Anonymous wrote:Can someone name some 5’6” players who are dominating the international game right now?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you,PP, that is an excellent post.
I have a gritty and technical DD but she is slender build and not tall. She doesn’t have that soccer look with big leg muscles and low center of gravity. So while she is fast, aggressive, and technical, she just looks like she wouldn’t be that strong.
What I have seen from a current coach is that physicality seems more important than the other traits, even when it’s not effective and the player loses the ball 9 times out of 10. So if that is that coach’s personal preference, there isnt much to be done.
What she really wants to know is: is it just that, or are there other gaps that she doesn’t know about? And that is where the request for feedback is falling flat.
It is a school team, so fortunately short season.

You touched upon a very important point. There is very much an unconscious bias when it comes to smaller players. If a big, strong kid loses a ball three times, it's mentally processed as unlucky or good defense. If a tiny kid loses the ball three times, he/she is not big enough to keep possession, pull them out! Even the coaches who are very comfortable rostering and playing smaller players fall victim to this thinking. To some degree, it's human nature. To use a baseball analogy, Jose Altuve hit more home runs one year than Aaron Judge...we can all guess who managers and pitchers thought was the more intimidating of the two.

This is American soccer at its worst. We prioritize the wrong things (speed and strength) and focus on winning only. Eventually the big, strong, fast kids will get caught up by the rest and their technical ability and soccer IQ won't be up to par. Love coaches who are brave enough to go against the grain and find the small, techy players. You know...like the rest of the world.

We have a toxic coach that has stated to parents that he prefers a bigger kid over a more talented one. He wants kids working hitting and pushing more than touch, dribbling, passing or footwork. He’s kinda looked upon by the whole team as a moron.

My small player left that team. lol

Is your DC happier and playing for a better team?

Anonymous wrote:There is short, and there is slight. They are different. Short kids built like fireplugs are fine. Short kids who are slight look like they can’t hold up, even if they can. That’s the bias my DC faces anyway.

Anonymous wrote:If the player is on an ECNL team (National or Regional League) the league won't allow changes between clubs during the year. This applies even if the player is on an NCSL team (or going to one). That said, the player could go to a different club that does not have ECNL- say SYC to Arlington.

Anonymous wrote:Sure small skilled players are great but they can really only be put in 3 or 4 positions so it keeps other players from being able to pay in those spots. Plus kids on the smaller side generally lack power which is a big part of the game once testosterone starts kicking in.

Anonymous wrote:Sure small skilled players are great but they can really only be put in 3 or 4 positions so it keeps other players from being able to pay in those spots. Plus kids on the smaller side generally lack power which is a big part of the game once testosterone starts kicking in.

Anonymous wrote:My small player is still with that team. He used to be a starting player but now he will get maybe 20mins but a win is a win for us.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you,PP, that is an excellent post.
I have a gritty and technical DD but she is slender build and not tall. She doesn’t have that soccer look with big leg muscles and low center of gravity. So while she is fast, aggressive, and technical, she just looks like she wouldn’t be that strong.
What I have seen from a current coach is that physicality seems more important than the other traits, even when it’s not effective and the player loses the ball 9 times out of 10. So if that is that coach’s personal preference, there isnt much to be done.
What she really wants to know is: is it just that, or are there other gaps that she doesn’t know about? And that is where the request for feedback is falling flat.
It is a school team, so fortunately short season.

You touched upon a very important point. There is very much an unconscious bias when it comes to smaller players. If a big, strong kid loses a ball three times, it's mentally processed as unlucky or good defense. If a tiny kid loses the ball three times, he/she is not big enough to keep possession, pull them out! Even the coaches who are very comfortable rostering and playing smaller players fall victim to this thinking. To some degree, it's human nature. To use a baseball analogy, Jose Altuve hit more home runs one year than Aaron Judge...we can all guess who managers and pitchers thought was the more intimidating of the two.

This is American soccer at its worst. We prioritize the wrong things (speed and strength) and focus on winning only. Eventually the big, strong, fast kids will get caught up by the rest and their technical ability and soccer IQ won't be up to par. Love coaches who are brave enough to go against the grain and find the small, techy players. You know...like the rest of the world.

