Switching Positions?

Hello all,
Need some perspective. Sorry to be vague....my dd skill level is an ODP travel team
starter at her current position. The higher ups at the club were talking with her about
switching to new position, like she played oddly couple times out of the blue, which now
makes sense. They were saying to her that she would be a stronger player in this area.
She is a beast in her current position, so this suggested switch is very odd.

My dd is pretty excited because she always wanted to play this position.
The higher ups have helped put alot of girls into college ball and I do not sense any
douchebagginess from them. Not sure if it is politics saying your dd isn't that
good and we need her to get out of that position. Maybe. See? Confused.

Still young player, but starting recruiting process is around the corner.
Any real downside to this "suggestion", as if it is?
Thanks.

Papa's Fritas said:

Hello all,
Need some perspective. Sorry to be vague....my dd skill level is an ODP travel team
starter at her current position. The higher ups at the club were talking with her about
switching to new position, like she played oddly couple times out of the blue, which now
makes sense. They were saying to her that she would be a stronger player in this area.
She is a beast in her current position, so this suggested switch is very odd.

My dd is pretty excited because she always wanted to play this position.
The higher ups have helped put alot of girls into college ball and I do not sense any
douchebagginess from them. Not sure if it is politics saying your dd isn't that
good and we need her to get out of that position. Maybe. See? Confused.

Still young player, but starting recruiting process is around the corner.
Any real downside to this "suggestion", as if it is?
Thanks.

Click to expand...

There's a lot left out of this.

Happens and is normal, maybe team needs more help at the other positions?

If she wants to play that position don't see any downside. Always good to learn, play, & be good at mutiple positions.

espola said:

There's a lot left out of this.

Click to expand...

It was likely done on purpose to be as anonymous as possible. Nothing wrong with this.

OP: <- The more positions you can play "well", the more valuable of a player you are (for obvious reasons) as you climb the soccer food chain.

TangoCity said:

It was likely done on purpose to be as anonymous as possible. Nothing wrong with this.

OP: <- The more positions you can play "well", the more valuable of a player you are (for obvious reasons) as you climb the soccer food chain.

Click to expand...

I understand the wish for anonymity, but knowing the positions involved might help get more rational responses.

Julie Ertz. CB to mid.
Crystal Dunn. Forward to wing

Being able to play multiple positions well means many more opportunities. especially at the next level (college for girls). Where we see a lot of consternation with parents is their kid is a good striker/forward, they and often the kid equates goals with value and see anything but striker as a demotion. Not saying this is you, just a trend that is repeated over and over.

When it comes to college recruiting, every and I mean every college coach wants players that can play multiple positions well. A college coach has limited scholarships and the strength/weakness of the team changes each year. They may be full at Striker or Center-Mid, so having a player that is a one-trick pony isn't ideal, but having a freshman come into the program that can play mid and striker is much more valuable.

The other thing to consider is that your player appears to be a middle schooler, just finished puberty or towards the end. Maybe the growth spurt wasn't kind or maybe it was and her body type looks to be more suited for another position ... tall and lanky (move to goal, center back, striker where the extra stride length can be taken advantage of) ... shorter with hips (move to the outside where she can use her leverage better).

On the boys side I can't tell you how many kids (its been many) that failed to switch positions in time and now are out of soccer. It was most frequently the forwards who were awesome as 11 and 12 year olds, but once puberty started and the genetic lottery didn't go their way, became bench players because their speed was neutralized once the other players caught up and they just didn't have the other skills/smarts to play the mid or defense.

Good luck

Papa's Fritas said:

They were saying to her that she would be a stronger player in this area.

Click to expand...

This is the key. If this is really about making her a better player, then switch. If it's about a team that needs to fill a hole, then she should find another team where she can play at her best position. If you (the parent) aren't a soccer player, it may be hard to tell which of these is going on. My advice would be to try to find another parent who is a soccer player and get their take on it.

