Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ he’s been in the same position, no waivering, for 2 years now.

At 10 and 11 years old that’s detrimental to development. Other teammates play 1/2 the game up front: 1/2 in the back. He only plays center D. I am only thinking about increasing versatility, especially when coupled with physical attributes down the road. When it’s not fun for him, his play ultimately suffers.

But that's not what your original post said. You referred to him moving to mid-field in a tie game and scoring... so he isn't only playing D. If it's been 2 years, then he was a "prolific goal scorer" at U10. Would you be as upset if he was pigeonholed as a striker?


At U12, your child should be able to go to the coach and ask what, if anything, he needs to do to get some time at another position. If the answer is that they need him at CB to win games, you should run away from the club. If the answer is specific to how that position will make him a better player, then you need to decide whether you or the coach are a better judge of what is good for your player. And if the coach's explanation doesn't matter and your kid is just unhappy, just move on.

Thanks. The underlying answer is winning games as that is where he is every tournament and 99% of games. I am under no illusion this is about his individual development. He has repeatedly asked and advocated for himself- but there is only so many times you can do that without coming off as disrespectful or subordinate. I told him ultimately he has to respect the coach’s decision. He is team captain.

We will stick it out this year, but if it continues the same will look around this spring.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ he’s been in the same position, no waivering, for 2 years now.

At 10 and 11 years old that’s detrimental to development. Other teammates play 1/2 the game up front: 1/2 in the back. He only plays center D. I am only thinking about increasing versatility, especially when coupled with physical attributes down the road. When it’s not fun for him, his play ultimately suffers.

But that's not what your original post said. You referred to him moving to mid-field in a tie game and scoring... so he isn't only playing D. If it's been 2 years, then he was a "prolific goal scorer" at U10. Would you be as upset if he was pigeonholed as a striker?


At U12, your child should be able to go to the coach and ask what, if anything, he needs to do to get some time at another position. If the answer is that they need him at CB to win games, you should run away from the club. If the answer is specific to how that position will make him a better player, then you need to decide whether you or the coach are a better judge of what is good for your player. And if the coach's explanation doesn't matter and your kid is just unhappy, just move on.

That's your answer. Any club/coach that openly admits that they are making decisions based on winning at U12 is not prioritizing development. Run from this coach/club.
Thanks. The underlying answer is winning games as that is where he is every tournament and 99% of games. I am under no illusion this is about his individual development. He has repeatedly asked and advocated for himself- but there is only so many times you can do that without coming off as disrespectful or subordinate. I told him ultimately he has to respect the coach’s decision. He is team captain.

We will stick it out this year, but if it continues the same will look around this spring.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ he’s been in the same position, no waivering, for 2 years now.

At 10 and 11 years old that’s detrimental to development. Other teammates play 1/2 the game up front: 1/2 in the back. He only plays center D. I am only thinking about increasing versatility, especially when coupled with physical attributes down the road. When it’s not fun for him, his play ultimately suffers.

Just wanted to say, my daughter has been in the same position for 2 years - and now it seems some of her skills have a gap from the other players. My biggest concern is that she said it isn't fun anymore. (btw - on top team).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ he’s been in the same position, no waivering, for 2 years now.

At 10 and 11 years old that’s detrimental to development. Other teammates play 1/2 the game up front: 1/2 in the back. He only plays center D. I am only thinking about increasing versatility, especially when coupled with physical attributes down the road. When it’s not fun for him, his play ultimately suffers.

But that's not what your original post said. You referred to him moving to mid-field in a tie game and scoring... so he isn't only playing D. If it's been 2 years, then he was a "prolific goal scorer" at U10. Would you be as upset if he was pigeonholed as a striker?


At U12, your child should be able to go to the coach and ask what, if anything, he needs to do to get some time at another position. If the answer is that they need him at CB to win games, you should run away from the club. If the answer is specific to how that position will make him a better player, then you need to decide whether you or the coach are a better judge of what is good for your player. And if the coach's explanation doesn't matter and your kid is just unhappy, just move on.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ he’s been in the same position, no waivering, for 2 years now.

At 10 and 11 years old that’s detrimental to development. Other teammates play 1/2 the game up front: 1/2 in the back. He only plays center D. I am only thinking about increasing versatility, especially when coupled with physical attributes down the road. When it’s not fun for him, his play ultimately suffers.

