Impact play is different depending upon the style of play and coach. They used to say that the only one that could hold MJ under 20 was Dean Smith.

You know impact when you see it though because it literally jumps out and grabs your eye and then it stands alone on the field. Impact is different though at different stages of development. The little fast U11 who runs through opponents to scores heaps of goals is usually not capable of simply doing that at U16 any more than the crafty second or third generation U14 mid fielder able to rely strictly on their guile. The truly special players always keep adding to their game as their athleticism matures so they are always out in front of the pack at each developmental stage.

There are some checklist items that sort of define where players get placed on the field and that will have part in defining the sort of impact they will have. Generally the body and athletic traits have to fit the positional needs. There are always exceptions like Messi because they have off the chart gifts that compensate but no one probably ever thought of putting him in goal. But then there are the keepers like the athletic freak Jorge Campos. Generally speed gets put out on the outside. Size in the middle. Can't be slow even at keeper and in most positions normal may not cut it. It comes down to being able to reliable beat an opponent in a 1 v1 situation with something. Got to have that something.

The athleticism is just one part of the impact equation though. Skill, game IQ, and competitive drive are equally as important. The ball has to stick like glue regardless of how and where it is played to the player. They then need to see the field, read what other players are doing and then then deliver either a pass or shot with better than pinpoint accuracy while controlling both the pace and timing. When they don't have the ball they must always be positioning themselves to get it and the number of times they actually end up with it and then what happens immediately afterwards speaks a lot about a players impact in the game. Suffice to say that the higher the number of times a player touches the ball during a game the larger the impact.

Once you get to a level where all of the players can play and exploit their physical gifts the difference between the outstanding players and the great ones is their competitive drive. It's their will to win and the ability to make plays that sets them apart. Ultimately it's not just simply being able to play the game at a high level that becomes important it's that plus actually doing something in it to win the game. That's the true definition of impact.

Easy. Wherever my son or daughter is playing is the most impactful position on the field.

Without John Brooks the US team would be home picking lint out of their belly buttons.

and Julie Johnston is regularly the most important player on the WNT.

any girl over 5'2" and over 180 lbs is an impact player.
make a big impact when they play thugball.

Thank you, oh wise one. Yet another full seminar. Great.