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**Unregistered** · 09-28-2009, 06:09 AM

At this age it is about developing. Depends on how long you have been with the coach. It will not hurt to mention it to the coach. I think as parent we have to realize that coaches are trying their best to develope and also keep parents happy at the same time. I know from experienced that, yes developement is key for this age but I don't think some parents understand. All they look for at the end of the day, is how many Wins and Loses their kids have for the teams they play for. This is a proven factor through out competitive youth soccer. Because if the team does not do well they are quick to blame the coaches and the organization and jump ship. But if the team does well they are the best coaches and clubs.

So if the coach understands I would mention it to him with an open mind that you might not like the answer you get from the coach depending on who is the coach and what the coaches philosopy is.

**Unregistered** · 09-28-2009, 06:44 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

My son joined a new U10 MAPLE team this fall. The problem is that the coach has him playing a position (almost exclusively) that he is not interested in playing. I believe it is important, especially at this age, for the kids to get experience at all positions, so that is not issue. But....I think if this keeps up my son is going to rapidly lose interest. Should I say something to the coach?

Thanks

A coach at this age group, should be trying out players in different positions. Give it some time, didn't the season just start? You can approach the coach, BUT do it in a positive manner. Do it away from the team. You do not want it to sound like, "my son wants to play forward and you have him in the midfield. He does not like that position and if you do not switch him he may quit quit". You handle this in the wrong way, that is how you are going to sound. Remember that this is a team sport. Not every coach will see your son in the same way. If he continues in the sport he may find himself in many different positions. My son started off as a forward, at about that age, then moved to wing, the played the bulk of his time as a defensive mid, now in college is a sweeper. The only position he has not played is in goal.

**Unregistered** · 09-28-2009, 07:05 AM

I agree with the post but you also have to talk to you son. "not interested in Playing" is troubling because he should be happy he is on the field. I suspect he has been relgated to the back because it is rare a that a player complains about playing striker or midfield. A bad attitude will result in less playing time so just have him watch it and have work extra hard at practices instead of sulking. U10 they are playing 8 v 8 so he should play all positions. The only reason he may not be is he may lack pace and speed...a midfield who will not get back to play Defense will find his time at that postion short lived....In short though it is U10 and he should be enjoying himself no matter what position he is playing..

**Unregistered** · 09-28-2009, 07:19 AM

Is the coach moving the other players around to different positions? If not, the coach is the problem. My son had a U-10 coach who decided almost immediately who his strikers were, his midfielders, etc. It was rare to see a player play a different position. We had a coaching change after that year, and my son has played different positions ever since. Although there is a position he is "best" at and will play in a tough game, it is not unusual to see him play forward and defense in the same game. At U-10 they should definitely be trying every position.

**Unregistered** · 09-28-2009, 07:34 AM

Which is better for "development" at the U10 level:

1) Kids play a single position for a period of time so that they can adjust and learn about the position; or,

2) Kids move from position to position from game to game or within a game?

**HS Harry** · 09-28-2009, 07:40 AM

My first advice is to go to a training session and watch what is happening. At this age, training to game ratio should be better than 3:1, although time constraints make anything better than 2:1 difficult. Even still, your son should be getting much more out of his training than a game. At this age, games should be all about utilizing the skills learned at practice (and at home alone). Since at U10 everything sould be about developing two footed skills both on the ball and when receiving the ball (trap, control, create space, move the ball). You shouldn't see any differences in the way the players are being treated (and what they are doing) at a practice - regardless of their game position. At U10, it is just too early to be spending any valuable training time on tactics or game-plans - other than some very basic concepts about field spacing and shape. If at U10, you go to a practice and see a coach spending lots of time on corners, re-starts and PKs, be concerned. One final U10 concern. Beware of coaches and teams that employ an over-dependence on isolating individual players such a young age. By this I mean the use of longer direct kicks between a big, fast and athletic striker and a similarly built "sweeper style" back defender that avoids multiple short passes and ball control all over the field - even if your son is in one of these two key positions. The game plan should be to control the ball and look to play to a teamate's feet and the most common phrase you should hear from your coach is to "keep the ball on the ground".

**thebes20** · 09-28-2009, 08:07 AM

Originally posted by HS Harry View Post

My first advice is to go to a training session and watch what is happening. At this age, training to game ratio should be better than 3:1, although time constraints make anything better than 2:1 difficult. Even still, your son should be getting much more out of his training than a game. At this age, games should be all about utilizing the skills learned at practice (and at home alone). Since at U10 everything sould be about developing two footed skills both on the ball and when receiving the ball (trap, control, create space, move the ball). You shouldn't see any differences in the way the players are being treated (and what they are doing) at a practice - regardless of their game position. At U10, it is just too early to be spending any valuable training time on tactics or game-plans - other than some very basic concepts about field spacing and shape. If at U10, you go to a practice and see a coach spending lots of time on corners, re-starts and PKs, be concerned. One final U10 concern. Beware of coaches and teams that employ an over-dependence on isolating individual players such a young age. By this I mean the use of longer direct kicks between a big, fast and athletic striker and a similarly built "sweeper style" back defender that avoids multiple short passes and ball control all over the field - even if your son is in one of these two key positions. The game plan should be to control the ball and look to play to a teamate's feet and the most common phrase you should hear from your coach is to "keep the ball on the ground".

Maybe you should be coaching the USMNT. That is what I keep saying to the TV. Keep the ball on thje ground. They do not listen!

