Anonymous
Post 04/08/2026 05:49     Subject: What is the most unpopular, least "crowded" position to play when trying out for a team?
Anonymous wrote:It’s interesting to see this thread and then think of another recent one about where a kid can stand out the most during tryouts. The consensus on that thread was to play in the midfield during a tryout so the coach sees you as an integral part of the team — that coaches will look to add midfielders first and make a good midfielder into another position if needed. My kid was always volunteering to play as a back and seeming to get overlooked despite playing well. I suggested he play in the midfield at his next tryout. He got an offer the next morning.


This. DS's teams entire back line is made up of former midfielders.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2026 22:59     Subject: What is the most unpopular, least "crowded" position to play when trying out for a team?
It’s interesting to see this thread and then think of another recent one about where a kid can stand out the most during tryouts. The consensus on that thread was to play in the midfield during a tryout so the coach sees you as an integral part of the team — that coaches will look to add midfielders first and make a good midfielder into another position if needed. My kid was always volunteering to play as a back and seeming to get overlooked despite playing well. I suggested he play in the midfield at his next tryout. He got an offer the next morning.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2026 22:50     Subject: What is the most unpopular, least "crowded" position to play when trying out for a team?
If trying to avoid crowded positions and think you you are looking at being a back up, wing is the way to go. The have to be 2 way players while often not being in the action (a tough skill) and they get subbed out the most. Back up half backs see the field the least.
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2026 13:54     Subject: What is the most unpopular, least "crowded" position to play when trying out for a team?
Anonymous wrote:Agree with 1. GK and 2. Left Defender

Coaches always hide their weakest players on the wings.


Or the best creative 1v1 attacking players with the most speed and recovery endurance
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2026 13:50     Subject: What is the most unpopular, least "crowded" position to play when trying out for a team?
Agree with 1. GK and 2. Left Defender

Coaches always hide their weakest players on the wings.
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2026 12:30     Subject: What is the most unpopular, least "crowded" position to play when trying out for a team?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kid plays wing and it seems to be very undervalued position because coaches will stick any number of players there vs thinking about high value/technique. It has been treated for a long time like a place to hide weaker players which makes it hard for him because he’s good but coaches don’t seem to really care about a good wing.


It sucks being a strong winger forced to cross to a weaker one the coach is trying to hide—your kid does all the hard work and it just goes to waste. Otherwise, your kid might have to start being more selfish and finish the play himself.


This is a zero value comment

If your super kid is doing what they're supposed to do, what the other player doesn't do isn't your problem or your kid's

It's the coach's problem and that kid
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2026 12:20     Subject: What is the most unpopular, least "crowded" position to play when trying out for a team?
Anonymous wrote:My kid plays wing and it seems to be very undervalued position because coaches will stick any number of players there vs thinking about high value/technique. It has been treated for a long time like a place to hide weaker players which makes it hard for him because he’s good but coaches don’t seem to really care about a good wing.


It sucks being a strong winger forced to cross to a weaker one the coach is trying to hide—your kid does all the hard work and it just goes to waste. Otherwise, your kid might have to start being more selfish and finish the play himself.
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2026 12:03     Subject: What is the most unpopular, least "crowded" position to play when trying out for a team?
My kid plays wing and it seems to be very undervalued position because coaches will stick any number of players there vs thinking about high value/technique. It has been treated for a long time like a place to hide weaker players which makes it hard for him because he’s good but coaches don’t seem to really care about a good wing.
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2026 11:29     Subject: What is the most unpopular, least "crowded" position to play when trying out for a team?
It bears repeating though, a team will take at most 2 GKs and depending on the coach, one may never see the field.

The team will conversely have ~10 midfielders, ~8 defenders and ~ 5 forwards, of which total 17 might see the field in a given game.
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2026 11:26     Subject: What is the most unpopular, least "crowded" position to play when trying out for a team?
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.


Kind of funny considering GK on a high level team is now required to do all of that AND stop shots.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2026 11:42     Subject: What is the most unpopular, least "crowded" position to play when trying out for a team?
Anonymous wrote:Just curious. It seems like every kid wants to be a forward.



My son is a GK. At his high school ~120 kids registered for tryouts this year, (80 jv/40v) - pretty much the same as last year. Only 6 were there for GK.

At the two closest other HS to me the total tryout numbers were similar - I know the coaches from club. The other schools had 5 and 4 tryouts for GK, respectively.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2026 11:33     Subject: Re:What is the most unpopular, least "crowded" position to play when trying out for a team?
Anonymous wrote:By high school, the ranks of the striker have dramatically shrunk. Kids have to be reliable goal scorers.


100% and I feel like the skills to be a great striker are beaten out of the kids over the years and then all of a sudden needed. They need to be greedy, physical, risk takers with good speed.

For the conversation at hand though, CB is the next least populated position after GK.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2026 11:25     Subject: What is the most unpopular, least "crowded" position to play when trying out for a team?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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.


I call BS, your GK isn't the fastest or best techie on his team. Keepers are important, but stop being delusional.


He was the fastest person on the team. He clocked in at 22mph.
Anonymous
Post 03/10/2026 18:56     Subject: What is the most unpopular, least "crowded" position to play when trying out for a team?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There are lots of kids who want to play forward. However, forwards who can create and bury scoring chances and lead a team are very rare. I see lots of teams using a "false 9" that is really just hiding a player who can't play anywhere else.


False


DP. I don’t know, I have seen exactly what PP describes. Especially if it’s a position the player hasn’t really been taught how to execute, it very much feels like the coach just sticking them somewhere with no expectation that they will make a difference in the game.
Anonymous
Post 03/10/2026 18:23     Subject: Re:What is the most unpopular, least "crowded" position to play when trying out for a team?
By high school, the ranks of the striker have dramatically shrunk. Kids have to be reliable goal scorers.