We have a toxic coach that has stated to parents that he prefers a bigger kid over a more talented one. He wants kids working hitting and pushing more than touch, dribbling, passing or footwork. He’s kinda looked upon by the whole team as a moron.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you,PP, that is an excellent post.
I have a gritty and technical DD but she is slender build and not tall. She doesn’t have that soccer look with big leg muscles and low center of gravity. So while she is fast, aggressive, and technical, she just looks like she wouldn’t be that strong.
What I have seen from a current coach is that physicality seems more important than the other traits, even when it’s not effective and the player loses the ball 9 times out of 10. So if that is that coach’s personal preference, there isnt much to be done.
What she really wants to know is: is it just that, or are there other gaps that she doesn’t know about? And that is where the request for feedback is falling flat.
It is a school team, so fortunately short season.

You touched upon a very important point. There is very much an unconscious bias when it comes to smaller players. If a big, strong kid loses a ball three times, it's mentally processed as unlucky or good defense. If a tiny kid loses the ball three times, he/she is not big enough to keep possession, pull them out! Even the coaches who are very comfortable rostering and playing smaller players fall victim to this thinking. To some degree, it's human nature. To use a baseball analogy, Jose Altuve hit more home runs one year than Aaron Judge...we can all guess who managers and pitchers thought was the more intimidating of the two.

This is American soccer at its worst. We prioritize the wrong things (speed and strength) and focus on winning only. Eventually the big, strong, fast kids will get caught up by the rest and their technical ability and soccer IQ won't be up to par. Love coaches who are brave enough to go against the grain and find the small, techy players. You know...like the rest of the world.

We have a toxic coach that has stated to parents that he prefers a bigger kid over a more talented one. He wants kids working hitting and pushing more than touch, dribbling, passing or footwork. He’s kinda looked upon by the whole team as a moron.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you,PP, that is an excellent post.
I have a gritty and technical DD but she is slender build and not tall. She doesn’t have that soccer look with big leg muscles and low center of gravity. So while she is fast, aggressive, and technical, she just looks like she wouldn’t be that strong.
What I have seen from a current coach is that physicality seems more important than the other traits, even when it’s not effective and the player loses the ball 9 times out of 10. So if that is that coach’s personal preference, there isnt much to be done.
What she really wants to know is: is it just that, or are there other gaps that she doesn’t know about? And that is where the request for feedback is falling flat.
It is a school team, so fortunately short season.

You touched upon a very important point. There is very much an unconscious bias when it comes to smaller players. If a big, strong kid loses a ball three times, it's mentally processed as unlucky or good defense. If a tiny kid loses the ball three times, he/she is not big enough to keep possession, pull them out! Even the coaches who are very comfortable rostering and playing smaller players fall victim to this thinking. To some degree, it's human nature. To use a baseball analogy, Jose Altuve hit more home runs one year than Aaron Judge...we can all guess who managers and pitchers thought was the more intimidating of the two.

This is American soccer at its worst. We prioritize the wrong things (speed and strength) and focus on winning only. Eventually the big, strong, fast kids will get caught up by the rest and their technical ability and soccer IQ won't be up to par. Love coaches who are brave enough to go against the grain and find the small, techy players. You know...like the rest of the world.

We have a toxic coach that has stated to parents that he prefers a bigger kid over a more talented one. He wants kids working hitting and pushing more than touch, dribbling, passing or footwork. He’s kinda looked upon by the whole team as a moron.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you,PP, that is an excellent post.
I have a gritty and technical DD but she is slender build and not tall. She doesn’t have that soccer look with big leg muscles and low center of gravity. So while she is fast, aggressive, and technical, she just looks like she wouldn’t be that strong.
What I have seen from a current coach is that physicality seems more important than the other traits, even when it’s not effective and the player loses the ball 9 times out of 10. So if that is that coach’s personal preference, there isnt much to be done.
What she really wants to know is: is it just that, or are there other gaps that she doesn’t know about? And that is where the request for feedback is falling flat.
It is a school team, so fortunately short season.