Papa's Fritas said:

Hello all,
Need some perspective. Sorry to be vague....my dd skill level is an ODP travel team
starter at her current position. The higher ups at the club were talking with her about
switching to new position, like she played oddly couple times out of the blue, which now
makes sense. They were saying to her that she would be a stronger player in this area.
She is a beast in her current position, so this suggested switch is very odd.

My dd is pretty excited because she always wanted to play this position.
The higher ups have helped put alot of girls into college ball and I do not sense any
douchebagginess from them. Not sure if it is politics saying your dd isn't that
good and we need her to get out of that position. Maybe. See? Confused.

Still young player, but starting recruiting process is around the corner.
Any real downside to this "suggestion", as if it is?
Thanks.

Click to expand...

Agree with knowing the current position and the new position would help put the conversation into a context.

Often forwards are switched to outside back in 4-4-3 system because the outside backs need to be able to push forward and attack, and have pace. Another common switch is a center back to a holding mid. Also many GKs are former forwards.

Attacking players should be able to adjust to most attacking positions but there are some limitations. With all things being equal, to be an effective attacking mid, a player needs creativity as well as excellent technical skills. Effective forwards need a natural ability to score (more mental than physical) and have an excellent route IQ (for runs) without the ball. Many coaches believe, based on what's been said by them, real forwards are born and not taught.

Defending players should be able to play most defending positions but it is quite different role to be CB vs LB or RB, and traditional CM. Of course the physical stature tend to make CB's much taller and bigger than other positions but it also require anticipation of attacking players and require the need to direct other defenders at any given time.

So think about what is being asked and if it makes sense or not. There could be many reasons why and pros and cons. Keep in mind that it could be as simple as the coach trying to get the best 11 players on the field and the move can facilitate that....

DD had an 18 month period (U16-U17) where she played every position (including keeper) at least once during a game. She did better at some than others, but she learned from all of them. For instance, she learned that she never wants to play keeper again. Her last year of club, she played mostly defense (center back and outside, left and right) but sometimes played outside mid or forward. She has been playing forward and outside mid this year.

If your player likes her team and coach, it could be worth a try.

Really good players can play in any position and if they want to help themselves, they should be happy to play multiple positions. In late HS (junior/senior) you probably want to have at least one position nailed down but you can still play multiple positions. Knowledgeable coaches know that versatile players are valuable (look at the top level of the game today for proof of that).

Everyone is looking for a red-hot striker who can finish like aguero but those players are very few and far between. Versatility and fluidity will continue to be a big part of successful soccer teams (and individual players) in this age of the game.

Paul Spacey said:

Really good players can play in any position....

Everyone is looking for a red-hot striker who can finish like aguero but those players are very few and far between. Versatility and fluidity will continue to be a big part of successful soccer teams (and individual players) in this age of the game.

Click to expand...

Ummm, I'm raising the BS flag here.

Really good players can fill in in a pinch but to say "can play any position" is an over generalization. I have never met any really good forward that can play CB effectively or holding mid position. Their natural tendency to attack takes them out of position and cannot recover. Also they have no idea the intricacy of each position brings.

Also what is "at this age of the game"? We have no idea what age the player is. For all we know, the player is in the last year of youth soccer or U12 - who knows.

While versatility is good, it can also land the player into a role of an utility player. I see so many youth games where the coach takes the most athletic and talented kids and play them everywhere. The consequence is that the player never learns how to properly play the position best suits them, or develop sufficient soccer IQ unique to the position.

The only context in which your generalization is valid is for younger players. For older, its not always a good advice to give - to play every position....

If your DD can become the best player on her team at multible positions it will help her, and her team. No matter what team she plays on. Playing multiple positions really well gives a coach flexibility with substitution patterns, injury replacement, and any other need that arisies.

Sounds like your DD is 13 to 15 years old? If that is the case, let her play another position.

If a coach moves a player to a different position isn't that the coach's decision?

It's confusing as to why the "higher ups" would make this suggestion and not the coach. Playing more positions is beneficial, but the communication in your situation seems odd.

mirage said:

Ummm, I'm raising the BS flag here.

