Our age group has two teams at my dc age level, the "a" team kids are faster, more aggressive and generally more athletic, size wise the two teams are almost identical, both have a couple taller than then the rest and a couple smaller than the rest and a bunch thrown in between.

The biggest factor I see between the "A" team kids and the "B" team kids is the parent dedication participation and involvement, "A" team kids show up early for every available activity, whether it be games, training, and the occasional extra training, is almost always a 100% "A" team participation while very rarely is it 100% "B" participation (these are kids who can't drive yet so it's dependent on the parents).

I have also had quite a few conversations with the "B" team parents that mention they don't push their kids at all, they don't ever suggest going outside on an off day and working on footwork, they don't take their kid to the park to shoot, and they don't pay extra for camps, or trainings.



As far as speed and talent on the "A" team, every given day a different kid could win a race running lines, they are all about equal in speed, and aren't slow, and talent wise, there are a couple who are at the top of the pack and a couple who could be labeled the bottom of the roster but they are all pretty interchangeable.

To directly answer,

First team kids are not generally bigger but are faster and not stronger but more aggressive and willing to go into contact.

First team players are more skillful as well as faster and more aggressive, there are some skillful players on the second team but they don't have the same speed as an equally skilled player on first team

Coaches do seem to appreciate accurate and quick decision making and those kids generally are the ones who don't ever sub off.

Speaking to a girls team.

Irritating. This almost codified belief that smaller players are being systemically discriminated against. Like that's our big issue.

Given: two players with relative same skill set and speed. One is bigger significantly. Who gets chosen? Duhhhhh. Outside of horse racing, isn't this the same for almost all sports?

Coaching is a far bigger problem. Pay to play is a massive problem. Lack of solidarity payments to youth clubs is a problem. No pro/rel to drive investment is ridiculous. No generational soccer identity nationally is hurting us.

Small Johnny or Suzy not getting placed on the A team over the bumbling giant? Give me a break.

You are rambling. The previous posters said nothing about not getting placed on the A team over the bumbling giant. In fact, the most impressive point the person made was about parent commitment, not player. We see this in our club too. The A parents are committed and get their children there early, stay late, and do the extra training. B team, not so much about soccer.

Agreed, great point about parent commitment. I would add player commitment as well.

To answer the original post, I do see a preference for size and speed over skill. This seems to be more true on the girls side.

I see skill as those players who seem not to lose the ball. They see their options quicker and their technique is cleaner. But given a choice between good technique versus speed/size, coaches seem to pick speed/size. Numerous kids on B team have technique and vision, but not size and speed. Several kids on A team with horrible technical quality, but big and fast.

B team must kick the snot out of the A team! Better technical players, after all.

Bold prediction: this thread will eventually be a humble brag for the vantucky timbers or some other ridiculous advertisement for their 'new direction'

No, cuz the other B team players REALLY suck! The club never cuts anyone so there are kids on the B team who would neon the C or even D team if the clubs had that many teams. Also, boot ball often wins it for the bigger/faster A teamers. Also, many on the A team have more going for them than just size/speed.

Actually, back at U10, the B team would be ahead of the A team in scrimmages but then the head coach (head of A but also over the B & C team coaches)would sit good B team players and move kids around so that the A team always ended up winning...except for a tie once. Coaches all like to think they know best!

So the one consistent piece of feedback so far is speed! Unfortunately it's the one essential trait you must have to be a premier player and it can't be taught?! Speed will carry you a long way but eventually if the skill is not developed you'll get dropped for someone who has both. Can you be an excellent premier player without speed?

And the teams with coaches who don't realize that their early developing speedster is being outskilled will fail to the wayside. An excellent premier player needs both speed AND skill at u14/u15 and above. Until then, many get by on just speed, or skill or even just size. Eventually, there are enough kids with all three attributes so the ones with only one (or even two) no longer hack it.

A team players typically have more kids with higher soccer IQ, tactical awareness, athleticism, intuitiveness, technical skills, creativity, and the know-how on how to strategically use all these things to improve not only their level of play but to impactfully help their team. By u13 you can really see the separation of players who have it or don't.

Size/strength + speed + aggressiveness + fitness + technical ability + psychology are the evaluated factors, no?

Not a mystery what qualities most coaches pick in my experience. Some of these things categories can be developed or trained. Others....not so much.

Totally agree. Others on this site have argued that size doesn't matter in soccer but I believe they are wrong. All the things above are pretty much true for most sports - no surprise.

Really ^^^^ ???? Messi, Aguero, Xavi, Iniesta, Coutinho, Sterling, Maradona, Pele, and the list goes on. Size matters? For every Lewandowski (tall), there is a Messi (short).

Speed of feet and mind matters. Physical size doesn't matter in the long run.

False comparison.
But to play along with local examples.

6" shorter and is Liam Ridgewell a pro CB for the Timbers?
4" shorter and is Fanendo Adi playing pro soccer?
4" taller and 30% stronger is Clint Dempsey even bothering with MLS or playing elite level soccer for big bank?

Easy to throw out moonshot names (notice how many were from residence academies as well?) Harder to really believe your statements on an average weekend at Delta Park.

Size matters.