Learning all positions when younger?

[Grace T.]

It's not the kid, parents are worried that their kids missed the boat if other kids already get professional coaching at the same age.

Well, if that were the case they'd get a private trainer at that age because at least according to what they told me at my coaching training, coaches aren't supposed to train individual skill sets-- that's what private trainers and parents are for. It's also why futsal is so great. To really get those individual skills in a team setting you'd need to do lines (so the coaches can see and correct each individual player)...and lines are big no nos in club soccer practices.

Ian Feuer famously didn't take GK students until age 9. At the time my son started with him he gave me advice to hold him out of club (it rarely goes well with GK when they first start unless they happen to be on a winning team that will cover their mistakes but leave them little to do) and just keep him in training for a year (either leave him in AYSO or put him in some other rec or futsal). Didn't listen because my kid was fed up with his AYSO Extras teammates not wanting to practice and not taking it as seriously as him. In retrospect I think it was good advice.

 

[Jamisfoes]

There is no better program than AYSO if you want your kid to learn how to dribble, dribble and dribble. It’s inexpensive, kids are like moving cones for you to practice on.

 

[CaliR1]

My son is in u10 in relatively low level club and plays everything except striker...he prefers CMD but has played goalie the last few games and enjoyed it. One thing I saw was that him playing CMD helped him to play goalie because he sees the field and play developing better. Same thing with him playing wing or CM helps him play defense.

TBH, where he ends up playing later will largely depend on how is develops physically in the new few years. He isn't going to be a goalie if he is short and not probably going to be a CM as a tall person.