Anonymous wrote:

Center backs almost always play the entire game. I rarely see a center back subbed out. That was the case when my youngest played center back (and hated it) for 3 years.

Very few of the other positions play 100% of the game on my kids' teams.

My son is a defensive midfielder and usually plays 100 percent of the game, but that may be because no one else is interested in doing it. Seems like kids either want to be forwards or center backs.

It is pretty common for a CDM to play the entire game. They normally log the most miles during a game or close to it, so endurance is a big asset.

Anonymous wrote:

Center backs almost always play the entire game. I rarely see a center back subbed out. That was the case when my youngest played center back (and hated it) for 3 years.

Very few of the other positions play 100% of the game on my kids' teams.

My son is a defensive midfielder and usually plays 100 percent of the game, but that may be because no one else is interested in doing it. Seems like kids either want to be forwards or center backs.

I never understand it when people say my kid isn't interested in playing a position. At that point the coach should cut the spot. Why should the kid decide where they play over the coach?

Anonymous wrote:DCUM, care to settle a debate between DD and I? She says that midfielders should get the most substitutions, because they are doing the most running. I say forwards, because they have to run faster when they are running. FWIW, this may be coming from the fact that she is a midfielder trying to get used to a full-sided field this year. But, she is generally more knowledgable about soccer than I am, so open to hearing I am wrong.

I think a lot of this is team dependent based on the fitness level of kids available for these various positions (and what level you are playing at).

Center backs almost always play the entire game. I rarely see a center back subbed out. That was the case when my youngest played center back (and hated it) for 3 years.

Very few of the other positions play 100% of the game on my kids' teams.

My son is a defensive midfielder and usually plays 100 percent of the game, but that may be because no one else is interested in doing it. Seems like kids either want to be forwards or center backs.

Center backs almost always play the entire game. I rarely see a center back subbed out. That was the case when my youngest played center back (and hated it) for 3 years.

Very few of the other positions play 100% of the game on my kids' teams.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:fullbacks or outside backs have to run a ton in a 4 back system that requires them to support the attack. That position is often quoted as one requiring the most stamina.

This is what I see on our team

I agree with this. If teams can have fullbacks with speed and stamina go forward and come back throughout the game, it makes an immense difference. As you would expect, the willingness to go forward often greatly exceeds the willingness to go back.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:depends on playing style. Our coach wants strikers to challenge every time the opposing team has possession in their third of the field. That's a lot of running

Ok, but a lot of midfielders also have to press high and run as far back as their own 18 (or, for CAMs) to final third. And if your opponent does not play out of the back, how much is your striker pressing?

our coach's ideal is the striker pressing and the midfield covering passes. Obviously if a player they are responsible for receives a pass, a midfielder will be the one to defend, but otherwise, the striker is the one pressing

Anonymous wrote:depends on playing style. Our coach wants strikers to challenge every time the opposing team has possession in their third of the field. That's a lot of running

Ok, but a lot of midfielders also have to press high and run as far back as their own 18 (or, for CAMs) to final third. And if your opponent does not play out of the back, how much is your striker pressing?

Anonymous wrote:fullbacks or outside backs have to run a ton in a 4 back system that requires them to support the attack. That position is often quoted as one requiring the most stamina.

This is what I see on our team

fullbacks or outside backs have to run a ton in a 4 back system that requires them to support the attack. That position is often quoted as one requiring the most stamina

Had not thought of that, maybe we are both wrong!

DD's coach has very high expectations for the girls and he has some crazy fit players.

he rarely subs mids, but does sub wings/striker. The wings are at a dead sprint more often and need the relief, the mids seem to be running constantly at a reasonable pace, but have shorter top speed sprints and thus more recovery time.

I'd say that it's just our specific mids who are crazy-fit, but even the super fit wings seem to run out of gas after 15-20 mins.

It probably depends a lot on the individual coach's expectations for each position as well.

fullbacks or outside backs have to run a ton in a 4 back system that requires them to support the attack. That position is often quoted as one requiring the most stamina.

depends on playing style. Our coach wants strikers to challenge every time the opposing team has possession in their third of the field. That's a lot of running

Anonymous wrote:DCUM, care to settle a debate between DD and I? She says that midfielders should get the most substitutions, because they are doing the most running. I say forwards, because they have to run faster when they are running. FWIW, this may be coming from the fact that she is a midfielder trying to get used to a full-sided field this year. But, she is generally more knowledgable about soccer than I am, so open to hearing I am wrong.

Midfielders in most formations should indeed log the most mileage, and they also need to sprint probably as much as strikers depending on the range of field their coach expects them to cover.

DCUM, care to settle a debate between DD and I? She says that midfielders should get the most substitutions, because they are doing the most running. I say forwards, because they have to run faster when they are running. FWIW, this may be coming from the fact that she is a midfielder trying to get used to a full-sided field this year. But, she is generally more knowledgable about soccer than I am, so open to hearing I am wrong.