At 9V9, our Club plays with 2 center midfielders (attack and defensive). If the Center defender is being trained to be center mid at 11V11, where do those 2 midfielders go? The Center D is playing very deep. I don't see how that is creating versatility in play. There is little opportunity to do much than distribute out wide. Frankly, the wingbacks get much more attacking opportunity.

Anonymous wrote:^ he’s been in the same position, no waivering, for 2 years now.

At 10 and 11 years old that’s detrimental to development. Other teammates play 1/2 the game up front: 1/2 in the back. He only plays center D. I am only thinking about increasing versatility, especially when coupled with physical attributes down the road. When it’s not fun for him, his play ultimately suffers.

Anonymous wrote:^ he’s been in the same position, no waivering, for 2 years now.

At 10 and 11 years old that’s detrimental to development. Other teammates play 1/2 the game up front: 1/2 in the back. He only plays center D. I am only thinking about increasing versatility, especially when coupled with physical attributes down the road. When it’s not fun for him, his play ultimately suffers.

Anonymous wrote:^ he’s been in the same position, no waivering, for 2 years now.

At 10 and 11 years old that’s detrimental to development. Other teammates play 1/2 the game up front: 1/2 in the back. He only plays center D. I am only thinking about increasing versatility, especially when coupled with physical attributes down the road. When it’s not fun for him, his play ultimately suffers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is a U12, and the coach generally plays him as a left back, which he's pretty good at. He's not a big or tall kid, but somehow, seems to be a good fit for the position. He doesn't mind being a defender, but wants to get some experience in the midfield (not interested in striker or wing, and not right of those positions either, but wants to try any of the midfield positions). The problem is, our team has kids who are good as forwards, but only one other kid who is good at defense (a right back), and so generally, DS and this kid are always defenders. The great thing is that they both pretty much get 100 percent playing time, but the downside is that they never get to try other positions. DS has asked to try midfielder, and has been allowed to in scrimmages, but never in a game.

Any advice?

unfortunately, travel coaches care more about winning every last game than about player development.

keep asking, and if your son starts to be frustrated, find a new team. it isn't your problem that the other kids aren't versatile.

This is a deal breaker for us this year.

My kid was Center D all last year at U11--even after politely asking the coach multiple times to try a new position. He is a very technical player with high soccer IQ. The very few times he came out of the game the team would pretty much collapse with somebody else there. The problem is that I don't even believe it's my son's strongest position and he likely won't have Center D height down the road. He was a prolific goal scorer and tons of assists even in midfield. But, he started losing his finishing ability after an ENTIRE year only in the back. Parents on the team were happy with him in that position and voiced it often. It began to piss me off because he never got a chance elsewhere while the other kids did and it definitely was affecting the love of the game for him.

This year, new Coach. He started getting a lot of time at center mid and was ecstatic and performing very well. But, last few games he is once again only at Center D. I think they do put him there when they think it will be a tough team. It's frustrating because there is a finishing problem up front and with him in the back it becomes a defensive game instead of coming out on the attack. Recently, there was a 0-0 game until half---they finally moved him up to mid and he had a hat trick in 10 minutes. But, now that he is solely in the back again he said to me on the way to the car: "It's not even fun anymore since I only ever get to play defense".

It's a developmental club yet they seem to stick these kids in spots and never move them. The striker has never been moved in a single other position for the past 2.5 years no matter how he is performing.

Seeing that it is killing the love of the game for my kid and also hurting his attacking abilities---we will be looking for a new team this spring.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is a U12, and the coach generally plays him as a left back, which he's pretty good at. He's not a big or tall kid, but somehow, seems to be a good fit for the position. He doesn't mind being a defender, but wants to get some experience in the midfield (not interested in striker or wing, and not right of those positions either, but wants to try any of the midfield positions). The problem is, our team has kids who are good as forwards, but only one other kid who is good at defense (a right back), and so generally, DS and this kid are always defenders. The great thing is that they both pretty much get 100 percent playing time, but the downside is that they never get to try other positions. DS has asked to try midfielder, and has been allowed to in scrimmages, but never in a game.

Any advice?

unfortunately, travel coaches care more about winning every last game than about player development.

keep asking, and if your son starts to be frustrated, find a new team. it isn't your problem that the other kids aren't versatile.