At what age should players play a specific position

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They need to learn to play all the positions. The most valuable player out there is probably the one who can play anywhere on the filed. If they ever get to an ODP type situation, they had better be able to play multiple spots or sit.

[Unregistered]

They need to learn to play all the positions. The most valuable player out there is probably the one who can play anywhere on the filed. If they ever get to an ODP type situation, they had better be able to play multiple spots or sit.

Even moving on into HS or further into college - those coaches don't care what position you USED to play. They care about where you're going to play for them in the here and now. The more versatile the better. If you see you kid getting pigeon holed push back with the coach, or if need be move. Don't stay on a team that cares about winning; find a place that develops players for the future, even if they may not always have the greatest W/L record now. And don't do the opposite - pigeon your kid yourself. If a coach wants your kid to play a different position let them! I can't tell you how many times I hear parents moan that "Suzy is a great CB and I don't understand why the coach won't play her there."

[Unregistered]

Skilled kids should be able to contribute in some way at multiple positions. Maybe a kid doesn't have the best shot, but his dribbling is good and he can create offense. Let him play some forward. Maybe a kid is a strong defender but a weak passer. Let him play some holding midfield. Maybe a kid is technical yet undersized. Let him play some fullback and use his speed and technical abilities to disrupt the opposing defense. There is absolutely no reason to pigeonhole kids. Too often the emphasis on "winning" overcomes development. Clearly this is one of those areas. Of course, at around u12, kids should start to work on a primary position, where a kid plays more than half the time. But this should not be an exclusive position - like another poster said, versatility is very important.

This is good. Our daughter can play different positions but has mostly played outside midfield for the last few years. She has asked her new coach continually if she can play outside midfield left or right side for even a few minutes. The coach has said no and that she needs her in center mid. Yet, she has been playing her half the game while the outside mids are being run ragged playing the entire game. These are 90 minutes games in hot Florida. Our daughter is on an elite team and has good technical skills and speed. She can't use her speed in the center midfield position in the same way. There are six players who are interchangeable in center mid and holding mid, so why won't the coach allow her to play outside mid even in scrimmages or when the team is ahead in goals? Why won't the coach let her play more than one position?

[Unregistered]

This is good. Our daughter can play different positions but has mostly played outside midfield for the last few years. She has asked her new coach continually if she can play outside midfield left or right side for even a few minutes. The coach has said no and that she needs her in center mid. Yet, she has been playing her half the game while the outside mids are being run ragged playing the entire game. These are 90 minutes games in hot Florida. Our daughter is on an elite team and has good technical skills and speed. She can't use her speed in the center midfield position in the same way. There are six players who are interchangeable in center mid and holding mid, so why won't the coach allow her to play outside mid even in scrimmages or when the team is ahead in goals? Why won't the coach let her play more than one position?

Good that she's advocating for herself and you're not doing it for her. But if she continues to get stonewalled then ask the coach for 5 minutes of his time. If you don't like the answer then maybe consider moving. it also spends on her age - once you U13 or older it becomes harder to find coaches willing to move players around regularly

[Unregistered]

Good that she's advocating for herself and you're not doing it for her. But if she continues to get stonewalled then ask the coach for 5 minutes of his time. If you don't like the answer then maybe consider moving. it also spends on her age - once you U13 or older it becomes harder to find coaches willing to move players around regularly

Why do you think it becomes harder as they become older? She just joined a new team to be only allowed to play one position? The coach is new and so are many of the players. Why do you think a coach put players where they think they play best and not let them play other positions too?

