Don't let your offspring grow up to be defenders

[Unregistered]

Matt Reis was a striker. He plays a decent role on defense now...jk ( I know it's not the same)

[Unregistered]

To say don't let your offspring grow up to be a defender is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. I have 3 Div 1 college players who all grew up playing defense and they are very good defenders. Yes good players can play all over the field. Good defenders are difficult to find - good forwards are a dime a dozen. If you are a forward and do not rack up the points - you are finished. If you want a college deal - learn to play defense.

Agreed! Defense is the backbone of the team. Most MVP's are defenders. If the other team can't score, it can't win. Offense is flashy, but defense is the real deal.

[Unregistered]

Agreed! Defense is the backbone of the team. Most MVP's are defenders. If the other team can't score, it can't win. Offense is flashy, but defense is the real deal.

If you make the t-shirt I will buy it. Yeah Defense!

[Unregistered]

This is the dumbest series of posts I've yet seen on this site. Forwards typically do a poor job of defending. They foul too often, because they are too aggressive and its no problem up front but a disaster around your own box. They jump in on attacking players, so they're easy to beat. That's OK up front, you might force a mistake from a defender - but its a disaster at the rear. Forwards tend to go forward, and get caught up, another catastrophe at the back. Maybe this 'forward' has played outside back before and knows how to transition to it - attacking outside backs can easily transition to outside mid.

[Unregistered]

This is the dumbest series of posts I've yet seen on this site. Forwards typically do a poor job of defending. They foul too often, because they are too aggressive and its no problem up front but a disaster around your own box. They jump in on attacking players, so they're easy to beat. That's OK up front, you might force a mistake from a defender - but its a disaster at the rear. Forwards tend to go forward, and get caught up, another catastrophe at the back. Maybe this 'forward' has played outside back before and knows how to transition to it - attacking outside backs can easily transition to outside mid.

Settle down Alice, I'm sure the coach is aware of some the issues of converting a forward to defense. You make it sound as if it's impossible.

[Unregistered]

This is the dumbest series of posts I've yet seen on this site. Forwards typically do a poor job of defending. They foul too often, because they are too aggressive and its no problem up front but a disaster around your own box. They jump in on attacking players, so they're easy to beat. That's OK up front, you might force a mistake from a defender - but its a disaster at the rear. Forwards tend to go forward, and get caught up, another catastrophe at the back. Maybe this 'forward' has played outside back before and knows how to transition to it - attacking outside backs can easily transition to outside mid.

If you read the article, she's never played the position before.

High level teams are looking for players capable of attacking out of the back. High level teams are also looking for players who know how to cover when a defender attacks out of the back, so that the team does not get caught with too many players forward.

[Unregistered]

who is the outside defender that is getting benched to make room for VM?

[Unregistered]

A few weeks ago, while watching the NCAA Women's College Cup (the final game to determine the national champion in Division 1 soccer ) the announcer (Catherine Whitehill) was talking about how she grew up playing as a forward on her club team but when she went to college was put at central defender where she currently plays for her professional team as well as the US national team. Don't let the club coach stick your kid playing (only )defense just to win the u13 State Cup. Nowhere back from defender. Only the bench or cut.

[Unregistered]

A few weeks ago, while watching the NCAA Women's College Cup (the final game to determine the national champion in Division 1 soccer ) the announcer (Catherine Whitehill) was talking about how she grew up playing as a forward on her club team but when she went to college was put at central defender where she currently plays for her professional team as well as the US national team. Don't let the club coach stick your kid playing (only )defense just to win the u13 State Cup. Nowhere back from defender. Only the bench or cut.

This really strikes a chord with me. My daughter only plays central defense and has for the past few years. It's great that she plays all the time but she is not developing her game and I am worried if this will be good for her long term. I trusted her coach but now wonder if his placing her there was selfish and only to win state cup.

[Unregistered]

Don't let the club coach stick your kid playing (only )defense just to win the u13 State Cup. Nowhere back from defender. Only the bench or cut.

wrong

[Unregistered]

wrong

Now way BACK .... the bench... or cut.

[Unregistered]

Now way BACK .... the bench... or cut.

ok, if you say so

[Cujo]

Except if you are a defender.

Give me a break. When was the last time you read about a defender being converted to a forward? The only conversion a defender can expect is to the scrap heap and it is because of the way we develop youth players. So you crap about cluelessness is exactly that - crap.

yeah we have all seen what happens when defenders run into the anti-defender forcefield at the midfield line.......


Soccer is not fusbal. Good coaches know that when your team has possession of the ball and the outcome of the game is not secure that you have anywhere from 6 to 8 "forwards", when your opponent has the ball you have as many as 7-9 "defenders" and late in the game when defending a lead you have 10 defenders who will become forwards only when a bonafide opportunity. While not arbitrary positional assignments are somewhat fluid depending on many factors. Unless of course your players have steel rods passing through their chests that are anchored into particle board and controlled with rubber handles.

This kind of rigid mentality pervades soccer - can you imagine thinking about basketball or hockey in the same context? Is Kevin Garnett an offensive or defensive player? The answer cannot be given because the question is wrong.

[Cujo]

This really strikes a chord with me. My daughter only plays central defense and has for the past few years. It's great that she plays all the time but she is not developing her game and I am worried if this will be good for her long term. I trusted her coach but now wonder if his placing her there was selfish and only to win state cup.

My daughter was a defender at u10, defender and occassional mid at U12, a mid at u14, and a forward at U16, at U18 she played all positions, in college she was a forward. Learning all the positions made her a better forward. In the end she really didn't care where she played as long as she played. Right now? She's a sous chef which is kind of like being a mid-fielder.

[Cujo]

If you read the article, she's never played the position before.

High level teams are looking for players capable of attacking out of the back. High level teams are also looking for players who know how to cover when a defender attacks out of the back, so that the team does not get caught with too many players forward.

Good point the outside in the back 4 play an absolutely critical role in building numbers, they must have speed, the strength and accuracy to play the ball 60 yards to change the point of attack, they must have 1 v 1 skills, and solid technical skills with balls that are played to them at all angles, heights etc. Unlike the CM or CD they have fewer options in terms of where they can play the ball vis a vis the number of defenders that can induce a negative outcome of their action.