Older players often make younger players look good because they have a higher understanding of the game. I see it all the time. By the same taken. I've seen teams (usually I see it with indoor or futsal) where they may have one older player who helps the team "fit" in in an older bracket. And you can tell the older player has a lot more skill, but gets held back by the surrounding younger players and tries to execute things they don't understand and can't keep up with.

OP--it's not age per se. It's soccer IQ.

For smart tactical players it is a nightmare to play with 'kick and run' kids. My boys are also center mid and look fairly crappy when they are at tryouts on full field with the boot it down the field type of teams. They are used to playing with kids that can move off the ball, know when to make and *time* their runs. They can make a pass automatically and know their teammate will be there. Kids with limited soccer IQ will not and it will look like a crappy ball...a through ball with nobody there to take it.

My kids are athletic/fast and good technical skill, but I can see why certain Clubs love them and certain Clubs do not. It all comes down to playing style. Some coaches will not even recognize this...even at some of the high-profile places.

Your daughter, and my kids, that get frustrated playing with teams/kids that don't have the IQ will need to learn to adapt and either make an impact on their own because, frankly, 99% of American soccer is not played 'smart'. It is purely speed and long ball. You will get people that think because a team with play a few passes that they are a 'passing' or 'possession' team--when it is not at all.

Yes to all of the PPs, which also underscores why the crazies in this forum who always talk about bench kids needing to "work harder" are wrong for more advanced players.

Technical and tactical skills mean little if your teammates aren't in a place to receive the ball or can't receive the ball. My daughter isn't a top player, because she is slow, but when she plays with top players she looks really good because she is technical and has great playmaking abilities. On a weaker team, it is hard to make difference.

Anonymous wrote:Older girls understand space, balance, and positioning better, plus bigger fields creates better passing lanes.

Pretty much all of this ^^^^

Older girls understand space, balance, and positioning better, plus bigger fields creates better passing lanes.

Anonymous wrote:Why does my u12 girl(offensive mid) play so much better with older girls(like u15)? On her travel team she does okay. Will have two or three impact plays a game but can disappear and seem to not fit in at times. When she plays full field with older girls, she fits in. After a practice or two, the other girls seem to try to find her. She become a connector and she loves it. It also happens in futsal but only with the older girls. Last year with her age group, she hated futsal. This year with older girls, she loves its.

That might happen for any players that gets the opportunity to play with skilled experienced players. The opposite is also true. Take a very skilled and experienced player and surround them with less capable players and there is only so much they can accomplish. It is a team sport.

Anonymous wrote:Why does my u12 girl(offensive mid) play so much better with older girls(like u15)? On her travel team she does okay. Will have two or three impact plays a game but can disappear and seem to not fit in at times. When she plays full field with older girls, she fits in. After a practice or two, the other girls seem to try to find her. She become a connector and she loves it. It also happens in futsal but only with the older girls. Last year with her age group, she hated futsal. This year with older girls, she loves its.

#humblebrag LOL--this is funny.

Why does my u12 girl(offensive mid) play so much better with older girls(like u15)? On her travel team she does okay. Will have two or three impact plays a game but can disappear and seem to not fit in at times. When she plays full field with older girls, she fits in. After a practice or two, the other girls seem to try to find her. She become a connector and she loves it. It also happens in futsal but only with the older girls. Last year with her age group, she hated futsal. This year with older girls, she loves its.