[Unregistered]

my u11 daughter's coach is rotating the players through all the portions during games. This is different than our prior experiences. Her coach last year kept players in a position (sometimes mixing it up if the team was up significantly) I'm wondering what the thoughts are on this. Obviously she is more comfortable playing the one position which she loves but is it better for development to move around? I know this is part of this coach's philosophy as parents complained about it last year for His u12 group.
It's a little difficult to watch as girls are struggling to connect passes

In all honesty it really doesn't matter all that much, kids shouldn't really be getting into the tactical side of the game until around u13 anyways. What you should be focusing on at the younger ages is comfort and abilities on the ball. Touches on the ball in practices and games is whats important at that age. Who cares how many positions a kid can play if they cannot handle the ball under pressure or receive a pass. When they mature fully physically and mentally then you should start looking at which positions fit their attributes, and it will also be easier to adapt to that position if they have a solid foundation to work with. If your kid is confident with the ball under pressure and can make their own decisions during play they will be just fine.

[Unregistered]

I'll play devil's advocate and say that it's not necessarily a bad thing for a coach to play kids in only one or two positions during games. Remember that their games might add up to only 8 hours of play per season, but much, much more time is spent in practice. As long as the coach is developing them for all positions during practices, these kids aren't necessarily short-changed. Especially if the coach moves kids around when the score becomes lopsided.

[Unregistered]

In all honesty it really doesn't matter all that much, kids shouldn't really be getting into the tactical side of the game until around u13 anyways. What you should be focusing on at the younger ages is comfort and abilities on the ball. Touches on the ball in practices and games is whats important at that age. Who cares how many positions a kid can play if they cannot handle the ball under pressure or receive a pass. When they mature fully physically and mentally then you should start looking at which positions fit their attributes, and it will also be easier to adapt to that position if they have a solid foundation to work with. If your kid is confident with the ball under pressure and can make their own decisions during play they will be just fine.

So the kids can handle the ball under pressure, but don't have a good idea where to pass it, or where to receive it, because they don't know tactics? Tactics should be taught with skills.

[Unregistered]

my u11 daughter's coach is rotating the players through all the portions during games. This is different than our prior experiences. Her coach last year kept players in a position (sometimes mixing it up if the team was up significantly) I'm wondering what the thoughts are on this. Obviously she is more comfortable playing the one position which she loves but is it better for development to move around? I know this is part of this coach's philosophy as parents complained about it last year for His u12 group.
It's a little difficult to watch as girls are struggling to connect passes

Should be able to play multiple positions at all ages

[Unregistered]

Honestly, if your player isn't good enough to specialized by 6 or 7, you should kiss the scholar ship goodbye.

[Unregistered]

In all honesty it really doesn't matter all that much, kids shouldn't really be getting into the tactical side of the game until around u13 anyways. What you should be focusing on at the younger ages is comfort and abilities on the ball. Touches on the ball in practices and games is whats important at that age. Who cares how many positions a kid can play if they cannot handle the ball under pressure or receive a pass. When they mature fully physically and mentally then you should start looking at which positions fit their attributes, and it will also be easier to adapt to that position if they have a solid foundation to work with. If your kid is confident with the ball under pressure and can make their own decisions during play they will be just fine.

Agree in part- comfort with the ball is #1. it should be the first goal in developing a youth player. But LOTS of kids develop decent technical abilities by u10. most top players are lifting their head up when they receive by u10. this means they are comfortable with the ball - once they receive and look up instead of always down trying to control the ball. at that point they need to know HOW to play - what to do with the ball ... if you wait until u13, it is too late. You have a team full of forwards. This is exactly what happens in most clubs. if you want your kid noticed for a top team by u12 he needs to have complete comfort with the ball and be playing it correct not always but most of the time. to start this process at u13 is way too late.

[Unregistered]

They should be rotated all the way up to HS level. As the father of a keeper, though, I can tell you that it doesn't always happen. My daughter has been playing keeper since age 7 and very few of her coaches have put her out in the field since she was 9, 5 years ago. She's pretty good in the field, and is currently playing a half in goal and a half in the field, which she enjoys.

[Unregistered]

They should be rotated all the way up to HS level. As the father of a keeper, though, I can tell you that it doesn't always happen. My daughter has been playing keeper since age 7 and very few of her coaches have put her out in the field since she was 9, 5 years ago. She's pretty good in the field, and is currently playing a half in goal and a half in the field, which she enjoys.

Agree