back or left wing find better position

Being left footed is an advantage at LB because the LB will most often stay wide and needs to be able to pass and cross effectively with the left foot. At 11v11 and above, coaches are not just putting the 11 "best" players on the field. They need players who can play certain positions. So if this team is in need of a left back, and the coach finds a player who fits that profile, then yes, that player might get picked over the OP's son regardless of which player is objectively "better."

But saying that a right footed player shouldn't try out for left wing? LMFAO have you ever actually watched this game? Ronaldinho? Ronaldo? Hazard? Ever heard of them?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
DS went to tryout for a travel team, and ends up training with the team, I found out that other new kid (from tryout) also in the training with the team is not as good as my DS.
I suspect that coach picked up him only because he is left-footed.
I would be very disappointed if that kid is chosen in the end but not my DS only because of left-footed advantage.

Is that big advantage being left-footed in soccer (or other body-contact team sports such as basketball, hockey, lacrosse...) ?

Yes left footed player is preferred for positions on left side of field. If you kid is right foot don't try out for left back or left wing find better position

Unless your team's coach likes to play inverted wings, which is what my son's team does. Either way, you need to be relatively good with your other foot, whether dribbling or passing.

The LB typically defends the top forward, so being a lefty can help control possession on the sideline and avoid throw-ins to the forward.

You can teach a kid to shoot and pass with his left foot.

Anonymous wrote:Chances are there will be movement off the team so don't think of it as a zero-sum battle with this one kid. It is a competition against the existing players, your kid and any other new kids trying out at official try-outs. If your kid is barely making it, you should try to get better regardless or he won't see much play time.

I agree. Unless the kid is a goalkeeper, it is unlikely that he is competing against one left-footed kid. If your kid is on the bubble, you may be better of looking for another team where he would get more playing time.

Chances are there will be movement off the team so don't think of it as a zero-sum battle with this one kid. It is a competition against the existing players, your kid and any other new kids trying out at official try-outs. If your kid is barely making it, you should try to get better regardless or he won't see much play time.

Anonymous wrote:
DS went to tryout for a travel team, and ends up training with the team, I found out that other new kid (from tryout) also in the training with the team is not as good as my DS.
I suspect that coach picked up him only because he is left-footed.
I would be very disappointed if that kid is chosen in the end but not my DS only because of left-footed advantage.

Is that big advantage being left-footed in soccer (or other body-contact team sports such as basketball, hockey, lacrosse...) ?

Yes left footed player is preferred for positions on left side of field. If you kid is right foot don't try out for left back or left wing find better position

Anonymous wrote:
DS went to tryout for a travel team, and ends up training with the team, I found out that other new kid (from tryout) also in the training with the team is not as good as my DS.
I suspect that coach picked up him only because he is left-footed.
I would be very disappointed if that kid is chosen in the end but not my DS only because of left-footed advantage.

Is that big advantage being left-footed in soccer (or other body-contact team sports such as basketball, hockey, lacrosse...) ?

In most cases especially at the younger ages it should be about overall ability but as they get older it also depends on coach's preference and needs.

Anonymous wrote:
DS went to tryout for a travel team, and ends up training with the team, I found out that other new kid (from tryout) also in the training with the team is not as good as my DS.
I suspect that coach picked up him only because he is left-footed.
I would be very disappointed if that kid is chosen in the end but not my DS only because of left-footed advantage.

Is that big advantage being left-footed in soccer (or other body-contact team sports such as basketball, hockey, lacrosse...) ?

Players should be near equal with both feet but that is not very common at younger ages. It is a slight advantage to have a naturally left footed player at younger ages but it is rarely a reason for a player to be selected.

Anonymous wrote:
DS went to tryout for a travel team, and ends up training with the team, I found out that other new kid (from tryout) also in the training with the team is not as good as my DS.
I suspect that coach picked up him only because he is left-footed.
I would be very disappointed if that kid is chosen in the end but not my DS only because of left-footed advantage.

Is that big advantage being left-footed in soccer (or other body-contact team sports such as basketball, hockey, lacrosse...) ?

If your DS doesn't make the team, it's because he's not as good as the other kid, not because he's left footed.
If they're even, then maybe, maybe, there'd be a small preference towards the left footed kid.

DS went to tryout for a travel team, and ends up training with the team, I found out that other new kid (from tryout) also in the training with the team is not as good as my DS.
I suspect that coach picked up him only because he is left-footed.
I would be very disappointed if that kid is chosen in the end but not my DS only because of left-footed advantage.

Is that big advantage being left-footed in soccer (or other body-contact team sports such as basketball, hockey, lacrosse...) ?