You touched upon a very important point. There is very much an unconscious bias when it comes to smaller players. If a big, strong kid loses a ball three times, it's mentally processed as unlucky or good defense. If a tiny kid loses the ball three times, he/she is not big enough to keep possession, pull them out! Even the coaches who are very comfortable rostering and playing smaller players fall victim to this thinking. To some degree, it's human nature. To use a baseball analogy, Jose Altuve hit more home runs one year than Aaron Judge...we can all guess who managers and pitchers thought was the more intimidating of the two.

This is American soccer at its worst. We prioritize the wrong things (speed and strength) and focus on winning only. Eventually the big, strong, fast kids will get caught up by the rest and their technical ability and soccer IQ won't be up to par. Love coaches who are brave enough to go against the grain and find the small, techy players. You know...like the rest of the world.

We have a toxic coach that has stated to parents that he prefers a bigger kid over a more talented one. He wants kids working hitting and pushing more than touch, dribbling, passing or footwork. He’s kinda looked upon by the whole team as a moron.

My small player left that team. lol

Is your DC happier and playing for a better team?

Maybe someone should start a thread of clubs that where a small but technical skilled player can thrive

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you,PP, that is an excellent post.
I have a gritty and technical DD but she is slender build and not tall. She doesn’t have that soccer look with big leg muscles and low center of gravity. So while she is fast, aggressive, and technical, she just looks like she wouldn’t be that strong.
What I have seen from a current coach is that physicality seems more important than the other traits, even when it’s not effective and the player loses the ball 9 times out of 10. So if that is that coach’s personal preference, there isnt much to be done.
What she really wants to know is: is it just that, or are there other gaps that she doesn’t know about? And that is where the request for feedback is falling flat.
It is a school team, so fortunately short season.

You touched upon a very important point. There is very much an unconscious bias when it comes to smaller players. If a big, strong kid loses a ball three times, it's mentally processed as unlucky or good defense. If a tiny kid loses the ball three times, he/she is not big enough to keep possession, pull them out! Even the coaches who are very comfortable rostering and playing smaller players fall victim to this thinking. To some degree, it's human nature. To use a baseball analogy, Jose Altuve hit more home runs one year than Aaron Judge...we can all guess who managers and pitchers thought was the more intimidating of the two.

This is American soccer at its worst. We prioritize the wrong things (speed and strength) and focus on winning only. Eventually the big, strong, fast kids will get caught up by the rest and their technical ability and soccer IQ won't be up to par. Love coaches who are brave enough to go against the grain and find the small, techy players. You know...like the rest of the world.

We have a toxic coach that has stated to parents that he prefers a bigger kid over a more talented one. He wants kids working hitting and pushing more than touch, dribbling, passing or footwork. He’s kinda looked upon by the whole team as a moron.

My small player left that team. lol

Is your DC happier and playing for a better team?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you,PP, that is an excellent post.
I have a gritty and technical DD but she is slender build and not tall. She doesn’t have that soccer look with big leg muscles and low center of gravity. So while she is fast, aggressive, and technical, she just looks like she wouldn’t be that strong.
What I have seen from a current coach is that physicality seems more important than the other traits, even when it’s not effective and the player loses the ball 9 times out of 10. So if that is that coach’s personal preference, there isnt much to be done.
What she really wants to know is: is it just that, or are there other gaps that she doesn’t know about? And that is where the request for feedback is falling flat.
It is a school team, so fortunately short season.

You touched upon a very important point. There is very much an unconscious bias when it comes to smaller players. If a big, strong kid loses a ball three times, it's mentally processed as unlucky or good defense. If a tiny kid loses the ball three times, he/she is not big enough to keep possession, pull them out! Even the coaches who are very comfortable rostering and playing smaller players fall victim to this thinking. To some degree, it's human nature. To use a baseball analogy, Jose Altuve hit more home runs one year than Aaron Judge...we can all guess who managers and pitchers thought was the more intimidating of the two.

This is American soccer at its worst. We prioritize the wrong things (speed and strength) and focus on winning only. Eventually the big, strong, fast kids will get caught up by the rest and their technical ability and soccer IQ won't be up to par. Love coaches who are brave enough to go against the grain and find the small, techy players. You know...like the rest of the world.

We have a toxic coach that has stated to parents that he prefers a bigger kid over a more talented one. He wants kids working hitting and pushing more than touch, dribbling, passing or footwork. He’s kinda looked upon by the whole team as a moron.

My small player left that team. lol