Someone from a soccer forum I frequent asked for my thoughts on whether a potential keeper should begin specializing (become “full time”) at the U-9 level. There had been an ongoing discussion in a thread with parents falling on both sides of the fence. So here it goes …
From a developmental perspective only, at U-9 a kid should not be specializing as a keeper. That is, they are in goal the whole game, every game. That would be a huge mistake. If you want to produce a high level keeper, they need to have good technique and a good soccer brain. Not to the extent of a center mid, but it’s an absolute must that they be comfortable on the ball under all scenarios. Without adequate field experience, you can kiss that goodbye!
Maybe, maybe at U-12. But even then, they should be playing on the field at every opportunity during training (drills, scrimmages, etc …). In case you weren’t aware, this goes for keepers up to the professional level. Most recently, I attended the Barcelona training session at the Rose Bowl in preparation for their game against the Galaxy. Victor Valdez did every field player activity.
Additionally, keepers must be capable of barking correct orders throughout the entire game. They can only develop that by knowing what the hell they’re talking about – which doesn’t come without playing on the field.
Field Players Specializing?
As for other positions, there is and should be far more flux. The truth is, you probably don’t know what you are best suited for until U-18. A large majority of professionals did not play their current positions at the youth level. The most frequent case are defenders. Most of them were converted from the midfield. Oh and just a couple weeks ago, Dani Alves (Barcelona), arguably one of the best outside backs in the world was slotted as one of the three strikers in the game against Real Madrid.
You can not develop a complete player without them having played everywhere.
Thoughts? Ideas? Please feel free share with our growing readership.
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Agreed. They need to learn other positions not just because their interest and abilities will develop/change, but if they return to a favored position they’ll be able to communicate with other players because they’ll understand their positions, challenges.
Too often I’ve seen young strikers flame out because they don’t learn how to defend and possess the ball and defenders fade because they lose field mobility and the incentive to push forward.
I like your column.
Nice contribution LE.
I’ve seen many players hit a “glass ceiling” in their positions as well.
Usually it’s due to not pushing themselves outside of training, but another component is definitely a deficiency in their skill set that would have been developed through exposure in another position.
I had a more general question on specialization, do you think its good (for soccer) If kids play multiple sports growing up? its not that it would make much difference for my kid, but I’m just curious about this debate. For the Luis Gil’s of the world, does the kid have to be focused only on soccer from an early age? or is there a path where the kid plays basketball/baseball during those seasons and eventually focuses on soccer?
Good question Rivelino.
The short answer is have your focus solely on soccer. As with everything, there is a “conservation principle” at play. The more extra-soccer activities, the less time there is to work on your game and develop.
You may see youth soccer players who also play another sport or two and seem to be just as good, if not better, than those who only play soccer. To that I look no further than the traditional 2 training days per week with a game on the weekend. If both sets of players (ie single sport / multiple sport) pretty much only follow that schedule, of course they remain on equal footing. But if you want to be truly elite, you must have the ball at your feet all day every day. And that can not be accomplished if another sport is taking up time.
Are there exceptions? Maybe. But exceptions prove the rule.
I am relatively newer to club soccer and have seen minimal movement among young players to multiple positions. all the emphasis is placed on winning now. winning now means promotions to higher status. higher status means players come to your club which generate revenue.
i took my kid off a “higher level” to a coach that with a lower level team but much better development focus. The “high profile” clubs seem to scout/poach already skilled players from other teams reducing their need or developing.
In the long run, IMO as stated who knows what position they will be playing at 18, so development and knowledge of as many as they can learn will benefit them and the team they end up with.
Hi Jess! Thank you for the comments.
I agree with how most “high-profile” clubs remain at the top. Most of the best players in the age group either flock to them or are “poached” from lesser clubs. I have no problem with this – it’s the nature of the beast.
Like you stated, it seems logical that if a coach already has many of the best players, there is little incentive to “develop” them. After all, the team wins right?
Here is where we need to be careful. “Common sense” logic can easily lead one to the wrong, or incomplete, conclusions. In this case, you are partially correct. There is “reduced need/incentive for developing”. However, the root of the problem is that the vast majority of these coaches are simply not capable of developing.
There are also many thing that are right and wrong with the “winning vs development” argument. I will leave you with this: if winning were taken out of the equation, what metric(s) could be used to assess “development”?
Gary,
thanks for the food for thought, i like and agree with what you stated. so how do you know if the coach has the ability to develop?
i like this site and have referred others to read the many good articles.
You have asked perhaps the single most important question and problem in US Soccer!
The answer is not straight forward – a tremendous wealth of knowledge and experience in the game is required. But we are trying to divulge what we know in a manner that hopefully can be easily digested.
Aside from articles, I think the best way is through video and audio showing:
* What a proper training session looks like.
* What proper player/team instruction is.
* Proper game management.
* etc …
The greatest coaching deficiency is not in developing a player’s technique. Fortunately, that responsibility falls mostly on the player themselves (2 training sessions per week doesn’t cut it regardless of how good a coach is).
Where coaches fall flat on their face, is in teaching proper decision-making for every position under every game scenario. In other words, developing a player’s Soccer IQ.
We’re just getting started with video production … it’s coming.
Thanks for spreading the word Jess!