My girls’ teams have plenty of defenders, but we are lacking good strikers. Many ECNL/GA girls’ teams have very strong defenders. Left-footed players are not that uncommon anymore, our teams alone have 4 lefties in almost every position, except the No. 9. Some of the girls can also use both feet.

Center backs are pretty rare. Maybe a left CB is slightly more specialized. However, if a team already has two strong CBs, they will usually play the entire game, so it may be harder to get playing time unless you're in the top 2.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Field players definitely left back - honestly, we tell our kid to let the coach know he can play it if necessary because it's generally the least desirable position that most players avoid. Definitely agree that goalies are in high demand everywhere - but that position is not for everyone!

I haven’t noticed kids avoiding left back. It’s one of my kid’s favorite positions. Why do you say it’s generally the least desirable?

Coaches want a left footed player there, and most teams only have 1 or 2 or 3, and by far more kids prefer midfield or forward.

Good left footed left back matches up with other teams likely best attacker, their right winger. That’s why they are in such demand. Top goalies were born goalies, like in hockey good balance of field IQ, aggression and crazy.

(1) left footed left back. (2) Hard working #6

Anonymous wrote:Field players definitely left back - honestly, we tell our kid to let the coach know he can play it if necessary because it's generally the least desirable position that most players avoid. Definitely agree that goalies are in high demand everywhere - but that position is not for everyone!

I haven’t noticed kids avoiding left back. It’s one of my kid’s favorite positions. Why do you say it’s generally the least desirable?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Left back with a left-footer seems the least common.

Left footed kids are the best players generally. Especially in the midfield.

Two footed kids trump that.

Ok, my take

At the older ages, u13+, there are very few GOOD attackers. Teams hide weak players there and rely on the midfield to score. Younger kids want to be attacks it because you get to get the glory while having way less responsibility.

Everyone wants to be a midfielder - especially CAM. But also 6's.

No one wants to be CB's or defense in general although wingbacks are a pretty cool role.

Yes there are very few GK's trying out, but there is only 1 max 2 per team. A decent midfielder can play most the other positions except maybe CB.

Field players definitely left back - honestly, we tell our kid to let the coach know he can play it if necessary because it's generally the least desirable position that most players avoid. Definitely agree that goalies are in high demand everywhere - but that position is not for everyone!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is interesting. Our team must be pretty weird because we have quite the choice of defensive players but really struggle in the front. We actually have an excellent forward but he is double carded and often plays one year up which leaves us toothless at the front. I hope all those wannabe forwards will come to our tryouts. Also interesting to hear about the shortfall of left back lefties, which happens to be my kid.

double-carded?

Two team rostered kid

Anonymous wrote:This is interesting. Our team must be pretty weird because we have quite the choice of defensive players but really struggle in the front. We actually have an excellent forward but he is double carded and often plays one year up which leaves us toothless at the front. I hope all those wannabe forwards will come to our tryouts. Also interesting to hear about the shortfall of left back lefties, which happens to be my kid.

You do bring up a good point - I noticed at the U12-U13 transition to 11 v 11 on the girls side at a highly competitive ECNL team, everyone actually wanted to play backs as well. Such a departure from the U-littles.

Anonymous wrote:This is interesting. Our team must be pretty weird because we have quite the choice of defensive players but really struggle in the front. We actually have an excellent forward but he is double carded and often plays one year up which leaves us toothless at the front. I hope all those wannabe forwards will come to our tryouts. Also interesting to hear about the shortfall of left back lefties, which happens to be my kid.

double-carded?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Left back with a left-footer seems the least common.

Left footed kids are the best players generally. Especially in the midfield.

You're actually just going off the few left footed kids who are good players that play midfield, not the many who can't that you don't see

This is interesting. Our team must be pretty weird because we have quite the choice of defensive players but really struggle in the front. We actually have an excellent forward but he is double carded and often plays one year up which leaves us toothless at the front. I hope all those wannabe forwards will come to our tryouts. Also interesting to hear about the shortfall of left back lefties, which happens to be my kid.

Anonymous wrote:goalie....in a nutshell let him play and the decent coach will figure out where to best play your child.

Forwards - speedsters, good 1v1
Midfielders - techies, high IQ
Backs - Size matters, aggressive play, communicators

Goalies - could not do any of the above.

Our GK in MLSNext played all of those positions in games over the years. He scored multiple goals.