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Stats/attention for defenders during recruiting?

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    Stats/attention for defenders during recruiting?

    As my defender/holding mid child enters the recruiting years, I am curious to know how the resume works for defensive players. It’s seems all the college recruiting/profile sites are skewed to offensive players and gk’s with their stat keeping, and obviously defenders can score and assist, but their numbers are usually pretty slim compared to attacking players, and not necessarily indicitive of their effectiveness in the position. So stats are not usually a great indicator. Then there are the local newspapers articles that almost always focus of offense and GK performances, so getting any pub that way is tough too, unless they win end of season awards like All State, ODP, or the rarer given all-defensive team selections?

    Does that also mean that a defender’s soccer resume is primarily just a mention of club team/level, and good highlight videos, and the rest is dependent on their performance at showcases and ID clinics? Just curious how college coaches are really evaluating defenders without any defensive stats kept, and if it’s all just based on the “eye test” in game situations?

    #2
    Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
    As my defender/holding mid child enters the recruiting years, I am curious to know how the resume works for defensive players. It’s seems all the college recruiting/profile sites are skewed to offensive players and gk’s with their stat keeping, and obviously defenders can score and assist, but their numbers are usually pretty slim compared to attacking players, and not necessarily indicitive of their effectiveness in the position. So stats are not usually a great indicator. Then there are the local newspapers articles that almost always focus of offense and GK performances, so getting any pub that way is tough too, unless they win end of season awards like All State, ODP, or the rarer given all-defensive team selections?

    Does that also mean that a defender’s soccer resume is primarily just a mention of club team/level, and good highlight videos, and the rest is dependent on their performance at showcases and ID clinics? Just curious how college coaches are really evaluating defenders without any defensive stats kept, and if it’s all just based on the “eye test” in game situations?
    No one recruits through stats. A coach will watch your child play and decide wether they're a fit for their program.

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      #3
      Soccer Defenders are like Offensive Lineman. The headline worthy stats won't show, but the good ones are widely recognized and highly coveted

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
        Soccer Defenders are like Offensive Lineman. The headline worthy stats won't show, but the good ones are widely recognized and highly coveted
        Perfectly stated. And opponents game plan specifically naming them.

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
          No one recruits through stats. A coach will watch your child play and decide wether they're a fit for their program.
          Oh yes they do for forwards and GK especially.

          Comment


            #6
            How coaches usually evaluate defenders for high level:
            Strong on 1 v 1, positioning (knows her role and of all other defenders), reads the game so she can predict and anticipate, reliable (recovers a lot balls and won't lose it promiscuously), fast enough to keep up with top opponents speed, can start the attack, aerial strength.

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
              Perfectly stated. And opponents game plan specifically naming them.
              Says the parent of a defender. So why at the top colleges, are so many ex attackers playing defense? Coaches recruit tools, not positions per se.

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                How coaches usually evaluate defenders for high level:
                Strong on 1 v 1, positioning (knows her role and of all other defenders), reads the game so she can predict and anticipate, reliable (recovers a lot balls and won't lose it promiscuously), fast enough to keep up with top opponents speed, can start the attack, aerial strength.
                Most important of these traits?

                1.) "fast enough to keep up with top opponents speed" ... Speed, speed, speed ... all that matters in US Soccer
                and then the next important traits are things you omitted
                2.) aggressive and highly competent tackler
                3.) Big enough to force attackers off ball and win aerials

                as for:
                -"Strong on 1 v 1", said no american coach ever ...... no one here wants backs dribbling ever
                -"can start the attack" .... just clear it, doesnt have to be to one of ours! See our "no dribbling" policies for backs
                - "reads the game so she can predict and anticipate" - Just get after it .... no thinking .... if you can break a forwards leg at 40 with a hard tackle then do it, but if closer, be careful so we don't create a legitimate scoring opportunity or PK for them.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                  Says the parent of a defender. So why at the top colleges, are so many ex attackers playing defense? Coaches recruit tools, not positions per se.
                  True. You can make a forward into a defender, I've seen it many times. They are a very dangerous player then. But, not every forward can be a defender and vice versa, but it does happen.

                  On a pro level, there are plenty of opta-stats that defenders use (GA, tackles won/lost, etc.). At this age, it's all on the eye test though.

                  I played all over but mostly defender, and so does my daughter. I was encouraged, and do the same to my kid, to be a soccer player. Not a forward or a wing or a back or whatever. "Play where you are standing"

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                    True. You can make a forward into a defender, I've seen it many times. They are a very dangerous player then. But, not every forward can be a defender and vice versa, but it does happen.

                    On a pro level, there are plenty of opta-stats that defenders use (GA, tackles won/lost, etc.). At this age, it's all on the eye test though.

                    I played all over but mostly defender, and so does my daughter. I was encouraged, and do the same to my kid, to be a soccer player. Not a forward or a wing or a back or whatever. "Play where you are standing"
                    Far easier to turn a great centerback into a competent forward than vice versa. Plus, you generally get a player that (sometimes to a fault) will find an open teammate and accept an assist.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                      Oh yes they do for forwards and GK especially.
                      Stats? We are talking about recruiting for college. If good forwards and gks have poor players around them the stats wont tell the story. Bad passes that never make it up the field to forwards who may be taking correct runs but for no return and gks who have teams that just dump kids back there (some still do), no gk can stop a mob breakaway.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                        Most important of these traits?

                        1.) "fast enough to keep up with top opponents speed" ... Speed, speed, speed ... all that matters in US Soccer
                        and then the next important traits are things you omitted
                        2.) aggressive and highly competent tackler
                        3.) Big enough to force attackers off ball and win aerials

                        as for:
                        -"Strong on 1 v 1", said no american coach ever ...... no one here wants backs dribbling ever
                        -"can start the attack" .... just clear it, doesnt have to be to one of ours! See our "no dribbling" policies for backs
                        - "reads the game so she can predict and anticipate" - Just get after it .... no thinking .... if you can break a forwards leg at 40 with a hard tackle then do it, but if closer, be careful so we don't create a legitimate scoring opportunity or PK for them.
                        Backs that can use both feet are highly sought after. You need to be able to switch the attack anf not get dispossessed because you had to switch to your only "go to foot" to get out the ball. I have watched kids dribble in a circle because they cant or wont use both feet.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Or only pass right or left depending on fominant foot.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                            Backs that can use both feet are highly sought after. You need to be able to switch the attack anf not get dispossessed because you had to switch to your only "go to foot" to get out the ball. I have watched kids dribble in a circle because they cant or wont use both feet.
                            This goes under ability to clear the ball (the OP mis-stated this as "starting the attack"). :)

                            Comment


                              #15
                              This is silly, they won't use stats. You think the BC head coach cares that your stud son scored 27 goals in the D4 Ma High School soccer league or MAPLE 3rd division!

                              Comment

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