Why avoid?

It is coach dependent. I know of one coach who loves a lefty (and has at least 5 on the team) and another coach who avoids a lefty

In huge group tryouts, I don't know that the left-footedness stood out at the time. However, my left-footed daughter (only lefty on her team) gets assigned to the left almost exclusively (as fullback or winger). She does OK on the right side (though likely worse than a right-footed teammate) but on the left side, she seems much more comfortable getting down the left side and crossing into the box to the center forward/midfielder. I think her teammates and coach appreciate her comfort level on the left and she enjoys playing that side. Speed and reaction time are also important since she is usually up against fast right wingers (when she plays fullback). The one downside is that she didn't get rotated through positions as much as other teammates because her left-footedness was perceived as such an advantage on the left.

Anonymous wrote:My son is two footed, left dominant. He has worked very hard over the years to be able to use “both feet”. This is more rare and makes him very useful because he can rotate positions but he normally plays on the left because there is still a lack of left footed defenders. he also is left handed so there is some correlation. He plays MLS Next and it definitely gets noticed once it’s clear he is two footed.

If your child is left footed, I would strongly suggest working on both feet. It gives that player a huge advantage. We are very glad we took this approach many years ago at the recommendation of a former coach.

Being able to shoot and kick long passes with both feet is common after the age of 12.

Yes.

Players really should have both left and right feet. Otherwise, players will not be as fast due to their need to hop.

Anonymous wrote:My son is a left-footed defender and he has made every soccer team he has ever tried out for (only 4 teams total).

High level teams? Mediocre teams?

100% left footed players get more attention. It's a major advantage.

Anonymous wrote:They sure are! If you google this question you will see that left footed players are over-represented at the professional level. I doubt anyone has studied this question at a lower level, say MLS Next, but I would bet good money that left footed are over represented in most high level leagues.

Also over represented in baseball. Something that is rare becomes an asset because it’s different than what they expect.

They sure are! If you google this question you will see that left footed players are over-represented at the professional level. I doubt anyone has studied this question at a lower level, say MLS Next, but I would bet good money that left footed are over represented in most high level leagues.

My son is a left-footed defender and he has made every soccer team he has ever tried out for (only 4 teams total).

This is not secret advice lol! They are all told to work on both feet.

Anonymous wrote:My son is two footed, left dominant. He has worked very hard over the years to be able to use “both feet”. This is more rare and makes him very useful because he can rotate positions but he normally plays on the left because there is still a lack of left footed defenders. he also is left handed so there is some correlation. He plays MLS Next and it definitely gets noticed once it’s clear he is two footed.

If your child is left footed, I would strongly suggest working on both feet. It gives that player a huge advantage. We are very glad we took this approach many years ago at the recommendation of a former coach.

Thanks for sharing

No one cares about your kindergartener.