Anonymous wrote:At what age is it appropriate for players to specialize in positions? I have a 7 year old girl that has spent a lot of time in goal this season with her U10 team (playing up a year). Her coach thinks she would be a good goalie although not sure how you can tell that at 7. She doesn't mind it, but the team is good so she rarely gets shots on goal. Is this something I should address with the coach or just wait it out?

Don't let your coach do this!!! First off, she's too young. She might be a good goalie, or not. My son was absolutely fantastic... until they got big enough for man nets, at which point his size deficiency was obvious.

You are paying a ton of money for player development that your kid isn't getting. Talk to the coach about "spreading the wealth" on goal and giving your kid a chance on the field.

Thank you. Excellent advice - appreciate it.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. What would you say to the coach?

It depends on your kid. If she WANTS to play GK all the time, then say to the coach, Hey Coach I know Mary loves GK and she always wants to play GK, but can you explain to her the importance of learning to a field player and how that develops her as a GK as well and then don't have her play more than 1/2 every 2 games so GK only once per 4 halves. If she doesn't want to play GK, then I would say, Hey coach, Mary has been playing a lot in goal and she isn't loving it. I thought everyone got equal playing time in goal? See where that conversation goes. With that said...no coach should have a kid playing GK that much at 7 years old. They need to be experimenting in all the positions. This SHOULD be a very easy conversation. If it isn't, then this is a rotten coach.

OP here. What would you say to the coach?

It's too young to be specializing as a goalie unless she really really likes it. In fact too young at this age to specialize in anything.

OP here. She is a 2011 - turns 8 in late Fall. That is playing one year up at U10. Club doesn't have a U9 team so she is playing U10.
I am also thinking of whether to move her next season to a team that is appropriate for her age. But for now, this is where she is at - just wondering how to handle with the coach so she gets some field time as well.

How is a 7 year old playing u10 only playing up one year?

why is a kid playing up spending so much time in goal. the whole situation sounds strange.

Why is she playing up?

Even goalies need experience on the field. I’d talk to coach.

OP. So do I talk to the coach?

Yes, don't play goalie for more than a half and u10, everyone should have a half in goal so you should only play once every 5-6 games.

This is NCSL team for U10

+1
at rec, goalie was rotated among the team per half- unless someone volunteered.
for travel, i don't think until U12, when positions were specialized.

most rec leagues have rules at that age that a player can only spend half the game in the goal.

At what age is it appropriate for players to specialize in positions? I have a 7 year old girl that has spent a lot of time in goal this season with her U10 team (playing up a year). Her coach thinks she would be a good goalie although not sure how you can tell that at 7. She doesn't mind it, but the team is good so she rarely gets shots on goal. Is this something I should address with the coach or just wait it out?