All Pro level players are superior ATHLETES first that learned technical skills. Never do you see a technical player learn to be a superior athlete. With that said Ill take my chances developing the kid who's an athlete over the the skilled kid with mediocre genes.

It’s like technical skills and intelligence. If you don’t have it, you won’t get to next level

Anonymous wrote:I would rather have an athletic kid over a technically sound kids 9 out of ten times . The people who say otherwise usually have very un athletic kids. Even when they point out pros who are so technical they forget to acknowledge that less athletic pros are 10 times the athlete most kids would ever be. So give me the athlete all day everyday.

Ya, that's why Usain Bolt just strolled into pro football...

Of course there's nothing wrong with being athletic--it can only help. Unless it hurts, because the 12-year-old who has his mustache can score lots of goals by outrunning other players and thinks he doesn't need to train.

Overall, kind of a dumb question. The way it works in places that know how to do it is this: everyone trains, everyone learns the technical skills, everyone learns the mental skills. Everyone learns the *desire to train.* Those who, in young adulthood, develop the necessary physical attributes go on to the next level and may eventually become pros. And no one pays.

In the US, Chad and Karen paid $2400 in club and team fees, plus $2000 for a personal trainer, so they damn well better win the Meaningless Holiday Weekend Tournament and beat random Medium-Sized Club in the VYSA U13 semifinal. So clubs and coaches have a strong incentive to fixate on athleticism (and aggression) early.

Coordinations is part of athleticism. Some kids are born with more natural coordination. Hence, I believe it’s easier to learn and pickup technical skills.

I remember when my DD first played Rec. in 1st grade. Some girls were more athletic and coordinated while others were the complete opposite. Being coordinated at this age really helps with their muscle development and athleticism. I’m not a doctor so this is just my observation.

Anonymous wrote:See this spoken about on this forum often, think it deserves its own thread. How important is it to be fast

Did you see Christian Pulisic's goal today?

Anonymous wrote:Defense and goalies do not need to be as fast...

On most high level teams the goalie is usually the most athletic player

Anonymous wrote:I would rather have an athletic kid over a technically sound kids 9 out of ten times . The people who say otherwise usually have very un athletic kids. Even when they point out pros who are so technical they forget to acknowledge that less athletic pros are 10 times the athlete most kids would ever be. So give me the athlete all day everyday.

Yeah, this is a dumb take. Technical can be learned so there is never an excuse to not being technical. This is why the take is so dumb.

Anonymous wrote:Defense and goalies do not need to be as fast...

Defenders are expected to keep up with fast forwards right?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would rather have an athletic kid over a technically sound kids 9 out of ten times . The people who say otherwise usually have very un athletic kids. Even when they point out pros who are so technical they forget to acknowledge that less athletic pros are 10 times the athlete most kids would ever be. So give me the athlete all day everyday.

This is dumb, pure and simple. Your kid needs to be technical and fast. And the parents who say otherwise have kids who dribble past the touch line on breakaways and cannot handle then all on their first touch. Quickness and acceleration are more important for some players than raw breakaway speed. Saying speed matters more than anything is as dumb as saying you would choose basketball based on height alone. But saying speed doesn’t matter is as dumb as saying you would take height into account when choosing a basketball team.

Correction - would NOT take height into account

Anonymous wrote:I would rather have an athletic kid over a technically sound kids 9 out of ten times . The people who say otherwise usually have very un athletic kids. Even when they point out pros who are so technical they forget to acknowledge that less athletic pros are 10 times the athlete most kids would ever be. So give me the athlete all day everyday.

This is dumb, pure and simple. Your kid needs to be technical and fast. And the parents who say otherwise have kids who dribble past the touch line on breakaways and cannot handle then all on their first touch. Quickness and acceleration are more important for some players than raw breakaway speed. Saying speed matters more than anything is as dumb as saying you would choose basketball based on height alone. But saying speed doesn’t matter is as dumb as saying you would take height into account when choosing a basketball team.

Defense and goalies do not need to be as fast...

Switch on the tv, you don’t see slow soccer players

I would rather have an athletic kid over a technically sound kids 9 out of ten times . The people who say otherwise usually have very un athletic kids. Even when they point out pros who are so technical they forget to acknowledge that less athletic pros are 10 times the athlete most kids would ever be. So give me the athlete all day everyday.

Anonymous wrote:See this spoken about on this forum often, think it deserves its own thread. How important is it to be fast

Of course it is important. But without IQ or technical you will be limited.

All sports require athleticism.

See this spoken about on this forum often, think it deserves its own thread. How important is it to be fast