**Unregistered** · 09-28-2009, 08:52 AM

Thanks for your thoughtful replies on this subject. I will probably wait a couple of weeks to determine what to do and will talk to the coach then. Intersestingly, the player who I think is the best on the team (no, not my son), has been "relegated" to the back, as one of the replies so assuredly put it, so this is not an issue about ability, in my mind, or performance (or "lack of pace"--my word, the assumptions some people make). Instead, it is about enjoying and engaging in the game and the team.

**dd2** · 09-28-2009, 08:53 AM

Should you say something to the coach? I think so, but it needs to be done tactfully, and you should be open to the distinct possibility that the coach won't react well. Personally, I think coaches need to know if players aren't happy, but coaches understandably think that once parents learn they can alter playing time and positioning, it's a matter of time till the constant demands from parents mess things up. Before you talk to the coach, you might check to see if the club's policies about playing time include something like moving players around at u10 (a darn good idea, in my opinion).

While saying something to the coach about playing time at other positions may change things in the short run, I'd give serious consideration about what you need to do over the long run. If your son is like most boys, he is unhappy because he's not playing forward. He understandably wants to score goals. Only 2 kids will get the lion's share of time at that position at U11, so if your son wants to play striker, it's vital that he develop the skills to play there. You might therefore approach the coach not with concern about playing time, but asking about what skills he thinks your son needs to develop in order to play that position. Hopefully you'll get a constructive response.

Finally, regardless of what the coach says to you, you need to be honest with yourself about what you and your son hope to get out of soccer. Sure, we're all in it for fun, but some kids have the "high competition" bug and others don't. If your son has that bug (i.e. won't be happy unless he's playing forward on the "best" team), you need to understand that the road ahead is extremely competitive because relatively few teams play at the highest level and he will compete to make those teams.

I wish I didn't have to say this, but I believe that you cannot completely trust your son's club to act in your son's best interests, especially if he's on the "high competition" track. Coaches and clubs want to win, and they want to win now. The fastest way to win is to find players who are better than the ones you already have. Every player, no matter how good this year, is expendable if 18 Ronaldos show up at tryouts. Accordingly, as a parent, you need to educate yourself about the game, look objectively at your son's ability, and help him develop a full range of skills because his club won't. This probably means putting in time beyond club practices and games, whether learning to juggle and dribble on your own, playing pickup games, or attending clinics where coaches aren't trying to assemble teams.

**Unregistered** · 09-28-2009, 09:00 AM

IF it's about winning (and it shouldn't be at this age), you need to put strong players at central defense.

**Unregistered** · 09-28-2009, 09:14 AM

Originally posted by HS Harry View Post

My first advice is to go to a training session and watch what is happening. At this age, training to game ratio should be better than 3:1, although time constraints make anything better than 2:1 difficult. Even still, your son should be getting much more out of his training than a game. At this age, games should be all about utilizing the skills learned at practice (and at home alone). Since at U10 everything sould be about developing two footed skills both on the ball and when receiving the ball (trap, control, create space, move the ball).

Good advice. I'm watching my second U10 player being developed now, and there is a world of difference between what he is learning and how my older player was trained. His team is already working on the kind of strong possession game that my older player didn't develop until U13! So do watch those practices -- they are way more important than the games.

Your player may be experiencing what many U10 club players experience. They come to club as the star of their town team, most likely the top striker, and they now find themselves playing defense. And they hate it. Same thing happened to my older player, and the thinking behind it was that at U10, when building a new team, the strongest players should be in defense. If the opposing team can't score, they can't win. The coach knew his players weren't up to speed as a team yet, and he wanted to protect against blowouts to keep the team's moral up while he developed them in practice.

Not sure this is the right approach, but it is fairly common. If this is the case with your player, you can tell him that they should be complimented to be in defense. It is also a good age to learn that being on a team means giving the team what they need, not what you feel like giving. It's not all about you anymore. Defense may not have the glamour of the striker positions, but it is the true backbone of any team.

The transition from town to club at U10 is always hard. Your player goes from being the star on a top team to being just one more good player among equals on a new team that may occasionally (or frequently!) be getting crushed. If they hang in there, and they really like their teammates and their coach, it will all be worth it. If they don't, get out fast and find a new team, because they really will give up on the game.

**Unregistered** · 09-28-2009, 10:00 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Thanks for your thoughtful replies on this subject. I will probably wait a couple of weeks to determine what to do and will talk to the coach then. Intersestingly, the player who I think is the best on the team (no, not my son), has been "relegated" to the back, as one of the replies so assuredly put it, so this is not an issue about ability, in my mind, or performance (or "lack of pace"--my word, the assumptions some people make). Instead, it is about enjoying and engaging in the game and the team.

No disrespect intended with my assumptions. Your sons complaint is pretty typical at the U10 U11 age group. Club soccer can be a trying enviroment. A funny comment I heard from any old coach "Every goalie is a fustrated Striker" Enjoy the game!!!

**Unregistered** · 09-28-2009, 11:02 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Which is better for "development" at the U10 level:

1) Kids play a single position for a period of time so that they can adjust and learn about the position; or,

2) Kids move from position to position from game to game or within a game?

At this age kids should be playing about half the time in defense and half the time in offense during the course of a game. This includes the goalkeeper and at this age a team should have at least half a dozen kids rotating in net and playing more of a sweeper/keeper role. They should also be moving right to left and left to right unless they are already two footed. They should not be pigeon holed in one position under the guise that it takes time to learn how to play a position, because at this age they shouldn't be learning positional play, but learning the basic concepts of movement to create space and support on the field. Teaching positional play at this age tends to lead to forwards who don't understand their defensive responsibilities and defenders that don't understand their attacking roles which is part and parcel the modern game of soccer. U10 is the perfect time to learn these things without worrying about game results, because 10 year olds that learn it will have a better chance of playing on higher level teams as they age.