Really good players can fill in in a pinch but to say "can play any position" is an over generalization. I have never met any really good forward that can play CB effectively or holding mid position. Their natural tendency to attack takes them out of position and cannot recover. Also they have no idea the intricacy of each position brings.

Also what is "at this age of the game"? We have no idea what age the player is. For all we know, the player is in the last year of youth soccer or U12 - who knows.

While versatility is good, it can also land the player into a role of an utility player. I see so many youth games where the coach takes the most athletic and talented kids and play them everywhere. The consequence is that the player never learns how to properly play the position best suits them, or develop sufficient soccer IQ unique to the position.

The only context in which your generalization is valid is for younger players. For older, its not always a good advice to give - to play every position....

Click to expand...

‘In this age of the game’. Meaning 2018, where fluidity and versatility are more important than they might have been many years ago because the game has moved on. Shame you didn’t understand that point although I’m not surprised.

Well done for raising the BS flag. Reading one or two of your posts, it’s clear you are a soccer expert. I’ll leave you to educate the OP here and step aside.

Paul Spacey said:

‘In this age of the game’. Meaning 2018, where fluidity and versatility are more important than they might have been many years ago because the game has moved on. Shame you didn’t understand that point although I’m not surprised.

Well done for raising the BS flag. Reading one or two of your posts, it’s clear you are a soccer expert. I’ll leave you to educate the OP here and step aside.

Click to expand...

Ouch I think I was just insulted.....

Why make it personal? Stay on the subject. I simply disagreed with your statement and nothing about you.

No need to step aside, we just have different perspective. No more, no less.

mirage said:

I have never met any really good forward that can play CB effectively or holding mid position. Their natural tendency to attack takes them out of position and cannot recover. Also they have no idea the intricacy of each position brings.

Click to expand...

You have obviously never met Julie Ertz, Abby Dahlkemper or Hallie Mace, all of whom could safely be classified as "really good forwards" through HS and club, and Mace and Ertz in college.

I think the moral of this story is to stop telling girls what they can and can't do. @Papa's Fritas, do whatever you and your daughter think is best. If your daughter can play, continues loving the sport and has dedicated coaches and family, the rest takes care of itself.

"My dd is pretty excited because she always wanted to play this position. "

mirage said:

Ummm, I'm raising the BS flag here.

Really good players can fill in in a pinch but to say "can play any position" is an over generalization. I have never met any really good forward that can play CB effectively or holding mid position. Their natural tendency to attack takes them out of position and cannot recover. Also they have no idea the intricacy of each position brings.

Click to expand...

Seen some CB's playing FWD and vice versa even at the training camps so does happen and I've seen them be successful at mutiple positions either in Leagues, tourments, training, during the training camp call ups. Once in colleague or in senior teams might be different?

Papa's Fritas said:

Hello all,
Need some perspective. Sorry to be vague....my dd skill level is an ODP travel team
starter at her current position. The higher ups at the club were talking with her about
switching to new position, like she played oddly couple times out of the blue, which now
makes sense. They were saying to her that she would be a stronger player in this area.
She is a beast in her current position, so this suggested switch is very odd.

My dd is pretty excited because she always wanted to play this position.
The higher ups have helped put alot of girls into college ball and I do not sense any
douchebagginess from them. Not sure if it is politics saying your dd isn't that
good and we need her to get out of that position. Maybe. See? Confused.

Still young player, but starting recruiting process is around the corner.
Any real downside to this "suggestion", as if it is?
Thanks.

Click to expand...

I can only share my personal experiences and observations of my two children with true honesty. My oldest has honed and continues to improve at her set position (defense), though she is able to play all positions in her respective field role. In fact she is the only one on her team used in all spots across the back-line and to boot has developed a very functional left foot. To me this has made her quite versatile within her given position. My youngest has moved positions from midfield to the defense. Which has also served her well. She uses her midfield attacking mindset and applied it into her defensive role. From time to time she does play midfield, which makes they think they may once again move her. Therefore there is nothing wrong with giving the positional change a chance. If in the end it does not work speak to the coach.